Commodities Update Risks to the new cocoa harvest could keep prices elevated A lack of rainfall in the key cocoa growing countries in West Africa has increased the risk of a poor harvest for the 2015/16 year, adding upside risks to the outlook for the price of cocoa. 11th September 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Malaysia Monthly Palm Oil Data (Aug.) Data released earlier today by Malaysia’s Palm Oil Board show that crude palm oil production in August was the highest on record. Stocks also rose sharply again. 10th September 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Brazil Sugar Production (16th Aug. – 1st Sep.) Data released today by Brazil’s Sugarcane Industry Association, UNICA, revealed that the amount of sugar cane harvested in Brazil’s main sugar producing South-Central region in the second half of... 9th September 2015 · 1 min read
Precious Metals Update Q2 2015 Platinum Quarterly In its latest Platinum Quarterly report, published today, the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) depicted a challenging time for platinum in Q2. With the exception of investment demand... 8th September 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Update China’s commodity imports down but not out China’s trade data took another turn for the worse in August but, in common with other recent economic indicators, the weakness was partly due to temporary factors and the numbers have yet to reflect... 8th September 2015 · 1 min read
Energy Update US natural gas prices set to recover Persistently low prices mean that we have revised down our end-2015 and end-2016 forecasts for the price of US natural gas. However, we still expect prices to rise substantially over the next few... 7th September 2015 · 1 min read
Precious Metals Update China’s imports of gold recover as local equities lose their appeal Mainland China’s gold imports from Hong Kong and Switzerland recovered in July after a weak June. We expect total imports by China and India to pick up in the second half of the year as low prices and... 2nd September 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Sentiment sinks further Commodity prices continue to ebb and flow at the whim of movements in Chinese equity prices and concerns about a “hard landing” for the economy. Although agricultural prices don’t have the same level... 2nd September 2015 · 1 min read
Precious Metals Update Gold and silver to end the year on the up The price of gold is vulnerable to one last dip if, as we anticipate, the Fed presses ahead with a first hike in US interest rates soon. We have reflected this risk in our end-Q3 forecast of $1,050... 1st September 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Update A look at China’s growing corn problem Chinese import demand has been a key factorshaping agricultural commodity prices over thepast decade or more. Recently the NationalDevelopment and Reform Commission (NDRC)and the Ministry of... 28th August 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Industrial commodities set for strong recovery into year-end The relief rally in Chinese equities prompted by additional policy stimulus has turned global sentiment around, but a sustained recovery in commodity prices will probably require hard evidence that... 28th August 2015 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update What do the new Indonesian regulations mean for tin prices? Indonesia, the world’s top exporter of tin, has introduced new regulations on the production and shipping of the solder metal. On their own, the new controls are unlikely to boost prices, but they... 27th August 2015 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update Falling stocks may boost some metals’ prices Exchange stocks of copper remain high and have risen strongly since the start of 2015. However, stocks of other metals, notably tin and lead, are now at very low levels on a historical basis. This may... 25th August 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Update The price of US lumber set for strong recovery The price of US lumber has continued to fall since early June. But with single family unit starts andindustry confidence strengthening, we think that the price of lumber will end the year higher. 25th August 2015 · 1 min read
Energy Update OPEC to resist calls to cut output We think that OPEC will remain steadfast in its policy of maintaining high output, despite the renewed slump in oil prices and the potential return of exports from Iran. 25th August 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Update China, Japan & Euro-zone Flash PMIs (Aug.) The weak manufacturing PMI reading from China may have been distorted bytemporary factors and the manufacturing sector has yet to feel the full benefit of policyeasing. Nonetheless, today's Chinese... 21st August 2015 · 1 min read
