India Economics Update Rupee surges to 20-month high The rally in the Indian rupee since the start of 2017 has continued in recent weeks, driving the currency to its highest rate against the US dollar in almost two years. While we doubt that the rally... 21st April 2017 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response Global Aluminium Production (Mar.) According to the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), global primary aluminium output rose by just 4.3% y/y in March, but was still up by nearly 9% in the first quarter. 20th April 2017 · 1 min read
Energy Update How concerned should the oil market be about rising tensions? The increase in political tensions in the Middle East and North Korea had given oil prices a bit of a boost, but this already seems to have faded. Indeed, barring a dramatic escalation of the... 20th April 2017 · 1 min read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report The continued rebound in refinery activity led to a modest fall in US crude oil stocks and a rise in gasoline stocks last week. 19th April 2017 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update China Industrial Metals Demand Monitor (Mar.) China’s activity and investment data for March were robust and point to a strengthening of metals demand in the first quarter. However, the prospect of a steadily tightening policy environment over... 19th April 2017 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Geopolitics takes centre stage Investor sentiment towards commodities has remained broadly positive over the last month, despite rising geopolitical tensions. It could be that signs of an improving global economic outlook are... 18th April 2017 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly Higher geopolitical tensions support gold prices, for now The further deterioration in the US relationship with Russia and North Korea this week has supported the prices of precious metals. A weaker dollar, in light of President Trump’s comments about the... 13th April 2017 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response South Africa’s Mine Production (Feb.) South Africa’s overall mine production continued its recovery in February, as higher prices incentivised producers to raise output. The strength of the production data was broad-based, with gold the... 13th April 2017 · 1 min read
Commodities Update China’s commodity imports grow, but so do stocks Strong growth in China’s commodity imports in March would, at first glance, appear to be supportive of commodity prices. However, the rise in stocks of some commodities suggests that the buying has... 13th April 2017 · 1 min read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report Crude oil stocks fell last week for only the second time this year as net imports declined and inputs to refineries increased. Meanwhile, inventories of petroleum products continued to fall. 12th April 2017 · 1 min read
OPEC Watch OPEC output falls, but mainly due to supply disruptions OPEC production fell in March but output in the group’s de-facto leader, Saudi Arabia, increased. What’s more, OPEC now expects even faster production growth in the US this year. The OPEC Monthly Oil... 12th April 2017 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update Stocks edge lower There was a general drawdown of stocks over the last month, albeit on a relatively small scale. The main exception was inventories of tin, which have fallen by nearly 25% in the last four weeks... 11th April 2017 · 1 min read
Energy Update Is the oil market as oversupplied as US crude stocks imply? Relentless growth in inventories of US crude oil caused prices to slump in March. However, the headline stocks figures are potentially a little misleading and we think that the market is probably... 10th April 2017 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly Risk aversion may prove temporary The prices of most industrial commodities fell on Friday as investors turned more risk averse in the wake of the US missile attack on a Syrian air base. The main exceptions were the prices of oil and... 7th April 2017 · 1 min read
Precious Metals Update Central banks’ gold demand wanes The latest data show only a slight increase in central banks’ holdings of gold in February. We anticipate that this weakness will persist throughout 2017. 7th April 2017 · 1 min read
Commodities Update What does the US strike on Syria mean for commodities? The potential for further escalation of the conflict in Syria has boosted the prices of oil and gold today. But taking a step back, OPEC supply cuts and growth in demand should be the main drivers of... 7th April 2017 · 1 min read
