Commodities Update Some wider implications of a rebound in shale activity Demand for tubular steel and distillates in the US is likely to receive a boost from the ongoing revival in oil drilling activity. This will be a factor supporting prices, at least in the US market. 6th April 2017 · 1 min read
Energy Chart Pack Volatility returns to oil prices Oil prices broke out of the relatively narrow trading range they had been in for the last few months at the start of March as investors became concerned about the effectiveness of OPEC’s deal to cut... 5th April 2017 · 1 min read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report Crude oil stocks swelled last week contrary to expectations as production grew and exports slipped back. However, inventories of petroleum products still fell. 5th April 2017 · 1 min read
Metals Chart Pack Metals prices still holding on There were some signs of fading investor enthusiasm for industrial metals last month. Although January-February economic data out of China were encouraging, the shift in timing of the Lunar New Year... 5th April 2017 · 1 min read
Commodities Chart Pack A month of two halves After a weak start to the month, the prices of both gold and oil subsequently rebounded, despite the Fed’s decision to hike interest rates. The accompanying dovish statement lowered expectations of... 3rd April 2017 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly Oil bounces back The price of oil jumped this week on a combination of renewed fighting in Libya which disrupted oil production and speculation that OPEC members will extend their output cuts beyond the June deadline... 31st March 2017 · 1 min read
Commodities Watch Three cheers for the price of lumber The US price of lumber has risen by close to 20% since the start of the year, following an increase of over 20% in 2016. Over the course of last year, the price was playing catch-up with developments... 31st March 2017 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update Investors turn more bearish on metals Sentiment towards metals has soured somewhat over the past few weeks. We think that, in some cases valuations still look stretched, given prospects for further monetary tightening in the US and softer... 29th March 2017 · 1 min read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report US crude oil stocks rose slightly last week, however there were further drops in inventories of gasoline. 29th March 2017 · 1 min read
Energy Update Trump ends the “war on coal” The prices of US natural gas and renewable power are likely to be far more important to the US coal industry than President Trump’s attempts to deregulate and revitalise it. 29th March 2017 · 1 min read
Energy Update Europe’s oil demand should continue to grow in 2017 Robust economic growth in Europe’s key economies should support oil demand this year. Indeed, a pickup in global economic growth is likely to help to absorb the excess oil supplies in the market which... 28th March 2017 · 1 min read
Metals Watch How will input costs affect aluminium prices? There are many drivers of the price of aluminium, including demand, supply and investor sentiment. However, in this Metals Watch, we are going to focus on the supply-side. In particular, we are going... 27th March 2017 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response China and India’s gold imports (Feb.) The latest import data from China and India show a mixed picture of gold demand in the two largest consumers. While China’s demand has started the new year on a soft note, an easing of the liquidity... 27th March 2017 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Saudi economy slows on back of oil output cuts Our GDP Tracker suggests that Saudi Arabia’s economy slowed at the start of this year, which was entirely due to oil production cuts. There has been better news on the non-oil economy, where easing... 27th March 2017 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly Prices under pressure The price of oil took a tumble this week on persistent concerns about high US stocks, while copper also fell as the strike at the world’s largest mine was called off. More generally, there were signs... 24th March 2017 · 1 min read
Energy Watch Are we too bullish on oil prices? Steadily rising crude stocks have sent prices tumbling recently. This Energy Watch looks at whether our assumptions about OPEC, US shale oil production and demand are still valid and where the... 24th March 2017 · 1 min read
