Metals Watch Western investors to drive gold prices higher Despite subdued buying from key consumers – China and India – demand for gold had a strong first half of the year. Indeed, renewed interest from Western investors more than offset continued weakness... 18th August 2016 · 1 min read
China Chart Pack G20 blues lie ahead Residents of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) can look forward to unusually clear skies as restrictions on industry to limit pollution ahead of next month’s G20 summit come into effect. According to... 17th August 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report (17th Aug. 16) US inventories of crude oil fell last week, driven by strong demand and lower net imports. But increased drilling activity appears to be feeding through into output. 17th August 2016 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update China Industrial Metals Demand Monitor (Jul.) This is a new monthly publication in which we assess the strength of demand in the world’s largest consumer of metals. We are also introducing our Capital Economics Steel Demand Proxy, to help inform... 17th August 2016 · 1 min read
Precious Metals Update PGMs rally might have gone too far After falling sharply at the end of 2015, the prices of platinum and palladium have risen by over 20% since the start of 2016. While we remain positive on the medium-term prospects for PGMs, we think... 15th August 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Gold bond scheme showing signs of success India’s monthly trade deficit narrowed in July and, with the government’s sovereign gold bond scheme helping to keep a lid on imports of the precious metal, the external position is unlikely to return... 15th August 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly Oil jumps on output freeze speculation Despite a slightly weaker dollar, the prices of most industrial metals ended the week lower on the back of mixed data out of China. While industrial activity looks to be holding up reasonably well –... 12th August 2016 · 1 min read
Precious Metals Update Q2 2016 World Gold Council Demand Trends In its Q2 Global Demand Trends report, published today, the World Gold Council (WGC) described another strong quarter for gold demand. Renewed interest from Western investors more than offset... 11th August 2016 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response South Africa’s Mine Production (Jun. 2016) While South Africa’s overall mine production shows tentative signs of recovery, the sector’s fortunes remain bleak for the time being. However, surging prices continued to encourage higher PGM output... 11th August 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report (10th Aug. 16) Crude stocks rose again last week, despite drops in production and net oil imports. However, gasoline and distillate fuel stocks eased back. 10th August 2016 · 1 min read
OPEC Watch OPEC production reaches another new record OPEC production reached a new record in July with the Gulf members showing no signs of wanting to limit output. What’s more, the group revised down their estimate of how much non-OPEC output should... 10th August 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Angola: Gradual recovery after a painful adjustment Economic growth in Angola is grinding to a halt as the economy adjusts to lower oil prices. Growth will recover in 2017 and 2018, but more gradually than most expect. 9th August 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Update Talks of oil production freeze too little too late We are sceptical that renewed talks of a production freeze by OPEC and other large producers will lead to an actual deal. Even if there is an agreement this time round, we doubt that freezing output... 8th August 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Iron ore bucks weak China commodity imports Growth in China’s commodity import volumes slowed in July, despite some recent encouraging signs from activity indicators. In some cases, higher domestic output is edging out imports. In others, ample... 8th August 2016 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update Has the zinc rally further to go? The price of zinc has surged in recent months, primarily on better prospects for steel demand. But while fundamentals are moving in the right direction and we expect the market to be in deficit this... 8th August 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly Commodities wobble on strong US jobs data On Friday, commodity prices dipped in the wake of the second consecutive strong US non-farm payrolls reading, the subsequent appreciation of the dollar and the implication that rate hikes could come... 5th August 2016 · 1 min read