Emerging Europe Economics Update Markets in Russia & Turkey recover some lost ground Currencies, equities and bonds in the region’s two largest economies – Russia and Turkey – have posted gains over the past month as oil prices have stabilised and expectations for US rate hikes have... 22nd October 2015 · 1 min read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report US crude oil stocks jumped sharply again last week, despite an uptick in refinery runs. However, stocks of gasoline fell as demand for products increased. 21st October 2015 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Saudi Arabia’s dollar peg is here to stay Saudi Arabia’s peg to the US dollar is coming under increasing scrutiny but we think fears that the authorities will devalue the riyal are overdone. The Kingdom’s substantial foreign exchange reserves... 21st October 2015 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update Across-the-board strength in China’s metals imports The latest data on China’s metals imports suggest that recent fiscal and monetary stimulus, particularly infrastructure spending, are starting to feed through to stronger commodity demand. 21st October 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Update China’s agricultural import growth may be close to peaking The detailed Chinese import data, released earlier today, show that in y/y terms, demand remains strong. But given the surge in imports of a number of commodities recently, rapid growth may not be... 21st October 2015 · 1 min read
Precious Metals Update China’s PGMs import data show some areas of strength The latest data on China’s imports of platinum group metals (PGMs) are consistent with early signs of stronger vehicle production. However, platinum jewellery demand appears to have moderated. 21st October 2015 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update The Gulf, FX reserves and budget spending: a primer Several Gulf countries have turned to their foreign exchange reserves in an effort to finance budget and current account deficits caused by last year’s slump in oil prices, but there seems to be... 21st October 2015 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response Global Steel Production (Sep.) World Steel Association (WSA) data for September show a 3.7% y/y fall in global steel output, with declines in most major producing regions. This is a larger fall than last month, but the market... 20th October 2015 · 1 min read
Energy Update OPEC “technical meeting” unlikely to change policy The most likely outcome from tomorrow’s meeting of OPEC plus some selected guests is pledges to share more information between OPEC and other oil producers. Venezuela’s and others’ calls for a cut in... 20th October 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update How is Norway coping with lower oil prices? The decline in oil prices has weighed on the Norwegian mainland economy and things could get worse before they get better. But ramped-up policy support from the Government and central bank next year... 20th October 2015 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response Global Aluminium Production (Sep.) According to the International Aluminium Institute, global aluminium output grew by almost 10% y/y in September. Excluding China, output rose by a modest 3% y/y. 20th October 2015 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update How is Norway coping with lower oil prices? The decline in oil prices has weighed on the Norwegian mainland economy and things could get worse before they get better. But ramped-up policy support from the Government and central bank next year... 20th October 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Outlook The turn is nigh We expect three factors to combine to rescue the prices of key industrial commodities in the coming months. First, the responses of producers to the previous slump in prices will start to constrain... 19th October 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly Prices consolidate but tone generally positive Commodity prices have given back some of the previous week’s gains, due in part to some mixed signals from the US and Chinese economies. Nonetheless, the overall tone remains positive, helped by... 16th October 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Price of cocoa to grind lower The price of cocoa has remained high due to supply concerns. However, with demand likely to continue to be weak, we think that the price will fall over the remainder of the year. 16th October 2015 · 1 min read
Precious Metals Update What are local premiums telling us about gold demand? Negative gold premiums, the difference between local prices and international benchmarks, in India have prompted fears of a slowdown in consumption from one of the largest market players. While a weak... 16th October 2015 · 1 min read
