Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Kuwait reform is likely to be a long journey Comments by Kuwait’s ruling Emir ahead of the reopening of the National Assembly suggest that the government has recognised the need for wholesale economic reform. Even so, we think that reform... 30th October 2013 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Rising supply to continue to undermine copper prices The supply of copper has risen significantly faster than demand so far this year. This trend should lastwell into next year, adding to the downward pressure on the price of the red metal. We... 29th October 2013 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Natural resource boom will bring its own challenges The production of natural resources will be a key driver of growth in Ghana, Mozambique and Tanzania over the coming years, but it is also likely to bring a number of challenges. In Ghana, oil... 25th October 2013 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Increased efficiency to sustain shale boom Much of the surge in US oil production has come from improvements in drilling technology and processes rather than an increase in the number of rigs. These improvements should reduce costs and allow... 23rd October 2013 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Rise in the price of cocoa more bitter than sweet for producers Bad weather in West Africa may continue to drive the price of cocoa higher until the rainy season in the spring. But we think over the next few years, a combination of better farming techniques and... 21st October 2013 · 1 min read
Energy Watch Constrained supply keeping oil prices high Oil prices have been lifted again by hopes of stronger demand and by disruption to supply in the Middle East, but we do not expect these supports to be sustained. The return of supply, currently being... 17th October 2013 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Strength in China's commodity imports likely to be temporary China’s imports of most major commodities rose in September. But we expect growth in demand for commodities to slow over the next year as China rebalances its economy. 14th October 2013 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Why isn't the gold price higher? There are several possible explanations for the failure of the gold price to take off despite the prospect that the US government may soon default on its debt. The most plausible is simply that the... 10th October 2013 · 1 min read
Commodities Update China has the cotton market sewn up for now We expect movements in the price of cotton to be driven by policy decisions in China over the next year. A probable reduction in government support for Chinese cotton farmers in 2014 is likely to put... 9th October 2013 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Brent - WTI spread to fall back again We expect the Brent-WTI spread to gradually decrease from about $6 per barrel today to zero over the next year, as logistical constraints in Cushing and Louisiana ease. 7th October 2013 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Industrial metals prices to remain weak The prices of industrial metals continued falling during the last month, despite more positive economic news from many advanced economies. We think the prices of most industrial metals are likely to... 4th October 2013 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Oil production alone won’t solve Ghana’s deficit problems On the face of it, comments yesterday from Ghana’s Finance Minister that oil revenues have been larger than expected this year should ease some concerns over the sustainability of the country’s twin... 3rd October 2013 · 1 min read
Commodities Chart Pack Commodity prices fall despite support from the Fed The Fed’s surprise decision to maintain its current pace of asset purchases for a while longer had little effect on commodity prices. Indeed, the Fed’s caution partly reflects lingering uncertainty... 1st October 2013 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Demand to play a bigger role in crop price changes After the further sharp falls in corn and soybean prices over the last month we think that most of the new US crop is now priced into the market. However, in contrast to the consensus, we still expect... 26th September 2013 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Improvement in China not enough to boost metal prices Industrial metals prices have remained weak today, despite the improvement in the flash PMI for China, which rose to a six month high. We continue to doubt that the rebound in China economy will last... 23rd September 2013 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Detente between the US and Iran to undermine oil prices The markets and media have understandably been focused on developments in Syria for the last few months. However, signs of a possible thaw in the relationship between Washington and Tehran could have... 23rd September 2013 · 1 min read
