Global Markets Focus Commodity prices have much further to fall We think that oil prices will decline to $80 per barrel in the coming weeks and perhaps as low as $50 in the coming year. Agricultural commodity prices could still drop by as much as a third from... 7th October 2008 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Gold fails to shine as oil prices return to earth The continued decline in oil prices and today’s lacklustre response in gold prices to the crisis on Wall Street underlines our view that the bull market in both commodities is over. 15th September 2008 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update OPEC to hold official quotas, trim production OPEC will likely leave its official quotas on hold at its meeting on Tuesday, even though it may try to cut actual production in the coming months. Nonetheless, we do not think this will be enough to... 5th September 2008 · 1 min read
Global Markets Focus How commodity index funds affect the price of commodities Commodity index funds differ from traditional speculation in commodities in significant ways. These underpin the possibility that such funds are having a material impact on prices. 26th August 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Lower food prices will help to drag inflation down next year The sharp fall in the oil price in recent weeks has overshadowed the impact that the recent easing in global wholesale food prices is likely to have on inflation. While the lower level of wholesale... 8th August 2008 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Will the falls in commodity prices be sustained? We think that the recent sharp falls in commodity prices are more than just a temporary dip in an upward trend. The focus has been on the oil price, which has fallen by more than $25 per barrel (or 18... 5th August 2008 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Focus Have record oil prices hit Russian manufacturing? Economic theory suggests that a booming energy sector can often cause a slump in manufacturing output. In Russia’s case, the evidence from recent years is mixed. But even if oil prices do continue to... 29th July 2008 · 1 min read
Global Markets Focus Can speculation drive up oil prices without a rise in inventories? Contrary to the conventional wisdom, the absence of a build-up of crude oil inventories does not rule out the possibility that speculation has been helping to drive up oil prices. 23rd July 2008 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Some better news on food prices Lower oil prices have provided a little support to equity markets in the last few days, but it is worth noting that agricultural commodities have been dropping back too. The scene is being set for... 18th July 2008 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Where next for Chinese fuel prices? Even after Thursday’s hike, China’s retail prices for refined fuels are well below those in international markets. However, that probably won’t be the case for much longer – either global oil prices... 25th June 2008 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Easing inflation concerns behind Chinese fuel price hike China’s decision to hike fuel prices confirms that domestic concerns over inflation are easing. What’s more, the move could help to cap global oil prices. 19th June 2008 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Latest oil price spike looks like a bubble about to burst Friday’s $11 jump in the price of a barrel of crude provides the clearest evidence yet that the oil market is increasingly detached from fundamentals. We are raising our assumptions for the future... 9th June 2008 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Focus Will China's fuel subsidies be the next to go? High oil prices have forced a number of Asian countries to reform their fuel subsidy programmes in the last couple of weeks. China is by far the largest oil consumer in the region and matters far more... 5th June 2008 · 1 min read
China Economics Focus Will China’s fuel subsidies be the next to go? High oil prices have forced a number of Asian countries to reform their fuel subsidy programmes in the last couple of weeks. China is by far the largest oil consumer in the region and matters far more... 5th June 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Oil’s fiscal benefits dwarfed by threat of economic downturn The latest surge in the oil price to $130 per barrel (pb) looks set to have mixed implications for the public finances. On the positive side, the higher level of prices should provide the Government... 29th May 2008 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Indonesia: more tightening in the pipeline Indonesia’s latest round of fuel price hikes was designed to safeguard fiscal sustainability and is therefore positive in the long run. However, a worsening near-term inflation outlook is likely to... 28th May 2008 · 1 min read
