Global Markets Update OPEC cuts, but markets take little notice Today’s sharp fall in oil prices, despite the announcement that OPEC will cut production by 1.5 million barrels per day from 1st November, reinforces our view that prices will continue to decline even... 24th October 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update New forecasts for currencies and commodities The recent acceleration in the dollar’s appreciation against other major currencies (with the notable exception of the yen) reflects a combination of factors, none of which is likely to reverse any... 22nd October 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update New forecasts for currencies and commodities The recent acceleration in the dollar’s appreciation against other major currencies (with the notable exception of the yen) reflects a combination of factors, none of which is likely to reverse any... 22nd October 2008 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update New forecasts for currencies and commodities The recent acceleration in the dollar’s appreciation against other major currencies (with the notable exception of the yen) reflects a combination of factors, none of which is likely to reverse any... 22nd October 2008 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update OPEC output cuts to provide limited support for oil prices The collapse in oil prices in recent days has likely sent OPEC into a panic. The oil-producing cartel has advanced the timing of its “extraordinary” meeting from the 18th November to next Friday... 17th October 2008 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Focus Will falling oil prices halt Russia's boom? We now expect real GDP growth in Russia to slow to 5% next year. But contrary to popular belief, this will not be driven by a fall in oil prices, which we now expect to fall to around $70pb over the... 10th October 2008 · 1 min read
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
