Energy Update Will Saudi Arabia flood the oil market again? Looking beyond the headlines from the failed deal in Doha over the weekend there are two interesting points which are worth considering. First, the suggestion that Saudi Arabia could turn on the taps... 21st April 2016 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Rebound in oil prices is indeed a game-changer The recovery in oil prices has now taken Brent above our end-2016 forecast of $45 per barrel. We would not be surprised to see the rally pause for breath soon, but remain comfortable with our view... 21st April 2016 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Rebound in oil prices supports Gulf financial markets Financial markets across the Gulf have performed well over the past month, supported by the continued recovery in oil prices. Meanwhile, Egyptian markets have been buoyed by last month’s decision by... 21st April 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Russia’s central bank can ride the wave of surplus liquidity The Russian government’s use of its oil funds to finance the budget deficit will cause the monetary base to expand and is likely to push the banking sector from having a deficit of liquidity to a... 21st April 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report US crude oil inventories rose last week despite a jump in inputs to refineries, while gasoline stocks were down slightly. 20th April 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Prices rebound in April Having wobbled in late March, most commodity prices have rebounded of late. Stronger economic data for March out of China has assuaged some concerns about demand and more than offset the negative... 19th April 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Update Doha disappoints, but oil market likely to rebalance anyway The failure of Sunday’s meeting in Doha to freeze oil production has further undermined the credibility of OPEC. But it has very little impact on our outlook for supply over the rest of the year. We... 18th April 2016 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Saudi Arabia digs its heels in at Doha Saudi Arabia’s insistence that Iran agree to freeze oil production scuppered any chance of a deal in Doha at the weekend and suggests that the Kingdom is in no mood to abandon its oil market strategy... 18th April 2016 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response Manufacturing Sales (Feb.) Even after allowing for the sharp decline in the value of petroleum sales, the 3.3% m/m drop in manufacturing sales in February was twice as large as expected, with the drop in sales volumes hinting... 15th April 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Update Deal or no deal in Doha? We think that the risk of the oil market being disappointed by any deal to freeze production in Doha on Sunday is high, given that oil prices have rallied by over 10% in the last week alone. Any deal... 14th April 2016 · 1 min read
OPEC Watch OPEC trims its demand outlook on growth fears OPEC production was stable last month. However, the group has cut its forecast for demand growth this year on fears of slower economic growth in China and Latin America. 13th April 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Update A strong quarter for China’s industrial commodity imports China’s commodity import volumes rose in March, rounding off a strong quarter for import demand. However, local stocks have been building, suggesting that we will need to see a pick-up in activity if... 13th April 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update EM oil producers unlikely to follow Angola to the IMF Angola last week became the first EM oil producer to turn to the IMF since oil prices started to fall in 2014. In the near-term, we don’t expect any others to follow suit. External risks in EM oil... 12th April 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Malaysia Monthly Palm Oil Data (Mar.) Data released earlier today by Malaysia’s Palm Oil Board show a further tightening of the market in March, despite a larger-than-expected rise in production. 11th April 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly Oil prices surge ahead of Doha meeting Commodity prices had a mixed week, despite support from further softness in the US dollar. In particular, key industrial metals dropped back, consistent with our view that the earlier surge was... 8th April 2016 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Weekly Darker business mood at odds with recent GDP rebound Despite glimmers of a revival in production, the mood among businesses across most sectors and regions has darkened due to shrinking real incomes and weak domestic demand, with the low level of... 8th April 2016 · 1 min read