Metals Chart Pack Hoping for some better times ahead Signs of a recovery in industrial commodity demand were emerging at the beginning of 2020. Indeed, the economic data have improved and investor concern surrounding the US-China trade war has eased... 6th February 2020 · 7 mins read
Metals Outlook Recovery still base case, but coronavirus big risk A sharp decline in China’s economic growth in Q1 as a result of the coronavirus outbreak now seems certain. This will be a significant negative for metals demand, as China is the world’s single... 5th February 2020 · 18 mins read
Commodities Chart Pack Virus fears to drive prices for some time yet Commodity prices, and energy prices in particular, have been hard hit by the outbreak of coronavirus in China and the prospect of lower global commodities demand. There is still too much uncertainty... 4th February 2020 · 7 mins read
India Chart Pack Populist shift a risk for long-run outlook The citizen amendment bill – which aims to fast-track citizenship for non-Muslims from neighbouring Muslim-majority countries – has dominated the news over the past couple of weeks. This isn’t... 18th December 2019 · 9 mins read
India Chart Pack Services holding up better than industry Q3 GDP data due next week are likely to show a further slowdown in India’s economy, with the industrial sector the main source of weakness. However, some comfort can be taken from the fact that the... 22nd November 2019 · 9 mins read
Metals Data Response Global Steel Production (Jul.) July’s slowdown in steel production was probably a sign of things to come given environmental restrictions, squeezed margins and soft demand in China. Nonetheless, steel prices look set to fall... 27th August 2019 · 3 mins read
Industrial Metals Update Lead price rally to go into reverse We think that a recovery in refined lead production, ailing demand, and elevated trade tensions should cause the price of lead to drop by almost 15% by end-2019. 23rd August 2019 · 3 mins read
Metals Data Response Global Aluminium Production (Jul.) Global aluminium production remained in the doldrums in July. We had previously expected smelter ramp-ups and lower input costs to spur a recovery in China’s output in the second half of 2019. But... 20th August 2019 · 2 mins read
Industrial Metals Update Copper caught up in the global malaise Copper prices are hovering near two-year lows, reflecting investor concerns about the outlook for global growth. While dwindling mine supply should put a floor under prices, deteriorating investor... 16th August 2019 · 2 mins read
Industrial Metals Update Cobalt prices to soar Glencore’s decision to temporarily close the world’s largest cobalt mine by the end of this year has given cobalt prices a shot in the arm. As a result, the price of cobalt could rally by more than 60... 13th August 2019 · 3 mins read
Industrial Metals Update Nickel’s rally is premature Nickel prices have surged in recent weeks, owing to optimism over future demand from the electric vehicle sector and speculation that Indonesia’s ban on nickel ore exports could be brought forward... 9th August 2019 · 4 mins read
Industrial Metals Update Back to normality for iron ore Iron ore prices have plunged by a sixth so far in August and we think that rebounding output and slower Chinese demand growth will mean that prices will fall by a further 20% to $80 per tonne by end... 7th August 2019 · 3 mins read
Commodities Update Metals in firing line of latest US tariffs Commodity prices plummeted yesterday in a knee-jerk reaction to the news of more US tariffs on Chinese goods. We have argued for some time that the US-China trade war was likely to escalate, and it... 2nd August 2019 · 3 mins read
Metals Outlook Base metals to see better days in 2020 Recent rallies in metals prices, particularly in precious metals and iron ore, are likely to falter sooner rather than later. Indeed, we expect almost all metals prices to drop in the remainder of... 29th July 2019 · 18 mins read
Metals Data Response Global Steel Production (Jun.) Faltering demand from the Chinese construction sector should mean that the recent downturn in global steel output growth should gather pace in the months ahead. 26th July 2019 · 2 mins read
Metals Data Response Global Aluminium Production (Jun.) Global aluminium output slumped in June, as a sharp fall in Chinese output outweighed increases elsewhere. But putting this month’s reading to one side, there are now clear signs that global aluminium... 22nd July 2019 · 2 mins read