Metals Watch Electric cars could be a game-changer for base metals Tesla, Chevy, and Nissan, three major car makers, have recently announced plans to start selling long-range affordable electric vehicles (EVs) over the next few years. This could potentially be a game... 28th June 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly A relatively muted response to Brexit Unsurprisingly, the prices of most commodities have fallen in the wake of the UK’s vote to leave the EU. The main exception is gold, which has benefitted from renewed safe-haven demand as well as the... 24th June 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Update UK vote for ‘Brexit’ not a game-changer for commodities The UK’s vote to leave the EU has predictably undermined the prices of industrial commodities, including oil (which initially fell by around 5% in US dollar terms) and copper (-3%), while boosting... 24th June 2016 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response Global Steel Production (May) World Steel Association (WSA) data, released this afternoon, show that global steel output fell by a negligible 0.1%y/y in May. However, after a weak start to the year, production still fell by 2.2% y... 21st June 2016 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update China’s metals imports treading water China’s metals import demand in May remained robust but down from the highs reached in March. In some cases, lower supply and higher prices are acting as constraints on import volumes. 21st June 2016 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response Global Aluminium Production (May) According to the International Aluminium Institute, global primary aluminium output declined by 0.5% y/y in May. But the annual figure masks the underlying picture of higher prices continuing to... 20th June 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly All about Brexit Worries about contagion from a UK vote to leave the European Union (‘Brexit’) have undermined the prices of riskier assets this past week, including oil and other industrial commodities, while... 17th June 2016 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update Iron ore prices have further to fall The price of iron ore appears to have stabilised around $50 per tonne, after a dramatic run-up earlier this year. But we think prices will continue to ease back given oversupply and waning demand. 17th June 2016 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update Industrial and precious metals prices diverge The commodity price indices have risen in the last month, encouraged by rising oil prices and by a scaling back of expectations for US interest rate rises which in turn has weakened the dollar. But... 16th June 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Uncertain times ahead Commodity price indices have had another strong month, supported by positive investor sentiment and the rally in the oil price. However, sentiment started to sour more recently on mixed data out of... 14th June 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly “Brexit” risks coming into focus Commodity prices have generally risen in the past week, helped by further dollar weakness. However, sentiment already appears to be turning more cautious on renewed concerns over the health of the... 10th June 2016 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response South Africa’s Mine Production (Apr.) South Africa’s overall mine production remained subdued in April, but PGM output did recover somewhat. We maintain that renewed efforts to curb output should underpin price gains later in the year. 9th June 2016 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update What next for tin? The price of tin has risen since the start of the year in large part owing to temporary bottlenecks. However, we think the price gains will prove sustainable given more long-term constraints on supply... 8th June 2016 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update Stocks look comfortable, for now Exchange stocks of most metals have been falling. The exceptions are lead and tin stocks which have jumped recently, from a low starting point. The ease with which stocks of these two metals have been... 6th June 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly When bad news is good news… Metals prices bounced on Friday, led by silver, gold and copper, as the downbeat US payrolls report quashed expectations of a summer rate hike by the Fed and dragged the dollar lower again. This... 3rd June 2016 · 1 min read
Metals Chart Pack Investors turn more cautious The prices of almost all the industrial metals fell in May. A combination of an upward revision to US interest rate expectations, a stronger US dollar and renewed concerns about China’s demand weighed... 3rd June 2016 · 1 min read