Metals Focus PGM prices to benefit from tighter emission control standards We expect platinum group metals (PGMs) demand from the auto industry to pick up over the coming years on the back of more stringent emission control standards globally and growing car ownership rates... 21st December 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Are commodity markets right to shrug off the Fed? The muted responses in commodity markets to the first hike in US interest rates since 2006 are atribute to the clear communications of the Fed and, in our view, largely justified. Looking forward... 17th December 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Not all doom & gloom for commodities Although the S&P GSCI Commodity Index has fallen to its lowest level since the financial crisis over the past month, it hasn’t been all doom and gloom for commodity prices. Indeed, despite the slide... 15th December 2015 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update Investor sentiment towards PMs still fragile The prices of precious metals (PMs) have continued to fall since mid-November. While expectations for a December rate hike by the Fed and a strong dollar have been among the biggest catalysts for... 14th December 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly Near-term risks abound, but oil should recover in 2016 Brent crude's renewed slide below $40 per barrel was the damning verdict on OPEC's failure to agree on a number even for what is largely a notional output target. In principle, prices could keep... 11th December 2015 · 1 min read
Precious Metals Update Shrinking mine supply to bolster silver prices in 2016 After twelve years of increases, we expect mine supply to be broadly flat in 2015 and to decline by 3% in 2016 due to shrinking margins and production cuts across the industrial metals industry. While... 11th December 2015 · 1 min read
Precious Metals Update Retail investment to help support silver prices Expectations for a December rate hike by the Fed and a strong dollar have seen the price of silver fall to the lowest level in over six years. But, all is not lost: low prices have triggered a strong... 9th December 2015 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response World Gold Official Reserves (Oct.) Global central banks continued to add gold to their reserves in October, albeit at a slower pace. However, preliminary data for November suggest that the slump in gold prices might have stimulated... 9th December 2015 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response South Africa’s Mine Production (Oct.) South Africa’s PGM production rose in October after three months of declines. However, labour disruptions and weak prices have forced the largest miners to restructure and cut their capital... 8th December 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly Oil prices to recover next year, whatever OPEC targets We, and we suspect many others, are still trying to work out exactly what OPEC decided at Friday’s meeting. Usually reliable sources have reported that OPEC has agreed to raise its output target from... 4th December 2015 · 1 min read
Metals Chart Pack PM prices slump on strong dollar and China fears The prices of the major precious metals continued to fall in November, weighed down by the strength of the US dollar and persistent concerns over a hard landing in China. While demand and supply... 2nd December 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Chart Pack No reprieve yet for commodities prices The prices of commodities continued to fall in November, pummelled by the strength of the US dollar and persistent concerns about a hard landing in China. While supply-side developments explain the... 1st December 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly Precious metals struggle ahead of first US rate hike US dollar strength and the prospect of rising US interest rates continued to weigh on precious metals prices this week. In contrast, industrial metals prices were volatile, but generally ended the... 27th November 2015 · 1 min read
Metals Watch Are capex cuts enough to lift PGM prices? Persistently weak prices of platinum group metal (PGMs) have forced the three largest PGM miners in South Africa to undertake deep cuts to their capital expenditure, workforce and cost structure. At... 27th November 2015 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response China’s gold imports (Oct.) Mainland China’s gold imports from Hong Kong fell in October following increases in the three previous months. We expect total imports by China to rise in the coming months and imports by India to... 26th November 2015 · 1 min read
Precious Metals Update China’s PGMs imports weaken China’s imports of platinum group metals (PGMs) weakened in October but car production and the gold/platinum price ratio suggest that PGMs demand could soon improve. 23rd November 2015 · 1 min read