commodity

Summary:

  • US oil inventories decreased by almost 8 million barrels last week.
  • A worsening Covid-19 situation in China further weakened demand outlook for palladium.
  • Wheat futures were under pressure from ongoing shipments out of Ukrainian Black Sea ports.

WTI Crude up for their 3rd consecutive session

On Wednesday, WTI crude futures increased for the third session in a row, approaching $79 a barrel as an industry report indicated a significant decline in US crude stocks and a forthcoming OPEC+ meeting stoked concerns about additional production restrictions. According to API statistics, US oil inventories decreased by almost 8 million barrels last week, far more than the predicted decline of 2.487 million barrels and following a decrease of 4.819 million barrels the week before. When OPEC+ meets on December 4 to decide on output strategy, there is speculation that the cartel will further reduce supply to counteract market weakness. On the demand side, the news that China would

(XAUUSD) Gold Prices Remain Stable Despite Hawkish Fed, EU Regains Control Of Their NGAS Supplies, Cotton Futures Prices.

(XAUUSD) Gold Prices Remain Stable Despite Hawkish Fed, EU Regains Control Of Their NGAS Supplies, Cotton Futures Prices.

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 10.05.2022 13:13
Summary: The EU refills their NGAS stockpiles, driving the price of NGAS Futures down. Cotton Prices falling despite concerns around supply. Gold Prices remain surprisingly stable despite interest rate hikes   Read next: Prices Of Brent Crude Oil And Silver Fall As The US Dollar Strengthening, Corn Prices Face Downward Price Pressure.    Natural Gas Futures Prices Drop Towards the end of last week the price of Natural Gas soared, however tumbled around 13% during the trading day on Monday as a change in output and expected demand occurred as a result of the changing weather forecast. In addition the EU gas pipes were reported to be filling as gas piles into the pipes from Russian Sources which caused EU prices to stabilise. The change in the price is likely to continue in the short term thanks to the fundamental factors mentioned above, however with the EU’s recent oil embargo, whether or not this downward trend will continue is unlikely. It is also important to note that the stock market experienced a sour trading day on monday, causing prices across all markets to fall. NGAS Jun ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton futures tank. Cotton futures saw a price dip during last week's trading week and earlier this week, however, prices seemed to have gained slightly on Tuesday. The price fall on Monday followed the trend of the wider global market which experienced a sour trading day on Monday. Prices are still soaring at high levels, due to the concerns around supply without wavering demand, and the possibility of an export ban by India is causing unrest around the commodity. Cotton Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart Gold Futures remaining surprisingly stable (XAUUSD) Along with the rest of the global market, the price of gold dropped during the trading day on Monday. In addition the price of gold has been declining over the past days, this comes as the Fed grows more hawkish in their fight against inflation. The decline is not as sharp as market participants expected, this could be because investors are hedging their bets as the market awaits the U.S CPI report due on Wednesday. XAUUSD Jun ‘22 Futures Price Chart   Read next: (XAUUSD) Gold, Coffee and Crude Oil - Commodities Facing Price Trouble Over the Past Month    Sources: Finance.yahoo.com, asia.nikkei.com
Coffee: Brazil And Columbia Are Reducing The Production

Don't Worry Coffee Lovers! The Price Of Coffee Futures Falling Amidst Current Market Conditions, Crude Oil (WTI) Recovers Slightly, Palladium Prices Show Steady Downward Price Trend

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 11.05.2022 14:56
Summary: Coffee futures are struggling to remain stable amidst the current market conditions. Crude oil prices could rise after poor performance this past week. Increased import tariffs on Russian Palladium to the U.K should drive the price up. Read next: (XAUUSD) Gold Prices Remain Stable Despite Hawkish Fed, EU Regains Control Of Their NGAS Supplies, Cotton Futures Prices.  Weather relief in major producing regions drives the price of coffee futures down. Coffee futures have been falling over the past week or so. The price fall comes as a result of the strengthening US Dollar and weakening Brazilian real is pushing prices down, the relief of dry weather conditions is also a bearish signal for coffee futures prices. The demand for coffee is also under pressure with the lockdowns in China continuing, and the war between Russia and the Ukraine causing demand in these two regions to fall. The market has been in a slump this week which could be another reason for the price to fall. There are still concerns around supply of coffee worldwide, a possible cause of the almost 3% increase the future has seen today. Coffee Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart Crude Oil WTI increases today after poor performance within the past week The price of Crude Oil Futures have been following the market trend this past week, dropping to below $100. The rise today comes as concerns around supply in the wake of the European Union Oil embargo on Russia increase. Oil producers warned of their concerns around not being able to fill the oil gap when demand returns back to normal levels. WTI Jun ‘22 Futures Price Chart Palladium prices show steady downward price trend Palladium prices are falling with the current market sentiment, the prices rebounded slightly after the U.K announced the increase in the tariff on Palladium imports from Russia. This move will cause further Palladium supply issues, however, the price is still falling. Palladium Jun ‘22 Futures Price Chart Read next: Prices Of Brent Crude Oil And Silver Fall As The US Dollar Strengthening, Corn Prices Face Downward Price Pressure.  Sources: finance.yahoo.com, barchart.com
Russia Look Set To Double Its Exports For The First Half Of 2023

The Commodity Market Felt The Effect Of The Poor Market Conditions This Week - Wheat Futures, Platinum Futures & RBOB Gasoline Futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 12.05.2022 12:34
Summary: The future of the Wheat futures prices depend on the supply available as adverse weather conditions and geopolitical tensions continue. As embargos on Russia intensify, Platinum futures prices rise. Read next: Don't Worry Coffee Lovers! The Price Of Coffee Futures Falling Amidst Current Market Conditions, Crude Oil (WTI) Recovers Slightly, Palladium Prices Show Steady Downward Price Trend  Wheat Futures On Monday the price of Chicago Wheat Futures dropped, this came in the wake of the poor performance of the global markets. Since Monday the price of wheat futures have been recovering steadily. There are concerns around the market supply of wheat going forward, with Russia and The Ukraine exports decreasing due to the war, and the possibility of India reducing their exports amidst the heatwave causing their production to reduce. As concerns around supply and demand and weather conditions continue, we are likely to see volatility in the price of Wheat Futures. SRW Wheat Futures Jul ‘22 Price Chart Platinum prices rise amidst concerns over supply. Platinum futures prices seem to be recovering after hitting their one-week low on May 9th. The recovery comes as worries around Russian supply are renewed. The U.K announced GBP1.4 billion worth of import restrictions from Russia and a 35% increase in import tariffs on multiple products, including platinum. Hence, pushing prices up. Platinum Jul ‘22 Futures RBOB Gasoline prices The price of RBOB gasoline futures, along with wheat futures and platinum futures have felt the effects of the poor market conditions this week. However, the price of RBOB gasoline is likely to continue to show bullish signals going forward, this will come as a result of the increasing concerns around supply. RBOB Gasoline Jun ‘22 Futures Price Chart Read next: (XAUUSD) Gold Prices Remain Stable Despite Hawkish Fed, EU Regains Control Of Their NGAS Supplies, Cotton Futures Prices.  Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Australia Is Expected To Produce A Bumper Year Of Crops

The UN Is Stepping In To Help Wheat Exports, Platinum Prices Experiencing Volatility and The West Turns To Asia For RBOB Gasoline Supply

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 19.05.2022 13:13
Summary: The UN plans to help bring wheat prices down and even out exports. Concerns around supply and demand causing Platinum price volatility. Asia beginning to supply the west with gasoline Read next: More Expensive Coffee!? Weather Conditions In South America Can Limit Crops. (WTI) Crude Oil Price Recovering, Palladium Prices Rise Amidst Concerns Around Supply  Wheat prices calm as the UN steps in The price of wheat futures have dropped in the wake of the UNs announcement of their plans to “revamp” wheat exports, especially those that were affected by the war in the Ukraine. Expectations of an increase in control over wheat exports and therefore more certainty around supply has brought the price of wheat slightly down. Concerns around supply of wheat have been heightened by the Ukraines issues around exporting as their ports are being targeted by the Russian forces, in addition, the wheat supply from India has been stripped away from the international market. Wheat Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart Platinum prices seeing volatility On Wednesday the price of platinum futures hit $950, the price rise came amidst concerns that there will be an increase in demand in the automotive industry and a falling supply which is due to reduce the current surplus the metal has. There are concerns around supply due to the sanctions on Russia and operational problems with some of the largest producers in South Africa. Platinum Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart RBOB Gasoline futures prices fall Although the price of RBOB gasoline futures is decreasing the demand is expected to increase in the summer as driving increases, putting the supply under even more pressure. The West is turning to Asia to supply them with gasoline barrels, the increased supply is driving the price down, however whether or not that will last is under question. RBOB Gasoline Jun ‘22 Futures Price Chart Read next: (XAUUD) Gold Regains Investor Interest As The Dollar Weakens, NGAS Prices Going Up, Cotton Price Rising Along With Concerns Around Supply   Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
FXStreet’s Dhwani Mehta Opinion About Gold Movements

(XAUUSD) Gold Prices Rise In The Wake Of Concerns Around U.S Economic Slowdown, Crude Oil Prices Rally In Response To Increasing Demand And Concerns Around Supply, Cotton Prices

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 20.05.2022 17:01
Summary: The post-covid world and the war in the Ukraine caused Crude Oil to rally. Gold futures are on the rise amidst concerns around economic slowdown of the US economy. Cotton prices fall marginally despite concerns around increasing demand and tightening supply. Read next: The UN Is Stepping In To Help Wheat Exports, Platinum Prices Experiencing Volatility and The West Turns To Asia For RBOB Gasoline Supply  XAUUSD Gold prices rally Gold prices pushed up past $1.830 on Friday, the gain comes in the wake of the softening U.S economic data amid the hawkish Federal Reserve and its continuing aggressive monetary policy. The soft economic data has raised concerns around economic growth. The hawkish Fed will continue to hike interest rates despite fears of economic slowdown which is causing the US Dollar to weaken and pushing treasury yields lower. Investors are turning to gold as a hedge against the growth concerns, ultimately driving the gold price up. Gold Jun ‘22 Futures Price Chart WTI Crude Futures Crude Oil Futures pushed above $112 on Friday amidst concerns around demands returning to a normal level as China eases their COVID-19 lockdowns and the embargo in Russian oil looming simultaneously occurring as fears of economic slowdown heighten. The post-covid world is seeing average driving mileage increasing in the U.S causing an increase in demand, as well as the EU pushing the ban on Russian oil to be certain by the end of the month. Crude Oil Jun ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton futures Cotton futures prices have faced downward momentum over the past week. However, the prices are still high, the raised prices come in the wake of rising demand and tightening supplies. Cotton Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart Read next: More Expensive Coffee!? Weather Conditions In South America Can Limit Crops. (WTI) Crude Oil Price Recovering, Palladium Prices Rise Amidst Concerns Around Supply  Sources: tradingeconomics.com, finance.yahoo.com
Forex Speculators weaken Commodity Currency sentiment over last month - 22.05.2022

Forex Speculators weaken Commodity Currency sentiment over last month - 22.05.2022

Invest Macro Invest Macro 22.05.2022 12:34
By InvestMacro | COT | Data Tables | COT Leaders | Downloads | COT Newsletter Click for larger image Here are the latest charts and statistics for the Commitment of Traders (COT) data published by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The latest COT data is updated through Tuesday May 17th and shows a quick view of how large traders (for-profit speculators and commercial entities) were positioned in the futures markets. All currency positions are in direct relation to the US dollar where, for example, a bet for the euro is a bet that the euro will rise versus the dollar while a bet against the euro will be a bet that the euro will decline versus the dollar. Highlighting the COT currency data was the commodity currency speculator positions that have been on the defensive in recent weeks. Canadian dollar positions declined for a fourth straight week this week and have fallen by a total of -35,722 contracts over the past four weeks. This has pushed the overall speculator standing into a bearish position for a second straight week and to the most bearish level since October 2021. Previously, from the middle of January, CAD positions had started to trend higher and mostly maintained a bullish position into April, reaching a 40-week high on April 19th before seeing speculator sentiment weaken (-14,496 contracts this week). Australian dollar spec positions slipped for a third straight week this week and the overall speculator position has now hit a 7-week low. Aussie positions have maintained a bearish speculator bias since last May (52 consecutive weeks in bearish territory) but had recently seen a reprieve of the weak sentiment. Aussie positions improved strongly from late-February to late-April with a 10-week contract rise of +59,043 positions from February 22nd to April 26th. The speculator positions hit the least bearish level (on April 26th) of the previous 42 weeks before these past 3 weeks has seen speculators re-up their bearish levels. New Zealand dollar speculators also added to their bearish bets for a fourth straight week and have now pushed the position to the most bearish level since March 17th of 2020, a span of 113 weeks. Kiwi speculator positions had spent almost all of 2021 in bullish levels but spec bets started to falter at the end of the year and into the new year (through early March). Recently, positions had turned positive to bullish positioning in the middle of March and again later in April before turning lower in recent weeks. The NZD speculator sentiment has now been in bearish territory for the past three weeks after dropping by a total of -18,132 contracts from April 26th to this week. Overall, the currencies with higher speculator bets this week were the US Dollar Index (1,437 contracts), Japanese yen (8,145 contracts), Euro (3,810 contracts), British pound sterling (357 contracts), Bitcoin (103 contracts) and the Mexican peso (11,490 contracts). The currencies with declining bets were the New Zealand dollar (-4,771 contracts), Canadian dollar (-9,089 contracts), Australian dollar (-2,928 contracts), Brazil real (-2,683 contracts) and the Swiss franc (-829 contracts). Speculator strength standings for each Commodity where strength index is current net position compared to past three years, above 80 is bullish extreme, below 20 is bearish extreme OI Strength = Current Open Interest level compared to last 3 years range Spec Strength = Current Net Speculator level compared to last 3 years range Strength Move = Six week change of Spec Strength Data Snapshot of Forex Market Traders | Columns Legend May-17-2022 OI OI-Index Spec-Net Spec-Index Com-Net COM-Index Smalls-Net Smalls-Index USD Index 61,899 93 36,213 88 -39,506 9 3,293 53 EUR 706,712 85 20,339 41 -51,517 61 31,178 26 GBP 253,811 73 -79,241 17 94,344 85 -15,103 24 JPY 241,308 83 -102,309 6 115,062 92 -12,753 28 CHF 53,291 42 -16,592 37 31,181 72 -14,589 14 CAD 151,585 31 -14,496 28 12,591 75 1,905 34 AUD 163,809 55 -44,642 43 54,437 59 -9,795 29 NZD 60,804 64 -17,767 41 21,390 63 -3,623 10 MXN 170,924 36 28,215 39 -32,249 59 4,034 60 RUB 20,930 4 7,543 31 -7,150 69 -393 24 BRL 55,990 48 38,095 88 -39,436 13 1,341 80 Bitcoin 11,644 63 806 100 -875 0 69 15   US Dollar Index Futures: The US Dollar Index large speculator standing this week resulted in a net position of 36,213 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly rise of 1,437 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 34,776 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish-Extreme with a score of 88.2 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 9.0 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 52.5 percent. US DOLLAR INDEX Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 86.5 3.4 8.8 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 28.0 67.2 3.5 – Net Position: 36,213 -39,506 3,293 – Gross Longs: 53,519 2,105 5,449 – Gross Shorts: 17,306 41,611 2,156 – Long to Short Ratio: 3.1 to 1 0.1 to 1 2.5 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 88.2 9.0 52.5 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bullish-Extreme Bearish-Extreme Bullish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 7.5 -7.2 -0.5   Euro Currency Futures: The Euro Currency large speculator standing this week resulted in a net position of 20,339 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly boost of 3,810 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 16,529 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 41.2 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 61.4 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 26.0 percent. EURO Currency Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 32.7 52.7 12.1 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 29.8 59.9 7.7 – Net Position: 20,339 -51,517 31,178 – Gross Longs: 230,770 372,113 85,455 – Gross Shorts: 210,431 423,630 54,277 – Long to Short Ratio: 1.1 to 1 0.9 to 1 1.6 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 41.2 61.4 26.0 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bearish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -2.2 -0.5 14.8   British Pound Sterling Futures: The British Pound Sterling large speculator standing this week resulted in a net position of -79,241 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly advance of 357 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -79,598 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish-Extreme with a score of 16.9 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 85.5 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 24.3 percent. BRITISH POUND Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 10.5 79.4 8.2 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 41.7 42.3 14.1 – Net Position: -79,241 94,344 -15,103 – Gross Longs: 26,613 201,647 20,811 – Gross Shorts: 105,854 107,303 35,914 – Long to Short Ratio: 0.3 to 1 1.9 to 1 0.6 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 16.9 85.5 24.3 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish-Extreme Bullish-Extreme Bearish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -27.0 21.6 1.9   Japanese Yen Futures: The Japanese Yen large speculator standing this week resulted in a net position of -102,309 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly advance of 8,145 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -110,454 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish-Extreme with a score of 5.9 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 91.8 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 27.5 percent. JAPANESE YEN Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 5.0 84.7 8.7 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 47.4 37.0 14.0 – Net Position: -102,309 115,062 -12,753 – Gross Longs: 12,113 204,417 20,933 – Gross Shorts: 114,422 89,355 33,686 – Long to Short Ratio: 0.1 to 1 2.3 to 1 0.6 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 5.9 91.8 27.5 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish-Extreme Bullish-Extreme Bearish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 0.9 -5.0 17.6   Swiss Franc Futures: The Swiss Franc large speculator standing this week resulted in a net position of -16,592 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly reduction of -829 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -15,763 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 36.6 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 72.3 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 13.8 percent. SWISS FRANC Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 9.8 74.5 15.2 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 41.0 16.0 42.6 – Net Position: -16,592 31,181 -14,589 – Gross Longs: 5,240 39,722 8,094 – Gross Shorts: 21,832 8,541 22,683 – Long to Short Ratio: 0.2 to 1 4.7 to 1 0.4 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 36.6 72.3 13.8 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bearish-Extreme NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -7.9 12.9 -19.8   Canadian Dollar Futures: The Canadian Dollar large speculator standing this week resulted in a net position of -14,496 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly reduction of -9,089 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -5,407 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 28.5 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 75.0 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 33.6 percent. CANADIAN DOLLAR Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 23.8 52.7 20.6 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 33.4 44.4 19.3 – Net Position: -14,496 12,591 1,905 – Gross Longs: 36,069 79,825 31,228 – Gross Shorts: 50,565 67,234 29,323 – Long to Short Ratio: 0.7 to 1 1.2 to 1 1.1 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 28.5 75.0 33.6 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bearish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -22.4 33.9 -43.0   Australian Dollar Futures: The Australian Dollar large speculator standing this week resulted in a net position of -44,642 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -2,928 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -41,714 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 43.4 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 59.5 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 28.5 percent. AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 25.3 60.4 11.7 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 52.6 27.1 17.7 – Net Position: -44,642 54,437 -9,795 – Gross Longs: 41,473 98,903 19,187 – Gross Shorts: 86,115 44,466 28,982 – Long to Short Ratio: 0.5 to 1 2.2 to 1 0.7 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 43.4 59.5 28.5 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bearish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -6.6 24.0 -60.9   New Zealand Dollar Futures: The New Zealand Dollar large speculator standing this week resulted in a net position of -17,767 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -4,771 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -12,996 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 41.5 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 63.4 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 10.4 percent. NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 24.7 71.1 3.9 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 53.9 35.9 9.8 – Net Position: -17,767 21,390 -3,623 – Gross Longs: 14,998 43,219 2,358 – Gross Shorts: 32,765 21,829 5,981 – Long to Short Ratio: 0.5 to 1 2.0 to 1 0.4 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 41.5 63.4 10.4 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bearish-Extreme NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -27.2 32.7 -57.5   Mexican Peso Futures: The Mexican Peso large speculator standing this week resulted in a net position of 28,215 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly gain of 11,490 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 16,725 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 39.4 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 59.4 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 60.1 percent. MEXICAN PESO Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 45.5 49.1 4.1 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 29.0 67.9 1.7 – Net Position: 28,215 -32,249 4,034 – Gross Longs: 77,819 83,844 7,000 – Gross Shorts: 49,604 116,093 2,966 – Long to Short Ratio: 1.6 to 1 0.7 to 1 2.4 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 39.4 59.4 60.1 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bullish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 11.6 -11.0 -3.5   Brazilian Real Futures: The Brazilian Real large speculator standing this week resulted in a net position of 38,095 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -2,683 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 40,778 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish-Extreme with a score of 87.8 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 12.8 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 80.5 percent. BRAZIL REAL Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 76.8 16.9 6.1 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 8.7 87.3 3.7 – Net Position: 38,095 -39,436 1,341 – Gross Longs: 42,989 9,470 3,438 – Gross Shorts: 4,894 48,906 2,097 – Long to Short Ratio: 8.8 to 1 0.2 to 1 1.6 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 87.8 12.8 80.5 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bullish-Extreme Bearish-Extreme Bullish-Extreme NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -7.3 8.3 -12.8   Bitcoin Futures: The Bitcoin large speculator standing this week resulted in a net position of 806 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly gain of 103 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 703 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish-Extreme with a score of 100.0 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 0.0 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 14.5 percent. BITCOIN Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 82.1 1.7 9.3 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 75.2 9.2 8.7 – Net Position: 806 -875 69 – Gross Longs: 9,564 194 1,081 – Gross Shorts: 8,758 1,069 1,012 – Long to Short Ratio: 1.1 to 1 0.2 to 1 1.1 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 100.0 0.0 14.5 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bullish-Extreme Bearish-Extreme Bearish-Extreme NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 20.1 -29.8 -13.0   Article By InvestMacro – Receive our weekly COT Reports by Email *COT Report: The COT data, released weekly to the public each Friday, is updated through the most recent Tuesday (data is 3 days old) and shows a quick view of how large speculators or non-commercials (for-profit traders) were positioned in the futures markets. The CFTC categorizes trader positions according to commercial hedgers (traders who use futures contracts for hedging as part of the business), non-commercials (large traders who speculate to realize trading profits) and nonreportable traders (usually small traders/speculators) as well as their open interest (contracts open in the market at time of reporting).See CFTC criteria here.  
Russia's Active Production Cuts Could Be Grounds For A Bullish Shock

Demand For Brent Crude Oil Rises, Silver Prices Rise, Improved Corn Crop Eases Supply Concerns

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 23.05.2022 11:11
Summary: Brent crude oil prices are rising in response to increasing demand. Silver prices are rising again. Improved weather conditions is leaving the market hopeful for an improved corn crop. Read next: (XAUUSD) Gold Prices Rise In The Wake Of Concerns Around U.S Economic Slowdown, Crude Oil Prices Rally In Response To Increasing Demand And Concerns Around Supply, Cotton Prices  Brent Crude Oil prices rising With the expected increase in demand for Brent crude oil in both the United States and in China's post-lockdown world, the price of Brent crude oil is rising. U.S gasoline and fuel prices remain at a record high level as the busiest driving season approaches. The market expects the demand for Brent crude to increase with the easing of lockdowns in China, causing further concerns around supply in an already tight market. Brent Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Silver prices rise again. A weakening US Dollar has aided in the rising price of Silver. Silver is considered a safe asset and is commonly used as a hedge against inflation which is attractive in the current economic environment. In addition, the rise in the price of silver also comes with investor need for safe-haven assets with the geo-political tensions and the concerns around the slowing global growth. Silver Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart Corn futures fall Late last week the price of corn futures fell, this came in the wake of investors buying wheat and selling corn in spread trades amidst signs of improved U.S corn crop planting. The improved corn planting is easing concerns around supply, driving the price lower. Corn Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart Read next: ECB Offering The Euro Support (EUR/USD), Strengthening Of The Renminbi Supporting The EUR and GBP, SNB Turns Hawkish (EUR/CHF) - Good Morning Forex!  Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Securing Battery Metal Supply Chains: Challenges and Opportunities Amid the Global Energy Transition

Potential Frost Causing Concerns Around Coffee Supplies, Crude Oil Demand Is Expected To Rise, Palladium Price Falls Amidst Easing Concerns Around Supply And Demand

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 25.05.2022 16:05
Summary: Weather conditions could have an adverse effect on coffee crops. Expected demand for crude oil rises as supply grows tighter. Demand and supply concerns around Palladium are easing. Read next: XAUUSD Prices Rise As Investors Turn To Safer Assets, Cotton Prices, NGAS Prices Still Rising As Concerns Around Supply Continue  Coffee futures prices Coffee futures prices have been falling over the past week amidst easing concerns over the possibility of potentially crop damaging frost in Brazil. Last year the frost in Brazil damaged coffee crops and caused coffee prices to soar, which is keeping the market on edge during the upcoming winter season. Coffee Jul ‘22 Future Price Chart WTI Crude Oil futures prices rise As expected demand rises and supply grows weaker, the price of Crude oil rises. The new French minister said that those who are opposed to a new EU sanction on Russian oil imports could still be convinced. Further sanctions on Russian oil will tighten supplies further than they already are during a time where US demand is expected to rise as memorial day and the summer looms. WTI Crude Oil Jul Futures Price Chart Palladium futures prices decline in the wake of easing supply and demand concerns Concerns around palladium supplies along with demand are easing, causing the price to fall. Global demand is expected to rise by only 3% in 2022 as covid lockdowns and continuing supply chain bottlenecks will likely delay the chip supply recovery until at least 2023, undermining car production around the world. Palladium Jun ‘22 Futures Price Chart Read next: Demand For Brent Crude Oil Rises, Silver Prices Rise, Improved Corn Crop Eases Supply Concerns  Sources: tradingeconomics.com, finance.yahoo.com
The Gold Rally Is Continuing To Stall, This Could Be A Good Year For Crude Oil

(XAUUSD) Gold Prices Rose For Second Consecutive Week, Concerns Around Crude Oil Supply Continues To Drive Price, Soybean Prices Rising

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 27.05.2022 11:30
Summary: The potential for a dovish Fed later on in the year leaves investors seeking safety in gold. The EU is still trying to reach an agreement for the banning of Russian Crude. Tight Soybean supplies. Read next: Easing Concerns Around Supply Drives The Price Of Both Wheat And Platinum Down, RBOB Gasoline Continues To Rise   XAUUSD futures rise Gold rose further on Friday as it hit its second consecutive weekly gain, the strength in Gold comes in the wake of a weakening US Dollar. The chances of the Federal Reserve Bank easing monetary policy later on in the year has left investors seeking gold as a hedge against future inflation, driving the price of gold up. XAUUSD Jun ‘22 Futures Price Chart Crude Oil prices continue to rise amidst supply concerns The price of Crude Oil traded above $114 per barrel on Friday. The past week for Crude has seen prices consistently rising amidst concerns over global supply. On Wednesday the EIA released data indicating that the US Crude inventories were lower than expected due to rising exports. In addition the EU is trying to negotiate with Hungary on the implementation of an oil embargo on Russia, with EU Council Charles Michel remaining confident that an agreement can be reached by May 30th. Crude Oil Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart Soybean Futures rising Soybeans are facing a tight supply run at the moment, export demand is rising causing the price of soybeans to trade high. As the oil embargo in Indonesia is lited, a certain amount of soybean volume will be added to the domestic market. Soybean Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart Read next: Potential Frost Causing Concerns Around Coffee Supplies, Crude Oil Demand Is Expected To Rise, Palladium Price Falls Amidst Easing Concerns Around Supply And Demand  Sources: tradingeconomics.com, finance.yahoo.com
Powell signals Fed needs to be nimble, Canada Inflation hits near 40-year high, bitcoin tries to hold USD20k

Some EU Governments Are Still In Favour Of Banning Russian Brent Crude Oil, Investors Turning To Silver As Demand For Safe-Haven Assets Rise, Corn Prices Fall Amidst Easing Supply Concers

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 30.05.2022 15:52
Summary: Lockdowns in China ease causing demand for Brent Crude to rise. Silver prices increase as market participants seek safe-haven assets. Supply concerns around corn are easing. read next (XAUUSD) Gold Prices Rose For Second Consecutive Week, Concerns Around Crude Oil Supply Continues To Drive Price, Soybean Prices Rising  Brent Crude Oil prices continue to rise The combination of Beijing and Shanghai beginning to come out of Covid-19 restrictions over the weekend and the ongoing European discussions regarding banning crude oil imports from Russia are causing concerns around supply to tighten. On Monday and Tuesday an EU governments will use a summit to continue to argue in favour of an embargo on Russian crude. The prices of Crude oil are going into their sixth straight month of gains amidst the supply concerns, as demand begins to rise back up to pre-pandemic levels. Brent Crude Oil Price Chart Silver prices are still on the rise A weaker US Dollar continues to give room for the price of silver to rise. Amidst continuing geopolitical tensions and growing concerns regarding slower global growth, investors are turning more towards safe-haven assets. Silver is considered to be a hedge against inflation, the Fed is still expected to tighten monetary policy by raising interest rates further at their next two meetings. Silver Jul ‘22 Futures Prices Corn prices are falling The price of corn futures fell late in May, to the lowest value in almost six weeks amidst expectations of higher supply and the easing of trading restrictions between major producers. Beijing and Brazil reached an agreement to begin corn exports from Brazil to China, after years of talks. In addition, actual planting of corn exceeded market expectations. The easing of supply concerns is slowly driving the price of corn futures down. Corn Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Chile's Lithium Nationalization and the Global Trend of Resource Nationalism: Implications for EV Supply Chains and Efforts to Strengthen Battery Metal Supply

XAUUSD Prices Fall As The US Dollar Rebounds, Inflationary Pressures Driving Cotton Demand Down, NGAS Price Rising

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 31.05.2022 12:29
Summary: The US Dollar’s rebound and stronger treasury yields have caused the price of gold to fall. Cotton prices are falling due to decreasing demand and improved supplies. NGAS on the rise again. Read next: Some EU Governments Are Still In Favour Of Banning Russian Brent Crude Oil, Investors Turning To Silver As Demand For Safe-Haven Assets Rise, Corn Prices Fall Amidst Easing Supply   XAUUSD price coming down off its recent recovery Gold prices began to rise late last week and on Monday, however, on Tuesday Gold prices fell in the wake of the US Dollar rebounding and stronger US Treasury yields. Gold has recovered some of the losses it faced earlier on in May due to the surging US Dollar. Concerns around a global recession and the chance of the Fed slowing or even stopping tightening monetary policy later on in the year has offered the precious metal some support. Gold Aug ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton prices falling due to lessening supply concerns Cotton prices are trading around 10% less than their May high, this is due to the prospect of higher supplies thanks to favourable weather in the largest growing regions. More than half of the crop had been planted by May 22nd and was ahead of schedule by this time, therefore offering hope for solid yields. In conjunction, demand for cotton seems to be weakening amidst inflationary pressures. Cotton Jul’22 Futures Price Chart Natural Gas Futures prices Natural Gas prices continue to rise, reaching closer to the peak hit last week. The near 14 year high for Natural Gas came with increased demand and concerns around supply, the price fluctuations are due to decreased demand as the weather changes, robust demand and slow output. NGAS Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart Read next: Strong Investor Sentiment Toward The Euro Continues (EUR/USD), EUR/GBP Currency Pair, As China Ease Lockdowns The AUD Outlook Seems Positive (GBP/AUD, AUD/USD)  Sources: tradingeconomics.com, finance.yahoo.com
What Did Support GDP? | Should Eurozone Worry!? Energy Prices May Weaken Production

EU Reaches An Agreement On The Banning Of Russian Crude Oil, Coffee Prices Rise, Palladium Prices Decline Along With Supply Concerns

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 01.06.2022 13:30
Summary: Crude Oil prices rise for sixth consecutive month. Coffee prices rise amidst supply concerns. Palladium prices fall along with demand Read next: XAUUSD Prices Fall As The US Dollar Rebounds, Inflationary Pressures Driving Cotton Demand Down, NGAS Price Rising  WTI Crude oil prices rise WTI Crude Oil enters the month of June going on their sixth consecutive month seeing price gains. The most recent gain comes in the wake of China’s easing of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions and the European Union's decision to partially ban Russian crude oil imports. The European Union has finally reached an agreement on the banning of Russian oil imports, the current decision ended with pipeline imports being allowed but seaborne imports being banned. This will cause some issues around supply, however, this most recent ban could pave the way for other crude oil producers to pump more crude into the markets. WTI Crude Oil Price Chart Coffee futures prices rising Coffee futures are trading at their highest price since mid April amidst a strong outlook for dryer conditions for the top producer in Brazil. The market has fears around a lower production in Brazil due to the continuation of La Niña, which reduces rainfall in Central-America. In addition, Colombian coffee exports slipped by 18% year to year. There were also signs pointing towards smaller global coffee supplies falling by 0.1%. Coffee Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart Palladium Futures Palladium prices have fallen by almost 40% below their all time high of $3180 the reduction in price comes from a fall in concerns around supply and demand remains low. Global palladium demand is expected to increase by only 3% in 2022 as covid lockdowns and continuing supply chain bottlenecks will likely delay a recover in the chip supply until 2023 at the very least, undermining car production around the world.   Palladium Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Read next: (HPQ) HP Inc. Earnings Beat Market Expectations  Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Australia Is Expected To Produce A Bumper Year Of Crops

Wheat Prices Enter June On A Four Week Low Platinum Prices Rising Again, RBOB Gasoline Prices Reach New High

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 02.06.2022 12:56
Summary: Wheat prices dropping as supply concerns ease. As China begins to lift covid-19 restrictions, demand for platinum is rising. RBOB gasoline prices rally in the wake of EU oil embargo. Read next: EU Reaches An Agreement On The Banning Of Russian Crude Oil, Coffee Prices Rise, Palladium Prices Decline Along With Supply Concerns  Wheat prices reach their lowest in four weeks Chicago wheat futures reached their lowest in four weeks on Thursday, as commodity traders carefully monitor the possible maritime trade corridors for Ukrainian wheat and fertilizers. The Russian president, Putin said that Russia was willing to open safe corridors to allow foreign ships to leave the both the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov ports, which would allow commercial shipping of Ukrainian grains after three months of war in the country, should western countries lift sanctions. In the United States there are higher projections for wheat in the future and in addition, the wheat prices remain supported thanks to India’s decision to impose a wheat embargo in an attempt to guarantee food security. Chicago Wheat Futures Price Chart Platinum Prices increased As China begins to re-open their economy after their covid-19 lockdown restrictions, the demand for platinum is increasing. Although the global outlook for metal use in car manufacturing will decline overall in 2022, concerns around supply and demand are still driving the price fluctuations of Platinum. Platinum Futures Price Chart RBOB gasoline RBOB Gasoline prices have risen to a new high at the start of the summer season. The latest rally comes in the wake of the European Union implementing a ban of seaborne oil imports from Russia, creating further concerns around supplies. RBOB Gasoline Futures Price Chart Read next: XAUUSD Prices Fall As The US Dollar Rebounds, Inflationary Pressures Driving Cotton Demand Down, NGAS Price Rising  Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
The Gold Rally Is Continuing To Stall, This Could Be A Good Year For Crude Oil

Demand For Safe-haven Assets Sends Gold Prices Rising, Saudi Arabia Indicates Plans To Increase Their Oil Output, Soybean Prices Are Volatile

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 03.06.2022 12:37
Summary: On Friday the price of gold neared its one month high. Crude oil prices have jumped up and down over the past week. Supply may increase to meet demand. Read next: Wheat Prices Enter June On A Four Week Low Platinum Prices Rising Again, RBOB Gasoline Prices Reach New High  Gold prices rise again On Friday the price of gold neared its one month high. The price of gold has been elevated by the weakness of the US Dollar, putting gold on track for its third weekly gain. The dollar weakened overnight in the wake of data that showed US payroll rose less than expected in May. Therefore, U.S Dollar backed gold became more attractive to overseas buyers. The current geopolitical tensions and the chances of the global economy falling into a recession also increased demand for the safe-haven asset. XAUUSD Price Chart WTI Crude Oil prices. Crude oil prices have jumped up and down over the past week. The price has dropped slightly during trading on Friday in the wake of news that Saudi Arabia will increase its oil output. Saudi Arabia indicated to its allies in the West that it would increase its oil output to try to balance the fall the region is experiencing from its Russian oil embargo. WTI Crude Oil Price Chart Soybeans The price of soybeans have been volatile over the past two days. Late April saw Soybean prices hit record high prices amidst supply and demand concerns. A top palm oil producer based in Indonesia indicated that it would reinstate a requirement to allocate a certain amount to the domestic market as it lifts the most recent export embargo. However supply may increase to meet demand, however it will be tight. Soybeans Price Chart Read next: EU Reaches An Agreement On The Banning Of Russian Crude Oil, Coffee Prices Rise, Palladium Prices Decline Along With Supply Concerns  Sources: finance.yahoo.com, fxmag.com, tradingeconomics.com
The EUR/USD Pair Maintains The Bullish Sentiment

Euro Currency Speculators continue to boost their bullish bets for 4th Week

Invest Macro Invest Macro 04.06.2022 22:45
By InvestMacro | COT | Data Tables | COT Leaders | Downloads | COT Newsletter Here are the latest charts and statistics for the Commitment of Traders (COT) data published by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The latest COT data is updated through Tuesday May 31st and shows a quick view of how large traders (for-profit speculators and commercial entities) were positioned in the futures markets. All currency positions are in direct relation to the US dollar where, for example, a bet for the euro is a bet that the euro will rise versus the dollar while a bet against the euro will be a bet that the euro will decline versus the dollar. Highlighting the COT currency data was the further gains in bullish bets for the Euro currency futures contracts. Euro speculators boosted their bullish bets for a fourth straight week this week and for the sixth time in the past ten weeks. Over the past four-week time-frame, Euro bets have risen by a total of +58,650 contracts, going from -6,378 net positions on May 3rd to a total of +52,272 net positions this week. This week marks the highest Euro speculator standing in the past twelve weeks. The recent improvement in Euro positions has taken place with a very strong change in sentiment as just four weeks ago the overall position had fallen into bearish territory. The Euro sentiment has been so bad that analysts have been making predictions for an inevitable decline of the Euro into parity versus the dollar. However, recently there has been rising expectations that the European Central Bank will be more hawkish towards interest rates in the near future (despite the weak outlook for EU GDP growth) and will end their negative interest rate policy. Over the past few weeks, the EUR/USD exchange rate has rebounded after falling to a multi-year low of 1.0350 in early May. This week the EUR/USD hit a weekly high of 1.0787 before closing at the 1.0719 exchange rate. Overall, the currencies with higher speculator bets this week were the Euro (13,342 contracts), Brazil real (6,602 contracts), British pound sterling (6,267 contracts), Canadian dollar (5,680 contracts), Mexican peso (5,657 contracts), Japanese yen (5,005 contracts) and the New Zealand dollar (597 contracts). The currencies with declining bets were the US Dollar Index (-501 contracts), Australian dollar (-3,236 contracts), Swiss franc (-785 contracts) and Bitcoin (-446 contracts). Strength scores (3-Year range of Speculator positions, from 0 to 100 where above 80 is extreme bullish and below 20 is extreme bearish) show that most of the currency markets are below their midpoint (50 percent) of the last 3 years. The Brazil Real, US Dollar Index and Bitcoin are currently in extreme bullish levels. Strength score trends (or move index, that show 6-week changes in strength scores) shows the recent strong weakness in the commodity currencies (AUD, NZD and CAD) as well as the Swiss franc. Data Snapshot of Forex Market Traders | Columns Legend May-31-2022OIOI-IndexSpec-NetSpec-IndexCom-NetCOM-IndexSmalls-NetSmalls-Index USD Index 63,863 98 37,538 91 -41,327 6 3,789 58 EUR 706,317 85 52,272 51 -85,186 52 32,914 29 GBP 252,881 72 -74,105 21 87,172 81 -13,067 29 JPY 239,080 81 -94,439 11 105,049 87 -10,610 32 CHF 49,579 40 -20,458 10 29,851 87 -9,393 26 CAD 135,929 21 -7,007 34 -327 68 7,334 44 AUD 153,661 48 -48,682 40 51,128 57 -2,446 46 NZD 55,134 53 -18,724 40 21,374 63 -2,650 21 MXN 212,843 55 35,449 42 -40,143 56 4,694 63 RUB 20,930 4 7,543 31 -7,150 69 -393 24 BRL 74,146 73 45,316 95 -47,670 5 2,354 92 Bitcoin 10,900 58 403 92 -503 0 100 15   US Dollar Index Futures: The US Dollar Index large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of 37,538 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -501 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 38,039 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish-Extreme with a score of 90.5 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 5.9 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 58.0 percent. US DOLLAR INDEX Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 85.9 3.7 8.8 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 27.1 68.4 2.8 – Net Position: 37,538 -41,327 3,789 – Gross Longs: 54,859 2,355 5,605 – Gross Shorts: 17,321 43,682 1,816 – Long to Short Ratio: 3.2 to 1 0.1 to 1 3.1 to 1 NET POSITION TREND:       – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 90.5 5.9 58.0 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bullish-Extreme Bearish-Extreme Bullish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:       – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 8.6 -9.0 5.2   Euro Currency Futures: The Euro Currency large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of 52,272 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly rise of 13,342 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 38,930 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish with a score of 51.0 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 51.9 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 28.9 percent. EURO Currency Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 33.5 51.7 12.3 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 26.1 63.8 7.7 – Net Position: 52,272 -85,186 32,914 – Gross Longs: 236,553 365,434 87,138 – Gross Shorts: 184,281 450,620 54,224 – Long to Short Ratio: 1.3 to 1 0.8 to 1 1.6 to 1 NET POSITION TREND:       – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 51.0 51.9 28.9 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bullish Bullish Bearish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:       – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 6.4 -10.1 24.0   British Pound Sterling Futures: The British Pound Sterling large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of -74,105 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly gain of 6,267 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -80,372 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 20.6 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 81.2 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 28.6 percent. BRITISH POUND Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 12.2 76.6 7.7 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 41.5 42.2 12.9 – Net Position: -74,105 87,172 -13,067 – Gross Longs: 30,788 193,786 19,446 – Gross Shorts: 104,893 106,614 32,513 – Long to Short Ratio: 0.3 to 1 1.8 to 1 0.6 to 1 NET POSITION TREND:       – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 20.6 81.2 28.6 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish-Extreme Bearish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:       – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -10.9 8.4 1.9   Japanese Yen Futures: The Japanese Yen large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of -94,439 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly increase of 5,005 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -99,444 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish-Extreme with a score of 10.7 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 86.9 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 31.9 percent. JAPANESE YEN Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 6.4 82.2 9.5 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 45.9 38.3 13.9 – Net Position: -94,439 105,049 -10,610 – Gross Longs: 15,201 196,584 22,605 – Gross Shorts: 109,640 91,535 33,215 – Long to Short Ratio: 0.1 to 1 2.1 to 1 0.7 to 1 NET POSITION TREND:       – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 10.7 86.9 31.9 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish-Extreme Bullish-Extreme Bearish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:       – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 7.9 -12.1 24.5   Swiss Franc Futures: The Swiss Franc large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of -20,458 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly lowering of -785 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -19,673 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish-Extreme with a score of 10.3 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 87.0 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 25.7 percent. SWISS FRANC Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 5.3 75.6 17.3 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 46.6 15.4 36.3 – Net Position: -20,458 29,851 -9,393 – Gross Longs: 2,641 37,473 8,596 – Gross Shorts: 23,099 7,622 17,989 – Long to Short Ratio: 0.1 to 1 4.9 to 1 0.5 to 1 NET POSITION TREND:       – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 10.3 87.0 25.7 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish-Extreme Bullish-Extreme Bearish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:       – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -21.5 10.4 7.5   Canadian Dollar Futures: The Canadian Dollar large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of -7,007 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly boost of 5,680 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -12,687 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 33.7 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 68.5 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 44.4 percent. CANADIAN DOLLAR Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 22.5 51.5 24.0 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 27.6 51.7 18.6 – Net Position: -7,007 -327 7,334 – Gross Longs: 30,520 70,006 32,660 – Gross Shorts: 37,527 70,333 25,326 – Long to Short Ratio: 0.8 to 1 1.0 to 1 1.3 to 1 NET POSITION TREND:       – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 33.7 68.5 44.4 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bearish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:       – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -30.7 32.5 -21.5   Australian Dollar Futures: The Australian Dollar large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of -48,682 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -3,236 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -45,446 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 39.7 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 57.0 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 46.5 percent. AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 21.4 63.1 12.8 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 53.1 29.9 14.4 – Net Position: -48,682 51,128 -2,446 – Gross Longs: 32,897 97,031 19,659 – Gross Shorts: 81,579 45,903 22,105 – Long to Short Ratio: 0.4 to 1 2.1 to 1 0.9 to 1 NET POSITION TREND:       – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 39.7 57.0 46.5 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bearish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:       – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -18.4 22.6 -25.6   New Zealand Dollar Futures: The New Zealand Dollar large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of -18,724 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly boost of 597 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -19,321 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 39.8 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 63.3 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 21.5 percent. NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 16.6 76.2 5.0 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 50.6 37.4 9.8 – Net Position: -18,724 21,374 -2,650 – Gross Longs: 9,179 42,010 2,762 – Gross Shorts: 27,903 20,636 5,412 – Long to Short Ratio: 0.3 to 1 2.0 to 1 0.5 to 1 NET POSITION TREND:       – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 39.8 63.3 21.5 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bearish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:       – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -32.0 32.2 -20.4   Mexican Peso Futures: The Mexican Peso large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of 35,449 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly rise of 5,657 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 29,792 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 42.5 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 56.1 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 62.9 percent. MEXICAN PESO Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 53.8 41.8 3.5 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 37.1 60.6 1.3 – Net Position: 35,449 -40,143 4,694 – Gross Longs: 114,480 88,894 7,396 – Gross Shorts: 79,031 129,037 2,702 – Long to Short Ratio: 1.4 to 1 0.7 to 1 2.7 to 1 NET POSITION TREND:       – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 42.5 56.1 62.9 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bullish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:       – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 5.9 -5.8 0.6   Brazilian Real Futures: The Brazilian Real large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of 45,316 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly gain of 6,602 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 38,714 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish-Extreme with a score of 94.9 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 4.8 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 92.3 percent. BRAZIL REAL Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 71.3 22.4 5.9 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 10.2 86.7 2.7 – Net Position: 45,316 -47,670 2,354 – Gross Longs: 52,896 16,595 4,372 – Gross Shorts: 7,580 64,265 2,018 – Long to Short Ratio: 7.0 to 1 0.3 to 1 2.2 to 1 NET POSITION TREND:       – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 94.9 4.8 92.3 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bullish-Extreme Bearish-Extreme Bullish-Extreme NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:       – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 0.7 -0.6 -1.6     Bitcoin Futures: The Bitcoin large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of 403 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -446 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 849 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish-Extreme with a score of 91.5 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 23.2 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 15.2 percent. BITCOIN Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 79.6 1.5 9.5 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 75.9 6.1 8.6 – Net Position: 403 -503 100 – Gross Longs: 8,680 159 1,033 – Gross Shorts: 8,277 662 933 – Long to Short Ratio: 1.0 to 1 0.2 to 1 1.1 to 1 NET POSITION TREND:       – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 91.5 23.2 15.2 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bullish-Extreme Bearish Bearish-Extreme NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:       – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 11.3 -20.4 -6.1   Article By InvestMacro – Receive our weekly COT Reports by Email *COT Report: The COT data, released weekly to the public each Friday, is updated through the most recent Tuesday (data is 3 days old) and shows a quick view of how large speculators or non-commercials (for-profit traders) were positioned in the futures markets. The CFTC categorizes trader positions according to commercial hedgers (traders who use futures contracts for hedging as part of the business), non-commercials (large traders who speculate to realize trading profits) and nonreportable traders (usually small traders/speculators) as well as their open interest (contracts open in the market at time of reporting).See CFTC criteria here.
Corn Prices Recorded Their Biggest Weekly Gain, Gold Demand In India May Suffer A Temporary Setback

Saudi Arabia Hike Brent Crude Oil Prices, Demand For Safe-haven Assets Is Supporting Silver Prices, Corn Prices At 8 Week Lows

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 06.06.2022 13:12
Summary: Saudi Arabia hiked their crude oil prices for July. Hopes of higher corn supplies thanks to hopeful USDA reports and easing trade restrictions between the major producers. Increased demand for Silver as a safe-haven asset drives the prices up. Read next: Saudi Arabia Indicates Plans To Increase Their Oil Output (EUR/USD), ECB Plans To Start Tightening Monetary Policy Still Set For July (EUR/GBP), (USD/JPY, USD/CHF)  Brent Crude oil prices surge as Saudi Arabia Increase prices On Monday Saudi Arabia hiked their crude oil prices for July, driving the price of Brent crude oil up to almost $121 per barrel. This move tightened global supplies even after OPEC+ agreed to increase its output at a faster pace in the coming months. The premium for the barrels heading to the U.S remained steady, whilst the premiums for the barrels heading for Asia and Northwest European countries were raised by Saudi Arabia. Despite OPEC+ promises to increase its output by 50% than previously planned, there are still doubts around whether or not they can meet the demand as member countries are struggling to meet the demand. The price rise and the demand and supply concerns are happening in the peak of the U.S driving season and increased demand as China comes out of its Covid-19 lockdowns, and their economy starts again. Brent Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Silver prices rise again The price of silver reached the highest in a month, this comes in the wake of increased demand for the safe-haven asset. The increased demand is being caused by continuing geopolitical tensions, inflation and persistent concerns around slowing global growth. Silver Jul ‘22 Price Chart Corn prices low Corn futures are trading at eight week lows on Monday amidst strong hopes of higher supplies thanks to hopeful USDA reports and easing trade restrictions between the major producers. With planting progress strong and expectations for exports to resume from the Ukraine, prices are dropping. In addition, Brazil and Beijing came to a conclusion regarding beginning exports from Brazil to China. Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
(XAUUSD) Gold Should Be Bullish, NGAS Reaches Highest Price Since August 2008, Cotton Crop Planting Is Ahead Of Schedule

(XAUUSD) Gold Should Be Bullish, NGAS Reaches Highest Price Since August 2008, Cotton Crop Planting Is Ahead Of Schedule

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 07.06.2022 13:41
Summary: Gold prices rising amidst market uncertainty. Natural gas futures rose to their highest price since August 2008. Demand for cotton is softening due to inflationary pressures and rising prices. Read next: Saudi Arabia Hike Brent Crude Oil Prices, Demand For Safe-haven Assets Is Supporting Silver Prices, Corn Prices At 8 Week Low  XAUUSD expected to rise Gold prices rose during early trading on Tuesday, this rally is expected to last as projections of an economic slowdown pave the way for higher gold prices. A strong mix of talks of a global recession, decades-high inflation and geopolitical tensions should increase the demand for gold due to its safe-haven properties. The rise in gold comes after two days of declining prices thanks to a stronger US Dollar and rising treasury yields. XAUUSD Price Chart Natural Gas facing declining production On Tuesday Natural gas futures rose to their highest price since August 2008, this comes in the wake of higher international demand and declining production. As the northern hemisphere goes into summer, the need for cooling has strengthened which has been a driver for rising prices in the short term. On a global scale, the war in the Ukraine has caused a global energy shortage. The European Union is calling on the U.S to increase their exports to Europe to help lessen the region's reliance on Russian gas. NGAS Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart Demand for Cotton softens Cotton prices have fallen amidst hopes of higher supplies due to favourable weather conditions in the top growing regions. Cotton crop planting is ahead of schedule giving hope around strengthening yields. In addition, it seems that demand for cotton is softening due to inflationary pressures and rising prices. Cotton Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
What Did Support GDP? | Should Eurozone Worry!? Energy Prices May Weaken Production

Coffee Supplies Remain Tight, Supply and Demand Concerns Are Easing For Palladium , WTI Crude Oil Nearing March High

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 08.06.2022 13:39
Summary: Markets await the US crude inventory report. Disappointing Brazilian coffee supplies. Expectations that the palladium market will close in balance at the end of 2022 Read next: (XAUUSD) Gold Should Be Bullish, NGAS Reaches Highest Price Since August 2008, Cotton Crop Planting Is Ahead Of Schedule  WTI Crude Oil prices rising as supplies tighten further On Wednesday, WTI Crude oil futures prices are nearing the near 14 year high that was hit in March, this price rise comes in the wake of expected increase in demand as China comes out of lockdowns, tight global supplies and the summer driving season in the US. The markets are also awaiting a report that will indicate the official US crude inventories, which is expected to have fallen, highlighting the tightness in crude supplies, globally. The CEO of global commodities trader, Trafigura said that the energy markets were in a “critical” state due to sanctions placed on Russian oil inlight of their invasion of the Ukraine which has just built on already tight supplies which were created by years of under-investment. WTI Crude Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart Coffee prices volatile amidst changing supply and demand concerns Coffee futures prices hit a peak on June 1st amidst general real strength and concerns over tight supplies. Coffee dealers indicated to traders that the market is well supported by limited flow from Brazil and Central America, the top Brazilian grower lagging on its historical average. The concerns around coffee supplies and demand are driving the futures prices. Coffee Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Palladium prices are normalising Palladium prices have been falling consistently over the past week due to easing concerns around both demand and supply. The world's largest palladium producer, Nornickel, expects the palladium market to close in balance at the end of 2022. The company also promised they would continue producing in order to meet its obligations, despite logistic obstacles. In addition, global supply demand is expected to increase by only 3% in 2022 as Covid-19 lockdowns and continuing supply chain bottlenecks will likely delay recovery of chip supplies until at least 2023, thus undermining car production. Palladium Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Russia Look Set To Double Its Exports For The First Half Of 2023

Concerns Around Increasing Demand and Tightening Supply For Platinum, RBOB Gasoline, West Is Unlikely To Ease Sanctions On Russia Causing Wheat Supply Concerns Persist

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 09.06.2022 11:39
Summary: Sanctions on Russia and protests in South Africa are causing problems for platinum exports. As shortage concerns continue, the price of wheat futures continue to rise. Read next: Coffee Supplies Remain Tight, Supply and Demand Concerns Are Easing For Palladium , WTI Crude Oil Nearing March High  Platinum faces a future of tight supplies Platinum futures rose above $1000 per tonne during the trading week, the highest price in over 2 months. The price rise comes in the wake of concerns around tight supplies and the demand recovery for the biggest platinum consumer, China. China’s platinum consumption is due to increase as the government lifts most of the Covid-19 health restrictions in Shanghai and announced support measures to help boost the economy. In addition, supply chain issues are persisting as the war in Eastern Europe continues and more sanctions are being placed on Russia, the top exporter of platinum. South Africa’s production of platinum is also set to fall amidst risks of extended strikes, as workers continue to protest for wage-negotiations. Platinum Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart West unlikely to ease sanctions on Russia, wheat supply concerns persist As shortage concerns continue, the price of wheat futures continue to rise. The expectations of higher trading activity from Ukraine remained low as the west is unlikely to relax the sanctions on Russia, meaning Putin is unlikely to open Ukrainian ports and allow trade. Investors are remaining alert to any possible changes in India's export ban that was passed in May, following news that India’s government may allow exporters to ship some of the wheat that is currently stuck in cargos. Wheat Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart RBOB Gasoline Prices of RBOB gasoline continue to rise as the concerns around energy supplies persist, globally. The continuing sanctions on Russia, is causing supply insecurity as the US enters into its summer driving season, driving demand up. RBOB Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart Read next: (XAUUSD) Gold Should Be Bullish, NGAS Reaches Highest Price Since August 2008, Cotton Crop Planting Is Ahead Of Schedule  Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Coffee: Brazil And Columbia Are Reducing The Production

(XAUUSD) Gold Prices Falling In The Run-Up To US Inflation Data Release, NGAS Prices Fall But Remain Elevated, Coffee Prices

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 10.06.2022 11:12
Summary: US inflation data should offer the market guidance on the Federal Reserve's interest rate hike timeline. Natural gas futures prices dropped on Thursday as investors reacted positively to information from the EIA. Coffee futures prices remain supported by limited supplies and general real strength. Read next: Concerns Around Increasing Demand and Tightening Supply For Platinum, RBOB Gasoline, West Is Unlikely To Ease Sanctions On Russia Causing Wheat Supply Concerns Persist  (XAUUSD) Gold prices falling as US Dollar strengthens Gold futures prices eased on Friday in the wake of a strengthening US Dollar and rising Treasury yields weighed on the safe-havens appeal in the run-up to the release of US inflation data that should offer the market guidance on the Federal Reserve's interest rate hike timeline. The Fed is set to implement two more 50 basis point interest rate hikes at both its June and July meetings, following a move similar to the one in May, which has recently put pressure on gold. Meanwhile, global economic outlook risks that have arisen from the war in the Ukraine, persisting supply chain disruptions, high commodity prices and rising borrowing costs are all factors that are offering gold prices support. XAUUSD Aug ‘22 Futures Price Chart NGAS futures supported by rising demand and tight supplies Natural gas futures prices dropped on Thursday as investors reacted positively to information from the EIA showing that the natural gas storage is built primarily in line with expectations. NGAS prices faced heavy pressure earlier in the trading week after an explosion at the Freeport oil and gas export terminal in Texas, which is set to leave fuel supplies stranded in the domestic market despite the soaring international demand. Still, NGAS prices remained high this week amidst record demand for power in Texas, a fall in output and an intense rally for NGAS as Russia’s war on Ukraine sends energy markets scrambling. NGAS Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart Coffee is supported by general real strength Coffee futures prices remain supported by limited supplies and general real strength. Coffee dealers indicated that the market remains well supported by a limited flow from both Central America and Brazil, with Brazil, who is the top harvester and grower, lagging their historical average. Coffee Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingecnomics.com  
COT Week 23 Charts: Forex Speculators Positions mostly higher led by Canadian dollar & Swiss franc

COT Week 23 Charts: Forex Speculators Positions mostly higher led by Canadian dollar & Swiss franc

Invest Macro Invest Macro 12.06.2022 17:16
By InvestMacro | COT | Data Tables | COT Leaders | Downloads | COT Newsletter Here are the latest charts and statistics for the Commitment of Traders (COT) data published by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The latest COT data is updated through Tuesday June 7th and shows a quick view of how large traders (for-profit speculators and commercial entities) were positioned in the futures markets. All currency positions are in direct relation to the US dollar where, for example, a bet for the euro is a bet that the euro will rise versus the dollar while a bet against the euro will be a bet that the euro will decline versus the dollar. COT Currencies market speculator bets were mostly higher this week as eight out of the eleven currency markets we cover had higher positioning this week while three markets had lower contracts. Leading the gains for currency markets was the Canadian dollar (5,945 contracts) and the Swiss franc (4,326 contracts) with the British pound sterling (3,295 contracts), Japanese yen (2,793 contracts), Brazil real (1,389 contracts), Australian dollar (786 contracts), US Dollar Index (400 contracts) and Bitcoin (87 contracts) also showing a positive week. Meanwhile, leading the declines in speculator bets this week were Mexican peso (-2,723 contracts) and Euro (-1,729 contracts) with New Zealand dollar (-1,047 contracts) also registering lower bets on the week. Currency Speculators Notes: US Dollar Index speculator bets have continued their upward climb in four out of the past five weeks as well as nine out of the past twelve weeks. USD Index remains in an extreme-bullish strength level and is very close (currently +37,938 contracts) to the highest net speculator position (+39,078 contracts on January 4th) of this recent bullish cycle, emphasizing the strong speculator bias. The Euro speculator position saw a pullback this week (-1,729 contracts) after huge gains in the previous three weeks (+58,650 contracts). Speculator sentiment is still pretty strong currently (+50,543 contracts) despite a very weak exchange rate (EURUSD at 1.0524 to close the week) and weak outlook for the Eurozone economy with rising inflation. British pound sterling speculator sentiment has crumbled in the past few months. The net speculator position managed to poke its head above its negative bias on February 15th with a total of +2,237 net contracts but sentiment has deteriorated since. From February 22nd to this week, speculator bets have dropped by a total of -73,047 contracts and recently hit a 139-week low on May 24th, the lowest level of speculator sentiment dating back to September of 2019. Japanese yen speculator positions are the most bearish of the major currencies just under -100,000 contracts. The USDJPY exchange rate is at a 20-year high and there has been no sign that the BOJ is interest in raising interest rates while other central banks commit to higher rates. These factors seem to say that the rout of the yen will continue ahead for some time (but how far can it go?). Commodity currency speculator bets are on the defensive lately. Australian dollar spec bets have fallen in five out of the past six weeks. Canadian dollar bets are now in bearish territory for a 5th straight week. New Zealand dollar speculator positions have declined in six out of the past seven weeks and the net position has now fallen to the lowest level since March of 2020 Strength scores (3-Year range of Speculator positions, from 0 to 100 where above 80 is extreme bullish and below 20 is extreme bearish) show that the Brazilian Real, US Dollar Index and Bitcoin are all in extreme-bullish levels at the current moment. On the opposite end of the extreme spectrum, the Japanese yen and the Swiss franc are very weak in relative speculator sentiment and sit in the extreme-bearish levels. Strength score trends (or move index, that calculate 6-week changes in strength scores) shows that the commodity currencies have been losing sentiment over the last six weeks. The Australian dollar, Canadian dollar and the New Zealand dollar have all had changes of at least -18.8 percent in their strength scores with the New Zealand dollar leading the decline with a -33.3 percent drop in six weeks. The US Dollar Index, Euro and Mexican Peso have had small but rising scores over the past six weeks. Data Snapshot of Forex Market Traders | Columns Legend Jun-07-2022 OI OI-Index Spec-Net Spec-Index Com-Net COM-Index Smalls-Net Smalls-Index USD Index 65,163 100 37,938 91 -41,863 5 3,925 59 EUR 730,667 95 50,543 51 -88,189 51 37,646 37 GBP 258,623 76 -70,810 23 80,465 77 -9,655 36 JPY 266,054 100 -91,646 12 109,109 89 -17,463 18 CHF 49,794 41 -16,132 16 27,216 87 -11,084 20 CAD 167,373 42 -1,062 40 -13,401 58 14,463 59 AUD 166,422 57 -47,896 40 47,413 54 483 54 NZD 63,540 70 -19,771 38 22,681 65 -2,910 19 MXN 248,184 72 32,726 41 -38,117 57 5,391 66 RUB 20,930 4 7,543 31 -7,150 69 -393 24 BRL 72,371 70 46,705 96 -48,954 4 2,249 91 Bitcoin 10,990 58 490 93 -529 0 39 14   US Dollar Index Futures: The US Dollar Index large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of 37,938 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly lift of 400 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 37,538 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish-Extreme with a score of 91.2 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 5.0 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 59.5 percent. US DOLLAR INDEX Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 85.1 3.2 8.9 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 26.9 67.5 2.8 – Net Position: 37,938 -41,863 3,925 – Gross Longs: 55,460 2,090 5,780 – Gross Shorts: 17,522 43,953 1,855 – Long to Short Ratio: 3.2 to 1 0.0 to 1 3.1 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 91.2 5.0 59.5 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bullish-Extreme Bearish-Extreme Bullish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 7.0 -8.8 13.4   Euro Currency Futures: The Euro Currency large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of 50,543 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly reduction of -1,729 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 52,272 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish with a score of 50.5 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 51.0 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 36.7 percent. EURO Currency Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 31.5 50.0 12.5 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 24.6 62.1 7.3 – Net Position: 50,543 -88,189 37,646 – Gross Longs: 230,248 365,628 90,978 – Gross Shorts: 179,705 453,817 53,332 – Long to Short Ratio: 1.3 to 1 0.8 to 1 1.7 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 50.5 51.0 36.7 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bullish Bullish Bearish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 8.7 -11.9 22.7   British Pound Sterling Futures: The British Pound Sterling large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -70,810 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly increase of 3,295 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -74,105 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 23.0 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 77.3 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 35.6 percent. BRITISH POUND Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 13.4 74.1 8.4 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 40.8 43.0 12.1 – Net Position: -70,810 80,465 -9,655 – Gross Longs: 34,618 191,742 21,602 – Gross Shorts: 105,428 111,277 31,257 – Long to Short Ratio: 0.3 to 1 1.7 to 1 0.7 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 23.0 77.3 35.6 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bearish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -0.9 -4.4 17.9   Japanese Yen Futures: The Japanese Yen large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -91,646 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly boost of 2,793 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -94,439 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish-Extreme with a score of 12.4 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 88.9 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 18.0 percent. JAPANESE YEN Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 6.9 79.3 8.7 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 41.4 38.3 15.3 – Net Position: -91,646 109,109 -17,463 – Gross Longs: 18,466 210,889 23,226 – Gross Shorts: 110,112 101,780 40,689 – Long to Short Ratio: 0.2 to 1 2.1 to 1 0.6 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 12.4 88.9 18.0 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish-Extreme Bullish-Extreme Bearish-Extreme NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 2.4 -2.8 3.9   Swiss Franc Futures: The Swiss Franc large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -16,132 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly advance of 4,326 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -20,458 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish-Extreme with a score of 15.6 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 86.9 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 20.0 percent. SWISS FRANC Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 5.2 69.3 18.8 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 37.6 14.6 41.1 – Net Position: -16,132 27,216 -11,084 – Gross Longs: 2,609 34,494 9,378 – Gross Shorts: 18,741 7,278 20,462 – Long to Short Ratio: 0.1 to 1 4.7 to 1 0.5 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 15.6 86.9 20.0 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish-Extreme Bullish-Extreme Bearish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -8.3 2.4 6.0   Canadian Dollar Futures: The Canadian Dollar large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -1,062 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly boost of 5,945 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -7,007 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 40.2 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 57.6 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 58.6 percent. CANADIAN DOLLAR Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 23.5 44.2 22.4 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 24.1 52.2 13.7 – Net Position: -1,062 -13,401 14,463 – Gross Longs: 39,288 74,044 37,463 – Gross Shorts: 40,350 87,445 23,000 – Long to Short Ratio: 1.0 to 1 0.8 to 1 1.6 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 40.2 57.6 58.6 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bullish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -23.8 14.2 9.7   Australian Dollar Futures: The Australian Dollar large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -47,896 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly increase of 786 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -48,682 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 40.4 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 54.3 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 53.6 percent. AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 19.1 59.9 14.5 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 47.8 31.4 14.2 – Net Position: -47,896 47,413 483 – Gross Longs: 31,720 99,747 24,197 – Gross Shorts: 79,616 52,334 23,714 – Long to Short Ratio: 0.4 to 1 1.9 to 1 1.0 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 40.4 54.3 53.6 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bullish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -18.8 13.8 4.3   New Zealand Dollar Futures: The New Zealand Dollar large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -19,771 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -1,047 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -18,724 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 38.1 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 65.4 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 18.5 percent. NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 19.4 69.1 4.0 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 50.5 33.4 8.6 – Net Position: -19,771 22,681 -2,910 – Gross Longs: 12,310 43,890 2,538 – Gross Shorts: 32,081 21,209 5,448 – Long to Short Ratio: 0.4 to 1 2.1 to 1 0.5 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 38.1 65.4 18.5 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bearish-Extreme NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -33.3 31.2 -4.3   Mexican Peso Futures: The Mexican Peso large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of 32,726 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -2,723 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 35,449 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 41.3 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 56.9 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 65.9 percent. MEXICAN PESO Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 48.0 35.4 3.4 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 34.8 50.8 1.2 – Net Position: 32,726 -38,117 5,391 – Gross Longs: 119,162 87,884 8,441 – Gross Shorts: 86,436 126,001 3,050 – Long to Short Ratio: 1.4 to 1 0.7 to 1 2.8 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 41.3 56.9 65.9 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bullish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 5.4 -6.1 8.3   Brazilian Real Futures: The Brazilian Real large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of 46,705 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly boost of 1,389 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 45,316 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish-Extreme with a score of 96.3 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 3.5 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 91.1 percent. BRAZIL REAL Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 81.1 13.5 5.4 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 16.5 81.2 2.3 – Net Position: 46,705 -48,954 2,249 – Gross Longs: 58,657 9,780 3,931 – Gross Shorts: 11,952 58,734 1,682 – Long to Short Ratio: 4.9 to 1 0.2 to 1 2.3 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 96.3 3.5 91.1 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bullish-Extreme Bearish-Extreme Bullish-Extreme NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -0.2 -0.2 4.4   Bitcoin Futures: The Bitcoin large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of 490 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly lift of 87 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 403 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish-Extreme with a score of 93.2 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 21.6 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 13.8 percent. BITCOIN Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 81.5 1.5 9.7 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 77.1 6.4 9.3 – Net Position: 490 -529 39 – Gross Longs: 8,959 169 1,063 – Gross Shorts: 8,469 698 1,024 – Long to Short Ratio: 1.1 to 1 0.2 to 1 1.0 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 93.2 21.6 13.8 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bullish-Extreme Bearish Bearish-Extreme NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 1.5 -6.4 0.6   Article By InvestMacro – Receive our weekly COT Reports by Email *COT Report: The COT data, released weekly to the public each Friday, is updated through the most recent Tuesday (data is 3 days old) and shows a quick view of how large speculators or non-commercials (for-profit traders) were positioned in the futures markets. The CFTC categorizes trader positions according to commercial hedgers (traders who use futures contracts for hedging as part of the business), non-commercials (large traders who speculate to realize trading profits) and nonreportable traders (usually small traders/speculators) as well as their open interest (contracts open in the market at time of reporting).See CFTC criteria here.
India's RBI Keeps Repo Rate Unchanged Amid Tomato-Driven Inflation Surge

Brent Crude Oil Prices, Silver Prices Hit Lowest Price In Four Weeks, Corn Prices Rise Amid Supply Concerns

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 13.06.2022 12:48
Summary: Rising covid cases in China and 40-year high US Inflation. The global economic outlook remains dim due to the rising borrowing costs, the war in Ukraine, high commodity prices and ongoing supply disruptions. Failed talks between Russia and Ukraine puts corn supplies under pressure. Read next: (XAUUSD) Gold Prices Falling In The Run-Up To US Inflation Data Release, NGAS Prices Fall But Remain Elevated, Coffee Prices  Brent Crude prices fall for third session Brent crude oil futures prices have fallen on Monday for their third session as investors have been monitoring the covid situation in China and have remained concerned that rising inflation may hinder growth and negatively impact the demand for oil. Major cities in China are fighting rising covid-19 cases with officials warning of “ferocious” Covid spread in Beijing. In addition, U.S inflation hit a 40-year high of 8.6% last month, which increases the likelihood of more aggressive interest rate hikes from the FED. On Saturday US Fuel prices went above $5 per gallon, extending the surge in fuel costs that is driving rising inflation. Goldman Sachs indicated on Friday that energy prices needed to increase further before achieving a destruction in demand that is sufficient for market rebalancing. Brent Crude Oil Price Chart Silver prices reaches its lowest level in 4 weeks Investors' worries around the global economic outlook and a more hawkish attitude from the Federal Reserve have been strengthening, pushing silver prices down to its lowest level in four weeks. The global economic outlook remains dim due to the rising borrowing costs, the war in Ukraine, high commodity prices and ongoing supply disruptions. The Fed is due to continue tightening its monetary policy during the coming week after US inflation reached 41-year highs during May, in addition the ECB and RBA have also chosen a more hawkish path as inflation shows no signs of peaking. Silver Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart Corn Prices rising amidst concerns around supply. Corn prices reached nearly eight week highs in the wake of new concerns around grain supplies. Talks failed between two of the major corn suppliers, Russia and the Ukraine around the resuming of Ukrainian exports despite the Turkish efforts to negotiate a safe passage for grain stuck at the Black Sea Ports. Russian President Putin said free shipment depended on an end to sanctions on Russia. Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Declines At The Close Of The New York Stock Exchange, The Drop Leaders Were Nike Inc Shares

Gold (XAUUSD) Prices Are Falling, Expectations Of Cooling NGAS Demand, Cotton’s Demand Weakening

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 14.06.2022 11:32
Summary: Gold prices are under pressure from a rallying US Dollar. NGAS prices have dropped as expectations of cooling demand strengthened as the summer season approaches. Inflationary pressures and re-imposed Chinese lockdowns vs Cotton prices Read next: Brent Crude Oil Prices, Silver Prices Hit Lowest Price In Four Weeks, Corn Prices Rise Amid Supply Concerns  XAUUSD prices falling in the wake of broad market sell-off On Tuesday Gold futures are trading at around four-week lows after falling nearly 3% during Monday's trading session. Gold prices remain under pressure from a rallying US Dollar and Treasury yields as investors are bracing themselves for more aggressive monetary policy tightening from the Federal Reserve Bank. Aggressive interest rate hikes have also instilled fears of a recession in the US economy which drove further selling and forced liquidation across the financial markets, including with gold. XAUUSD Price Chart Natural Gas demand falling as the summer season approaches Natural gas prices dropped in the past two trading sessions in the wake of investors' expectations of cooling demand strengthened as the summer season approaches. In addition, a recent explosion at a major Texas LNG terminal has made room for more natural gas to enter the market, due to the facility being offline for at least another 3 weeks. The extra supply in the market could bridge the gap between the current inventory levels and the 5-year average, which has been one of the driving forces behind the quarters natural gas rally. NGAS Futures Price Chart Demand weakening for Cotton Cotton futures prices are trading near 2-month lows due to expectations of higher supply and weaker demand. Cotton demand is expected to decrease due to inflationary pressures and the largest consumer, China re-imposes covid-19 lockdowns. Cotton Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
The movie that changed futures trading once and for all

The movie that changed futures trading once and for all

Purple Trading Purple Trading 14.06.2022 08:01
The movie that changed futures trading once and for all There is more than dozen of films about financial markets. However, there is only one that had such an impact that it led to a legislative change in the commodity futures market. Which movie are we talking about and what changes it introduce in regards to commodity trading? Read on! Holywood’s fascination with financial markets Holywood is no stranger to depicting the world of financial markets. The subject became particularly attractive in the 1980s, when it became clear that market capitalism was more viable economic model than central planning of the Eastern Bloc, resulting in many films set in the stock market environment, majority of which focusing on Wall Street. However, only one of these films has managed to leave a mark in the memory of viewers as well as in law textbooks. Trading Places - a probe into the world of commodity trading Brothers Mortimer and Randolp Duke are bored billionaires who own a commodities trading brokerage firm. One day, as a part of somewhat cynical bet, they decide to swap the lives of a young and promising businessman, Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd), and a street hustler, Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy). They want to crush the dreams of the former while helping the latter to become familiar in the world of financial markets. From today's perspective, the film is a unique probe into the workings of the financial markets before they were heavily computerised. In addition to the brilliant scenes in which are the Duke brothers explaining to Billy Valentine how commodities trading works, we also get a glimpse behind the scenes at the New York Board of Trade, where commodities are traded (climactic trading scenes were actually filmed there). The bulk of the plot and the main storyline then revolves around the trading of Frozen Concentrated Orange Juice (FCOJ), specifically the futures contracts of this commodity. Eddie Murphy rule   This rule, officially titled "Section 136 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Reform and Consumer Protection Act, under Section 746" (but commonly referred to as "the Eddie Murphy rule"), prohibits the misuse of internal government information for the purpose of trading in the commodities markets. No one likes spoilers, so if you haven't seen this movie, we won't give away the plot and the denouement of the final scene of the entire movie. We'll just mention that shorting of FCOJ futures plays an important role here. In fact, so important, that this scene is reportedly often reference by traders on the New York Stock Exchange. Figure 1: The final scene of the film that initiated the inception of "Eddie Murphy rule" (source IMDb.com) Trading FCOJ futures today Although nowadays you don't see crowded rooms full of white collar men and women trying to buy low and sell high, FCOJ futures trading still exists. The only main difference is that rooms and phones have been replaced by computer screens and cubicles. Also, virtually anyone can trade today. If you are interested in trying out CFD trading of FCOJ futures, at Purple Trading we have recently introduced this instrument to our trader platforms. Just like our heroes of Trading Places, you can short (and long) and potentialy profit from both favourable and unfavourable market situations. The only difference is that you won't be able to use government information to do so, because Eddie Murphy Rule wouldn't allow you to.
The Swing Overview – Week 23 2022

The Swing Overview – Week 23 2022

Purple Trading Purple Trading 17.06.2022 08:53
The Swing Overview - Week 23 Major global stock indices broke through their support levels after several days of range movement in response to the tightening economy, the ongoing war in Ukraine, slowing economic growth and high inflation. The Reserve Bank of Australia raised its interest rate by 0.50%. The ECB decided to start raising interest rates by 0.25% from July 2022. The winner of last week is the US dollar, which continues to strengthen. Macroeconomic data Data from the US labour market was highly anticipated. The job creation indicator, the so-called NFP, surprised the markets positively. Analysts expected that 325,000 new jobs had been created in May. In fact, 390 thousand jobs were created in the US. Unemployment is at 3.6%. The information on the growth of hourly wages, which is a leading indicator of inflation, was important. Average hourly earnings rose 0.3% in May, less than analysts who expected 0.4%.   Unemployment claims reached 229,000 this week. This is the highest levels since 3/3/2022. However, this is not an extreme increase. The number of claims is still in the pre-pandemic average area. Nevertheless, it can be seen that since 7/4/2022, when the number of applications reached 166 thousand, the number of applications is slowly increasing and this indicator will be closely monitored.  The ISM index of purchasing managers in the US service sector reached 55.9 in May. This is lower than the previous month's reading of 57.1. A value above 50 still points to expansion in the sector although the decline in the reading indicates  economy.   The yield on the US 10-year bond is close to its peak and is currently around 3%. The rise in yields has been followed by a rise in the US dollar. The dollar index has surpassed 103. The reason for the strengthening of the dollar is the aggressive tightening of the economy by the US Fed, which began reducing the central bank's balance sheet on June 1, 2022. In practice, this means that the Fed will let expire the government bonds it previously bought as part of QE and will not reinvest them further. The first tranche of bonds will expire on June 15, so the effect of this operation remains to be seen. Figure 1: The US 10-year bond yields and USD index on the daily chart   The SP 500 Index The SP 500 index has been moving in a narrow range for the past few days between 4,200, where resistance is and 4,080, where support has been tested several times. This support was broken and has become the new resistance as we can see on the H4 chart.   Figure 2: The SP 500 on H4 and D1 chart   The catalyst for this strong initiation move is the strong US dollar and rising bond yields. Therefore, the current resistance is in the 4,075 - 4,085 range.  The nearest support is 3,965 - 3,970 according to the H4 chart. The next support is 3,879 - 3,907.   German DAX index Macroeconomic data that affected the DAX was manufacturing orders for April, which fell 2.7% month-on-month, while analysts were expecting a 0.3% rise. Industrial production in Germany rose by 0.7% in April (expectations were for 1.0%). The war in Ukraine has a strong impact on the weaker figures. The catalyst for breaking support was the ECB's decision to raise interest rates, which the bank will start implementing from July 2022. Figure 3: German DAX index on H4 and daily chart The DAX is below the SMA 100 moving average according to the daily and H4 chart. This shows a bearish sentiment. The nearest resistance is 14,300 - 14,335. Support is at 13,870 - 13,900 according to the H4 chart.   The ECB left the interest rate unchanged  The ECB left interest rates unchanged on June 9, 2022, so the key rate is still at 0.0%. However, the bank said that it will proceed with a rate hike from July, when the rate is expected to rise by 0.25%. The next hike will then be in September, probably again by 0.25%. The bank pointed to the high inflation rate, which is expected to reach 6.8% for 2022. Inflation is expected to fall to 3.4% in 2023 and 2.1% in 2024.  Figure 4: The EUR/USD on H4 and daily chart According to the bank, a significant risk is Russia's unjustified aggression against Ukraine, which is causing problems in supply chains and pushing energy and some commodity prices up. The result is a slowdown in the growth of the European economy. The bank also announced that it will end its asset purchase program as of July 1, 2022. This is the soft end of this program, as the money that will flow from matured assets will continue to be reinvested by the bank. In practice, this means that the ECB's balance sheet will not be further inflated, but for now, unlike the Fed’s balance sheet, the bank has no plans to reduce its balance sheet. This, coupled with the more moderate rate hike plans and the existence of the above risks, has supported the dollar and the euro has begun to weaken sharply in response to the ECB announcement. The resistance is 1.0760-1.0770. Current support at 1.063-1.064 is broken and it will become new resistance if the break is confirmed. The next support according to the H4 chart is 1.0530 - 1.0550.   Australian central bank surprises with aggressive approach In Australia, the central bank raised its policy rate by 0.50%. Analysts had expected the bank to raise the rate by 0.25%. Thus, the current rate on the Australian dollar is 0.80%. However, this aggressive increase did not strengthen the Australian dollar, which surprisingly weakened. The reason for this is the strong US dollar and also the risk off sentiment that is taking place in the equity indices.  Also impacting the Aussie is the situation in China, where there is zero tolerance of COVID-19. This will impact the country's economic growth, which is very likely to fall short of the 5.5% that was originally projected.  Figure 5: The AUD/USD on H4 and daily chart According to the H4 chart, the AUD/USD currency pair has broken below the SMA 100 moving average, which is a bearish signal. The nearest resistance is 0.7140 - 0.7150. The support is in the zone 0.7030 - 0.7040. 
Oil Could Be Ready To Pop, The Bank Of England Market Pricing Is More Mixed

Coffee Prices Rising Amidst Tight Supply Concerns, WTI Oil Facing Its First Weekly Decline Since Mid-April, Platinum Prices At 6 Week Low

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 17.06.2022 16:01
Summary: WTI crude futures price dropped on Friday, heading for their first weekly decline since mid-April. Concerns around dryer weather conditions in certain areas of Brazil and smaller output in Columbia. Platinum prices reached their lowest in 6 weeks. Read next: Gold (XAUUSD) Prices Are Falling, Expectations Of Cooling NGAS Demand, Cotton’s Demand Weakening  WTI Oil prices declining in the wake of rising consumer prices WTI crude futures price dropped on Friday, heading for their first weekly decline since mid-April, in the wake of a highly uncertain outlook for global growth and fuel demand following numerous interest rate hikes around the world this week that took a toll on the markets. The International Energy Agency warned on Wednesday that the combination of soaring energy prices and weakening economic forecasts dimmed the outlook for future demand. In addition, investors watched the supply tightness for WTI crude after the US announced sanctions on Iran. This added to concerns around production shortfalls among OPEC members and disruptions caused by unrest in Libya and Russia’s war in Ukraine.   WTI Oil Price Chart Concerns around coffee supplies. Coffee prices rose amidst concerns around tight supplies in Brazil and a softer dollar. Brazil is behind on their coffee harvest, having harvested only 28% as of June 14th. In addition, there were also concerns around dryer weather conditions in certain areas of Brazil and smaller output in Columbia. Coffee Futures Price Chart Platinum demand remains subdued Platinum prices reached their lowest in 6 weeks on Friday in the wake of rising US treasury yields which followed higher than expected US CPI inflation data, driving the demand for platinum lower. In addition the demand for the metal is expected to remain low from top consumer China as it re-imposed Covid-19 restrictions, just weeks after easing in major cities as the country saw a fresh outburst of new infections. Platinum Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Positions of large speculators according to the COT report as at 7/6/2022

Positions of large speculators according to the COT report as at 7/6/2022

Purple Trading Purple Trading 17.06.2022 10:30
Positions of large speculators according to the COT report as at 7/6/2022 Total net speculator positions on the USD index rose by 400 contracts last week to 37,938 contracts. This change is the result of a 600-contract increase in long positions and a 200-contract increase in short positions. On the euro, there was a decrease in total net positions after a significant previous increase. A reduction in total net positions also occurred on the New Zealand dollar last week. Increases in total net positions occurred last week on the British pound, the Australian dollar, the Japanese yen, the Canadian dollar, and the Swiss franc. The markets experienced high volatility last week, triggered by concerns that the economy was tightening more rapidly on the back of rising inflation. As a result, equity indices have continued to fall and this risk-off sentiment has led to a strengthening of the US dollar and a weakening of more or less all currencies tracked. The positions of speculators in individual currencies The total net positions of large speculators are shown in Table 1: If the value is positive then the large speculators are net long. If the value is negative, the large speculators are net short. Table 1: Total net positions of large speculators DatE USD Index EUR GBP AUD NZD JPY CAD CHF Jun 7, 2022    37938 50543 -70810 -47896 -19771 -91646 -1062 -16132 May 31, 2022 37538 52272 -74105 -48682 -18724 -94439 -7007 -20458 May 24, 2022 38039 38930 -80372 -45446 -19321 -99444 -12687 -19673 May 17, 2022 36213 20339 -79241 -44642 -17767 -102309 -14496 -16592 May 10, 2022 34776 16529 -79598 -41714 -12996 -110454 -5407 -15763 May 03, 2022 33071 -6378 -73813 -28516 -6610 -100794 9029 -13907   Note: The explanation of COT methodolody is at the the end of the report.   Notes: Large speculators are traders who trade large volumes of futures contracts, which, if the set limits are met, must be reported to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Typically, this includes traders such as funds or large banks. These traders mostly focus on trading long-term trends and their goal is to make money on speculation with the instrument. ​The total net positions of large speculators are the difference between the number of long contracts and the number of short contracts of large speculators. Positive value shows that large speculators are net long. Negative value shows that large speculators are net short. The data is published every Friday and is delayed because it shows the status on Tuesday of the week. The total net positions of large speculators show the sentiment this group has in the market. A positive value of the total net positions of speculators indicates bullish sentiment, a negative value of total net positions indicates bearish sentiment. When interpreting charts and values, it is important to follow the overall trend of total net positions. The turning points are also very important, i.e. the moments when the total net positions go from a positive value to a negative one and vice versa. Important are also extreme values ​​of total net positions as they often serve as signals of a trend reversal. Sentiment according to the reported positions of large players in futures markets is not immediately reflected in the movement of currency pairs. Therefore, information on sentiment is more likely to be used by traders who take longer trades and are willing to hold their positions for several weeks or even months.   Detailed analysis of selected currencies   Explanations:   Purple line and histogram: this is information on the total net position of large speculators. This information shows the strength and sentiment of an ongoing trend. It is the indicator r_COT Large Speculators (by Kramsken) in www.tradingview.com. Information on the positions of so-called hedgers is not shown in the chart, due to the fact that their main goal is not speculation, but hedging. Therefore, this group usually takes the opposite positions than the large speculators. For this reason, the positions of hedgers are inversely correlated with the movement of the price of the underlying asset. However, this inverse correlation shows the ongoing trend less clearly than the position of large speculators.​ We show moving average SMA 100 (blue line) and EMA 50 (orange line) on daily charts. ​Charts are made with the use of www.tradingview.com. The source of numerical data is www.myfxbook.com   The Euro   DatE Open Interest Specs Long Specs Short Specs Net positions Change Open Interest Change Long Change Short Change Net Positions Sentiment Jun 07, 2022 730667 230248 179705 50543 24350 -6305 -4576 -1729 Weak bullish May 31, 2022 706317 236553 184281 52272 -2621 -519 -13861 13342 Bullish May 24, 2022 708938 237072 198142 38930 2226 6302 -12289 18591 Bullish May 17, 2022 706712 230770 210431 20339 1666 2540 -1270 3810 Bullish May 10, 2022 705046 228230 211701 16529 10120 19781 -3126 22907 Bullish May 03, 2022 694926 208449 214827 -6378 6477 -14544 14035 -28579 Bearish         Total Change 42218 7255 -21087 28342     Figure 1: The euro and COT positions of large speculators on a weekly chart and the EUR/USD on D1 The total net positions of speculators reached 50 543 contracts last week, down by 1 729 contracts compared to the previous week. This change is due to a decrease in long positions by 6,305 contracts and a decrease in short positions by 4,576 contracts. This data suggests weak bullish sentiment as total net positions are positive but at the same time there has been a decline. Open interest rose by 24,350 contracts in the last week. This shows that the downward movement that occurred in the euro last week was supported by volume and it was therefore a strong price action. The price bounced off resistance at the EMA 50 moving average and is approaching horizontal support which is in the band at 1.0400. The weakening euro is a result of the ECB's approach to inflation. The ECB announced to raise the rate by 0.25% from July, which is significantly less than the interest rate increase implemented by the US Fed.  Long-term resistance: 1.0620 – 1.0650. The next resistance is at 1.0770-1.0780. Support: 1.0340 – 1.0420 The British pound DatE Open Interest Specs Long Specs Short Specs Net positions Change Open Interest Change Long change Short change Net Positions Sentiment Jun 7, 2022 258623 34618 105428 -70810 5742 3830 535 3295 Weak bullish May 31, 2022 252881 30788 104893 -74105 -983 4852 -1415 6267 Weak bearish May 24, 2022 253864 25936 106308 -80372 53 -677 454 -1131 Bearish May 17, 2022 253811 26613 105854 -79241 -10783 -2856 -3213 357 Weak bearish May 10 2022 264594 29469 109067 -79598 -3902 -4067 1718 -5785 Bearish May 03, 2022 268496 33536 107349 -73813 -4296 -6900 -2708 -4192 Bearish         Total Change -14169 -5818 -4629 -1189     Figure 2: The GBP and COT positions of large speculators on a weekly chart and the GBP/USD on D1 The total net positions of speculators last week reached - 70,810 contracts, having increased by 3,295 contracts compared to the previous week. This change is due to the growth in long positions by 3,830 contracts and the growth in short positions by 535 contracts. This suggests weak bearish sentiment as the total net positions of large speculators are negative, but at the same time there has been an increase in them. Open interest rose by 5742 contracts last week, indicating that the downward movement in the pound that occurred last week was supported by volume and it was therefore a strong price action. The pound is weakening strongly in the current risk off sentiment and has reached its long term support. Long-term resistance: 1.2440 – 1.2476.    Support: 1.2160 – 1.2200   The Australian dollar   DatE Open Interest Specs Long Specs Short Specs Net positions Change Open Interest Change Long Change Short Change Net Positions Sentiment Jun 7, 2022 166422 31720 79616 -47896 12761 -1177 -1963 786 Weak bearish May 31, 2022 153661 32897 81579 -48682 -4954 -3682 -446 -3236 Bearish May 24, 2022 158615 36579 82025 -45446 -5194 -4894 -4090 -804 Bearish May 17, 2022 163809 41473 86115 -44642 10600 4604 7532 -2928 Bearish May 10, 2022 153209 36869 78583 -41714 952 -10126 3072 13198 Bearish May 03, 2022 152257 46995 75511 -28516 5167 -110 755 -865 Bearish         Total Change 19332 -15385 4860 -20245     Figure 3: The AUD and COT positions of large speculators on a weekly chart and the AUD/USD on D1 The total net positions of speculators reached 47,896 contracts last week, up by 786 contracts compared to the previous week. This change is due to a decrease in long positions by 1,177 contracts and a decrease in short positions by 1,963 contracts. This data suggests weak bearish sentiment on the Australian dollar, as the total net positions of large speculators are negative, but at the same time there was an increase in them in the previous week. There was an increase in open interest of 12,761 contracts last week. This means that the downward movement that occurred last week on the AUD was supported by volume and it was therefore a strong price action. The Australian dollar is weakening sharply even though the Reserve Bank of Australia raised interest rates by 0.50% last week. The reason for this bearish decline is the current risk-off sentiment which is particularly threatening commodity currencies, which includes the Australian dollar. Long-term resistance: 0.7250-0.7260                                                                                                              Long-term support: 0.6830-0.6850  (the support zone begins at 0.6930 according to a weekly chart).   The New Zealand dollar   DatE Open Interest Specs Long Specs Short Specs Net positions Change Open Interest Change Long Change Short Change Net Positions Sentiment Jun 7, 2022 63540 12310 32081 -19771 8406 3131 4178 -1047 Bearish May 31, 2022 55134 9179 27903 -18724 -4145 -1570 -2167 597 Weak bearish May 24, 2022 59279 10749 30070 -19321 -1525 -4249 -2695 -1554 Bearish May 17, 2022 60804 14998 32765 -17767 4569 -205 4566 -4771 Bearish May 10, 2022 56235 15203 28199 -12996 5391 -2224 4162 -6386 Bearish May 03, 2022 50844 17427 24037 -6610 4334 -4658 2018 -6676 Bearish         Total Change 17030 -9775 10062 -19837     Figure 4: The NZD and the position of large speculators on a weekly chart and the NZD/USD on D1 The total net positions of speculators last week amounted to -19,771 contracts, down by 1,047 contracts compared to the previous week. This change is due to an increase in long positions by 3,131 contracts and an increase in short positions by 4,178 contracts. This data suggests that there has been bearish sentiment on the New Zealand Dollar over the past week as the total net positions of large speculators have been negative and there was further decline in them as well. Open interest rose by 8,406 contracts last week. The downward move in NZD/USD that occurred last week was supported by volume and therefore the move was strong. The NZD/USD bounced off the resistance band at 0.6570 and approached significant support. The decline in the New Zealand Dollar is mainly due to risk off sentiment in equity markets. Long-term resistance: 0.6540 – 0.6570 Long-term support: 0.6220 – 0.6280   Explanation to the COT report The COT report shows the positions of major participants in the futures markets. Futures contracts are derivatives and are essentially agreements between two parties to exchange an underlying asset for a predetermined price on a predetermined date. They are standardised, specifying the quality and quantity of the underlying asset. They are traded on an exchange so that the total volume of these contracts traded is known.   Open interest: open interest is the sum of all open futures contracts (i.e. the sum of short and long contracts) that exist on a given asset. OI increases when a new futures contract is created by pairing a buyer with a seller. The OI decreases when an existing futures contract expires at a given expiry time or by settlement. Low or no open interest means that there is no interest in the market. High open interest indicates high activity and traders pay attention to this market. A rising open interest indicates that there is demand for the currency. That is, a rising OI indicates a strong current trend. Conversely, a weakening open interest indicates that the current trend is not strong. Open Interest Price action Interpretation Notes Rising Rising Strong bullish market New money flow in the particular asset, more bulls entered the market which pushes the price up. The trend is strong. Rising Falling Strong bearish market Price falls, more bearish traders entered the market which pushes the price down. The trend is strong. Falling Rising Weak bullish market Price is going up but new money do not flow into the market. Existing futures contracts expire or are closed. The trend is weak. Falling Falling Weak bearish market Price is going down, but new money do not flow into the market. Existing futures expire or are closed, the trend is weak.   Large speculators are traders who trade large volumes of futures contracts, which, if the set limits are met, must be reported to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Typically, this includes traders such as funds or large banks. These traders mostly focus on trading long-term trends and their goal is to make money on speculation with the instrument. Traders should try to trade in the direction of these large speculators. The total net positions of large speculators are the difference between the number of long contracts and the number of short contracts of large speculators. Positive value shows that large speculators are net long. Negative value shows that large speculators are net short. The data is published every Friday and is delayed because it shows the status on Tuesday of the week. The total net positions of large speculators show the sentiment this group has in the market. A positive value of the total net positions of speculators indicates bullish sentiment, a negative value of total net positions indicates bearish sentiment. When interpreting charts and values, it is important to follow the overall trend of total net positions. The turning points are also very important, i.e. the moments when the total net positions go from a positive value to a negative one and vice versa. Important are also extreme values ​​of total net positions as they often serve as signals of a trend reversal. The COT data are usually reported every Friday and they show the status on Tuesday of the week. Sentiment according to the reported positions of large players in futures markets is not immediately reflected in the movement of currency pairs. Therefore, information on sentiment is more likely to be used by traders who take longer trades and are willing to hold their positions for several weeks or even months.
Analysis Of Situation Of Crude Oil Futures And WTI

Brent Crude Oil Prices At 5 Week Lows, Silver Prices Affected By Aggressive Monetary Policy, New Concerns Around Corn Supplies

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 20.06.2022 11:50
Summary: The international oil benchmark fell around 6% on Friday. Silver fell below the $22 per-ounce mark on Friday, closing at its lowest level since June 2020. Failed negotiations between Russia and the Ukraine. Read next: Coffee Prices Rising Amidst Tight Supply Concerns, WTI Oil Facing Its First Weekly Decline Since Mid-April, Platinum Prices At 6 Week Low  Brent Crude Oil prices remain supported Brent Crude Oil prices fell to almost 5 week lows on Monday amidst concerns around slowing global economic growth and fuel demand which outweighed expectations of higher near-term consumption and ongoing supply issues. The international oil benchmark fell around 6% on Friday amidst concerns of global economic fallouts from higher interest rates shook financial markets. U.S Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm warned markets of a “continued upward pull on demand” over the weekend, and of the likelihood of high gasoline prices continuing. Crude prices have been supported by the war in the Ukraine, civil unrest in Libya and OPEC’s failure to pump more oil. Brent Crude Oil Price Chart Silver prices close below $22 per-ounce Silver fell below the $22 per-ounce mark on Friday, closing at its lowest level since June 2020, in the wake of bets of more aggressive monetary policy tightening by central banks steered investors away from the non-yield metal. Silver Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart Corn prices rising amidst new concerns around supply Corn prices rose to 4 week highs in mid-June amidst new concerns around grain supplies. Talks between Russia and the Ukraine, two of the largest grain exporters, around resuming Ukrainian exports failed, despite Turkish efforts to negotiate a safe corridor for the grain stuck at Black Sea ports. Meanwhile, Brazil and Beijing reached an agreement after years of negotiation to start corn exports from Brazil to China. Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
FXStreet’s Dhwani Mehta Opinion About Gold Movements

NGAS Futures Closed At Two Month Lows, Cotton Prices Falling, Global Wave Of Monetary Policy Tightening Puts Gold Prices under Pressure

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 21.06.2022 15:46
Summary: Natural gas futures prices are dropping. As the dollar strengthens and global monetary policy tightening continues, the price of gold remains under pressure. Cotton demand expected to decrease as supplies are set to increase. Read next: Brent Crude Oil Prices At 5 Week Lows, Silver Prices Affected By Aggressive Monetary Policy, New Concerns Around Corn Supplies  NGAS futures closed at two month lows Natural gas futures closed at their lowest level in two months in the wake of rising domestic inventories. Freeport LNG indicated that it did not expect the terminal to return to full operations until late 2022, however, partial operations could return within three months. The recent explosion at one of the largest US natural gas export terminals is keeping the US supplies, despite ever rising international demand, which is releasing the domestic price pressure. NGAS Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart   Gold prices falling amidst a wave of monetary policy tightening The price of gold remains under pressure from rising treasury yields and a strong US Dollar. Gold prices fell around 2% last week amidst a global wave of monetary tightening which aimed at bringing inflation down, the wave was led by the Federal Reserve's 75 basis point hike. The gold prices fell due to the fact that investors tend to shy away from the non-yielding metal as interest rates rise. Gold Aug ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton demand weakens as supply rises Cotton futures were trading at almost 4 week lows on prospects of higher supplies and weaker demand. Demand for cotton is seemingly weakening across the world as inflationary pressures resume and as the world’s largest cotton consumer, China, re-enters into Covid-19 lockdowns. In addition, the production is due to increase in both Egypt and other West African countries, whilst demand is expected to drop from Vietnam, Mexico and Bangladesh. Cotton Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Supply Concerns Are Driving Coffee Prices Upwards, Palladium Demand Eroded By Hawkish Fed And Rallying USD, Hopes Of Gas Tax Holiday Strengthen

Supply Concerns Are Driving Coffee Prices Upwards, Palladium Demand Eroded By Hawkish Fed And Rallying USD, Hopes Of Gas Tax Holiday Strengthen

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 22.06.2022 13:07
Summary: Palladium Prices at 6 month lows. WTI Crude Prices falling. Brazil lagging their historical harvesting average. Read next: NGAS Futures Closed At Two Month Lows, Cotton Prices Falling, Global Wave Of Monetary Policy Tightening Puts Gold Prices under Pressure  WTI crude oil prices falling with demand expectations WTI crude oil futures fell almost 6% on Wednesday, hitting their lowest levels in almost a month amidst concerns that rising US interest rates that are aimed at controlling inflation levels could likely cause a recession and therefore a slowdown in demand. In addition, there are expectations that President Joe Biden will call for a gas tax holiday in an attempt to drive fuel prices down. However, there are still concerns around supply, with the Russian oil embargo due to the war in the Ukraine and OPEC unable to pump more oil due to underinvestment. WTI Crude Aug ‘22 Futures Price Chart Coffee futures prices rising due to supply concerns Coffee prices were trading at their highest price since June 9th on Wednesday due to continuing concerns around tight supplies. The coffee prices remain supported by limited flows from Central America and Brazil, with Brazil (the top grower) behind its historical harvest average. In addition, one of Brazil’s largest growing areas is expected to see a drought. Coffee Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Palladium prices at 6 month lows Palladium is trading at its lowest price in 6 months on Wednesday, this price drop comes in the wake of the hawkish Fed’s 75 basis point interest rate hike and a sharp rally in the US Dollar both of which have kicked the demand for the metal. In addition, there are concerns around the demand for the metal from the top consumer, China as Covid-19 lockdowns are re-imposed. Palladium Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Commodities Update: Strong Russian Oil Flows to China and Volatility in European Gas Market

Demand Is Decreasing For Platinum, RBOB Gasoline, Supply Concerns Around Wheat Are Easing

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 23.06.2022 15:20
Summary: India may reintroduce wheat exports. Fresh lockdowns in China are weighing on metal demand Wheat prices drop as supply concerns ease Chicago wheat futures prices have been falling over the past week in the wake of news of an improved outlook as Russia produced a record-high amount of wheat. A higher supply from the world's top exporter eased shortage concerns amidst the European and North American harvesting season. In addition, India's food ministry said it may reintroduce wheat exports to Indonesia, however that is dependent on availability.   Wheat Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Platinum prices are declining with demand Platinum futures are down almost 20% from their 8-month high hit in March, as a stronger US Dollar and an aggressive Federal Reserve weakened the demand for Metals which in turn has weighed on Metal prices. In addition, vehicle production is expected to drop in the wake of aggressive monetary policy tightening and increased fears of slowing economic growth. Also, the lockdowns in China are weighing on the demand from the top consumer. Platinum Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart RBOB Gasoline The price of gasoline has experienced volatility over the past week as concerns around supply continue to drive the price up whilst talks of President Joe Biden introducing a gas tax holiday are driving the prices down. RBOB Gasoline Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Gold Has A Chance For The Rejection Of The Support

Rising Interest Rates Are Inhibiting The Demand For Gold And Silver, Concerns Around A Recession Are Driving Brent Crude Oil Prices Down

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 24.06.2022 12:25
Summary: Aggressive central banks inhibiting metal demand. Fears of a slowing economy are sending brent crude oil into its second consecutive week of declines. Read next: Demand Is Decreasing For Platinum, RBOB Gasoline, Supply Concerns Around Wheat Are Easing  Demand for gold declining as interest rates rise Gold futures declined on Friday and were set to decline for their second consecutive week in the wake of stronger expectations that major central banks will continue to raise interest rates aggressively in an attempt to control inflation, which subdued the demand for metals. The Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell reiterates that his commitment to fighting 40-year high inflation is ‘unconditional.’ Gold is usually viewed as a hedge against inflation and as a safe-haven asset during times of economic crisis, however as interest rates rise, so too does the opportunity cost of holding gold. Gold Aug ‘22 Futures Price Chart Brent Crude Oil facing second consecutive week of declines Brent Crude is on track to decline for the second straight week on Friday in the wake of concerns around aggressive monetary policy tightening and the effects it will have on the global economy and the demand for oil. US manufacturing and services PMIs released on Thursday came in well below expectations which increased fears of a slowing US economy. In addition, investors are remaining cautious amidst signs that global crude oil and fuel supply remains tight. Brent Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Silver prices on the decling As the Federal Reserve and other major central banks continue to rise interest rates in an attempt to tackle rising inflation and risking a global recession, the price of silver is falling. Silver is usually viewed as a hedge against inflation and as a safe-haven asset during times of economic crisis, however as interest rates rise, so too does the opportunity cost of holding silver. Silver Jul ‘22 Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Corn Prices Recorded Their Biggest Weekly Gain, Gold Demand In India May Suffer A Temporary Setback

G7 Leaders Discussed A Price Cap On Russian Brent Crude Oil, China Eases Covid-19 Restrictions, Corn Prices Are Trading At 2 Week Lows

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 27.06.2022 12:50
Summary: G7 leaders discussed a price cap on Russian oil. Fears of a recession eased in the wake of China’s easing of lockdown restrictions and testing measures. Recession prospects weighing on demand for corn. Read next: Rising Interest Rates Are Inhibiting The Demand For Gold And Silver, Concerns Around A Recession Are Driving Brent Crude Oil Prices Down  Prospects of tighter supply of Brent Crude oil weighed on markets Brent Crude prices are sitting at around $113 on Monday as recession fears put downward pressure on Brent prices. In addition, traders are monitoring any news from the G7 summit which is taking place in Germany ahead of talks between the US and Iran to revive the nuclear deal made in 2015. G7 leaders discussed a price cap on Russian oil, which will work through the imposition of restrictions on both shipping and insurance and allowing only the transportation of Russian crude and petroleum products that are sold below an agreed threshold. However, the thought of even more supply tightness weighed on the market, with the G7 leaders still determined to find ways to cut Russia's war against Ukraine Funding. Brent Crude Oil Price Chart Silver prices bounce back Silver prices bounced back somewhat on Monday as fears of a recession eased in the wake of China’s easing of lockdown restrictions and testing measures. However, silver prices remain under threat from further monetary policy tightening, with both the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank (ECB) expected to raise interest rates further. Silver Jul ‘22 Futures Prices Corn Prices at 2 week lows Corn is trading at 2 week lows on Monday, as favourable weather and weaker demand prospects weighed on prices, temporarily turning the attention away from war disruptions at Black Sea Ports. Fears of demand come from recession prospects. Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: tradingeconomics.com, finance.yahoo.com
Chile's Lithium Nationalization and the Global Trend of Resource Nationalism: Implications for EV Supply Chains and Efforts to Strengthen Battery Metal Supply

Gold Prices Struggle To Hold Monday’s Gains, Concerns Around NGAS Supplies Are Easing, Cotton - A Recession Sensitive Commodity

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 28.06.2022 13:18
Summary: UK, US, Japan and Canada all ban Russian gold imports. NGAS domestic inventories are rising. Favourable weather conditions are causing more hope of solid Cotton yields in top growing regions. Read next: G7 Leaders Discussed A Price Cap On Russian Brent Crude Oil, China Eases Covid-19 Restrictions, Corn Prices Are Trading At 2 Week Lows  Gold prices trading at 2 week lows The price of gold is trading at almost 2 week lows on Tuesday, this comes in the wake of continuous elevated US treasury yields. The metal struggled to hold onto Monday’s gains that came in the wake of the UK, US, Japan and Canada all officially banning the imports of Russian gold, the move has been viewed by the markets as largely symbolic as Russia’s exports to the west have already dried up. Although gold is widely considered as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainties, higher interest rates raise the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion. Gold Aug ‘22 Futures Price Chart NGAS price recovery Natural Gas prices rose again, however they remain under pressure due to rising domestic inventories and milder temperatures which weighed on the demand for cooling. In addition, the most recent EIA report showed that US utilities injected more cubic feet of gas into underground storage than was expected. NGAS Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton prices due to be impacted by a recession Cotton futures prices dropped to 9 month lows in the wake of growing recessionary concerns and increased prospects of a lower demand. Cotton is known to be a recession sensitive commodity, thus, cotton prices are set to be impacted by major banks’ rising interest rates in an attempt to fight inflation and the slowdown in both consumption and economic activity. In addition, favourable weather conditions are causing more hope of solid yields in top growing regions. Cotton Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
OPEC+ Meeting: Saudi Arabia Implements Deeper Voluntary Cuts to Boost Oil Prices

Tighter Supply Concerns For WTI Crude Oil, Coffee Prices At 2 Week Lows, Palladium Prices Are Rising With Expectations Of Increasing Demand

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 29.06.2022 09:46
Summary: WTI Crude Oil prices have been rallying as investors weigh concerns over ongoing supply tightness over a potential slowdown in demand. Concerns around dry weather conditions in Brazil may lead to lower coffee yields. Palladiums prices rise in the wake of China easing covid restrictions in China WTI Crude Oil Prices are rising as concerns around supply outweigh demand concerns WTI Crude Oil prices have been rallying as investors weigh concerns over ongoing supply tightness over a potential slowdown in demand. Industry data reflected that Crude inventories declined last week worse than the market has expected. In addition the US crude benchmark jumped 2% in the previous session in the wake of reports that major producers UAE and Saudi Arabia are at (or very close to) near term limits, whilst simultaneously unrest in Ecuador and Libya which threaten to tighten supply further. This comes before an OPEC+ meeting this week, where the group is expected to stick to its policy of modest output increases. WTI Crude Oil Aug ‘22 Futures Price Chart Coffee prices downside may be limited Arabica Coffee futures are trading at around 2 week lows as coffee production improved. In addition, the USDA projected global coffee production to rise in their 2022/23, mainly due to Brazil’s arabica crop entering the on-year of the biennial production cycle. However, concerns around dry weather conditions in Brazil may lead to lower coffee yields and limit the downside in coffee prices. Coffee Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Palladium Prices Rise Palladium Futures have risen to around 2 week highs after they rebounded from 6 month lows that we hit in mid-June in the wake of China’s decision to lift covid restrictions in Shanghai which lifted hopes of a recovery in metal demand. China is the largest consumer of palladium, and accounts for 26% of the total global consumption. In parallel, traders expect major central banks to ease back from aggressive monetary tightening due to easing inflation and disappointing macroeconomic figures, raising expectations of a recovery in global economy and in turn consumer spending.   Palladium Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Russia Look Set To Double Its Exports For The First Half Of 2023

Wheat Prices Supported By Increased Importer Demand, Weaker Demand Is Plunging Platinum Prices, RBOB Gasoline

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 30.06.2022 23:01
Summary: Platinum prices plunged amidst prospects of a weaker demand for the metal Wheat prices touched four-month lows on June 27th but have since recovered somewhat. Prospects of a recession could cause a decrease in oil demand are driving oil prices down. Platinum prices plunged on Thursday Platinum prices plunged amidst prospects of a weaker demand for the metal outweighed the fear of tighter supplies. As major central banks all over the world continue to raise interest rates in an attempt to control inflation despite the possibility of a recession, a slowdown in economic activity (including vehicle production) is inevitable. As the war in the Ukraine shows no signs of slowing, global platinum supplies are expected to remain subdued. Platinum Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Wheat prices supported by increased importer demand Wheat prices touched four-month lows on June 27th but have since recovered somewhat, supported by increased demand from importers. In the wake of a muted demand period, state tenders from Bangladesh, Jordan and signs of future tenders from Egypt all contributed to lifting buying expectations. However, currently there is a record supply of wheat from Russia and a strong harvest that was stronger than expected in North America. Investors continue to monitor the possibility of seaborne exports from Ukraine, after Italian Prime Minister Draghi hinted that trade corridors may open soon. Wheat Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart RBOB Gasoline Oil futures prices fell on Thursday in the wake of a weekly increase in U.S gasoline and distillate supplies raising worries over the demand outlook, and major oil producers are expected to remain on track to boost production in August. The market uncertainty over future OPEC+ output and recession fears which could cause a decrease in oil demand are driving oil prices down. RBOB Gasoline Jul ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com. tradingeconomics.com
Gold Futures Fell To Near 7 Week Lows, Investors Weighing Supply v Demand For WTI Crude, Platinum Prices

Gold Futures Fell To Near 7 Week Lows, Investors Weighing Supply v Demand For WTI Crude, Platinum Prices

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 01.07.2022 17:23
Summary: Fed policymakers are signaling yet another 75 basis point rate increase in July. WTI is bullish. Platinum Prices are at 19 month lows. Read next: https://www.fxmag.com/commodities/wheat-prices-supported-by-increased-importer-demand-weaker-demand-is-plunging-platinum-prices-rbob-gasoline  Gold Futures near 7 week lows. Gold prices neared near 7 week lows on Friday as a strong dollar continued on its path to dampening demand for bullion, whilst a broader market sentiment in risk assets pushed investors to liquidate their gold positions to offset losses in their other holdings. Fed policymakers indicated during this week a commitment to controlling inflation even at the risk of a recession, signaling yet another 75 basis point rate increase in July. Gold is normally considered as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty, however higher interest rates increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion. Gold Aug ‘22 Futures Price Chart Investors weigh tight supply on the backdrop of falling demand WTI Crude Oil WTI crude oil futures dipped and bounced back during the Friday trading day as investors weighed a tightening supply on the backdrop of recession prospects and a slowing economy causing a decline in demand. Earlier this week OPEC+ agreed to stick to its output strategy, increasing production by 648,000 barrels per day in July and August, despite signs that the physical crude market remains very tight. In addition, factors added to the bullish outlook for crude include supply outages in Libya and expected shutdowns in Norway. WTI Crude Oil Aug ‘22 Futures Price Chart Platinum prices at 19 month lows Platinum prices plunged amidst prospects of a weaker demand for the metal that outweighed the fear of tighter supplies. As major central banks all over the world continue to raise interest rates in an attempt to control inflation despite the possibility of a recession, in the wake of aggressive monetary policy, a slowdown in economic activity (including vehicle production) is inevitable. As the war in the Ukraine shows no signs of slowing, global platinum supplies are expected to remain subdued. Platinum Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com, fxmag.com
The Swing Overview - Week 26 2022

The Swing Overview - Week 26 2022

Purple Trading Purple Trading 04.07.2022 10:50
The Swing Overview - Week 26 2022 After ashort-term upward correction, the indices resumed their bearish trend and closed the week in the red. Along with this risk-off sentiment, commodity currencies weakened, as did the British pound and the euro. Gold is losing ground as a means of inflation protection and has fallen back below the USD 1,800 per ounce. The US dollar, on the other hand, is still the strongest currency amid the looming recession. Macroeconomic data The number of new home sales in the US for May reached 696,000, beating expectations of 588,000. This is positive news.   On the other hand, the negative news is the drop in consumer confidence, which reached 98.7 for May (103.2 the previous month). The drop in consumer confidence is expected to affect consumer spendings. It is evident that American consumers are reluctant to spend in times of rising prices and are accumulating savings for the future. This is of course contributing to the economic slowdown and the risk of a recession in the US is thus becoming stronger. This was confirmed by the GDP data, which fell for the third month in a row.   The fall in GDP last month was 1.6%. GDP was therefore negative in 1Q 2022. If it is also negative in 2Q2022, it will be an official confirmation of the recession defined by two negative quarters in a row. Jerome Powell suggested this week that the risk of the economy being damaged by higher rates is less important than restoring price stability. This heightens fears that a slowdown in the US economy will take the whole world down with it. So in times when central banks are tackling inflation, this risk will set the tone for some time.    This situation is positive for the US dollar, which is seen by investors as a safe haven asset in times of uncertainty. The dollar therefore remains close to this year's highs.  Although the yield on 10-year US Treasuries has fallen below 3%, the overall trend in bond yields is still upwards. Figure 1: US 10-year bond yields and USD index on the daily chart   The SP 500 Index The strengthening on the SP 500 Index that we have seen in the week of June 20 was really just a short-term correction to the overall downtrend, as we have previously suggested. Last week saw another sell-off and so the overall downtrend on the index continues.   Figure 2: The SP 500 on H4 and D1 chart   The nearest resistance according to the H4 chart is in the range of 3,810 - 3,820. The next resistance is 3,930 - 3,950. A support is 3 640 - 3 670.    German DAX index  The German Ifo Business Climate Index which measures the expectations of manufacturers, builders and sellers for the next 6 months continued to show a value of 92.3, which is worse than the previous month when the index value was 93.0. The fall in the reading suggests some pessimism, accentuated by current market uncertainties, which include the impact of the war in Ukraine and high inflation, which in Germany for the month of June was 7.6% year-on-year. However, inflation fell by 0.1% month-on-month.   The labour market has also indicated problems. The number of unemployed in Germany rose by 133 000, while the market had expected a fall of 6 000. This was very negative news, which triggered a strong sell-off on the Dax on Thursday. On the other hand, retail sales were positive, rising by 0.6% in May, while a 5.4% decline was recorded in April. Figure 3: German DAX index on H4 and daily chart The DAX has broken support according to the H4 chart at 12,850, which has now become the new resistance, which is in the 12,820 - 12,850 range. The next resistance according to the H4 chart is then at 13,280 - 13,375. The strong support according to the daily chart is 12,443 - 12,620, which price is currently approaching.    Eurozone inflation at a new record Eurozone consumer inflation reached another record high in June, rising by 8.6% year-on-year. This is higher than analysts' expectations, who predicted a rise of 8.4%. Inflation is therefore continuing to rise, so the expectation that the ECB could raise rates by more than 0.25% in July is on target and this could support the euro's growth. On the other hand, there is a strong dollar which could continue to slow down bulls on the euro.   Figure 4: EUR/USD on H4 and daily chart The nearest resistance according to the H4 chart is at 1.048 - 1.0500. The next resistance is at 1.0600 - 1.0610. Support is at 1.0360 - 1.0380.   Gold broke the $1,800 price tag The development in gold has once again confirmed that investors prefer US bonds instead of gold, which, in addition to being considered a "safe haven" along with the US dollar, also brings a small but still certain return. The strong dollar is not good news for gold, which has fallen below the key support of USD 1,800 per ounce.  Figure 5: Gold on H4 and daily chart The nearest resistance according to the H4 chart is therefore in the zone of USD 1,800 - 1,807 per ounce. Below this resistance we have several supports. The closest one is 1 780 - 1 787 USD per ounce.  
Eyes On Iran Nuclear Deal: Oil Case. Gold Price Is Swinging

Concerns Over Tight Supplies Is Driving Brent Crude Oil Prices Up, Silver Prices Falling, Favourable Weather, Weak Demand & Tight Supplies - Factors Driving Corn Prices

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 04.07.2022 15:54
Summary: Concerns around tight Brent supplies outweighed concerns around a global recession dampening demand. Silver prices falling in the wake of an aggressive Fed. Traders weighed weak demand and favourable weather prospects against fears of tight supplies. Read more: Gold Futures Fell To Near 7 Week Lows, Investors Weighing Supply v Demand For WTI Crude, Platinum Prices  Brent Crude Oil prices are up on Monday Brent crude oil prices are up on Monday as concerns around tight supplies outweighed concerns around a global recession dampening demand. A Reuters survey showed that output from 10 OPEC members fell during June. In addition, exports from Libya also declined below expected levels and Norway's daily output is expected to decline due to a planned strike by Norwegian energy sector workers. Brent Crude Futures Price Chart Silver prices reaching 2 year lows Silver prices have been consistently declining to prices not seen since July of 2020, as they close in toward the $20 per-ounce mark. The price declines come in the wake of aggressive monetary policy tightening by the Federal Reserve to try to control high inflation levels which caused investors to turn away from the non-yielding metal. The Fed has reiterated their commitment to fighting inflation, setting expectations for a back-to-back 75 bps interest rate hike in July. Silver Sept ‘22 Futures Price Chart Investors weighing weak demand and favourable weather against tight supply fears Corn prices hovered around $7.5 per bushel as traders weighed weak demand and favourable weather prospects against fears of tight supplies. More corn crop has been planted than the March recordings, the crop flourished in its early stages of development after a late start to planting, this is due to the wet and cool conditions around most of the Midwest. Meanwhile, traders are watching the weather forecasts for the coming weeks as the corn enters its pollination phase which will determine the yields during the harvest that starts in September. At the same time, aggressive monetary tightening is raising fears of economic slowdown and demand destruction is causing concerns around demand for the grain. Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: tradingeconomics.com, finance.yahoo.com
Commodities Update: Strong Russian Oil Flows to China and Volatility in European Gas Market

NGAS Prices See Relief, Cotton Prices Drop As Recession Fears Heighten, Gold Prices Drop As Hawkish Central Banks Continue

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 05.07.2022 16:41
Summary: Cotton is at its lowest price since last September. Rising inventories causing Natural gas to close at its lowest level since mid-March. Gold prices falling as central banks continue with aggressive monetary policy tightening. Read next: https://www.fxmag.com/commodities/concerns-over-tight-supplies-is-driving-brent-crude-oil-prices-up-silver-prices-falling-favourable-weather-weak-demand-tight-supplies-factors-driving-corn-prices  NGAS prices dropping in the wake of rising inventories Rising inventories causing Natural gas to close at its lowest level since mid-March. The US domestic market has gained an additional 2 bcf of NGAS per day since the explosion at Freeport LNG, according to the company it is expected to return to partial operational capacity in October. During the week ended 24th June, the extra fuel gave utilities the opportunity to inject 82 bcf into underground storage, according to EIA, which beat the median estimate of 74 bcf. NGAS Aug ‘22 Futures Price Chart As major central banks continue with aggressive monetary policy tightening, Gold is falling Gold prices fell below the $1,800 mark during Tuesday's trading day in the wake of pressures from imminent interest rate hikes by major central banks and a strong US Dollar. The Federal Reserve bank confirmed market expectations for an extended monetary policy tightening path, with some policy makers even advocating for another 75bps hike in July in an attempt to lower consumer prices. Simultaneously, the European Central Bank (ECB) has also pledged to start raising interest rates in July and is expected to bring its deposit interest rate into the positive side during the third quarter. In addition, tighter financial conditions amongst major economies increased fears of a global recession, pushing investors towards the safety of the dollar and prompting a broad decline in commodity prices. Gold Aug ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton prices impacted by slowing economies Cotton is at its lowest price since last September in the wake of heightened fears of a recession amidst lower demand prospects. The inflation sensitive commodity is due to be negatively impacted by the slowdown of economic activity and consumption As major global central banks are raising rates to fight inflation. In addition, adding to the weighing on the prices is a better crop outlook as favorable weather conditions boosted hopes of good yields in top growing regions. Cotton Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Commodities: EU Members Manage To Agree On Price Caps For Russian Oil

WTI Crude Prices Recover On Wednesday, Supply Prospects Of Coffee Are Improving, Palladium Prices

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 06.07.2022 11:47
Summary: WTI crude oil prices rose in the wake of fears that a recession could hurt demand were balanced by continuous concerns around supply. Arabica coffee prices were down from a three-week high on Wednesday. Palladium supply concerns weighed against demand concerns. Read next: Exxon (XOM) Price Falls In the Wake Of Declining Energy Prices  WTI Oil prices have been falling since mid-June WTI crude oil futures prices rose above during Wednesday's trading day after falling more than 8% and closing below the key level on Tuesday in the wake of fears that a recession could hurt demand were balanced by continuous concerns around supply. Wednesday Crude price was also attributed to (by some analysts) bargain hunting and short-coverings. Tight supply concerns were highlighted by OPEC’s Secretary general who announced on Tuesday that the oil industry was “under siege” in the wake of years of underinvestment, he also added that the shortages could be eased if Venezuelian and Iranian crude oil supplies were allowed. At the same time, crude prices have been falling since mid-June in the wake of recessionary concerns causing poor demand prospects. WTI Crude Oil Aug Futures Price Chart Coffee prices down as supply prospects improve Arabica coffee prices were down from a three-week high on Wednesday in the wake of both positive global outlook of improved production and a bearish macroeconomic environment. Although supplies are expected to improve, prospects of tight supply remain as concerns around dry weather conditions in Brazil continue. Coffee Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Traders weighing supply vs demand on Palladium Traders are currently trying to balance fears of tight supply with weak demand prospects, setting the Palladium metals price above its 1-month low hit on 4th July. Continuous aggressive monetary policy tightening from the Federal Reserve has strengthened prospects of a recession and has dampened demand. In addition, new Covid-19 cases in the world's largest Palladium consumer sparked fears for the imposition of tighter lockdown measures. On the supply side, disruptions of imports from Russia continue as the war in the Ukraine continues and trade restrictions continue to be imposed from the west onto Russia. Palladium Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
USDCAD set to stall at or break key resistance?

USDCAD set to stall at or break key resistance?

8 eightcap 8 eightcap 06.07.2022 09:19
Hi, traders; welcome to Wednesday’s update. With oil tumbling and the USD jumping, we can only think of one pair that benefits from those two moves. The USDCAD is highly driven on both fronts, and the CAD is a commodity currency that generally tracks oil’s fortunes. The USD, well yeh enough said. Last night we saw key moves on oil and the USD. Oil shed up to 10% and briefly traded below the $100 level. The USD shot higher, the index trading above 106.50. Looking at the daily USDCAD chart below, we can see that price continues to trade in a new fast trend after buyers took control on the 8th of June. Since then, we have seen one reaction that set up demand and an HL late in June. Buying has continued into July, with traders retesting key resistance and supply areas that have stood since May. The recent resistance and supply lines up with a longer-term level of supply /resistance that runs back to November 2020. This is our line in the sand that buyers must break to continue the current trend. If we see a break above these levels, it could be ga,e on with 1.31 and 1.32 or higher a possibility. Fail, and we would look for a new move to possibly retest the 1.2850 area. It’s really up to buyers and mainly USD momentum to continue to drive the current buyer move. The Fed minutes are due out today at 04:00 am AEST, and they could play a role in the current short-term USD pulse. USDCAD D1 Chart The post USDCAD set to stall at or break key resistance? appeared first on Eightcap.
Australia Is Expected To Produce A Bumper Year Of Crops

Platinum Prices Drop In The Wake Of Slower Demand Prospects, RBOB Gasoline Prices, Wheat Prices Below Pre-Russian Invasion Levels

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 07.07.2022 11:36
Summary: Recession and new covid-19 cases in China driving platinum prices lower. Chicago wheat futures prices rose in the wake of an increase in buying. Read next: WTI Crude Prices Recover On Wednesday, Supply Prospects Of Coffee Are Improving, Palladium Prices  Platinum Prices at 20 month lows Platinum prices had fallen to their lowest price in almost 20 months in the wake of lower demand expectations outweighed lower supply fears. The contraction in the US economy was more than expected amidst the Federal Reserve's aggressive monetary policy which is aimed at curbing surging inflation has raised the concerns around an economic downturn. In addition, fresh new covi-19 cases in China’s eastern provinces weighed further on the outlook for demand and growth. Platinum Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Wheat prices lower than pre-Russian invasion levels Chicago wheat futures prices rose in the wake of an increase in buying from bargain buyers in the wake of the prices plummeting in the second half of June. Meanwhile, investors expectations around a large sum of Ukrainian Wheat entering the market any time soon are growing pessimistic. Wheat prices are still below pre-Russian invasion levels, as strong crops world wide added to the price pressures for agricultural commodities amidst recession fears. Wheat Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart RBOB Gasoline Prices tanked this week Gasoline prices fell earlier this week in the wake of an increase in supply into the US underground reserves, this drove gas prices lower and oil giants’ profits higher as well. RBOB Gasoline Aug ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
The Swing Overview - Week 26 2022 - 08.07.2022

The Swing Overview - Week 26 2022 - 08.07.2022

Purple Trading Purple Trading 08.07.2022 09:47
The Swing Overview - Week 26 2022 After ashort-term upward correction, the indices resumed their bearish trend and closed the week in the red. Along with this risk-off sentiment, commodity currencies weakened, as did the British pound and the euro. Gold is losing ground as a means of inflation protection and has fallen back below the USD 1,800 per ounce. The US dollar, on the other hand, is still the strongest currency amid the looming recession. Macroeconomic data The number of new home sales in the US for May reached 696,000, beating expectations of 588,000. This is positive news.   On the other hand, the negative news is the drop in consumer confidence, which reached 98.7 for May (103.2 the previous month). The drop in consumer confidence is expected to affect consumer spendings. It is evident that American consumers are reluctant to spend in times of rising prices and are accumulating savings for the future. This is of course contributing to the economic slowdown and the risk of a recession in the US is thus becoming stronger. This was confirmed by the GDP data, which fell for the third month in a row.   The fall in GDP last month was 1.6%. GDP was therefore negative in 1Q 2022. If it is also negative in 2Q2022, it will be an official confirmation of the recession defined by two negative quarters in a row. Jerome Powell suggested this week that the risk of the economy being damaged by higher rates is less important than restoring price stability. This heightens fears that a slowdown in the US economy will take the whole world down with it. So in times when central banks are tackling inflation, this risk will set the tone for some time.    This situation is positive for the US dollar, which is seen by investors as a safe haven asset in times of uncertainty. The dollar therefore remains close to this year's highs.  Although the yield on 10-year US Treasuries has fallen below 3%, the overall trend in bond yields is still upwards. Figure 1: US 10-year bond yields and USD index on the daily chart   The SP 500 Index The strengthening on the SP 500 Index that we have seen in the week of June 20 was really just a short-term correction to the overall downtrend, as we have previously suggested. Last week saw another sell-off and so the overall downtrend on the index continues.   Figure 2: The SP 500 on H4 and D1 chart   The nearest resistance according to the H4 chart is in the range of 3,810 - 3,820. The next resistance is 3,930 - 3,950. A support is 3 640 - 3 670.    German DAX index  The German Ifo Business Climate Index which measures the expectations of manufacturers, builders and sellers for the next 6 months continued to show a value of 92.3, which is worse than the previous month when the index value was 93.0. The fall in the reading suggests some pessimism, accentuated by current market uncertainties, which include the impact of the war in Ukraine and high inflation, which in Germany for the month of June was 7.6% year-on-year. However, inflation fell by 0.1% month-on-month.   The labour market has also indicated problems. The number of unemployed in Germany rose by 133 000, while the market had expected a fall of 6 000. This was very negative news, which triggered a strong sell-off on the Dax on Thursday. On the other hand, retail sales were positive, rising by 0.6% in May, while a 5.4% decline was recorded in April. Figure 3: German DAX index on H4 and daily chart The DAX has broken support according to the H4 chart at 12,850, which has now become the new resistance, which is in the 12,820 - 12,850 range. The next resistance according to the H4 chart is then at 13,280 - 13,375. The strong support according to the daily chart is 12,443 - 12,620, which price is currently approaching.    Eurozone inflation at a new record Eurozone consumer inflation reached another record high in June, rising by 8.6% year-on-year. This is higher than analysts' expectations, who predicted a rise of 8.4%. Inflation is therefore continuing to rise, so the expectation that the ECB could raise rates by more than 0.25% in July is on target and this could support the euro's growth. On the other hand, there is a strong dollar which could continue to slow down bulls on the euro.   Figure 4: EUR/USD on H4 and daily chart The nearest resistance according to the H4 chart is at 1.048 - 1.0500. The next resistance is at 1.0600 - 1.0610. Support is at 1.0360 - 1.0380.   Gold broke the $1,800 price tag The development in gold has once again confirmed that investors prefer US bonds instead of gold, which, in addition to being considered a "safe haven" along with the US dollar, also brings a small but still certain return. The strong dollar is not good news for gold, which has fallen below the key support of USD 1,800 per ounce.  Figure 5: Gold on H4 and daily chart The nearest resistance according to the H4 chart is therefore in the zone of USD 1,800 - 1,807 per ounce. Below this resistance we have several supports. The closest one is 1 780 - 1 787 USD per ounce.  
Corn Prices Recorded Their Biggest Weekly Gain, Gold Demand In India May Suffer A Temporary Setback

Aggressive Fed Increases The Opportunity Cost OF Holding Silver, WTI Crude Oil Prices, Corn: Traders Weigh Weak Demand & Tight Supply

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 08.07.2022 13:07
Summary: Aggressive Fed turning investors away from silver Lower demand prospects outweigh tight supply concerns for WTI Crude Oil. Commodity traders are watching weather in top growing corn regions. Read next: Platinum Prices Drop In The Wake Of Slower Demand Prospects, RBOB Gasoline Prices, Wheat Prices Below Pre-Russian Invasion Levels  Silver Prices hitting July 2020 lows. Silver prices are staying below the $20 mark per ounce, a level that has not been seen since July 2020. The price decline comes in the wake of the Federal Reserve’s committing to aggressive monetary policy tightening and raising interest rates further, this move causes investors to short the non-yielding metal. The Fed has set markt expectations for back-to-back 75 bps rate hikes in July. This move has Put a floor under prices where lingering concerns about slowing economic growth, mainly in Europe, as surging gas prices threaten the outlook for the Euro bloc. Silver Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Lower demand prospects outweigh tight supply concerns for WTI Crude Oil The price of crude futures are expected to close low on Friday as concerns around a global recession and its impact on the demand for crude oil outweighs the concerns around tight-supplies. The US oil benchmark has declined by 5% this week, tracking a broader decline in commodity markets in the wake of restrictive monetary policy among major economies threatening a global recession. Crude prices are still up 35% this year as global economic recovery coincided with Russia’s invasion in the Ukraine. WTI Crude Aug Futures Price Chart Corn prices Corn futures prices are currently hovering as the market weighs up favourable weather conditions and weak demand over tighter supply prospects. Weather conditions in top corn growing regions are being watched closely by traders. On the demand side, the combination of weak economic global data and aggressive monetary tightening from central banks is raising fears of a economic slowdown. Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
The Swing Overview - Week 27 2022

The Swing Overview - Week 27 2022

Purple Trading Purple Trading 08.07.2022 10:27
The Swing Overview - Week 27 2022 The fall in US bond yields, the rise in the US dollar and the sharp weakening in the euro, which is heading towards parity with the dollar. This is how the last week, in which stock indices cautiously strengthened and made a correction in the downward trend, could be characterised. It is worth noting that Germany has a negative trade balance for the first time since May 1991. Is the country losing its reputation as an economic powerhouse of Europe? Macroeconomic data The ISM in manufacturing, which shows purchasing managers' expectations of economic developments in the short term, came in at 53.0 for June.  While a value above 50 still indicates an expected expansion in the sector, the trend since the beginning of the year has been declining, indicating worsening of optimism.   Unemployment claims reached 231,000 last week. This is still a level that is fairly normal. However, we note that this is the 6th week in a row that the number of claims has been rising. The crucial news on the labour market will then be shown in Friday's NFP data.   On Wednesday, the minutes of the last FOMC meeting were presented, which confirmed that another 50-75 point rate hike is likely in July. The minutes also stated that the Fed could tighten further its hawkish policy if inflationary pressures persist. The Fed's target is to push inflation down to around 2%.   The Fed's hawkish tone has led to a strengthening of the dollar, which has reached a level over 107, its highest level since October 2002. Following the presentation of the FOMC minutes, the US Treasury yields started to rise again. Figure 1: The US 10-year bond yields and the USD index on the daily chart   The SP 500 Index The temporary decline in US Treasury yields was the reason for the correction in the bearish trend in equity indices. However, the bear market still continues to be supported fundamentally by fears of an impending recession.  Figure 2: The SP 500 on H4 and D1 chart   The nearest resistance according to the H4 chart is in the 3,930 - 3,950 range. A support is at 3,740 - 3,750 and then 3,640 - 3,670.    German DAX index The German manufacturing PMI for June came in at 52.0 (previous month 54.8). The downward trend shows a deterioration in optimism.    It is worth noting that Germany's trade balance is negative for the first time since May 1991, i.e. imports are higher than exports. The current trade balance is - EUR 1 billion. The market was expecting a surplus of 2.7 billion. Rising prices of imported energy and a reduction in exports to Russia have contributed to the negative balance. Figure 3: German DAX index on H4 and daily chart The DAX is in a downtrend. On the H4 chart, it has reached the moving average EMA 50. The resistance is in the range of 12,900 - 12,960. Strong support on the daily chart is 12,443 - 12,500, which was tested again last week.    Euro is near parity with the USD Even high inflation, which is already at 8.6%, has not stopped the euro from falling. It seems that parity with the dollar could be reached very soon. The negative trade balance in Germany has contributed very significantly to the euro's decline.  Figure 4: EUR/USD on H4 and daily chart The nearest resistance according to the H4 chart is at 1.020 - 1.021. Support according to the daily chart would be only at parity with the dollar at 1.00. Reaching this value would represent a unique situation that has not occurred on the EUR/USD pair since 2002.   Australia raised interest rates The Reserve Bank of Australia raised the interest rate by 0.50% as expected. The current interest rate now stands at 1.35%. According to the central bank, the Australian economy has been solid so far thanks to commodity exports, the prices of which have been rising. Unemployment is 3.9%, the lowest level in 50 years.   One uncertainty is the behaviour of consumers, who are cutting back on spending in times of high inflation. A significant risk is global development, which is influenced by the war in Ukraine and its impact on energy and agricultural commodity prices.   Figure 5: The AUD/USD on H4 and daily chart The AUD/USD is in a downtrend and even the rate hike did not help the Australian dollar to strengthen. However, there has been some correction in the downtrend. The resistance according to the H4 chart is 0.6880 - 0.6900. The support is at 0.6760 - 0.6770.  
US and European Equity Futures Mixed Amid Economic Concerns and Yield Surge

Recession Fears Are Affecting Brent Crude Prices, Silver Price vs A Hawkish Federal Reserve, Corn At 8-Week Highs

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 11.07.2022 16:00
Summary: Fears of a global recession are expected to dampen energy demand. Aggressive Fed prospects driving silver demand down. Hot weather conditions affecting corn growing prospects. Read next: Aggressive Fed Increases The Opportunity Cost OF Holding Silver, WTI Crude Oil Prices, Corn: Traders Weigh Weak Demand & Tight Supply  Concerns around demand driving Brent Crude Oil Prices down Brent Crude Oil futures fell during Monday trading after posting a loss last week in volatile trading in the wake of fears around a global recession and new COVID 19 virus restrictions in China, both of which outweighed fears around supply. Fears of a global recession are expected to dampen energy demand and continue to rule over market sentiment as major central banks continue to fight inflation through aggressive monetary policy interest rate hikes. In addition, a new omicron variant of COVID-19 has been discovered in Shanghai and has heightened fears of further restrictions. At the same time, market participants remain unsure about the western nations plans to cap Russian oil prices as Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that further sanctions could lead to "catastrophic" consequences within the global energy market. Brent Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Silver prices hover around $20 per ounce Silver prices are still sitting around the $20 per ounce mark, a level that has not been seen since July 2020. The price drop comes in the wake of stronger bets of a more aggressive Federal Reserve to increase interest rates in an attempt to reign in sky-high inflation. Silver is normally used as a hedge against inflation, however as treasury yields rise, the opportunity cost of holding silver rises. Silver Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Corn futures rose to 8-week highs Corn Futures have risen on Monday to 8-week highs and not far from the 10 year high hit in April. The price rose in the wake of concerns around tighter supplies amid an already short supply market that has been caused by the Russia-Ukraine war. Hot weather conditions in the US and European growing belt have nullified the price drop during the last trading week. At the same time, Chinese import demand also increased. Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Chile's Lithium Nationalization and the Global Trend of Resource Nationalism: Implications for EV Supply Chains and Efforts to Strengthen Battery Metal Supply

Demand Is Rising For NGAS, Strong Supply Prospects For Cotton, Investors Turn To The US Dollar As An Inflation Hedge Instead Of Gold

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 12.07.2022 16:01
Summary: Noord Stream pipeline maintenance causing supply concerns. Decreased cotton consumption from top clothing makers. Gold futures touching near 9 month lows. Read next: Recession Fears Are Affecting Brent Crude Prices, Silver Price vs A Hawkish Federal Reserve, Corn At 8-Week Highs  NGas Prices driven by increased demand Natural Gas futures are recovering from a 3 month low experienced earlier in July, supported by strong international and domestic demand. As the weather gets hotter and demand for cooling increases, the demand for NGas strengthens whilst routine maintenance on the Noord Stream pipeline are contributing to driving prices higher. NGAS Aug’22 Futures Price Chart Strong Cotton supply prospects Cotton prices have been falling in the wake of lower demand prospects as China adopted new Covid-19 curbs adding to global shutdown concerns already in place which have been caused by aggressive monetary policy tightening by major central banks. At the same time, USDA cut the world production expectations for cotton by 450,000 bails for June due to decreased consumption from Bangladesh and Mexico. Cotton supplies are looking strong going forward. Cotton Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Gold futures Gold futures are hovering around 9-month lows on Tuesday in the wake of investors choosing the US Dollar as a hedge against inflation and risks around a recession over gold. Expectations that the Federal Reserve will continue to tighten monetary policy by aggressively raising interest rates have also put pressure on gold prices as a stronger than expected US jobs report and upcoming US inflation data could bolster the Feds plans. Gold Aug ‘22 Future Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Recession Fears Continue To Weigh On The Commodity Market: Coffee, Palladium & WTI Crude

Recession Fears Continue To Weigh On The Commodity Market: Coffee, Palladium & WTI Crude

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 13.07.2022 14:23
Summary: WTI Crude Prices falling. Concerns about weakening coffee demand. Fears of fresh Covid lockdown measures in China persist. Read next: Demand Is Rising For NGAS, Strong Supply Prospects For Cotton, Investors Turn To The US Dollar As An Inflation Hedge Instead Of Gold  WTI Crude Oil Falling WTI Crude futures tumbled around 8% during Tuesday's trading day as traders continued to weigh weakening demand, recession fears and China’s most recent covid-19 outbreaks. In addition investors are awaiting the latest US Inflation data release which could bolster the Federal Reserve's aggressive monetary policy tightening and thus heighten fears of a recession. At the same time US crude inventories have reportedly risen by 4.76 million barrels during the previous trading week. WTI Crude Oil Futures Aug Price Chart Coffee Prices have been falling Coffee Futures have been trading lower amidst fears that the economic slowdown will negatively affect demand whilst supply remains stable. Coffee exports have risen, however Brazil is behind their year-on-year harvest. Coffee Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Palladium prices 35% down Palladium prices are 35% down from their all time high hit in March earlier this year in the wake of new concerns around weak demand from China which has overshadowed the persisting fears around tight supplies. A new omicron variant found in China has heightened fears of fresh Covid lockdown measures in Shanghai which could further damage economic growth and put a dent in the demand for the metal from the world's largest consumer. Palladium Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Russia Look Set To Double Its Exports For The First Half Of 2023

Platinum Prices Touchine 22-month Lows, RBOB Gasoline, Wheat Consumption Expected To Decrease

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 14.07.2022 14:17
Summary: The market expects lower demand for Platinum. Wheat Futures are approaching near four-month lows. Expensive Gasoline prices are keeping summer drivers off the road. Read next: Recession Fears Continue To Weigh On The Commodity Market: Coffee, Palladium & WTI Crude  Platinum prices are falling Platinum futures are touching 22 month lows as prospects of lower demand outweighed prospects outweighed supply concerns. Higher than expected US inflation data increased expectations of tighter and more aggressive monetary policy. In addition, the fresh new Covis cases in China are causing demand expectations to fall. Supplies are also expected to remain low as supply shipments from Russia disruptions continue. In addition, during June Britain sanctioned the chief executive and principal shareholder of Nornickel, Vladimir Potanin. Nornickel is the 3rd largest producer of the metal. Platinum Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Wheat supplies are expected recover Wheat Futures are approaching near four-month lows, and extending is move away from pre-Russian invasion levels receiving support from a stronger supply outlook. The combination of a forecast that reflected a decrease in consumption for the rest of the world for the 2022/23 marketing year as well as new data from the USDA’s supply and demand report pointed to a sharp increase in the supply, exports, and ending stocks of wheat in the United States. At the same time, concerns around a worldwide recession led the consumption estimated to be revised downward. Chicago Wheat Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart RBOB Gasoline Expensive Gasoline prices are keeping more drivers off the road in the US than at the height of the pandemic. Gasoline demand tumbled last week, below the same week in 2020 and to the lowest (seasonally) since 1996. The numbers now paint a clearer picture of demand faltering amid mounting concerns over a wider economic slowdown. RBOB Gasoline Aug ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
COT Week 28 Charts: Soft Commodities Speculators bets drop lower led by Corn, Coffee & Soybeans

COT Week 28 Charts: Soft Commodities Speculators bets drop lower led by Corn, Coffee & Soybeans

Invest Macro Invest Macro 16.07.2022 16:15
By InvestMacro | COT | Data Tables | COT Leaders | Downloads | COT Newsletter Here are the latest charts and statistics for the Commitment of Traders (COT) data published by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The latest COT data is updated through Tuesday July 12th and shows a quick view of how large traders (for-profit speculators and commercial entities) were positioned in the futures markets. Weekly Speculator Changes COT soft commodities speculator bets were mostly lower this week as five out of the eleven soft commodities markets we cover had higher positioning while the other six markets had lower net speculator contracts. Leading the gains for soft commodities markets was Sugar (22,357 contracts) and Lean Hogs (9,852 contracts) with Soybean Meal (4,453 contracts), Cocoa (2,935 contracts) and Live Cattle (1,870 contracts) also showing increasing net positions on the week. The markets leading the declines in speculator bets this week were Corn (-13,549 contracts) and Coffee (-12,479 contracts) with Soybeans (-10,372 contracts), Cotton (-7,860 contracts), Soybean Oil (-4,893 contracts) and Wheat (-3,745 contracts) also seeing lower speculator net positions on the week. The latest data for the soft commodities markets (especially strength trends further below) shows how much the softs sentiment has cooled off after a super-hot start to the year.   Data Snapshot of Commodity Market Traders | Columns Legend Jul-12-2022 OI OI-Index Spec-Net Spec-Index Com-Net COM-Index Smalls-Net Smalls-Index WTI Crude 1,612,803 0 268,328 0 -294,526 100 26,198 52 Gold 542,493 26 118,121 0 -137,788 100 19,667 0 Silver 142,259 9 3,204 0 -9,612 100 6,408 0 Copper 172,037 6 -26,295 23 27,061 78 -766 21 Palladium 6,474 1 -2,802 7 3,252 93 -450 18 Platinum 75,615 48 -5,911 0 1,235 100 4,676 27 Natural Gas 969,204 0 -131,603 39 94,195 61 37,408 69 Brent 171,950 17 -38,388 47 36,619 54 1,769 33 Heating Oil 266,330 22 6,728 52 -22,853 47 16,125 54 Soybeans 611,751 1 115,119 49 -87,284 57 -27,835 24 Corn 1,333,199 0 247,156 62 -196,533 44 -50,623 14 Coffee 195,810 2 34,308 68 -35,166 37 858 0 Sugar 701,144 0 105,869 58 -115,779 46 9,910 20 Wheat 288,182 0 4,639 25 5,041 67 -9,680 60   Strength Scores Strength Scores (a normalized measure of Speculator positions over a 3-Year range, from 0 to 100 where above 80 is extreme bullish and below 20 is extreme bearish) show that Soybean Meal (83.4 percent) positions lead the strength scores in the soft commodity markets and are currently in a bullish extreme position. Coffee (68.5 percent) comes in as the next highest soft commodity market in strength scores followed by Corn (61.6 percent) and Sugar (58.4 percent). On the downside, Live Cattle (6.8 percent) and Cocoa (13.5 percent) come in at the lowest strength levels currently and are both in extreme bearish levels. Strength Statistics: Corn (61.6 percent) vs Corn previous week (63.3 percent) Sugar (58.4 percent) vs Sugar previous week (53.8 percent) Coffee (68.5 percent) vs Coffee previous week (79.3 percent) Soybeans (49.2 percent) vs Soybeans previous week (52.4 percent) Soybean Oil (25.8 percent) vs Soybean Oil previous week (29.0 percent) Soybean Meal (83.4 percent) vs Soybean Meal previous week (80.9 percent) Live Cattle (6.8 percent) vs Live Cattle previous week (4.5 percent) Lean Hogs (34.0 percent) vs Lean Hogs previous week (23.3 percent) Cotton (49.8 percent) vs Cotton previous week (54.8 percent) Cocoa (13.5 percent) vs Cocoa previous week (10.7 percent) Wheat (25.1 percent) vs Wheat previous week (30.0 percent) Strength Trends Strength Score Trends (or move index, calculates the 6-week changes in strength scores) show that Lean Hogs (17.3 percent) leads the past six weeks trends for the soft commodity markets this week. Soybean Meal (10.9 percent) and Live Cattle (3.0 percent) round out the only other positive movers in the latest trends data. Soybean Oil (-30.2 percent) and Wheat (-23.0 percent) lead the downside trend scores currently while the next markets with lower trend scores were Soybeans (-21.6 percent) and Corn (-20.1 percent) followed by Sugar (-19.7 percent). Strength Trend Statistics: Corn (-20.1 percent) vs Corn previous week (-21.4 percent) vs Sugar previous week (-25.9 percent) Coffee (-7.5 percent) vs Coffee previous week (8.4 percent) Soybeans (-21.6 percent) vs Soybeans previous week (-19.1 percent) Soybean Oil (-30.2 percent) vs Soybean Oil previous week (-29.9 percent) Soybean Meal (10.9 percent) vs Soybean Meal previous week (7.8 percent) Live Cattle (3.0 percent) vs Live Cattle previous week (-3.4 percent) Lean Hogs (17.3 percent) vs Lean Hogs previous week (8.6 percent) Cotton (-17.9 percent) vs Cotton previous week (-14.0 percent) Cocoa (-14.0 percent) vs Cocoa previous week (-15.4 percent) Wheat (-23.0 percent) vs Wheat previous week (-23.4 percent) Individual Markets: CORN Futures: The CORN large speculator standing this week was a net position of 247,156 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -13,549 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 260,705 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish with a score of 61.6 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 43.9 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 13.9 percent. CORN Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 28.8 46.8 9.3 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 10.3 61.6 13.1 – Net Position: 247,156 -196,533 -50,623 – Gross Longs: 384,324 624,590 123,773 – Gross Shorts: 137,168 821,123 174,396 – Long to Short Ratio: 2.8 to 1 0.8 to 1 0.7 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 61.6 43.9 13.9 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bullish Bearish Bearish-Extreme NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -20.1 22.3 0.1   SUGAR Futures: The SUGAR large speculator standing this week was a net position of 105,869 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly increase of 22,357 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 83,512 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish with a score of 58.4 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 46.2 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 20.1 percent. SUGAR Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 26.9 50.5 9.0 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 11.8 67.0 7.6 – Net Position: 105,869 -115,779 9,910 – Gross Longs: 188,691 354,173 62,937 – Gross Shorts: 82,822 469,952 53,027 – Long to Short Ratio: 2.3 to 1 0.8 to 1 1.2 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 58.4 46.2 20.1 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bullish Bearish Bearish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -19.7 23.7 -36.0   COFFEE Futures: The COFFEE large speculator standing this week was a net position of 34,308 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -12,479 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 46,787 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish with a score of 68.5 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 37.3 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 0.0 percent. COFFEE Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 25.0 52.7 4.4 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 7.5 70.6 3.9 – Net Position: 34,308 -35,166 858 – Gross Longs: 49,003 103,113 8,550 – Gross Shorts: 14,695 138,279 7,692 – Long to Short Ratio: 3.3 to 1 0.7 to 1 1.1 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 68.5 37.3 0.0 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bullish Bearish Bearish-Extreme NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -7.5 9.6 -18.6   SOYBEANS Futures: The SOYBEANS large speculator standing this week was a net position of 115,119 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly lowering of -10,372 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 125,491 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 49.2 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 57.5 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 24.0 percent. SOYBEANS Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 28.1 51.3 6.3 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 9.2 65.6 10.9 – Net Position: 115,119 -87,284 -27,835 – Gross Longs: 171,610 313,986 38,675 – Gross Shorts: 56,491 401,270 66,510 – Long to Short Ratio: 3.0 to 1 0.8 to 1 0.6 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 49.2 57.5 24.0 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bearish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -21.6 21.3 -0.9   SOYBEAN OIL Futures: The SOYBEAN OIL large speculator standing this week was a net position of 29,788 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -4,893 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 34,681 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 25.8 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 76.3 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 22.5 percent. SOYBEAN OIL Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 18.9 59.3 6.9 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 10.8 68.0 6.3 – Net Position: 29,788 -32,200 2,412 – Gross Longs: 69,825 219,399 25,642 – Gross Shorts: 40,037 251,599 23,230 – Long to Short Ratio: 1.7 to 1 0.9 to 1 1.1 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 25.8 76.3 22.5 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bearish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -30.2 36.0 -55.3   SOYBEAN MEAL Futures: The SOYBEAN MEAL large speculator standing this week was a net position of 100,397 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly lift of 4,453 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 95,944 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish-Extreme with a score of 83.4 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 20.7 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 34.4 percent. SOYBEAN MEAL Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 27.9 43.0 10.4 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 2.6 73.2 5.5 – Net Position: 100,397 -119,787 19,390 – Gross Longs: 110,774 170,710 41,383 – Gross Shorts: 10,377 290,497 21,993 – Long to Short Ratio: 10.7 to 1 0.6 to 1 1.9 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 83.4 20.7 34.4 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bullish-Extreme Bearish Bearish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 10.9 -5.4 -47.0   LIVE CATTLE Futures: The LIVE CATTLE large speculator standing this week was a net position of 21,899 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly gain of 1,870 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 20,029 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish-Extreme with a score of 6.8 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 82.5 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 84.0 percent. LIVE CATTLE Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 34.3 41.1 11.6 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 26.2 49.5 11.3 – Net Position: 21,899 -22,536 637 – Gross Longs: 92,671 111,204 31,321 – Gross Shorts: 70,772 133,740 30,684 – Long to Short Ratio: 1.3 to 1 0.8 to 1 1.0 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 6.8 82.5 84.0 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish-Extreme Bullish-Extreme Bullish-Extreme NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 3.0 -5.4 5.6   LEAN HOGS Futures: The LEAN HOGS large speculator standing this week was a net position of 25,059 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly rise of 9,852 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 15,207 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 34.0 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 73.7 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 53.3 percent. LEAN HOGS Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 34.1 39.6 9.8 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 21.2 48.2 14.1 – Net Position: 25,059 -16,735 -8,324 – Gross Longs: 66,221 76,851 19,114 – Gross Shorts: 41,162 93,586 27,438 – Long to Short Ratio: 1.6 to 1 0.8 to 1 0.7 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 34.0 73.7 53.3 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bullish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 17.3 -17.2 -6.8   COTTON Futures: The COTTON large speculator standing this week was a net position of 42,685 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -7,860 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 50,545 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 49.8 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 51.3 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 31.4 percent. COTTON Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 38.3 43.5 6.7 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 14.1 69.5 5.0 – Net Position: 42,685 -45,740 3,055 – Gross Longs: 67,517 76,796 11,861 – Gross Shorts: 24,832 122,536 8,806 – Long to Short Ratio: 2.7 to 1 0.6 to 1 1.3 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 49.8 51.3 31.4 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bearish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -17.9 20.6 -45.2   COCOA Futures: The COCOA large speculator standing this week was a net position of -4,180 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly boost of 2,935 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -7,115 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish-Extreme with a score of 13.5 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 87.9 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 17.3 percent. COCOA Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 29.6 46.2 4.6 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 30.9 45.5 3.9 – Net Position: -4,180 2,102 2,078 – Gross Longs: 90,985 141,970 14,013 – Gross Shorts: 95,165 139,868 11,935 – Long to Short Ratio: 1.0 to 1 1.0 to 1 1.2 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 13.5 87.9 17.3 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish-Extreme Bullish-Extreme Bearish-Extreme NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -14.0 16.0 -21.0   WHEAT Futures: The WHEAT large speculator standing this week was a net position of 4,639 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly reduction of -3,745 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 8,384 net contracts. This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 25.1 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 66.8 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 60.2 percent. WHEAT Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS – Percent of Open Interest Longs: 29.2 42.5 9.5 – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 27.6 40.7 12.9 – Net Position: 4,639 5,041 -9,680 – Gross Longs: 84,206 122,406 27,418 – Gross Shorts: 79,567 117,365 37,098 – Long to Short Ratio: 1.1 to 1 1.0 to 1 0.7 to 1 NET POSITION TREND: – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 25.1 66.8 60.2 – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bullish NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -23.0 33.7 -31.2   Article By InvestMacro – Receive our weekly COT Reports by Email *COT Report: The COT data, released weekly to the public each Friday, is updated through the most recent Tuesday (data is 3 days old) and shows a quick view of how large speculators or non-commercials (for-profit traders) were positioned in the futures markets. The CFTC categorizes trader positions according to commercial hedgers (traders who use futures contracts for hedging as part of the business), non-commercials (large traders who speculate to realize trading profits) and nonreportable traders (usually small traders/speculators) as well as their open interest (contracts open in the market at time of reporting).See CFTC criteria here.
What Does Inflation Rates We Got To Know Mean To Central Banks?

What Does Inflation Rates We Got To Know Mean To Central Banks?

Purple Trading Purple Trading 15.07.2022 13:36
The Swing Overview – Week 28 2022 This week's new record inflation readings sent a clear message to central bankers. Further interest rate hikes must be faster than before. The first of the big banks to take this challenge seriously was the Bank of Canada, which literally shocked the markets with an unprecedented rate hike of a full 1%. This is obviously not good for stocks, which weakened again in the past week. The euro also stumbled and has already fallen below parity with the usd. Uncertainty, on the other hand, favours the US dollar, which has reached new record highs.   Macroeconomic data The data from the US labour market, the so-called NFP, beat expectations, as the US economy created 372 thousand new jobs in June (the expectation was 268 thousand) and the unemployment rate remained at 3.6%. But on the other hand, unemployment claims continued to rise, reaching 244k last week, the 7th week in a row of increase.   But the crucial news was the inflation data for June. It exceeded expectations and reached a new record of 9.1% on year-on-year basis, the highest value since 1981. Inflation rose by 1.3% on month-on-month basis. Energy prices, which rose by 41.6%, had a major impact on inflation. Declines in commodity prices, such as oil, have not yet influenced June inflation, which may be some positive news. Core inflation excluding food and energy prices rose by 5.9%, down from 6% in May.   The value of inflation was a shock to the markets and the dollar strengthened sharply. We can see this in the dollar index, which has already surpassed 109. We will see how the Fed, which will be deciding on interest rates in less than two weeks, will react to this development. A rate hike of 0.75% is very likely and the question is whether even such an increase will be enough for the markets. Meanwhile, there has been an inversion on the yield curve on US bonds. This means that yields on 2-year bonds are higher than those on 10-year bonds. This is one of the signals of a recession. Figure 1: The US Treasury yield curve on the monthly chart and the USD index on the daily chart   The SP 500 Index Apart from macroeconomic indicators, the ongoing earnings season will also influence the performance of the indices this month. Among the major banks, JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley reported results this week. Both banks reported earnings, but they were below investor expectations. The impact of more expensive funding sources that banks need to finance their activities is probably starting to show.   We must also be interested in the data in China, which, due to the size of the Chinese economy, has an impact on the movement of global indices. 2Q GDP in China was 0.4% on year-on-year basis, a significant drop from the previous quarter (4.8%). Strict lockdowns against new COVID-19 outbreaks had an impact on economic situation in the country. Figure 2: SP 500 on H4 and D1 chart The threat of a recession is seeping into the SP 500 index with another decline, which stalled last week at the support level, which according to the H4 is in the 3,740-3,750 range. The next support is 3,640 - 3,670.  The nearest resistance is 3,930 - 3,950. German DAX index The German ZEW sentiment, which shows expectations for the next 6 months, reached - 53.8. This is the lowest reading since 2011. Inflation in Germany reached 7.6% in June. This is lower than the previous month when inflation was 7.9%. Concerns about the global recession continue to affect the DAX index, which has tested significant supports. Figure 3: German DAX index on H4 and daily chart Strong support according to the daily chart is 12,443 - 12,500, which was tested again last week. We can take the moving averages EMA 50 and SMA 100 as a resistance. The nearest horizontal resistance is 12,950 - 13,000.   The euro broke parity with the dollar The euro fell below 1.00 on the pair with the dollar for the first time in 20 years, reaching a low of 0.9950 last week. Although the euro eventually closed above parity, so from a technical perspective it is not a valid break yet, the euro's weakening points to the headwinds the eurozone is facing: high inflation, weak growth, the threat in energy commodity supplies, the war in Ukraine. Figure 4: EUR/USD on H4 and daily chart Next week the ECB will be deciding on interest rates and it is obvious that there will be some rate hike. A modest increase of 0.25% has been announced. Taking into account the issues mentioned above, the motivation for the ECB to raise rates by a more significant step will not be very strong. The euro therefore remains under pressure and it is not impossible that a fall below parity will occur again in the near future.   The nearest resistance according to the H4 chart is at 1.008 - 1.012. A support is the last low, which is at 0.9950 - 0.9960.   Bank of Canada has pulled out the anti-inflation bazooka Analysts had expected the Bank of Canada to raise rates by 0.75%. Instead, the central bank shocked markets with an unprecedented increase by a full 1%, the highest rate hike in 24 years. The central bank did so in response to inflation, which is the highest in Canada in 40 years. With this jump in rates, the bank is trying to prevent uncontrolled price increases.   The reaction of the Canadian dollar has been interesting. It strengthened significantly immediately after the announcement. However, then it began to weaken sharply. This may be because investors now expect the US Fed to resort to a similarly sharp rate hike. Figure 5: USD/CAD on H4 and daily chart Another reason may be the decline in oil prices, which the Canadian dollar is correlated with, as Canada is a major oil producer. The oil is weakening due to fears of a drop in demand that would accompany an economic recession. Figure 6: Oil on the H4 and daily charts Oil is currently in a downtrend. However, it has reached a support value, which is in the area near $94 per barrel. The support has already been broken, but on the daily chart oil closed above this value. Therefore, it is not a valid break yet.  
Crude Oil Ended Higher | Initial Jobless Claims Rose Marginally

UK Oil Benchmark Fell 5%, Price Of Silver Reaching July 2020 Lows, Corn Commodities

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 18.07.2022 16:31
Summary: Corn commodities and the agricultural market. OPEC+ and Saudi ministers. Aggressive Fed driving silver demand down Brent Crude Oil prices Investors are trying to deal with tighter supplies as risk appetite has seemingly returned to the markets, driving the price of Brent crude up. Ministers in Saudi Arabia insisted that future policy decisions would be made in accordance with the August 3rd OPEC+ meeting and with keeping market dynamics in mind. In addition, Libya indicated their oil ports and fields will begin functioning again and electricity output will increase after months of outages. Diesel and Gasoline demand fell during the first half of July in India due to seasonal rainfalls. The UK oil benchmark fell 5% and has been on the decline since the middle of June due to growing recession concerns. Brent Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Silver affected by aggressive monetary policy tightening Silver prices have been falling to their lowest level since July 2020 amidst concerns around demand in China and an aggressive monetary policy tightening Federal Reserve who are committed to fighting sky-high inflation. The reiteration from the Fed around their determination to control sky-high inflation has expectations for a July interest rate hike set at 75 basis points. Silver Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Corn Commodities falling to 5 week lows Corn commodities have been extending their decline to almost 5 week lows tracking a broader decline within the agricultural commodity market. Corn production forecasts for the 2022/2023 years were revised upwards by 45 million bushels in the United States due to greater harvesting and planting areas. Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Powell signals Fed needs to be nimble, Canada Inflation hits near 40-year high, bitcoin tries to hold USD20k

Concerns Around Russia Halting Gas Flows To Europe Are Growing, Rebounding Cotton Prices, Gold Prices Threatened By Ongoing Economic Uncertainty

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 19.07.2022 14:12
Summary: NGAS prices are rising amidst supply concerns. Risk of gold experiencing further declines. India’s monsoon season and cotton prices. Read next: IBM Beat Market Earnings Expectations For Their Second Quarter  Natural Gas Prices Rise NGAS futures have risen to levels that have not been seen in more than a month, amidst a demand that has been driven by weather, whilst simultaneously the uncertainty around supply of gas in the Eurozone kept demand for US LNG exports supported. In Europe, fears have been growing around the possibility that Russia will cut gas flows to the continent and jeopardize the EU’s goal to fill 80% of their storage capacity by the next winter season. Reuters has recently reported that Russia's Gazprom has informed its European customers that it cannot guarantee gas supplies due to 'extraordinary' circumstances, a move that Europe describes as retaliation for sanctions imposed on Moscow for invading Ukraine. NGAS Aug ‘22 Futures Price Chart Gold Futures Close To one year lows Gold prices have been remaining close to its lowest levels in almost a year and have been facing constant downward pressure from aggressive US monetary policy tightening and a stronger US Dollar which became increasingly more attractive than the non-yielding metal in serving as a hedge against ongoing economic uncertainty. Gold futures also struggled to hold their intraday gains on Monday despite the dollar’s retreat, which was considered as a technical weakness by analysts and in fact could increase the risk of gold experiencing further declines. Gold Aug ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton prices rebounded Cotton prices have rebounded since touching nine-month lows on July 14th as speculators in the commodity market took advantage of the lower prices and the monsoon season in India, the top producer. At the same time investors continue to digest the USDA’s July supply and demand report. Cotton Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
S&P 500 Amongst Major Indexes That Are Rising, Markets Are Waiting For Thursdays ECB Policy Decision

S&P 500 Amongst Major Indexes That Are Rising, Markets Are Waiting For Thursdays ECB Policy Decision

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 20.07.2022 23:47
Summary: S&P 500 supported by tech stocks Euro in focus Read next: WTI Crude Oil Prices Are Under Pressure, Coffee Prices Supported By Drier Weather Conditions, Palladium Futures  S&P 500 ends Tuesday in the green The positive earnings from both Tesla and Netflix that were reported on Thursday and Wednesday respectively has offered support to many tech stocks, driving the S&P 500 and other Tech stocks into the green. This move followed a rally on Tuesday that saw an overall increase of 2% across major indexes. Investors will remain focused on the corporate earnings season in the coming days and weeks, which, despite concerns around a global recession, expectations around this earnings season have been almost completely rewritten. S&P 500 Price Chart Euro Stole headlines on Wednesday European Central Bank’s (ECB) monetary policy decision due on Thursday. The Euro is still facing uncertainty regarding high inflation in the Eurozone and how the ECB plans to tackle it, in addition as the Noord Stream 1 opens after its routine maintenance period, there are still concerns as to whether Russia will open the gas taps. The recovery of the Euro against the dollar could be reflecting a possible market inflection point. The Euro has recovered half of its July losses so far, this could mean a turn around against the Dollar for many other major currencies aswell. The Euro stole the headlines on Wednesday as both Bloomberg News and Reuters reported that the market could see an outsized interest rate yield rise from the European Central Bank on Thursday. Sources: FXmag.com, finance.yahoom.com
Powell signals Fed needs to be nimble, Canada Inflation hits near 40-year high, bitcoin tries to hold USD20k

Platinum Futures Nearing 21-month Lows, Wheat, RBOB Gasoline Prices Falling

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 21.07.2022 14:49
Summary: Weaker demand prospects for platinum outshine supply concerns. Russian grain and fertilizers will not be sanctioned by the US. RBOB Gasoline. Read next: Altcoins: renBTC (RENBTC) - What Is It? - A Deeper Look Into the renBTC (RENBTC) Platform  Platinum Prices are hitting 21 month lows Platinum prices are nearing 21 month lows as concerns around weakening demand outshone supply concerns. Higher than expected inflation numbers drove up expectations for more aggressive monetary policy tightening and heightened fears of a global economic recession. In addition, the demand from the top-consumer, China, is expected to fall in the wake of newly imposed lockdown regulations, which is also expected to hurt economic activity. At the same time, supply from Russia is expected to remain subdued due to the war in the Ukraine. Platinum Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Wheat futures prices returning to normal levels Chicago Wheat futures hit a one week high on July 20th but have since returned down to somewhat normal levels that were seen before Russia invaded the Ukraine amidst prospects of higher supplies. USDA forecasts show the levels predicted that supply, exports and ending stocks in the US are going to increase sharply and a decrease in consumption around the world. In addition, strong Russian harvest and lower export taxes expectations aided in the bearishness, this eased shortage relief when the US announced that Russian grains and fertilizers will not be sanctioned. Chicago Wheat Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart RBOB Gasoline Gasoline futures fell to levels that have not been seen since April 25th, this fall comes in the wake of concerns around weakening demand. In addition, according to the EIA, domestic inventory levels increased well above market expectations. Gasoline consumption levels are standing around those of the first year of the pandemic, but lower than every year going back to 2000. RBOB Gasoline Aug ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Corn Prices Recorded Their Biggest Weekly Gain, Gold Demand In India May Suffer A Temporary Setback

The West Is Trying To Control Brent Crude Prices, Global Corn Supply Concerns, Fed Gears Up For Another Interest Rate Hike

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 25.07.2022 15:41
Summary: Concerns around a demand-shifting global recession continue. Concerns around global supply of corn have been somewhat alleviated. China demand concerns and aggressive interest rate hikes. Read next: Altcoins: GALA (GALA) - What Is It? - A Deeper Look Into the GALA (GALA) Platform  Brent Crude Oil Futures Brent crude prices rose from their daily lows of about $103 to around $104 per barrel as concerns about a demand-draining global recession were dispelled by a tight global market and the potential for further supply disruptions. The West is developing a strategy to control the price of Russian crude as retaliation for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, despite the fact that a top US energy envoy expressed confidence that major producers have spare capacity and are likely to increase supplies, Biden was unable to win a commitment from Arab leaders to pump more oil. A persistent worry that an aggressive tightening from major central banks could plunge economies into a recession and consequently affect oil consumption kept prices in check. Brent Crude Futures Price Chart Corn Prices Following the USDA weekly report that indicated a steady state of the U.S. crop in its crucial pollination phase, alleviating concerns about global supplies, corn futures held close to the 8-month low level below $6 per bushel. Additionally, the agency maintained its rating of 64 percent of the American corn crop as being in good to exceptional condition from the previous week. The report also noted that while dryness lingers in western regions despite expectations for rising temperatures, weekend rainfall in the eastern Midwest benefitted crops. The USDA increased its predictions for global maize ending inventories to 313.0 million tons in its monthly report published on July 12th, an increase of 2.5 million tons from last month's forecasts. Corn Sept ‘22 Futures Price Chart Silver Futures As persistent concerns about demand in China and aggressive tightening by major central banks to control sky-high inflation continue to scare investors away from the non-yielding metal, silver stabilized around $18.7 an ounce, staying close to its lowest level since July 2020. Following a similar move in June, the Federal Reserve is widely anticipated to deliver a 75 basis point rate increase this week, raising borrowing costs to their highest level since 2019. Additionally, the ECB increased policy rates by 50 basis points last week, which was more than expected, and the BoE is likely to do the same thing the following week. The dollar has been pushed higher by safe-haven movements brought on by uncertainty in global growth. Silver Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Chile's Lithium Nationalization and the Global Trend of Resource Nationalism: Implications for EV Supply Chains and Efforts to Strengthen Battery Metal Supply

NGAS Prices Rising, Cotton Demand Falling, Gold Prices Rising As Recession Fears Rise

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 26.07.2022 11:22
Summary: Cooling demand increases as summer progresses. Low cotton demand driving prices down. Recents dollar weakening drives gold price upward/ Read next: Altcoins: Filecoin (FIL) - What Is It? - A Deeper Look Into the Filecoin (FIL) Platform  Natural Gas US natural gas futures surged beyond the $8.8/MMBtu threshold, edging closer to a 14-year high of $9.5/MMBtu achieved in early May on expectations of a growing need for cooling as the country's weather continues to be hotter than typical. The optimistic prognosis is further boosted by the soaring global demand. Due to turbine problems, Russia's Gazprom announced it will decrease flows via the Nord Stream pipeline, providing only 33 million cubic meters per day, or about 20 percent of its capacity, forcing European consumers to find alternative sources of energy. Additionally, utilities only added 34 billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas to underground storage last week, significantly less than the 47 bcf median market expectation, according to the most recent EIA weekly inventory data. NGAS Aug ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton futures trading near 10-month lows The price of cotton futures on the ICE traded close to a 10-month low of 100 cents a pound as traders weighed concerns about poor demand against the possibility of lower production. Amid prospects of dry weather in Texas, the most recent USDA supply and demand report indicated reduced forecasts for output, exports, and ending stocks in the US for the 2022–2023 year compared to projections made last month. In addition, the pink bollworm pest, another major threat to cotton crops in India, attacked in Punjab and Haryana earlier than predicted this year as a result of the lack of moisture during the early stages of the planting season. Fears of a global economic slowdown are expected to reduce demand for non-essential clothes and fabric products. Cotton Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Gold prices rise along with recession fears After losing 0.4 percent the day before, gold increased to about $1,725 an ounce on Tuesday as recessionary fears increased. The safe-haven metal gained from recent weakening in the dollar and US Treasury yields. This week, the US Federal Reserve is anticipated to deliver a further rate increase of 75 basis points, taking the lead in the worldwide fight against inflation that some feared might push the greatest economy on the planet into recession. As monetary conditions become more constrained and threaten to affect global demand, other significant central banks are anticipated to join the US central bank in raising interest rates quicker. Recent figures from the US and Europe already indicate that economic activity is weakening, while China narrowly avoided a second-quarter loss. In the meantime, gold prices stayed about Gold Aug ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Palladium Prices Falling Amidst Weaker Demand Prospects, WTI Crude Oil Stockpile Inventory Came In Below Expectations, Coffee Futures

Palladium Prices Falling Amidst Weaker Demand Prospects, WTI Crude Oil Stockpile Inventory Came In Below Expectations, Coffee Futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 27.07.2022 17:14
Summary: Palladium prices are falling. US crude stockpile inventory came in lower than expected. Coffee output expected to come in lower. Read next: Altcoins: Harmony (ONE) - What Is It? - A Deeper Look Into the Harmony (ONE) Platform  Palladium prices drop amidst weaker demand prospects Palladium prices held steady near the six-month low of $2000 per tonne as expectations of a weaker demand overcame concerns about a supply shortage. As a result of increasing interest rates around the world, frequent lockdowns in China, a major customer, and other factors, the market for the metal is expected to fall. Concerns about supply disruptions from Russia, the metal's largest supplier, continue to exist on the supply side as the conflict in Ukraine shows no indications of coming to an end. Vladimir Potanin, a Russian tycoon who owns a 36% share in Nornickel, the largest palladium manufacturer in the world, was recently sanctioned by Britain. Palladium Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart WTI Crude Oil prices On Wednesday, WTI crude futures oscillated back around $95.7 per barrel as traders considered inventory levels against a backdrop of doubt on the demand outlook. Government statistics confirmed Tuesday's industry reports that US crude oil stockpiles dropped by more than 4 million barrels last week, far more than the median estimate of a million barrel loss. Additionally, the draw in gasoline supplies of 3.3 million barrels substantially above forecasts of a 0.9 million barrel reduction. Concerns that a transition to oil would be forced by decreased gas supplies from Russia to Germany through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline support the optimistic sentiment. The White House announced the sale of an additional 20 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves on the supply side. Last but not least, caution prevailed amid ongoing worries over a potential impending recession ahead of the Federal Reserve's anticipated 75 bps rate hike later in the day. WTI Crude Oil Futures Sep Price Chart Coffee Futures Due to limited stocks and ongoing worries about declining coffee yields in top producer Brazil, Arabica coffee futures on the ICE were trading above the $2 per pound threshold. According to the most recent data, ICE-monitored coffee inventories have reached a 23-year low of 712,817 bags. Given the bullish outlook for the commodity, additional upward momentum could be anticipated this year. Coffee recently hit a nearly 10-year high of $2.6. From a previous projection of a +1.2 mln bag surplus, the International Coffee Organization (ICO) has reduced its global 2020/21 supply estimate to a deficit of -3.13 mln bags. Additionally, ICO downgraded its projections for worldwide output while highlighting stronger global consumption. Coffee Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Corn Prices Recorded Their Biggest Weekly Gain, Gold Demand In India May Suffer A Temporary Setback

Commodities: Poor Corn Crop Supporting Prices, Brent Crude Prices, Silver Prices Rising

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 01.08.2022 14:46
Summary: OPEC+ meeting on Wednesday. Corn crop health is poor. Silver prices are rising. Read next: Altcoins: Harmony (ONE) - What Is It? - A Deeper Look Into the Harmony (ONE) Platform  Brent Crude Oil prices After dropping for two consecutive months, Brent crude futures dipped around $103 per barrel on Monday as a deteriorating forecast for global demand overcame indications of continued supply constraints. The world's top oil importer, China, surprisingly experienced a decline in factory activity in July as a result of Covid-19 flare-ups and a dimming global outlook, according to official data released over the weekend. The US economy contracted for the second consecutive quarter, according to data released last week. Rising inflation and additional monetary tightening are projected to keep growth in check. Libya's oil minister, Mohamed Oun, told Bloomberg that after a string of interruptions, the nation's production had returned to normal at 1.2 million barrels per day. Markets are now anticipating the OPEC+ meeting on Wednesday, where it is anticipated that it will maintain its policy of moderate supply increases in the face of capacity limitations and underinvestment in oil fields, maintaining the tight global supply. Brent Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Poor corn crop health After the USDA's weekly report revealed poor crop health amid heatwaves in the Midwest and plains, corn futures increased to a 1-week high of almost $6 per bushel. The agency gave the U.S. maize crop a satisfactory to exceptional condition rating of 61%, far below than experts' expectations and down from 64% a week earlier. The crop that will be harvested in September is likely to suffer from the hot, dry weather that was present during key corn pollination. However, despite higher supply predictions from the USDA for 2022–2023 and negative demand prospects brought on by rising recession fears, corn is still close to its 8-month low of $5.9 set on July 5th. Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Silver prices rising Following other precious metals, silver prices increased above $20 per ounce after the Federal Reserve continued its tightening course with a 75 basis point increase in interest rates at its July meeting. The action increased the momentum of major central banks' tightening policies since inflation in the biggest economies in the world has not yet peaked. The ECB increased policy rates by 50 basis points, which was more than predicted, and the BoE is likely to do the same thing the following week. Prices are still very close to the $18.1 two-year low that was reached earlier this month as worries about an economic downturn drove investors to the US dollar. Silver Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: tradingeconomics.com, finance.yahoo.com
Central Banks' Rates Outlook: Fed Treads Cautiously, ECB Prepares for Hike

NGAS Prices Remain Elevated, Cotton Shortage Anticipated By Companies, Gold Supported By Dropping Dollar

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 02.08.2022 17:18
Summary: NGAS prices remain supported by increasing demand expectations. Indian cotton crops are threatened. Falling US Dollar and lower Treasury yields supporting gold prices. Read next: 5 Cryptocurrencies To Keep A Watch On: Axie Infinity (AXS), SHIBA-INU (SHIB), Klaytn (KLAY), Sandbox (SAND), Chronoly (CRNO)  NGAS demand expected to fall US natural gas futures continued to decline below the $8/MMBtu barrier due to pressure from record supply levels as domestic producers profited from higher prices. Still, strong domestic and foreign demand continues to sustain the NYMEX complex's fundamentals. Prices have been supported by expectations of an increase in cooling demand due to the United States' above-average temperatures and by Europe's sustained strong demand despite a 20 percent reduction in Nord Stream pipeline gas flows. For refusing to accept its demand for payment for natural gas in Russian rubles, Russia has already stopped exports to Denmark, Finland, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, and Poland and cut supply to Germany. Natural Gas Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Companies are anticipating a cotton shortage Due to active buying from weavers, cotton futures on ICE reached 102 cents per pound, the highest level in more than 2 weeks. As companies anticipate a shortage of cotton yarn during the current cotton season, which runs until September 2022, higher production in the fabric and apparel segments and slower production in the spinning mills encouraged purchase. Additionally, the USDA noted decreased projections for US output, exports, and ending stocks for the years 2022–2023 in its July monthly report due to the possibility of dry weather in Texas. The pink bollworm pest, which this year attacked earlier than anticipated in Punjab and Haryana due to the lack of rainfall in the early part of the planting season, is another threat to cotton crops in India. Despite the fact that the global recession is expected to reduce demand for luxuries like apparel and fabric goods, cotton is still 35 percent below the 11-year high of 158 cents/pound reached in May. Cotton Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Gold demand boosted by low treasury yields and a falling dollar Tuesday saw gold trading above $1,770 per ounce and hanging at its best levels in four weeks as demand for bullion was boosted by a dropping dollar and low Treasury yields. The Federal Reserve may hike interest rates less aggressively in the upcoming months as a result of recent weakness in US economic statistics, which pressured the dollar and US yields while raising gold prices. As fresh US data continue to show an economic slowdown, this trend is anticipated to last throughout August. Demand for gold as a safe haven was also fueled by weaker manufacturing statistics across major economies and escalating tensions between China and the US before US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Palladium Prices Touching Two-Week Highs, OPEC+ Increasing Crude Supply Of WTI Crude Oil, Coffee Supply Outlook Seemingly Poor

Palladium Prices Touching Two-Week Highs, OPEC+ Increasing Crude Supply Of WTI Crude Oil, Coffee Supply Outlook Seemingly Poor

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 03.08.2022 15:15
Summary: EIA data due later today. Concerns around shipping Palladium from Russia persist. ICO downgraded its projections for worldwide output while highlighting stronger global consumption. Read more: 5 Cryptocurrencies To Keep A Watch On: Axie Infinity (AXS), SHIBA-INU (SHIB), Klaytn (KLAY), Sandbox (SAND), Chronoly (CRNO)  WTI Crude Oil After it was revealed that OPEC+ would only increase crude supply by 100,000 bpd for the following month, WTI crude futures reversed early losses to rise more than 1% to $96 per barrel. While in Saudi Arabia last month, US President Joe Biden urged OPEC to enhance production, but due to capacity issues and some member states' failure to achieve output targets, it seemed unlikely that there would be a large increase in supplies. In July, OPEC increased its daily oil production by 310,000 barrels, with only Saudi Arabia and the UAE reportedly having some remaining production capacity. EIA data that will be made public later today should shed some light on how a downturn in the economy would affect demand. WTI Crude Oil Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Palladium touching two-week highs Palladium futures increased to their highest level in over two weeks, approaching $2100 a tonne, as significant dollar-denominated commodity buying increased in response to a halt in the dollar's rally. After the Fed chair reduced expectations for more large rate hikes while lifting the interest rate as widely anticipated, the US dollar stayed near 2-month lows. As the situation in Ukraine shows no signs of ending, worries about shipping problems from Russia, the metal's primary supplier, continue to exist. Vladimir Potanin, a Russian tycoon who owns a 36% share in Nornickel, the largest palladium manufacturer in the world, was recently sanctioned by Britain. Palladium Spe ‘22 Futures Price Chart Coffee supply outlook seemingly poor Due to limited stocks and ongoing worries about declining coffee yields in top producer Brazil, Arabica coffee futures on the ICE were trading above the $2 per pound threshold. According to the most recent data, ICE-monitored coffee inventories have reached a 23-year low of 712,817 bags. Given the bullish outlook for the commodity, additional upward momentum could be anticipated this year. Coffee recently hit a nearly 10-year high of $2.6. From a previous projection of a +1.2 mln bag surplus, the International Coffee Organization (ICO) has reduced its global 2020/21 supply estimate to a deficit of -3.13 mln bags. Additionally, ICO downgraded its projections for worldwide output while highlighting stronger global consumption. Coffee Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconimics.com
Gold Retreated From It’s Daily Highs, Concerns Around WTI Crude Demand Continue, Tight Coffee Supplies Driving Prices

Gold Retreated From It’s Daily Highs, Concerns Around WTI Crude Demand Continue, Tight Coffee Supplies Driving Prices

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 05.08.2022 18:22
Summary: A higher than anticipated payroll report prompted market movements. Continued concerns around the demand for crude oil amidst economic recession fears. Coffee Futures. Gold Futures retreat from daily highs The combination of a stronger dollar and rising Treasury yields caused gold to retreat from its daily highs of $1,795 an ounce to roughly $1,760 on Friday. Market movements were prompted by a payroll report that was higher than anticipated, which opened the door for the Federal Reserve to take an assertive posture to temper an overheating economy. Persistent worries about a worldwide economic slowdown and heightened US-China tensions over Taiwan acted as a floor under prices. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart WTI Crude Oil futures WTI crude futures were trading close to $89 a barrel, slightly up from the 6-month low of $87.5 recorded on Thursday, but still on track to lose over 10% weekly and erase all the gains brought about by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. There are growing worries that the demand would be significantly impacted by a worldwide economic recession. Official data revealed that US gasoline demand plummeted significantly below pre-Covid seasonal norms last week, while US crude inventories unexpectedly increased. Additionally, there are indications that supply is increasing because Libya's oil production increased for a second consecutive week. The decline this week also occurred in spite of Saudi Arabia hiking oil prices to record levels for Asian consumers and OPEC's decision to only slightly increase oil supply for September while announcing "severely constrained" spare capacity. WTI Crude Sep Futures Price Chart Coffee stocks limited Due to limited stocks and ongoing worries about declining coffee yields in top producer Brazil, Arabica coffee futures on the ICE were trading above the $2 per pound threshold. According to the most recent data, ICE-monitored coffee inventories have reached a 23-year low of 712,817 bags. Given the bullish outlook for the commodity, additional upward momentum could be anticipated this year. Coffee recently hit a nearly 10-year high of $2.6. From a previous projection of a +1.2 mln bag surplus, the International Coffee Organization (ICO) has reduced its global 2020/21 supply estimate to a deficit of -3.13 mln bags. Additionally, ICO downgraded its projections for worldwide output while highlighting stronger global consumption. Coffee Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
US and European Equity Futures Mixed Amid Economic Concerns and Yield Surge

Brent Crude Oil Price Falls With Demand Prospects, Poor Corn Crop Health In the Midwest, Silver Futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 08.08.2022 19:42
Summary: China’s oil purchases are down 9.5% compared to a year ago. Poor Corn Crop health in the wake of extreme weather conditions. Fed continuing to stress the importance of keeping inflation low. Read next: 5 Cryptocurrencies To Keep A Watch On: DYDX (dydx), IOTA (MIOTA), Fusion (FSN), Komodo (KMD), OKB (OKEx)  Brent Crude Oil prices dropping as demand prospects fall Amid a dimming demand picture, Brent crude futures were trading around the $94 per barrel level. Refiners lowered inventories amidst a slower-than-anticipated demand rebound, according to data released over the weekend, which revealed that China, the biggest crude importer in the world, purchased 9.5% less oil in July than a year earlier. Last week's US government results were followed by weak Chinese data that indicated rising US crude stocks and falling gasoline consumption. Nevertheless, encouraging US labor and Chinese export statistics reduced some worries about a world recession that would sap demand. Brent Crude Futures Price Chart Corn prices close to 8-month lows After the USDA's weekly report revealed poor crop health amid heatwaves in the Midwest and plains, corn futures increased to a 1-week high of almost $6 per bushel. The agency gave the U.S. maize crop a satisfactory to exceptional condition rating of 61%, far below than experts' expectations and down from 64% a week earlier. The crop that will be harvested in September is likely to suffer from the hot, dry weather that was present during key corn pollination. Corn prices, however, are still close to an 8-month low of $5.9 set on July 5th due to USDA predictions for greater supplies in 2022–2023 and negative demand outlook brought on by escalating recession fears. Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Silver prices remain subdued Ahead of this week's US inflation reading, silver futures remained steady at the $20.1 per ounce level, following other bullion to move slightly higher with a decline in risk sentiment. Even still, prices stayed below the $20.3 one-month high set earlier in the month as hawkish views for the Fed increased in the wake of numerous policymakers stressing the importance of bringing inflation down. More than twice as many jobs were added in the US economy in July as analysts had predicted, and the unemployment rate surprisingly crept down to 3.5%. The data caused markets to speculate that the Fed will raise rates by 75 basis points for the third time in a row at its upcoming meeting, which attracted investors to the US dollar and away from bullion. Silver Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Central Banks' Rates Outlook: Fed Treads Cautiously, ECB Prepares for Hike

Commodities: NGAS Declining Amidst Weaker Demand Prospects, Cotton Rising, Gold Futures Increasing

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 09.08.2022 15:09
Summary: NGAS prices declining amidst prospects of declining demand. Market expectations set at 75 bps rate hike for September. Cotton futures rising to 2 week highs. NGAS Futures US natural gas futures continued to decline below the $8.0/MMBtu barrier, under pressure from expectations that collapsing demand will ease as a result of cooler weather and record output levels as domestic producers profited from higher pricing. The gloomy prognosis was also strengthened by a larger-than-expected build in gas storage last week. The week ending July 29th saw US utilities add 41 billion cubic feet of gas to storage, much exceeding the forecast of 29 bcf. Additionally, Freeport LNG, a significant Texas export terminal, has reached an agreement with regulators to resume operations in October. As the crucial Nord Stream 1 pipeline from Russia to Germany is now operating at 20 percent capacity, demand from Europe is still helping to support prices. For refusing to accept its demand for payment for natural gas in Russian rubles, Russia has already stopped exports to Denmark, Finland, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, and Poland and cut supply to Germany. Natural Gas Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Gold Futures As investors anticipated US inflation data later this week that could provide additional hints on the Federal Reserve's rate hike trajectory, gold traded just around $1,790 an ounce on Tuesday after varying between $1,765 and $1,795 over the previous four days. The annual inflation rate is anticipated to have decreased from 9.1 percent in June to 8.7 percent, and a large surprise to the downside might trigger a surge in gold prices. According to a New York Federal Reserve study released on Monday, American consumers' expectations for inflation over the next year and the next three years have significantly decreased. The US economy unexpectedly added 528,000 jobs in July, which is more than double the 250,000 jobs that economists had forecast, according to figures released last week. The Fed will deliver another 75 basis point rate boost in September, according to market expectations. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton Futures Due to active buying from weavers, cotton futures on ICE reached 102 cents per pound, the highest level in more than 2 weeks. As companies anticipate a shortage of cotton yarn during the current cotton season, which runs until September 2022, higher production in the fabric and apparel segments and slower production in the spinning mills encouraged purchase. Additionally, the USDA noted decreased projections for US output, exports, and ending stocks for the years 2022–2023 in its July monthly report due to the possibility of dry weather in Texas. The pink bollworm pest, which this year attacked earlier than anticipated in Punjab and Haryana due to the lack of rainfall in the early part of the planting season, is another threat to cotton crops in India. Cotton Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
OPEC+ Meeting: Saudi Arabia Implements Deeper Voluntary Cuts to Boost Oil Prices

Coffee Prices Supported By Limited Stocks, Palladium Futures Reaching 2-week Highs, Upbeat IEA Report For US Crude Stocks

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 11.08.2022 13:21
Summary: IEA raised its global forecast for global oil consumption. Limited stocks and declining coffee yields. Palladium futures reaching 2 week highs. WTI Crude Oil As investors weighed a somewhat upbeat IEA report against a higher-than-anticipated rise in US stocks and the restart of oil flows on the Russia-to-Europe Druzhba pipeline, WTI crude futures were trading around the $92-per-barrel level. The International Energy Agency has increased its forecast for global oil consumption in 2022, citing increased gas-to-oil switching due to rising power and natural gas prices. The organization also predicts that by the beginning of next year, when the EU ban goes into effect, Russia's oil production will have decreased by close to 20%. On the other hand, according to EIA data, US crude stockpiles increased by 5.5 million barrels last week instead of the 73,000 barrels that analysts had predicted. Additionally, over the last four weeks, the US gasoline demand was 6% lower than it was a year ago. In the meantime, earlier this week, flows on the Russia-to-Europe Druzhba pipeline restarted, allaying some supply concerns. WTI Crude Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Coffee Futures Due to limited stocks and ongoing worries about declining coffee yields in top producer Brazil, Arabica coffee futures on the ICE were trading above the $2 per pound threshold. According to the most recent data, ICE-monitored coffee stocks hit a fresh 23-year low of 591,959 bags, which is the lowest level since 1999. Given the commodity's bright prognosis, more upward momentum could be anticipated this year. Coffee prices recently touched a nearly 10-year high of $2.6. From a previous projection of a +1.2 mln bag surplus, the International Coffee Organization (ICO) has reduced its global 2020/21 supply estimate to a deficit of -3.13 mln bags. Additionally, ICO downgraded its projections for worldwide output while highlighting stronger global consumption. Coffee Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Palladium Futures Palladium futures increased to their highest level in over two weeks, approaching $2100 a tonne, as significant dollar-denominated commodity buying increased in response to a halt in the dollar's rally. After the Fed chair reduced expectations for more large rate hikes while lifting the interest rate as widely anticipated, the US dollar stayed near 2-month lows. As the situation in Ukraine shows no signs of ending, worries about shipping problems from Russia, the metal's primary supplier, continue to exist. Vladimir Potanin, a Russian tycoon who owns 36% of Nornickel, the largest palladium manufacturer in the world, was recently sanctioned by Britain. Palladium Sep 22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Australia Is Expected To Produce A Bumper Year Of Crops

Platinum Futures Recovering, RBOB Gasoline Futures, Concerns Around Demand For Wheat Futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 12.08.2022 16:47
Summary: The Fed may slow down the pace of interest rate hikes. Hot and dry weather jeopardizes wheat growth. Rising demand vs Limited supplies for gasoline. Platinum Futures Following a break in the dollar gain after Fed Chair Jerome Powell suggested the possibility of reducing the pace of interest rate hikes amid contraction in the US economy, platinum futures touched $880 per tonne, recovering from a 22-month low of $844 recorded on July 14th. Foreign investors are enticed to purchase the dollar-denominated commodity by low-cost dollars. As the war in Ukraine rages and the West continues to impose economic sanctions on Russia, shipment interruptions from Russia are anticipated to keep the metal supplies lower. The Russian mining behemoth Nornickel's CEO and largest shareholder, Vladimir Potanin, was subject to sanctions earlier in June by the British government. Nornickel, with a 10% global output share, is the third-largest producer of platinum. Platinum Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Chicago wheat futures As a result of the hot and dry weather that jeopardized the yield in the ongoing harvests in the growing regions of North America and Europe, Chicago wheat futures inched up to $8 in August, lingering at levels not seen in a week. Traders are awaiting Friday's WASDE data to assess the potential impact of recession concerns on demand. Although grain supplies out of Black Sea ports continued, prices were still close to the six-month low of $7.5 reached earlier in the month and remained below levels before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. After an agreement between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations opened secure trade routes to ease the world food crisis, ships carrying Ukrainian grain resumed operations. It is anticipated that Ukraine will sell more than 20 million tonnes of grain that have reportedly collected in port silos since its invasion began on February 24 in addition to freeing up critical storage space for the next wheat harvest. Chicago Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart RBOB Gasoline Futures As the market still needs to balance rising demand and limited supplies, gas and oil prices should increase through the end of the year, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. As industrial companies and power generators move away from more expensive natural gas, demand for crude is expected to increase. Consumption should increase as a result of the combination of relatively reduced prices and the ongoing reopening of economies. Lack of a gasoline and diesel inventory cushion at a time when refineries are entering their maintenance season worsens the supply outlook. RBOB Gasoline Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Corn Prices Recorded Their Biggest Weekly Gain, Gold Demand In India May Suffer A Temporary Setback

Brent Crude Oil Futures Prices Dropping, Silver Futures Falling, Poor Corn Crop Health Driving Prices

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 15.08.2022 17:33
Summary: Brent futures prices falling. Dovish fed may be improbable. Corn crop health looks dim. Brent Crude Oil consumption outlook dampened On Monday, Brent oil futures dropped another 5% to roughly $93 per barrel, closing in on February lows of $91 reached earlier this year as worries about a protracted recession impacted on the outlook for energy consumption. China, the world's largest oil importer, saw industrial production growth fall short of forecasts, indicating a slow rebound from the stringent Covid lockdowns at the end of the second quarter. The OPEC anticipated a fall in oil consumption and an increase in oil production, which disputed the opposite views from the IEA citing gas-to-oil switching for power generation. The state-run IRNA reported that Iran could accept the EU's offer to renew the Iranian nuclear deal, giving rise to hopes for more shipments from Iran in the meantime. Brent Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Silver Futures falling despite indications of slowing inflation A strengthening dollar scared investors away from the non-yielding commodity, and silver futures slid from a peak of approximately $20.9 to a low of around $20 per ounce. Despite indications that inflation was slowing, the Federal Reserve's aggressive tightening agenda was still backed by the markets. Last week, a number of Fed policymakers noted that a dovish flip is improbable. For hints about the central bank's rate path, other speeches this week and the FOMC minutes release due on Wednesday are now widely anticipated. Silver Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Poor Corn crop health driving prices After the USDA's weekly report revealed poor crop health amid heatwaves in the Midwest and plains, corn futures increased to a 1-week high of almost $6 per bushel. The agency gave the U.S. maize crop a good to exceptional condition rating of 61%, significantly lower than experts' expectations and a drop from the previous week's rating of 64%. The crop that will be harvested in September is likely to suffer from the hot, dry weather that was present during key corn pollination. However, despite higher supply predictions from the USDA for 2022–2023 and negative demand prospects brought on by rising recession fears, corn is still close to its 8-month low of $5.9 set on July 5th. Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Chile's Lithium Nationalization and the Global Trend of Resource Nationalism: Implications for EV Supply Chains and Efforts to Strengthen Battery Metal Supply

NGAS Prices Touching Near 14-year Highs, Cotton Futures Rising, Gold Futures Weighed Down By Hawkish Federal Reserve

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 16.08.2022 16:32
Summary: NGAS futures are trading close to 14-year highs. Decreased supply vs lower demand for cotton. Gold futures falling. Demand for NGAS rising US Natural Gas futures were trading close to a 14-year high of $9.75/MMBtu reached in late July, supported by robust domestic and international demand. US Natural Gas futures were trading around this price. This summer's high temperatures in the US have been accompanied by many heatwaves, which has increased demand for air conditioners. Freeport LNG, meanwhile, announced that it started bringing in very small amounts of natural gas from pipelines and that it just reached an agreement with authorities to partially restart operations at its shut-down export terminal in Texas in October. More natural gas will be taken out of storage once flows resume, which will increase exports. The fact that the crucial Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which runs from Russia to Germany, is currently operating at 20% capacity just makes matters worse. Demand from Europe is still high. NGAS Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton prices touching 7-week highs As traders weighed the chances of decreased supply against those of lower demand, cotton futures increased to levels above 120 USd/Lb, the highest in more than 7 weeks. According to the most recent USDA crop report, production for 2022–2023 will drop to 12.6 million bales, which would mark a decline from 2009–2010 levels. Additionally, the new output prediction is around 19% lower than 2021–2022. In the meantime, severe weather and pest attacks in important growing regions continue to threaten cotton crops in India, another key producer. Cotton Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Gold Futures weighed down by slowing GDP Expectations that the Federal Reserve would continue to rapidly raise interest rates despite evidence of softening inflation and slowing GDP caused gold prices to trade around $1,780 an ounce on Tuesday, down 1.3% from the previous session. Richmond Fed Bank President Thomas Barkin stated Friday in the most recent central bank commentary that the Fed will need to keep raising rates into "restrictive terrain" until he sees inflation persistently falling inside the target range for a considerable amount of time. Higher interest rates make owning non-yielding bullion more expensive, despite the fact that gold is regarded as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Coffee Prices Supported By Concerns Around Low Supplies, Palladium Reaching 2-week Highs, WTI Crude Oil Futures Hitting Lowest Levels Since February

Coffee Prices Supported By Concerns Around Low Supplies, Palladium Reaching 2-week Highs, WTI Crude Oil Futures Hitting Lowest Levels Since February

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 17.08.2022 16:56
Summary: WTI Crude prices under pressure. More upward momentum for coffee futures is expected. Palladium futures. WTI Crude Oil Futures A larger-than-expected drop in US crude stocks was more than offset by rising threats of a global recession and a potential increase in Iranian supply, which kept WTI crude futures under pressure at around $86 per barrel on Wednesday, the lowest since February. In response to a "final" draft agreement on renewing the 2015 nuclear agreement, the EU said on Tuesday that it was researching Iran's answer. Analysts predicted that a prospective deal might release approximately 2.5 million bpd of Iranian petroleum to the world markets. The potential of a worldwide economic slowdown, which may significantly affect energy demand, has also remained a concern for investors. Major central banks are expected to boost interest rates further to reduce inflation. According to a report from the industry, US crude stockpiles dropped by 448,000 barrels last week, compared to market expectations of a decline of 117,000 barrels. WTI Crude Oil Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Coffee predicted to rise due to low stocks Due to low stocks and ongoing worries about decreased coffee yields in leading producer Brazil, Arabica coffee futures on the ICE were trading at $2.2 per pound, a level not seen in a month. The most recent data showed that 571,580 bags—a new 23-year low—were held in ICE-monitored coffee stocks. Early in February, coffee prices rose to over a decade highs of $2.6; this year, more upward momentum may be anticipated. From an earlier projection of a 1.2 million bag surplus, the International Coffee Organization (ICO) has reduced its global supply estimate for 2021/22 to a shortfall of 3.13 million bags. Additionally, ICO downgraded its projections for worldwide output while highlighting stronger global consumption. Coffee Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Palladium reaching 2 week highs Palladium futures increased to their highest level in over two weeks, approaching $2100 a tonne, as significant dollar-denominated commodity buying increased in response to a halt in the dollar's rally. After the Fed chair reduced expectations for more large rate hikes while lifting the interest rate as widely anticipated, the US dollar stayed near 2-month lows. As the situation in Ukraine shows no signs of ending, worries about shipping problems from Russia, the metal's primary supplier, continue to exist. Vladimir Potanin, a Russian tycoon who owns 36% of Nornickel, the largest palladium manufacturer in the world, was recently sanctioned by Britain. Palladium Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Australia Is Expected To Produce A Bumper Year Of Crops

Break In The US Dollar Gain Is Supporting Platinum Prices, Wheat Prices Declining, RBOB Gasoline Prices Falling

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 18.08.2022 13:10
Summary: Falling gasoline prices amidst recessionary fears. Strong wheat supply from top growing regions. Platinum prices rising amidst weaker dollar. Platinum futures recovering from 22-month lows Following a break in the dollar gain after Fed Chair Jerome Powell suggested the possibility of reducing the pace of interest rate hikes amid contraction in the US economy, platinum futures recovered from a 22-month low that was recorded on July 14th. Foreign investors are enticed to purchase the dollar-denominated commodity by low-cost dollars. As the war in Ukraine rages and the West continues to impose economic sanctions on Russia, shipment interruptions from Russia are anticipated to keep the metal supplies lower. The Russian mining behemoth Nornickel's CEO and largest shareholder, Vladimir Potanin, was subject to sanctions earlier in June by the British government. Nornickel, with a 10% global output share, is the third-largest producer of platinum. Platinum Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Strong Wheat supply driving prices down The strongest supply from significant growing regions caused Chicago wheat futures to decline to below $7.5 per bushel in mid-August, the lowest level since January. Following a pact between Russia and Ukraine for secure trade routes to ease the world food shortage, vessels carrying Ukrainian grain continued to operate without incident. It is anticipated that Ukraine will sell more than 20 million tonnes of grain that have reportedly collected in port silos since its invasion began on February 24 in addition to freeing up critical storage space for the next wheat harvest. Concerns over the impact of hot and dry weather on the crop were allayed elsewhere thanks to prospects of rain in the US corn belt. Meanwhile, the USDA raised the world's supplies upward in its most recent WASDE report, boosted by projections for record production in Russia and higher output from China and Australia. US supply projections were also upgraded because strong spring wheat more than made up for declining supplies of winter and durum wheat. Wheat Futures Price Chart RBOB Gasoline futures As a result of lower gas prices weighing on service station receipts, U.S. retail sales surprisingly remained constant in July. However, consumer spending began to pick up at the beginning of the third quarter, allaying concerns the economy was in a recession. However, falling petroleum prices gave consumers more money to spend on other items including furniture, electronics, appliances, building supplies, and gardening tools. RBOB Gasoline Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Gold Futures Decline, Cotton Reaching 7-week Highs, WTI Crude Futures

Gold Futures Decline, Cotton Reaching 7-week Highs, WTI Crude Futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 19.08.2022 15:54
Summary: Cotton reached its highest levels in 7-weeks. Gold futures declining to 3-week lows. WTI crude falling as recessionary fears persist. Gold futures decline as Fed continues interest rate hiking Due to the US Federal Reserve's determination to maintain rising interest rates in order to reduce inflation, gold prices declined to a three-week low of $1,760 an ounce on Friday and were expected to conclude the week considerably lower. Due to the hawkish posture of the US central bank, the dollar has reached a one-month high against its main competitors, increasing the price of gold for buyers using other currencies. James Bullard, president of the St. Louis Fed Bank, stated in the most recent Fed commentary that he is considering supporting a third consecutive 75-basis point rate hike in September and that he is not yet prepared to declare that the economy has experienced the worst of the inflation spike. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart WTI Crude trading lower amidst economic downturk fears As worries about a global economic downturn overcame indications of more solid short-term fuel demand, WTI oil futures traded lower at about $89 per barrel on Friday and are expected to decline by more than 3% this week. Commodity markets remained gripped by recessionary fears, and the US Federal Reserve planned to raise interest rates further higher to fight inflation. Investors weigh the gradual rise in Russian production against European Union import curbs on goods in December and the beginning of the following year. Oil prices fell to their lowest levels in six months this week as a result of efforts to resurrect the 2015 nuclear agreement, which could increase Iranian oil shipments by approximately 2.5 million bpd. The nation exported a record 5 million bpd of oil last week amid strong European demand, according to official data, which also showed that US crude inventories were declining and that gasoline demand was rising. This led to an increase in oil prices of roughly 4% over the previous two sessions. WTI Crude Futures Price Chart Cotton futures increased to 7-week highs As traders weighed the chances of decreased supply against those of lower demand, cotton futures increased to levels above 120 USd/Lb, the highest in more than 7 weeks. According to the most recent USDA crop report, production for 2022–2023 will drop to 12.6 million bales, which would mark a decline from 2009–2010 levels. Additionally, the new output prediction is around 19% lower than 2021–2022. In the meantime, poor weather and pest attacks in important growing regions continue to threaten cotton crops in India, another significant producer. Cotton Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
OPEC+ Meeting: Saudi Arabia Implements Deeper Voluntary Cuts to Boost Oil Prices

Commodities Prices Are Falling Due To Global Economic Slowdown Concerns: Brent Crude Oil, Silver Futures, Corn Futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 22.08.2022 13:54
Summary: Brent crude extends previous weeks losses. Investors favour the US Dollar. Corn crop is suffering. Brent Crude Oil extends losses In response to US President Joe Biden's talks with European allies about restarting the 2015 nuclear deal, Brent crude futures dipped below $96 per barrel on Monday, extending losses from the previous week. According to Bloomberg, Biden discussed "ongoing negotiations" toward a nuclear accord with the heads of France, Germany, and the UK on Sunday, as well as "the need to strengthen support for partners in the Middle East region." Since June, the price of oil and other commodities has also fallen due to growing concerns about a slowdown in the world economy. Major central banks are doing this by aggressively raising interest rates to stifle the inflation that is out of control. The Sichuan province extended industrial power cuts and activated its highest emergency response on Sunday to address electricity shortages, endangering regional manufacturing output while top importer China continues to be beset by economic problems. Brent Crude Futures Price Chart Silver futures extend losses Silver futures dropped to the $19.1 per ounce level, on track to end the week 8% lower, and extended previous losses to a three-week low as investors favored the US dollar over non-interest-bearing bullion assets due to the Federal Reserve's promise to fight inflation. In light of the potential for further inflation in the US economy, St. Louis Fed President Bullard stated that he is considering raising interest rates by 75 basis points for a third time in a row. According to the minutes of the July FOMC meeting, the Fed will stop providing forward guidance and base its decisions solely on the most recent data. Policymakers also concurred that interest rates must continue to rise until they reach a restrictive monetary setting as opposed to the current neutral level. Silver Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Corn crop quality deteriorating After the USDA's weekly report revealed that the crop's quality was deteriorating amid heatwaves in the Midwest and plains, corn futures increased to a 1-week high. The agency gave the U.S. maize crop a good to exceptional condition rating of 61%, significantly lower than experts' expectations and a drop from the previous week's rating of 64%. The crop that will be harvested in September is likely to suffer from the hot, dry weather that was present during key corn pollination. However, despite USDA predictions for increased supplies in 2022–2023 and negative demand outlook brought on by rising recession fears, corn prices are still close to an 8-month low reached on July 5. Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
In Germany, The Next-Year Prices For Energy Are Astonishing! Why?

Coffee Futures Trading At Highest Level Since June 22, Palladium Sees Lowest Prices In A Month, WTI Crude Oil Stockpiles Dropped

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 24.08.2022 15:07
Summary: Fears around global supplies for crude oil persist. Increased anxiety around world coffee supplies. Worsening outlook for outlook for the auto industry weighing on palladium futures. WTI Crude Oil Futures After a report from the industry revealed another larger-than-expected drop in US crude stockpiles, adding to fears about a tightening global supply, WTI crude futures maintained their recent surge above $95 per barrel on Wednesday. US crude stockpiles dropped by 5.632 million barrels last week, according to a late-Tuesday API data; this was significantly more than the 900,000 barrel drop that analysts had predicted. Analysts anticipate a 933,000 barrel decline in the official EIA data that will be issued later in the day. Tuesday saw an almost 4% increase in oil prices after Saudi Arabia hinted at potential production curbs from OPEC+ to fend off negative pressure on prices. The price of petroleum is still down nearly 25% from its peak in June due to rising concerns that a global economic slowdown will reduce consumer spending as major central banks aggressively raise interest rates to fight inflation. Oil prices now face additional downside risks from the potential collapse of the 2015 nuclear agreement, which would increase Iranian oil shipments. WTI Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Coffee Futures Due to indications of severe dryness in top producer Brazil, Arabica coffee futures on the ICE were trading at their highest level since June 22. This increased anxiety over world supplies. According to Somar Meteorologia, Minas Gerais, which produces 30% of Brazil's arabica crop, had 0% of the normal amount of rain in the previous week. According to Maxar Technologies, the La Nina weather pattern is likely to persist through the end of the year. This suggests that Brazil will receive less rain through the end of the year, which could intensify the drought and put more strain on the country's coffee harvests. Coffee Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Palladium Futures Late in August, the price of palladium futures fell to its lowest level in a month, trading around $1,990 per ounce as the Fed's anticipated aggressive rate hikes increased demand for the US dollar and scared investors away from non-interest-bearing assets. The worsening prognosis for the auto industry put pressure on futures, which decreased demand for autocatalyst parts. Palladium Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Commodities Update: Strong Russian Oil Flows to China and Volatility in European Gas Market

Platinum futures drop to their lowest level in a month, RBOB Gasoline, Wheat Futures Close To 10-month Lows

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 25.08.2022 15:22
Summary: A hawkish Fed is causing investors to shy away from non-yielding assets. Ships transporting Ukrainian grain out of Black Sea ports continued to run without a hitch. RBOB Gasoline. Platinum Futures touching one-month lows Late in August, platinum futures experienced a decline to below $880 per ounce, the lowest level in a month, and followed other precious metals as hawkish comments from Federal Reserve policymakers boosted demand for the US dollar and scared investors away from non-interest-bearing assets. A global economic slowdown's effect on the auto industry's outlook, which lowered demand for autocatalyst components, also put pressure on prices. In July, car registrations were down year over year in the UK, Germany, and Italy, while declines were seen in the US and Canada according to June statistics. Platinum Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Wheat futures remain close to 10 month lows Late in August, with a lack of certainty over the weather in the US's growing regions, Chicago wheat futures eked out a small gain. Despite this, prices remained near to the 10-month low reached last week and were far lower than they were before Russia invaded Ukraine, as ships transporting Ukrainian grain out of Black Sea ports continued to run without a hitch. It is anticipated that Ukraine will sell more than 20 million tonnes of grain that are said to have collected in port silos since its invasion began on February 24 in addition to freeing up critical storage space for the next wheat harvest. Meanwhile, the USDA raised the world's supplies upward in its most recent WASDE report, boosted by projections for record production in Russia and higher output from China and Australia. The outlooks for US supplies were also upgraded because strong spring wheat more than made up for declines in winter and durum wheat. Wheat Futures Price Chart RBOB Gasoline According to AAA, the national average cost of gas in the United States has decreased for 70 days in a row to $3.89 a gallon. However, buyers shouldn't get complacent and believe that this streak will continue all the way to the end of the year. And one energy trader predicts that gas prices will rise once more, especially as we head into the fall and winter. RBOB Gasoline Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Chile's Lithium Nationalization and the Global Trend of Resource Nationalism: Implications for EV Supply Chains and Efforts to Strengthen Battery Metal Supply

Gold Prices Dip In the Wake Of Hawkish Fed Comments, Cotton Futures Trading Near 2-month Highs, Brent Crude Supplies Are Expected To Tighten

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 26.08.2022 15:02
Summary: US economy shrank in the second quarter at a moderate rate. Reduced global cotton supplies. Brent crude futures rose. Gold prices dip In anticipation of US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's speech at the Jackson Hole symposium later in the day, gold prices dipped below $1,760 an ounce on Friday. Following a slew of hawkish comments from Fed officials, Powell is expected to reiterate the central bank's aggressive stance against rising inflation. However, the markets are still split on whether the Fed will deliver another supersized 75 basis point or a more modest half-percentage point rate hike in September. A final estimate revealed that the US economy shrank in the second quarter at a more modest rate, bolstering the case for additional monetary tightening and maintaining pressure on the bullion markets. Although analysts predict further volatility should Powell's words surprise markets, gold is expected to close the week with minimal change. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton futures trade near 2-month highs Trading in cotton futures was relatively close to the nearly two-month high reached on August 16 as traders weighed the likelihood of reduced global supplies against a slowing in demand. The most recent USDA data stated that due to drought, particularly in Texas, which generally accounts for more than half of the US plantings, US production for 2022–2023 is predicted to drop to 12.6 million bales, which would be the lowest level since 2009–2010. The USDA also decreased its forecasts for global cotton consumption and production by 800,000 bales and 3.1 million bales, respectively. Heavy rains and bugs have severely damaged the cotton fields in India, another top producer, to the point where the government is now importing cotton. The projection of production this year has come down to 31.5 million bales while consumption is 34.5 million bales. Cotton Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Brent Crude supply tightening With a tightening supply forecast and hints of improving short-term fuel demand, Brent crude futures increased to almost $100 per barrel on Friday and were expected to end the week more than 3% higher. Official US data released on Wednesday revealed record crude and refined product exports last week along with a sustained fall in crude stocks. Additionally, traffic levels in the Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America increased significantly in the week leading up to August 24 according to TomTom's Congestion Index data. On the supply front, Saudi Arabia issued a warning that OPEC+ would reduce output to calm choppy markets. However, some OPEC sources told Reuters that such a move may not be imminent and that it would take place at the same time as Iranian oil returning to the international market. Brent prices, however, fell 1.9% on Thursday as negotiations to resurrect the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the West appeared to be moving forward. Brent Crude Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Corn Prices Recorded Their Biggest Weekly Gain, Gold Demand In India May Suffer A Temporary Setback

Recession Fears Continue To Rattle the Commodity Markets - Brent Crude Oil, Silver Futures Touch 4-week lows, Corn Futures Reach 6-week Highs.

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 29.08.2022 14:00
Summary: Investors weigh Brent crude supply against a prolonged economic slowdown. Silver futures fall in the wake of declining demand and rising interest rates. Poor corn crop drives prices. Brent Crude Oil holding steady heading into the week Following a 4.4% increase last week, Brent crude futures held steady above $100 per barrel on Monday as investors weighed supply-side concerns against concerns that a prolonged global economic slowdown may damage gasoline consumption. In an effort to calm the choppy markets, Saudi Arabia suggested last week that OPEC+ production might be reduced. Congo and Libya backed this idea. Fears of more oil flow disruption were fueled by violent confrontations between rival militias in Libya's capital, while delays at a crucial Kazakhstani crude export facility continued. Expectations of an immediate restart of Iranian oil shipments have been reduced as nuclear discussions between the US and Iran continue into next month. Fears of a recession have been rattling commodity markets since June, and oil is expected to decrease for a third consecutive month. Jerome Powell, the chair of the US Federal Reserve, emphasized the need for higher interest rates on Friday, even at the risk of some short-term economic hardship, and ECB leaders shared the same outlook. Brent Crude Futures Price Chart   Silver prices are touching 4 week lows The price of silver dropped to a 4-week low of 18.678 USD/t.oz due to declining demand and rising interest rates all across the world. As China and India take advantage of cheap oil and gas from Russia, while Europe is shifting back to coal as an energy option, progress toward green technology, such as the development of solar panels, has suffered a setback. The Inflation Reduction Act, however, will allocate $430 billion to renewable energy in the US. Additionally, a recession in the global economy is causing large consumers to buy less silver jewelry and buy less technology and cars. Store closings caused by Covid epidemics have caused China and India to decline. On the supply front, Latin America's silver production has recovered from the Covid-19 setback thanks to the region's largest producers, Mexico and Peru, who relaxed limitations before the rest of the world. Since its March peak, when Russia's invasion of Ukraine sparked a rally in precious metals, silver has fallen by almost 30%. Silver Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart   Corn futures touching 6-week highs After the USDA reported poor crop conditions amid heatwaves in the Midwest and plains, corn climbed to a 6-week high. The organization gave a rating of 55% good to excellent for the US maize crop, down from 57% the week before. Regarding demand, the USDA reported that export inspections reached a total of 740,508 tonnes in the week ending August 18th, which was in line with market expectations. As a result of anticipating additional damage from the recent dry and hot weather, the European Union's crop monitoring service MARS reduced its production projections once more for summer crops throughout the union, including significant reductions in maize (corn). Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Saxo Bank Podcast: Natural Gas On Colder Weather, Wheat And Coffee Under Pressure, JPY Weaker And More

NGAS Prices Touching Near 14-year Highs, Cotton Futures Trading Near Two-month Highs, Gold Futures Fall To Near One-month Lows

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 30.08.2022 14:58
Summary: Heatwaves in the U.S and a pause in Gas flowing through the Noord Stream 1 pipeline. Gold’s appeal falling. Global cotton supplies look bleak. NGAS prices close to 14 year highs Following the expiration of the front-month September contract on Monday, US natural gas futures declined. Nevertheless, despite predictions for hotter weather and more cooling demand, prices are still very close to a more than 14-year high reached last week. As energy generators increase production to fulfill the demand for more cooling due to a string of heatwaves this summer across the US, demand from gas-fired power plants has reached all-time highs. The bullish outlook was further boosted by prospects of greater demand for US LNG supplies amid mounting worries about shortages in Europe. Russia's Gazprom announced that beginning on Wednesday, flows via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Europe would be stopped for three days. As a result of retracting earlier claims of an October restart and halting further upward momentum, Freeport LNG said that it will postpone the restart of its Quintana export project until November. NGAS Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart A strong dollar is driving the demand for gold down Tuesday saw gold prices linger around $1,740 per ounce, near to the one-month low they reached the previous session, and under pressure from a strong dollar amid expectations that US interest rates will continue to rise. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell emphasized the need to raise and hold rates at a restrictive level until inflation falls significantly in his speech at the Jackson Hole symposium. He added that doing otherwise may harm growth and weaken the employment market. Policymakers of the European Central Bank argued for a more forceful response to rising inflation over the weekend, and they are allegedly talking about increasing interest rates by 75 basis points in September. Higher interest rates increase the opportunity cost of storing non-yielding bullion, which reduces the appeal of gold, despite the fact that it is commonly seen as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton prices trading near two-month highs The price of cotton futures was trading close to a nearly two-month high reached on August 16 as traders weighed the likelihood of reduced global supplies against a slowing in demand. The most recent USDA data stated that due to drought, particularly in Texas, which generally accounts for more than half of the US plantings, US production for 2022–2023 is predicted to drop to 12.6 million bales, which would be the lowest level since 2009–2010. The USDA also decreased its forecasts for global cotton consumption and production by 800,000 bales and 3.1 million bales, respectively. Heavy rains and bugs have severely damaged the cotton fields in India, another top producer, to the point where the government is now importing cotton. Cotton Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Coffee Is In Danger As Its Suppliers Have Troubles With Crops

WTI Crude Oil Prices Are Falling, Coffee Futures Trading Near 6-month Highs, Palladium Futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 31.08.2022 14:48
Summary: Concerns around demand for crude oil is driving the prices down. Coffee futures trading higher amidst concerns around crop production. WTI Crude Oil prices on track to lose more than 8% in August WTI crude futures resumed their downward trend on Wednesday, falling to about $89 per barrel, continuing the loss from the previous session and putting them on track to lose over 8% of their value in August as concerns about tight monetary policy and Covid limits in China push energy demand downward. Since aggressive measures are required to stabilize consumer prices after the eurozone's inflation rate extended its record-high in August, ECB officials stated a 75 bps rate increase is being considered for their upcoming meeting. The Fed is also anticipated to maintain high borrowing costs for an extended period of time, even if doing so slows growth. New Covid outbreaks, which forced millions of people into stringent lockdowns in the key Chinese cities of Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Dalian, added to concerns about sluggish economic activity in the world's largest oil importer after August PMI data showed contraction for the second consecutive month. Conflicts in Iraq kept markets on edge in terms of supply, but the country's oil production was mainly unaffected. WTI Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Palladium prices have risen overall in 2022 Since the start of 2022, palladium prices have climbed by 187.18 USD/t oz., or 9.89%, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that monitors the benchmark market for this commodity. Palladium Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Coffee Futures As the attention remained on the weather in top producer Brazil, Arabica coffee futures on ICE were trading down marginally from an almost six-month high that was achieved on August 25. Concerns that there might not be enough moisture to sustain the development of coffee buds and cherries after some early flowering were allayed by the forecast for rain in Brazilian coffee regions over the following ten days. However, Maxar Technologies reported last week that the effects of La Nina are likely to persist through the end of the year. This suggests that Brazil will receive less rain through the end of the year, which could exacerbate the country's current drought and put additional strain on its coffee crops. After reaching a 23-year low of 571,580 bags on August 15, the most recent data showed that ICE-certified arabica stockpiles on August 29th remained at 663,874 bags, an increase of eight consecutive days. Coffee Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Australia Is Expected To Produce A Bumper Year Of Crops

Platinum Prices Drop To November 2020 Lows, US Gasoline Prices Falling, Wheat Prices Elevated

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 01.09.2022 15:41
Summary: Elevated interest rates continue to drive platinum prices down. Supply concerns around wheat drive prices. US Gasoline prices fall to pre-Russia’s invasion of Ukraine levels. Platinum touching lowest levels since November 2020 As global interest rates are expected to continue rising and should remain high for a prolonged period of time, even if it slows growth, platinum futures extended losses to below $850 per ounce, closing in on their lowest level since November of 2020. They have also been tracking other precious metals lower. The fed funds rate has already increased by 225 basis points since March at the Federal Reserve, the most potent central bank in the world. Fed policymakers are now advocating for rises to continue at least until the level of 4% in early 2019. Additionally, despite expectations that they would subside in the second part of the year, ongoing shortages and supply chain problems hurt the auto industry and lower demand for autocatalyst components. Platinum Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Wheat futures remain elevated Chicago wheat futures saw a strong increase at the end of August after hitting a nine-month low in the middle of the month due to supply issues and increasing demand. According to government figures, Ukraine will harvest close to 20 million tonnes of wheat this year, down from 32.2 million the year prior as a result of weaker yields and the loss of farmed area to Russian forces during their invasion. Additionally, the nation intends to free up storage space for the upcoming harvest by selling the roughly 20 million tonnes of grain that are said to have collected in port silos since its invasion began on February 24. Meanwhile, US heatwaves cut corn harvests, further straining wheat supplies. Wheat Futures Price Chart RBOB Gasoline On Wednesday, wholesale gasoline prices in the United States plummeted to their lowest levels since before Russia invaded Ukraine, indicating that motorists in the world's largest energy consumer will soon witness cheaper pump prices. Markets for crude oil futures and gasoline have been kept in check by worries about a worldwide recession and a record level of emergency oil sales from national stockpiles. RBOB Gasoline Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Eyes On Iran Nuclear Deal: Oil Case. Gold Price Is Swinging

WTI Crude Oil On Track For Worst Weekly Decline In 4 Weeks, Silver Touching 2-year Lows, Coffee Futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 02.09.2022 14:38
Summary: WTI oil is 30% down from its high. A hawkish fed causing investors to shy away from silver. Weather conditions causing concerns around coffee supplies. WTI Crude Oil weighed down by recessionary fears After falling more than 3% the previous day, oil prices increased by about 3% to over $89 per barrel on Friday amid expectations that OPEC+ will discuss output curbs at a meeting on Monday. However, due to worries about the recession and the effects of additional COVID lockdowns in China, WTI oil is on pace for its worst weekly decline in four weeks and is down more than 30% from its high. Investors are eagerly following the status of talks to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement on the supply side because a prospective agreement might unleash substantial flows from Iran. WTI Crude Futures Price Chart Silver futures reaching lows not seen in 2 years In September, silver futures dropped below $18 per ounce, reaching lows not seen in more than two years as the Federal Reserve's hawkish signals prompted investors to switch from metal to the US dollar. The dollar reached over 20-year highs as Fed Chair Jerome Powell highlighted the US central bank's aim of reducing inflation down to the 2% threshold and stated that borrowing costs will remain at a restrictive level for a protracted period even if it hampers GDP. Another factor adding to the flight from precious metals is that the European Central Bank is reportedly considering a larger 75 basis point rate hike to combat inflation at its policy meeting next week. The appeal of storing non-yielding bullion is diminished by increased interest rates, despite the fact that it is widely seen as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty. August is expected to end with silver down roughly 12%. Silver Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Concerns around Coffee supplies driving prices As the attention remained on weather in top producer Brazil, Arabica coffee futures on ICE were trading down marginally from an almost six-month high that was called on August 25th. Concerns that there might not be enough moisture to sustain the development of coffee buds and cherries after some early flowering were allayed by the forecast for rain in Brazilian coffee regions over the following ten days. However, Maxar Technologies reported last week that the effects of La Nina are likely to persist through the end of the year. This suggests that Brazil will receive less rain through the end of the year, which could exacerbate the country's current drought and put additional strain on its coffee crops. After reaching a 23-year low of 571,580 bags on August 15, the most recent data showed that ICE-certified arabica stockpiles on August 29th remained at 663,874 bags, an increase of eight consecutive days. Coffee Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
OPEC+ Meeting: Saudi Arabia Implements Deeper Voluntary Cuts to Boost Oil Prices

Brent Crude Oil Prices In The Wake Of OPEC+ Surprise Agreement, Silver Futures Down, Corn Futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 05.09.2022 17:48
Summary: G7 nations decide to cap Russian oil prices. Demand for silver is diminishing. Corn up throughout 2022. Brent Crude Oil Prices Following OPEC+'s surprise agreement on a modest oil production cut to sustain prices that have fallen due to concerns about a projected worldwide recession-driven decline in demand, Brent crude futures increased past the $96 per barrel threshold. In order to deal with macroeconomic headwinds and counter a potential production increase from Iran, the oil cartel will restrict output by 100,000 barrels per day beginning in October, or around 0.1% of world demand. The market action followed the G7 nations' decision to cap the price of Russian oil in order to limit Moscow's ability to finance its conflict in Ukraine. Brent Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Silver futures touched below $18 per ounce In September, silver futures dropped below $18 per ounce, reaching lows not seen in more than two years as the Federal Reserve's hawkish signals prompted investors to switch from metal to the US dollar. The dollar reached over 20-year highs as Fed Chair Jerome Powell highlighted the US central bank's aim of reducing inflation down to the 2% threshold and stated that borrowing costs will remain at a restrictive level for a protracted period even if it hampers GDP. Another factor adding to the flight from precious metals is that the European Central Bank is reportedly considering a larger 75 basis point rate hike to combat inflation at its policy meeting next week. The appeal of storing non-yielding bullion is diminished by increased interest rates, despite the fact that it is widely seen as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty. August is expected to end with silver down roughly 12%. Silver Dec ‘22 Future Price Chart Corn Futures up 10.43% Since the start of 2022, corn prices have climbed by 61.89 USd/BU, or 10.43%, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that monitors the benchmark market for this commodity. Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Natural Gas Prices Extended The Recovery

Russia Suspends Flow Through The Nord Stream 1 Pipeline, Cotton Futures, Gold Prices Increase For The First Time In 3-weeks

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 06.09.2022 09:29
Summary: NGAS futures rise in the wake of suspension of Nord Stream 1 pipeline. A stagnant dollar and safe-haven buying prompted by economic uncertainty boosted bullion demand. NGAS futures increasing The second week of September saw a small increase in US natural gas futures, recovering from the 6% drop the previous week to keep pace with the rise in the European benchmark following the indefinite suspension of Russian gas exports through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. The action reversed the prior declaration by Russian supplier Gazprom that flows will start up again on Saturday after a maintenance outage, adding to worries over Europe's energy shortage before the winter. Meanwhile, a string of heatwaves that have hit the US this summer have increased demand for gas-fired power facilities. Freeport LNG announced that the launch of its Quintana export project would be postponed until November. NGAS Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton Futures Trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that monitors the benchmark market for this commodity shows that cotton has dropped 3.01 USd/Lbs, or 2.67%, since the start of 2022. Cotton Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Gold futures rising After falling for the previous three weeks, gold prices increased above $1,710 an ounce on Tuesday as a stagnant dollar and safe-haven buying prompted by economic uncertainty boosted bullion demand. As traders took some profits and anticipated this week's speeches by Federal Reserve officials and policy announcements from other significant central banks, the dollar's unrelenting rally came to a halt. Following the announcement that gas shipments via the crucial Nord Stream 1 pipeline will not resume, a worsening energy crisis in Europe also rekindled recessionary fears, prompting investors to seek for safer assets. As the Federal Reserve is anticipated to continue with aggressive interest rate hikes to combat excessive inflation, gold is likely to remain under pressure. On Tuesday, the Reserve Bank of Australia also announced its fourth consecutive 50 basis point rate increase, and later this week, the European and Canadian central banks are expected to do the same. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Commodities: EU Members Manage To Agree On Price Caps For Russian Oil

WTI Crude Futures Trading Close To January Lows, Potential For Favourable Weather Driving Coffee Futures Down, Palladium Futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 07.09.2022 15:19
Summary: WTI crude futures fell amidst concerns around weak demand. Potential rain in Brazil driving coffee futures down. Strong US dollar. WTI Crude Oil trading close to January lows WTI crude futures were trading close to January's lows around $87 per barrel on Wednesday due to ongoing worries about slowing global growth and therefore weak demand. Weak customs statistics from the world's largest importer, China, and new coronavirus-related limitations in a number of cities raised the possibility of significant economic harm and decreased gasoline usage. In addition, lingering worries about global economy and the prospect of protracted tighter financial conditions continued to depress mood. With Saudi Arabia foreshadowing more action, OPEC+ surprisingly agreed to cut supply by 100,000 barrels per day beginning in October, providing a floor under prices. WTI Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Coffee Futures fell amidst favourable weather potential As the attention remained on the weather in top producer Brazil, Arabica coffee futures on the ICE were trading down marginally from an almost six-month high hit on August 25. The setback has been exacerbated by the likelihood of rain in some regions of Brazil's coffee-growing regions over the upcoming few weeks, but dealers said there are still questions about whether there will be enough moisture to support development of coffee buds and cherries after some early flowering. As of August 31st, 672,585 bags of ICE-certified arabica were in stock, up from a 23-year low of 571,580 bags on August 15th, according to the most recent data. Coffee Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Shortage of Palladium remains The strongest US dollar in nearly seven weeks, rising interest rates, and slowing GDP all contributed to the decline in palladium futures prices, which dropped below $1,780 per ounce. It is anticipated that central banks would keep raising interest rates to keep inflation from soaring even when the economy is slowing. Furthermore, despite the price increase and supply chain disruptions, demand for palladium, which is used in auto catalysts for gasoline-powered vehicles, has not yet returned to its pre-pandemic levels. Even so, there is still a shortage on the palladium market. Palladium Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Brent Crude Oil Stayed Quite Strong Yesterday Rising 0.7%, But In The Near Future Commodites May Be Endangered By (USD) US Dollar's Dominance And More

Persistent Likelihood Of A Demand-Draining Global Economic Recession - Brent Crude Oil Futures, Silver Futures, Corn Futures - 13.09.2022

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 12.09.2022 12:00
Summary: Brent crude futures increased by a small amount, extending gains for the third session. Silver futures touching 3 week highs. Brent Crude Oil extends gains for third session On Monday, Brent crude futures increased by a small amount to above $93.5 a barrel, extending gains for the third session. This was achieved despite concerns over a dimming demand picture and a US-led plan to control the price of Russian oil. The likelihood of a demand-draining global economic recession persisted, partly due to aggressive monetary tightening by major central banks and Covid-19 limits implemented by top crude importer China. As European sanctions begin to take effect in December, the Group of Seven is also attempting to persuade additional nations to join their efforts to restrict Moscow's energy revenues by setting a ceiling on Russian oil prices. Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, promised to react by stopping all energy shipments to Europe if a price ceiling were to become law. Iran's commitment to a new nuclear accord has also been questioned by the UK, Germany, and France, which has delayed the possibility of an increase in Iranian oil exports. Brent Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Silver futures touch highest level in 3 weeks In September, silver futures surged to nearly $19 per ounce, the highest level in three weeks, followed by other bullion assets during the US dollar's strong decline as investors continued to gauge how far the Federal Reserve will tighten policy. During the Cato Institute conference, Chairman Powell emphasized the language that the US central bank will keep raising interest rates to bring inflation significantly down, as markets continue to bet on the Fed raising rates by 75 basis points for a third time in a row this month. In other news, the ECB increased borrowing prices by a record-breaking 75 basis points to rein in the eurozone's soaring inflation and hinted at further tightening in upcoming sessions. Futures for silver are expected to end the week more than 4% higher. Silver Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Corn futures have gains 17.5% during 2022 Trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that reflects the benchmark market for this commodity shows that corn has gained 103.81 USd/BU or 17.50% since the start of 2022. Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Chile's Lithium Nationalization and the Global Trend of Resource Nationalism: Implications for EV Supply Chains and Efforts to Strengthen Battery Metal Supply

Uncertainty Around Europe's Energy Imports, Cotton Trading At 4-week Lows, Gold Demand Falling

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 13.09.2022 15:44
Summary: Increased uncertainty regarding the demand for energy imports in Europe. Decreased demand and constrained supplies for cotton. Gold prices dropped to below $1700 an ounce on Tuesday. NGAS futures rose in September While there was increased uncertainty regarding the demand for energy imports in Europe as ministers discussed potential measures to reduce skyrocketing energy prices, US natural futures rose in September, recovering from the one-month low that was reached earlier in the month and extending the volatile momentum for energy commodities. Even so, costs are still well below the almost 14-year high of $10/MMBtu reached last month as demand was hampered by dropping temperatures. More gas will be available in the US for utilities to add to stocks for the upcoming winter as Freeport LNG anticipates a significant delay in the reopening of its Quintana export plant until November. NGAS Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton trading at 4-week lows As traders considered the potential of decreased demand and constrained supplies, cotton futures traded at their lowest level in more than four weeks. Concerns over the prospects for the global economy owing to rising interest rates have been exacerbated by recent COVID-19-led limitations in top consumer China. In its most recent report, the USDA reduced both the U.S. output estimate and the global production forecast for the crop year 2022–2023 by 3 million bales each. The health of the natural fiber crop is in jeopardy, and supply issues have arisen as a result of the hot, dry weather in important American agricultural regions. Crops in India, another significant producer, are still in danger due to unfavorable weather and pest infestations in key growing regions. Cotton Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Gold futures falling A stronger dollar and a hotter-than-expected inflation print drove predictions of additional big rate hikes by the Fed to quell persistent inflationary pressures, and gold prices dropped to below $1700 an ounce on Tuesday. Despite a dramatic decline in gasoline prices, prices across the board increased overall, particularly for food and housing. Investors in Europe have bet that the ECB will keep raising borrowing costs sharply in the wake of this month's historic 75bps rate hike. Even though gold is regarded as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty, its attraction is diminished by increased interest rates, which increase the opportunity cost of storing non-yielding bullion. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradineconomics.com
Volume Of Crude Oil Rose For The Second Session In A Row

WTI Crude Oil Has Remained Relatively Stable, Coffee Futures, Palladium Futures Touch 4-week Highs

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 14.09.2022 15:17
Summary: Crude traded in a narrow range as investors continue to gauge the outlook for global demand. Coffee has dropped more than 2% in 2022. Palladium prices are 30% lower than they were in March. WTI Crude Oil stayed relatively stable WTI oil futures have been trading in a narrow range this week, holding around $87 a barrel on Wednesday as investors continue to gauge the outlook for global demand. The International Energy Agency is still pessimistic about fundamentals in the near term, pointing out that as the global economic recession deepens, growth in oil consumption is predicted to decelerate in the last quarter of 2022. However, the Paris-based company anticipates a significant increase in demand by 2023. OPEC, on the other hand, provided a somewhat more upbeat picture, keeping to its projections for worldwide solid oil demand growth in 2022 and the following year and highlighting indications that developed countries are still able to withstand challenges like rising inflation. Market expectations for the continuation of the 2015 nuclear agreement between the West and Iran have fallen in the meanwhile, but reports that the US was considering restocking its strategic oil reserves helped to maintain prices to some extent. WTI Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Coffee futures Trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that monitors the benchmark price for this commodity shows that coffee has dropped 4.60 USd/Lb or 2.03% since the start of 2022. Coffee Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Palladium futures touch 4-week highs As the dollar index deviated from 20-year highs, palladium futures increased their gains to $2,200 per ounce, the highest level in almost four weeks. Nevertheless, in spite of rising interest rates and slowing GDP, palladium prices are 30% lower than they were in March. It is anticipated that central banks would keep raising interest rates to keep inflation from soaring even when the economy is slowing. Furthermore, despite the price increase and supply chain disruptions, demand for palladium, which is used in auto catalysts for gasoline-powered vehicles, has not yet returned to its pre-pandemic levels. However, there is still a shortfall on the palladium market. Palladium Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Crude Oil Price:  A Crucial Event Takes Place In The Week Ahead

Gold Futures Nearing 2 Year lows, Growing Recession Fears Dragging Down WTI Crude Oil, Cotton Futures Touching 4 Week Lows

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 16.09.2022 17:34
Summary: Gold was expected to have its fourth losing week. WTI oil futures are still expected to decrease for the third consecutive week. Cotton futures were trading at levels not seen in more than four weeks. Strong US dollar driving gold down On Friday, the price of gold was hovering around $1,660 per ounce, close to two-year lows, and was expected to have its fourth losing week in five as a result of the strong dollar and the Federal Reserve's upcoming interest rate hike. Fears that the Fed may need to act even more aggressively to stop rising prices were confirmed by strong US retail sales and jobless claims statistics on Thursday and a surprise hot CPI reading earlier this week. In times of increased economic uncertainty, gold also lost its appeal as a safe-haven commodity when the World Bank and IMF cut growth projections for major economies and major US companies provided dovish advise on bleak economic prospects. Even though gold is regarded as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty, its attraction is diminished by increased interest rates, which increase the opportunity cost of storing non-yielding bullion. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart WTI Crude Oil expected to decline for the third consecutive week As aggressive monetary tightening by major central banks and concerns about a global recession lowered demand expectations, WTI oil futures remained stable near $85 per barrel on Friday but were still expected to decrease for the third consecutive week. Energy prices were also under pressure due to a strong dollar, which increases the cost of goods for consumers using foreign currencies. In addition, the US Department of Energy reversed earlier claims that the US would replenish its emergency stocks should WTI prices fall below $80, removing the possibility of an oil price floor. This led to a sharp decline in oil prices on Thursday. China is considering allowing greater petroleum exports, which could indicate sluggish local demand on the supply side. The global oil market swung into a "substantial surplus" this quarter, according to Standard Chartered Plc, while Morgan Stanley and UBS Group AG lowered near-term predictions due to recession concerns, according to Bloomberg. WTI Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Cotton falling as economic outlook sours As traders considered the potential of decreased demand and constrained supplies, cotton futures were trading at levels not seen in more than four weeks. New limits on top consumers as a result of COVID-19 China raised further doubts about the state of the world economy as a result of rising interest rates. In its most recent report, the USDA reduced both the U.S. output estimate and the global production forecast for the crop year 2022–2023 by 3 million bales each. The health of the natural fiber crop is in jeopardy, and supply issues have arisen as a result of the hot, dry weather in important American agricultural regions. Crops in India, another significant producer, are still in danger due to unfavorable weather and pest infestations in key growing regions. Cotton Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Corn Prices Recorded Their Biggest Weekly Gain, Gold Demand In India May Suffer A Temporary Setback

Aggressive Monetary Tightening Dampened Brent Crude Oil Forecasts, Silver Futures Falling, Corn Futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 19.09.2022 16:50
Summary: Brent crude oil dropped for their third consecutive week. Higher-than-anticipated US inflation fueled concerns that the Fed might raise interest rates quicker. Brent crude oil faced 3 weeks of declines After three weeks of falls, Brent crude futures dropped below $91 per barrel on Monday as aggressive monetary tightening and recession worries dampened the forecast for demand before the European Union's embargo on Russian oil in December. Investors are getting ready for a flurry of interest rate announcements this week, led by the US Federal Reserve, which is anticipated to deliver another enormous rate hike to fight inflation. The top crude importer in the world had a wider opening when Chengdu, a city in China, removed a two-week lockdown. For the first time in three weeks, US energy companies added oil and natural gas rigs last week, signaling a future with higher output on the supply side. In Europe, as the country struggles with a deepening energy crisis that threatened to plunge the eurozone into a recession, Germany seized the local branch of a significant Russian oil refinery. Brent Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Silver prices trading below 4 weeks highs Silver futures were trading at $19.5 per ounce, remaining below the nearly four-week high of $19.8 reached on September 12 as higher-than-anticipated US inflation fueled concerns that the Federal Reserve might raise interest rates more quickly than anticipated, leading investors to the US dollar rather than non-yielding bullion investments. Speculations that the US central bank would give a more aggressive 100bps increase in its funds rate next week were sparked by worries that price rise may not have peaked yet, boosting predictions that borrowing might go to as much as 4.3% in early 2023. The European Central Bank (ECB) indicated it will keep raising interest rates after its September meeting, which saw a 75bps increase. According to Bank of France president Villeroy, as policymakers work to reduce inflation from its current historically high levels, borrowing prices in the bloc may approach a neutral level by the end of the year. Silver Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Corn Trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that reflects the benchmark market for this commodity shows that corn has gained 78.71 USd/BU or 13.27% since the start of 2022. Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Central Banks' Rates Outlook: Fed Treads Cautiously, ECB Prepares for Hike

NGAS Futures Rose Amidst Energy Crisis Concerns, Decreased Cotton Demand & Constrained Supplies, Gold Touching 2-year Lows

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 20.09.2022 13:38
Summary: Natural gas futures rose, pulling away from a two-month low. Cotton futures were trading at levels not seen in the previous six weeks. Inflation elevated the dollar at the expense of other safe-haven assets. NGAS futures rose above from a 2-month low Amid ongoing worries about an energy crisis in Europe and almost endless demand, natural gas futures rose, pulling away from a two-month low touched in the previous session. Other EIA statistics indicated that utilities added 77 billion cubic feet of gas to storage in the week ending September 9th, exceeding estimates of 73 billion. The Cove Point LNG plant in Maryland is scheduled to shut down for maintenance in October, which would halt shipments to other countries and boost local utility stockpiles. In the meanwhile, domestic supply is expected to climb. The incident furthers the abrupt delay in Freeport LNG's Quintana export plant restarting until November. NGAS Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Potential cotton demand decreased As traders considered the potential of decreased demand and constrained supplies, cotton futures were trading at levels not seen in the previous six weeks. New limits on top consumers as a result of COVID-19 China raised further doubts about the state of the world economy as a result of rising interest rates. In its most recent report, the USDA reduced both the U.S. output estimate and the global production forecast for the crop year 2022–2023 by 3 million bales each. The health of the natural fiber crop is in jeopardy, and supply issues have arisen as a result of the hot, dry weather in important American agricultural regions. Crops in India, another significant producer, are still in danger due to unfavorable weather and pest infestations in key growing regions. Cotton Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Gold touching 2 year lows As investors stayed away from the market ahead of a crucial US Federal Reserve meeting, where it is anticipated that it will announce another significant interest rate hike to combat high inflation, gold prices stabilized around $1,675 an ounce on Tuesday, hovering close to the lowest levels in over two years. A third consecutive 75 basis point hike is presently priced into the markets due to last week's higher-than-expected inflation readings and strong economic indicators in the US, which reinforced expectations that the Fed will tighten further. This week, other significant central banks including the Swiss National Bank and the Bank of England are anticipated to do the same. Analysts disagree on whether the BOE will increase rates by 50 or 75 basis points. As the US' relative economic strength and the Fed's active stance against inflation elevated the dollar at the expense of other safe-haven assets, gold lost its appeal as a store of value in times of economic uncertainty. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
WTI Crude Oil Gains 3% On Wednesday, Palladium Touching 4-week Highs, Coffee Futures Falling

WTI Crude Oil Gains 3% On Wednesday, Palladium Touching 4-week Highs, Coffee Futures Falling

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 21.09.2022 10:12
Summary: Concerns around crude supplies drive prices. The shortfall on the palladium market persists. Likelihood of favorable weather in Brazil driving coffee futures down. WTI Crude oil demand threatened Wednesday saw a nearly 3% increase in WTI crude futures to over $86 a barrel due to worries about supply disruptions following President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a partial military mobilization in Russia. Gains occurred before the US Federal Reserve raised interest rates by a disproportionate amount, which the markets believe will stunt global economic development and reduce demand for oil. US oil inventories grew by approximately 1 million barrels last week, according to industry statistics, while gasoline and distillate stockpiles rose by about 3.2 million and 1.5 million barrels, respectively. Saudi Aramco and Crescent Petroleum executives, in separate remarks, identified underinvestment in the oil industry as a significant output barrier and the primary cause of the current global energy crisis. According to Reuters, OPEC+ is currently falling 3.58 million barrels per day, or around 3.5%, short of its goals. WTI Crude Futures Price Chart Palladium touching 4-week highs As the dollar index deviated from 20-year highs, palladium futures increased their gains to $2,200 per ounce, the highest level in almost four weeks. Nevertheless, in spite of rising interest rates and slowing GDP, palladium prices are 30% lower than they were in March. It is anticipated that central banks would keep raising interest rates to keep inflation from soaring even when the economy is slowing. Furthermore, despite the price increase and supply chain disruptions, demand for palladium, which is used in auto catalysts for gasoline-powered vehicles, has not yet returned to its pre-pandemic levels. However, there is still a shortfall on the palladium market. Palladium Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Coffee touching 1-month lows The price of Arabica coffee futures on the ICE was near its lowest level since August 19th due to the weaker real and the likelihood of favorable weather in Brazil, the world's largest producer. According to Climatempo, heavy and frequent rains would fall in the Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais coffee-growing regions from the end of September to the beginning of October. The rain should increase soil moisture levels and encourage coffee tree flowering for the crop of Brazil coffee in 2023–2024. The Green Coffee Association also announced that U.S. green coffee stocks for August increased by 3.6% monthly and 5.2% annually, reaching a 2-year record of 6,450,086 million bags. Coffee Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Platinum Futures Hold Above $900, Wheat trading at their highest level since early July, RBOB Gasoline Futures

Platinum Futures Hold Above $900, Wheat trading at their highest level since early July, RBOB Gasoline Futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 22.09.2022 11:01
Summary: Platinum supply is expected to decrease by 8% this year. Chicago wheat futures trading at their highest level since early July. Gasoline's 98-days of recorded decreases comes to an end. Reduced supply and rising demand are supporting Platinum prices In September, platinum futures remained over the $900 per ounce threshold thanks to expectations for reduced supply and indications of rising demand. The World Platinum Investment Council predicted that the entire supply will decrease by 8% this year. Meanwhile, diminishing supplies from mines and recycling, along with China's high demand for catalytic converters, helped to boost prices. Nevertheless, platinum's recovery from the 26-month low of $830 reached on September 1 was constrained by expectations of a hawkish Federal Reserve and the ensuing dollar gain. Platinum Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Wheat under strain as the conflict in the Ukraine persists Chicago wheat futures surged to trade at their highest level since early July as fresh geopolitical worries fueled worries that key producing centers might export less grain. The Donbass separatist areas and the seized portions of Kherson will vote this weekend on whether to join Russia, as part of the Kremlin's plans to formally annexe Ukrainian territory. The actions heightened concerns that the situation between Russia and Ukraine could worsen, leading Russia to revoke the safe trade corridor from previously negotiated Ukrainian Black Sea exports. The arrangement has already drawn harsh criticism from the Russian president, who claimed that Russia had been "cheated" and vowed to change the terms of the agreement, which would impede delivery to significant importers around the globe. Wheat Futures Price Chart RBOB Gasoline rises again After a 98-days of recorded decreases, retail gasoline prices in the US have seen their first increase, although a very small one, indicating that customers won't see much more relief at the pump. RBOB Gasoline Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Brent Crude Oil Stayed Quite Strong Yesterday Rising 0.7%, But In The Near Future Commodites May Be Endangered By (USD) US Dollar's Dominance And More

Brent Crude Futures On Track For Their Fourth Consecutive Losing Week, Gold Touches 2-year Lows, Corn Futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 23.09.2022 12:15
Summary: Central banks around the world boosted interest rates this week. Gold prices continued to be pressured by a strong dollar and rising Treasury yields. Chicago Corn futures were maintaining their upward trend Brent Crude Oil heading for 4th weekly decline As central banks around the world boosted interest rates this week, fueling concerns about a global economic downturn and impacting on the forecast for energy consumption, Brent oil futures traded near $90 per barrel on Friday and were on track for their fourth consecutive losing week. Along with rate rises from the Bank of England, Swiss National Bank, and other institutions, the US Federal Reserve took the lead with its third consecutive 75 basis point rate increase. The Fed's proactive stance against inflation and demand for safe haven assets, which drove the dollar strongly higher, also dampened mood because it made oil priced in greenbacks more expensive for buyers using foreign currencies. Meanwhile, news that efforts to resurrect the 2015 Iran nuclear deal have failed has prevented oil prices from suffering more losses on Friday. Investors also kept an eye on Russia's limited military deployment, which might further disrupt supplies, the strengthening Chinese economy, and the potential for further output cutbacks from OPEC+. Brent Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Gold futures touching 2 year lows Gold prices continued to be pressured by a strong dollar and rising Treasury yields, which indicated forecasts for tighter monetary policy and weakening global growth. On Friday, gold prices dropped below $1,660 an ounce, the lowest in over two years. With its third consecutive 75 basis point rate increase to combat inflation, the US Federal Reserve led a flurry of central banks this week in raising interest rates. With Isabel Schnabel, an ECB board member, stating on Thursday that strong inflationary pressures in the euro zone are likely to be more persistent than anticipated, the European Central Bank is also expected to raise rates further. Higher interest rates reduce the appeal of holding non-yielding bullion by increasing the opportunity cost. As the US' relative economic strength and the Fed's active stance against inflation elevated the dollar at the expense of other safe-haven assets, gold also lost its luster as a store of wealth in times of economic uncertainty. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Corn shortage is expected Chicago Corn futures were maintaining their upward trend since falling to an eight-month low in July, and diverging from the oil market as concerns about a shortage of corn outweighed expectations of a decline in demand. Expectations for the current crop were limited by bad weather in the major growing regions of the Americas. In the US, WASDE forecasts that output will amount to 13.9 billion bushels in the upcoming marketing year, down 415 million from earlier projections due to a fall in yields and harvesting area. Additionally, ending stocks and global production were revised downward. In the US, summer droughts caused havoc on domestic maize crops during the current marketing year, resulting in yields that were the lowest since the drought of 2012. Additionally, the impacts of La Nina in South America significantly harmed the health of the harvests, putting additional strain on supply. Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Analysis Of Crude Oil Futures, WTI Prices Recorded A Slight Decline

Brent Crude Oil Supported By Supply Disruptions, Silver Futures, Corn Futures Rising Amid Supply Concerns

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 26.09.2022 20:16
Summary: Brent Crude rose from an 8-month low. Silver futures trading close to 2 year lows. Corn futures have been climbing steadily. Brent Crude oil rose from 8-month low Brent crude prices rose from an eight-month low of $84.6 a barrel, buoyed by worries about potential supply disruptions, particularly those from Russia given the impending EU ban on its fuel, and rumors that OPEC might step up market intervention. Early this month, OPEC and its oil-producing allies—including Russia—announced a modest supply reduction and promised to take further measures if the market volatility persisted. However, concerns are growing that a sudden tightening from the world's main central banks might halt global economic development and reduce energy demand. Additionally, a higher dollar has been pressuring energy markets, raising the cost of commodities with dollar prices for buyers using other currencies. Brent Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Silver trading near 2-year low In late September, silver futures were trading at $18.6 per ounce, close to the over two-year low of $17.9 reached earlier in the month as the Federal Reserve's monetary tightening momentum drove investors away from bullion investments and into the interest-bearing US dollar. The Fed increased the rate on its funds by 75 basis points for the third time in a row in addition to rate increases by other significant central banks, and forecast that borrowing may reach as high as 4.6% by March 2023. A worldwide economic slowdown is also impacting jewelry sales as well as consumer spending in China and India, two of the world's largest consumers of gadgets and autos. Additionally, while China and India take advantage of cheap oil and gas from Russia and Europe is moving back to coal as an energy option, progress toward green technology, such as the development of solar panels, has suffered a setback. Silver Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Corn futures have been climbing steady Since reaching an eight-month low in July, corn futures have been climbing steadily, breaking from their association with oil as worries about a lack of supply overcame expectations of a decline in demand. Expectations for the current crop were limited by bad weather in the major growing regions of the Americas. In the US, WASDE forecasts that output will amount to 13.9 billion bushels in the upcoming marketing year, down 415 million from earlier projections due to a fall in yields and harvesting area. Additionally, ending stocks and global production were revised downward. In the US, summer droughts caused havoc on domestic maize crops during the current marketing year, resulting in yields that were the lowest since the drought of 2012. Additionally, the impacts of La Nina in South America significantly harmed the health of the harvests, putting additional strain on supply. Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Japan's Prime Minister Tested Covid Positive. Gazprom Confirmed Gas Shipment Would Be Stopped!

NGAS Touching 2-month Lows, Cotton Futures Down, Gold Sitting At Lowest Level In 2.5 Years

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 27.09.2022 10:27
Summary: Natural gas futures are still up around 100% for the year. Cotton futures were trading at levels last seen in July 2021. The price of gold is still close to its lowest levels in 2.5 years. Larger-than-expected storage build driving NGAS prices down Under pressure from a larger-than-expected storage build, natural gas futures reached a bottom below a level not seen in two months. According to the most recent EIA data, US utilities put 103 billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas underground storage, significantly more than the median estimate of 93 bcf. Due to high domestic output levels and prospects for better weather through early October, prices were already under pressure. Expectations that demand would decrease even further in October when the Cove Point liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in Maryland shuts down for maintenance added to the pessimistic picture. Due to the strong demand for US LNG exports and the rising prices of natural gas in Europe and Asia, natural gas futures are still up around 100% for the year. NGAS Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton futures touching lows not seen since July 2021 As traders assessed the potential of larger supplies and lower demand due to quicker rate hikes and economic uncertainty, cotton futures were trading at levels last seen in July 2021. Regarding the supply, the USDA's most recent report showed that the crop of US cotton increased from 12.48 million acres in August to 13.79 million acres in September, or over 19% more than the 11.22 million acres planted in 2021. 375 lakh bales are anticipated to be produced in India, another major producer, during the season 2022–23, assuming that the weather is cooperative through October. Crops are still in danger because of unfavorable weather and pest infestations in the main growing regions. Cotton Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Gold futures Tuesday saw a minor recovery in gold prices from a recent low as the continuous dollar advance paused, moving closer to $1,630 an ounce. On predictions that the US Federal Reserve will tighten monetary policy even more in order to combat rising inflation, the price of yellow metal is still close to its lowest levels in 2.5 years. On Monday, a number of Fed members reaffirmed their commitment to the fight against inflation, despite the possibility of some negative economic consequences and additional market instability. Investors also considered a study from the OECD, which revised its prediction for global economic growth from 2.8% to 2.2% in 2023, citing aggressive monetary tightening in leading nations and the protracted Russia-Ukraine war. Despite the fact that storing non-yielding gold bullion is generally regarded as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty, higher interest rates increase the opportunity cost of doing so, and investors continue to choose the dollar as a safe haven asset. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Oil trades around USD 100, gold edges higher

WTI Crude Oil Touching January Lows, Palladium Futures Reaching Highest Level In 4-weeks, Coffee Futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 28.09.2022 11:45
Summary: Likelihood of a worldwide recession that might harm energy consumption. Palladium prices are 30% lower than they were in March. The drawback is that continued upward momentum has been constrained by a generally stronger dollar. WTI Crude Oil touching January lows On Wednesday, WTI crude futures declined toward $77 per barrel, returning to their lowest levels since early January, as worries that OPEC+ may further restrict supply were countered by a strengthening currency and increasing US petroleum inventories. After a White House official ruled out a currency deal among major nations to reduce the dollar, the dollar index soared to a fresh 20-year high. Prior to the release of official figures later on Wednesday, industry data revealed that the US crude stockpiles increased by over 4 million barrels last week. With aggressive monetary tightening increasing the likelihood of a worldwide recession that might harm energy consumption, oil prices have been under intense selling pressure since June and are expected to report their first quarterly loss in more than two years. While this was going on, dramatic drops in oil prices fueled rumors that OPEC+ might reduce output to stop the decline. Moscow reportedly urged the cartel to reduce production by approximately 1 million barrels per day. WTI Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Palladium touching 4-week highs As the dollar index deviated from 20-year highs, palladium futures increased their gains to $2,200 per ounce, the highest level in almost four weeks. Nevertheless, in spite of rising interest rates and slowing GDP, palladium prices are 30% lower than they were in March. It is anticipated that central banks would keep raising interest rates to keep inflation from soaring even when the economy is slowing. Furthermore, despite the price increase and supply chain disruptions, demand for palladium, which is used in auto catalysts for gasoline-powered vehicles, has not yet returned to its pre-pandemic levels. However, there is still a shortfall on the palladium market. Palladium Futures Price Chart Coffee futures Due to limited supply, Arabica coffee futures on ICE increased their gains from a one-month low reached on September 16th. While Brazilian crop agency Conab reduced its 2022 arabica coffee production estimate from May's projection of 35.71 million bags to 32.41 million 60kg bags, as adverse weather curbed coffee yields, posing risks for next year's production, new data showed ICE-certified arabica stocks fell to a fresh 23-year low of 460,387 bags. At the same time, exports of coffee from Colombia, the second-largest producer of arabica beans in the world, decreased 7% during the first seven months of the year and plunged 21% year over year in August. The drawback is that continued upward momentum has been constrained by a generally stronger dollar. Coffee Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Oil Is An Indicator Of The Health Of The Global Economy

Platinum Weighed Down By A Strong US Dollar, Wheat Supported By Supply Concerns, RBOB Gasoline On The Rise Again

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 29.09.2022 15:26
Summary: 2022 has seen platinum prices drop 10.71%. Wheat futures close to 3-month highs. RBOB Gasoline rises after 100 days of declines. Platinum futures under pressure from strong US Dollar Since the start of 2022, platinum prices have dropped by 103.12 USD/t oz., or 10.71%, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that monitors the benchmark market for this commodity. Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium were all affected negatively by the surging US dollar (DXY), which rose to new 20-year highs on Wednesday morning. As demand from the Chinese automobile industry remained poor and is now being further pushed by a rising dollar, platinum fell 1.1% to $838 per troy ounce (DXY). Additionally down 1.4% to $2,056 per troy ounce was palladium. Platinum Jan ‘23 Futures Price Chart Concerns around a wheat shortage driving prices As fresh escalation threats about the Russian invasion of Ukraine stoked concerns about a shortage, Chicago wheat futures increased and came close to reaching the nearly three-month high from late September. Shortly before holding referendums to join Russia in four regions of Ukraine, President Putin ordered Russia's first military mobilization since World War II. Concerns were raised about Moscow's ability to halt the UN-negotiated safe trade route from Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which would eliminate the newly resumed supply from one of the world's largest wheat exporters and producers. News that increased export levies from the Kremlin would restrict sales of the nation's record harvest this marketing year contributed to further price increases. Chicago Dec ‘22 Wheat Futures Price Chart RBOB Gasoline futures In response to a hurricane barreling into Florida, President Joe Biden issued a warning to oil corporations not to raise gasoline prices. This is the second time this week that he has expressed concern over rising pump costs. Regular gasoline is becoming more expensive on average in the United States. After falling for nearly 100 consecutive days throughout the summer driving season, the price has now started to rise once more. RBOB Gasoline Oct ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com, capital.com
Corn Prices Recorded Their Biggest Weekly Gain, Gold Demand In India May Suffer A Temporary Setback

Brent Crude Oil Prices Drop For 4th Consecutive Month, Silver Futures, Corn Rising To Start The Week

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 03.10.2022 13:52
Summary: Oil prices fell for the fourth consecutive month in September. A global economic downturn is also affecting bullion investments. Corn futures rise at the start of the week. Brent Crude Oil weighed down by economic recession concerns In response to growing rumors that OPEC+ would consider reducing output by up to 1 million barrels per day at a meeting later this week to support prices, Brent oil futures jumped more than 4% near $89 per barrel on Monday. After lowering output by 100,000 bpd in August to address macroeconomic headwinds, this action will represent the cartel's second consecutive monthly drop. As aggressive monetary tightening by major national economies fuelled concerns about a worldwide economic downturn and reduced energy demand, oil prices fell for the fourth consecutive month in September. Oil prices were also affected by the Covid-related uncertainty in China, the world's largest crude importer, and a strong dollar that increases the cost of goods with US dollar prices for foreign customers. Brent Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Hawkish Fed driving investors away from Silver The price of silver in futures contracts was $19.30 per ounce, falling further from the one-month high of $19.8 reached in mid-September as renewed dollar demand and the expectation that the Federal Reserve will maintain its current policy of low interest rates for an extended period of time drove investors away from bullion. The Fed predicted that borrowing costs might increase to as much as 4.6% by March 2023 and increased its fund rate by 75 basis points for the third time in a row. With swaps pricing bets that its deposit rate will grow to 3% by May 2023, the ECB is likewise anticipated to rapidly raise its interest rates. A global economic downturn is also affecting bullion investments, as well as jewelry sales from China and India, the world's two largest consumers of technology and autos. Silver Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Corn prices rise to start the week The price of corn is rising to start the week. Close observation of the Ukraine-Russian conflict's escalation is necessary. Trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that reflects the benchmark market for this commodity shows that corn has grown 92.12 USd/BU or 15.53% since the start of 2022. Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com, barchart.com
Chile's Lithium Nationalization and the Global Trend of Resource Nationalism: Implications for EV Supply Chains and Efforts to Strengthen Battery Metal Supply

NGAS Hovering Around 12-week Lows, Cotton Touching 15-month Lows, Gold Futures Weighed Down By Strong US Dollar

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 04.10.2022 12:59
Summary: NGAS prices in the US reached their highest summer levels since 2008. Economic uncertainty around cotton demand persists. Gold futures amidst hawkish central banks. NGAS supply concerns persist Pressure from record domestic supply levels and waning weather-driven demand as the weather turned cooler kept US natural gas contracts around a 12-week low. In the first eight months of 2022, natural gas output in the US is anticipated to have increased by around 4% from a year earlier, hitting a record high of 101 Bcf/d in late September. Additionally, the protracted outage at the Texas Freeport LNG export facility has already decreased US natural gas use for months, leaving more gas for US utilities to add to reserves in preparation for the next winter. A series of heat waves across the US raised the need for cooling at a time when there was an increase in demand for US LNG exports due to worries about shortages in Europe. At the same time, natural gas prices in the US reached their highest summer levels since 2008. NGAS Nov ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton weighed down by demand concerns Trading in cotton futures was below a level not seen since July 2021 as traders considered the likelihood of more supply and less demand as a result of quicker rate hikes and economic uncertainty. Regarding the supply, the USDA's most recent report showed that the crop of US cotton increased from 12.48 million acres in August to 13.79 million acres in September, or over 19% more than the 11.22 million acres planted in 2021. 375 lakh bales are anticipated to be produced in India, another major producer, during the season 2022–23, assuming that the weather is cooperative through October. Crops are still in danger because of unfavorable weather and pest infestations in the main growing regions. Cotton Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Gold weighed down by strong US Dollar After breaching the crucial $1,700 barrier earlier in the session, gold prices retreated toward $1,690 an ounce on Tuesday, constrained by a strong dollar and amid anticipation that the US Federal Reserve will move through with its aggressive plan to combat high inflation. John Williams, president of the New York Fed Bank, stated on Monday that the US still has "major ways to go" in terms of monetary tightening because interest rates have not yet reached levels that are constrictive for economic growth. The European Central Bank is also anticipated to announce another significant rate increase, as the euro zone's inflation rate surpassed expectations in September to reach a new record high of 10%. The metal, meanwhile, rose more than 2% on Monday to its best levels in almost three weeks as Treasury yields dropped precipitously and the dollar suffered from weaker-than-expected US manufacturing data, which fueled hopes that the US central bank could pause the tempo of rate increases. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Australia Is Expected To Produce A Bumper Year Of Crops

Platinum Futures, Wheat Trading At 3-month Highs, OPEC+ Cuts Gasoline Output By 2million Barrels Per Day

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 06.10.2022 13:10
Summary: After falling for around 100 days, gasoline prices in the US are now rising. Chicago wheat futures were trading, close to the highest price since the end of June. Platinum futures rose 4.25% during 2022. Platinum futures According to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that monitors the benchmark market for this commodity, platinum has dropped 40.90 USD/t oz. or 4.25% since the start of 2022. Platinum Jan ‘23 Futures Price Chart Wheat supply shortages expected In October, Chicago wheat futures were trading, close to the highest price since the end of June due to worries about a shortage of supply. Concerns that Russia would terminate the secure trade route from Ukrainian Black Sea ports that was agreed to in a deal mediated by the UN arose after Russia invaded Ukrainian land and threatened to use nuclear force. The 2022 wheat harvest was also at its second-smallest level in 20 years due to the dry and hot weather in the US. In its annual Small Grains Summary report, the USDA estimated the US wheat harvest at 1.650 billion bushels, which was below than market expectations of 1.778 billion bushels and predictions from August of 1.783 billion bushels. Wheat Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Rising Gasoline prices threaten to harm consumers further After falling for around 100 days, gasoline prices in the US are now rising, posing a fresh threat to consumers who have already been suffering from widespread inflation for more than a year. A 14-day stretch of rising gas prices is the result of upkeep at fuel production facilities, increased demand, and limited fuel supply. According to OPIS, an energy-data company that is a division of Dow Jones & Co., the publisher of The Wall Street Journal, a gallon of normal cost around $3.831 on Wednesday. Analysts predict that the agreement to reduce oil production by 2 million barrels per day by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies led by Russia on Wednesday will result in a further increase in oil prices. The White House announced that it would look at ways to protect American consumers, calling the action unwise. Analysts anticipate that most drivers won't have to deal with $5 gas as they did in June, in part because wintertime demand is usually lower. Although refiners convert to producing winter-grade fuel blended with butane at this time of year, which has reduced production costs and is therefore more affordable, prices are still unusually high, according to Richard Joswick, head of global oil analytics at S&P Global Platts. RBOB Gasoline Nov ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com, wsj.com
Chile's Lithium Nationalization and the Global Trend of Resource Nationalism: Implications for EV Supply Chains and Efforts to Strengthen Battery Metal Supply

OPEC+ To Reduce Production By 2 Million Barrels Per Day, Gold Futures Up 3% This Week, Cotton Futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 07.10.2022 12:49
Summary: Brent Crude Oil expected to rise by 11% this week. Gold prices could come under pressure thanks to US Non-farm payroll data. Investors considered the likelihood of more supply and less demand of cotton. Brent Crude Oil expected to rise by 11% this week As OPEC+ agreed to reduce production by 2 million barrels per day, or about 2% of the world's supply, starting in November, the price of Brent crude futures held above $94 per barrel on Friday and was expected to rise by about 11% this week. This decision threatens to further tighten supply ahead of the winter season. Although Saudi Arabia's oil minister said the actual reduction will likely be closer to 1 to 1.1 million barrels because several members are already pumping below targets, that would still represent the largest output decrease since the outbreak began. On Thursday, US President Joe Biden expressed disappointment with the OPEC+ decision and stated that the US was looking for measures to prevent prices from rising. Following the OPEC+ decision, Goldman Sachs considerably increased its oil price projection, predicting that Brent prices will reach $104 per barrel this year and $110 per barrel in 2023. Russia once more issued a warning this week that it won't sell oil to nations who back the US-led effort to set a price restriction on Russian oil, adding to supply fears. Brent Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Gold prices risen by 3% this week In the lead-up to the monthly US jobs data that could provide new insights on the Federal Reserve's rate hike path, caution predominated in the market, and gold prices remained muted around $1,710 an ounce on Friday. They have been trading in a range for the past three sessions. The nonfarm payrolls report, which is due later on Friday, is anticipated to indicate that the US economy generated 250,000 jobs in September. If the number is higher than anticipated, rate hike bets will increase and gold prices would be further pressured. The metal has fluctuated throughout the week as opinions on US monetary policy have changed; initially, weak US data drove bullion higher on expectations for a slower pace of tightening, but by the end of the week, pressure from strong US data and hawkish comments from US policymakers had put the metal under pressure. Gold prices, however, have increased by about 3% so far this week and were on track to post their largest weekly gains since March. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton supply expected to increase Trading in cotton futures was below 90 USd/Lbs, a level not seen since July 2021, as investors considered the likelihood of more supply and less demand as a result of accelerated rate hikes and a deteriorating economy. Regarding the supply, the USDA's most recent report showed that the crop of US cotton increased from 12.48 million acres in August to 13.79 million acres in September, or over 19% more than the 11.22 million acres planted in 2021. 375 lakh bales are anticipated to be produced in India, another major producer, during the season 2022–23, assuming that the weather is cooperative through October. Crops are still in danger because of unfavorable weather and pest infestations in the main growing regions. Cotton Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Oil Is An Indicator Of The Health Of The Global Economy

Silver Futures Prices Falling, Brent Crude Supplies Expected To Be Tight, Corn Futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 10.10.2022 13:25
Summary: Brent crude oil rising as fears around tight supplies continue. Hawkish Fed driving bullion prices down. Corn futures prices raised by 17.25% in 2022. Brent Crude oil faces a weaker demand outlook On Monday, traders balanced a major output cut by OPEC+ that promises to further tighten supply ahead of winter against a weaker demand outlook resulting from increasingly tighter monetary circumstances. Brent crude futures slipped toward $97 per barrel. Fears that the Federal Reserve may boost borrowing costs to onerous levels increased as a result of the US job market's continued tightness and the country's officials' steadfast hawkish posture, which also fueled worries about the demand and the global economy. The global oil benchmark also increased by around 15% last week as OPEC+ decided to reduce production by 2 million barrels per day, or roughly 2% of the world's supply, starting in November. This would be the largest output reduction since the pandemic's inception. Russia's threat that it won't sell oil to nations who support the US-led effort to impose a price restriction on Russian oil was reinforced last week, adding to supply fears. Brent Crude Oil Futures Price Chart   Silver drops as hawkish fed continues After temporarily reaching a three-month high of $21, spot silver traded around $20 per ounce in October as expectations that the Fed will maintain its hawkish monetary policy stance returned, pushing up the dollar and bond yields. In the meantime, the amount of silver kept in the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) vaults has steadily decreased over the past nine months, reaching a record-low level of 28,506 tonnes valued at $16.4 billion, or roughly 950,208 silver bars. According to the LBMA, this is the least amount of silver stored in vaults since reporting began in July 2016. Silver Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Corn futures Since the start of 2022, corn prices have climbed by 102.31 USd/BU, or 17.25%, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that monitors the benchmark market for this commodity. Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Chile's Lithium Nationalization and the Global Trend of Resource Nationalism: Implications for EV Supply Chains and Efforts to Strengthen Battery Metal Supply

NGAS Inventories Strong, Cotton Futures, Gold Futures Decline For 5th Straight Session

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 11.10.2022 11:14
Summary: US NGAS futures trading low for the past 10 sessions. Golds price decline fueled by a strengthening USD and rising Treasury yields. Cotton crops are in danger due to unfavorable weather and pest infestations. NGAS trading close to 3-month lows For the tenth session running, US natural gas futures have traded below $7/MMBtu, close to the 3-month low of $6.3/MMBtu reached on October 3, and far below the 14-year high of $9.65/MMBtu reached on August 22. This is because production is still at record highs and utilities are able to add more gas to storage due to milder than usual weather. The US utilities added 129 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas to storage in the week ending September 30th, exceeding market forecasts of a 113 bcf build, according to the EIA, which recorded the highest weekly gains in domestic inventories ever. According to Refinitiv, average gas production in the Lower 48 US states increased to a record 100.1 bcfd so far in October from a previous high of 99.4 bcfd in September. Reduced LNG shipments and a decline in demand brought on by Hurricane Ian's power outages also had an impact on gas prices. NGAS Nov ‘22 Futures Price Chart Gold declining amidst predictions of aggressive Fed Tuesday's decline in gold prices, which was the fifth straight session, was fueled by a strengthening dollar and rising Treasury yields amid predictions that the US Federal Reserve will continue with its aggressive tightening policies. Such a notion was reinforced by a better-than-expected US jobs report on Friday, and markets now anticipate US inflation data on Thursday, FOMC minutes on Wednesday, and other Fed officials' appearances this week for additional cues. On the other hand, Fed Vice Chair Lael Brainard stated on Monday that the Fed will be guided by incoming data as the full impact of prior rate rises become clear. She also emphasized the necessity for tight monetary policy to lower inflation. The IMF and World Bank warned of a rising possibility of a worldwide recession, as advanced economies stagnate and persistent inflation increases pressure on major central banks to hike interest rates further. This warning left markets on edge. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton trading low As traders assessed the possibilities of larger supplies and lower demand due to quicker rate hikes and economic uncertainties, cotton futures traded below, a level not seen since July 2021. Regarding the supply, the USDA's most recent report showed that the crop of US cotton increased from 12.48 million acres in August to 13.79 million acres in September, or over 19% more than the 11.22 million acres planted in 2021. 375 lakh bales are anticipated to be produced in India, another major producer, during the season 2022–23, assuming that the weather is cooperative through October. Crops are still in danger because of unfavorable weather and pest infestations in the main growing regions. Cotton Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Crude Oil Price: How Big Could The OPEC+ Supply Cut?

WTI Crude Oil Futures Falling As Demand Forecasts Look Grim, Palladium Futures, Coffee Futures Declining

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 13.10.2022 09:10
Summary: WTI Crude oil dropped around 6% as demand forecasts deteriorated. Palladium futures up almost 13% in 2022. Coffee futures touching 6 week lows. WTI Crude Oil inventories increased WTI crude futures traded near $87 per barrel on Thursday, having dropped about 6% in the previous three days as a result of a deteriorating demand forecast and a significant increase in US crude inventories. On Wednesday, OPEC reduced its projections for the growth of the world's oil demand by 460,000 and 360,000 barrels per day, respectively. They cited high inflation, stagnant development in rich economies, and China's Covid lockdowns as reasons. The US Energy Department also reduced its projections for US and global consumption, with US consumption projected to climb by just 0.9% from a previous forecast of 1.7% in 2023 and by just 1.5% from a previous projection of 2%. US crude stockpiles rose by more over 7 million barrels last week, according to an industry report. Oil prices were also affected by the US Federal Reserve's hawkish minutes, in which the central bank vowed to retain interest rates at their current levels until inflation starts to decline. WTI Crude Nov ‘22 Futures Price Chart Palladium futures Since the start of 2022, the price of palladium has climbed by 242.31 USD/t oz., or 12.81%, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that monitors the benchmark market for this commodity. Palladium Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Coffee Futures touching 6 week lows As showers in Brazil's coffee belt may improve the crop forecast, Arabica coffee futures on ICE extended losses toward $2.15 per pound, approaching levels not seen in more than six weeks. Rainfall in Minas Gerais, which makes up around 30% of Brazil's arabica crop, is predicted to bring much-needed moisture and enhance prospects for the crop in the top producer in the world the following year. The most recent statistics revealed that on October 3rd, ICE-certified arabica stocks hit a new 23-year low of 417,306 bags. Coffee Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Oil trades around USD 100, gold edges higher

Silver Futures Weighed Down By Hawkish Fed, Brent Crude Oil Demand Outlook Weakened, Corn Futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 17.10.2022 12:26
Summary: Demand for silver continues to weaken. Increasing macro headwinds have investors concerned about a deteriorating outlook for demand. Silver Futures dampened by hawkish fed Spot silver prices declined to below $19.3 an ounce in the second week of October, retreating significantly from the three-month high of $21.1 reached on October 4th and tracking the decline in US Treasury notes as expectations of an increasingly hawkish Federal Reserve continue to dampen demand for non-interest-bearing bullion investments. After the stronger-than-expected September jobs data and comments from Fed policymakers emphasizing the need to lower inflation, hopes that the US central bank could slow the pace of upcoming rate hikes were dashed. Members of the ECB board have also maintained that borrowing prices must be restricted since markets are currently underestimating inflation, which might last until 2025. Silver Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Brent Crude Oil futures As investors balanced a weaker prognosis for the global economy against tighter supply, Brent crude futures were trading around the $91 per barrel mark. Increasing macro headwinds, such as high inflation, tighter financial conditions, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, have investors concerned about a deteriorating outlook for demand. Any upward movement has also been constrained by the US Federal Reserve's active tightening drive against inflationary excess, a stronger dollar, and China's restrictions brought on by the Coronavirus. As OPEC and its allies, including Russia, decided to further reduce output before the European Union oil embargo, rising concerns about tighter global supplies acted as a floor beneath prices. Brent Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Corn Futures In the second week of October, Chicago corn futures remained close to the $6.9 per bushel level after the most recent World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) revealed reducing worldwide stockpiles. The USDA also predicted decreased exports and a tighter supply within the country. Iran, Japan, and Vietnam had their import predictions cut, while the EU and the US had theirs lifted. In other developments, it has been claimed that China is considering beginning to purchase corn from Brazil, bypassing US grain growers. Investors are concerned about the world's food supply this winter due to the ongoing unpredictability surrounding the Russo-Ukrainian War. The price of corn is still close to the three-month high ($7.0 per bushel) set on October 10. Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Central Banks' Rates Outlook: Fed Treads Cautiously, ECB Prepares for Hike

NGAS Futures Touch Lowest Level In 3 Months, Cotton Touching April Lows, US Dollar Retracts - Gold Supported

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 18.10.2022 11:31
Summary: Natural gas futures fell by about 7% on Monday. UK's decision to rescind nearly all of its proposed tax cuts increased risk appetite. Persistent demand worries weighing on cotton. NGAS futures fall In response to record domestic production levels and weaker weather-driven demand, US natural gas futures fell by about 7% on Monday, to the lowest in three months. According to the most recent EIA data, US utilities added 125 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas to storage last week, which is significantly more than typical and more than the market anticipated at 123 bcf. Due to the moderate weather and increased wind power, there were gains above 100 bcf for the fourth week in a row. According to Refinitiv, average gas production in the Lower 48 US states increased to a record 99.9 bcfd so far in October from a previous high of 99.4 bcfd in September. Reduced LNG shipments and a decline in demand brought on by Hurricane Ian's power outages also had an impact on gas prices. NGAS Futures Price Chart Gold futures stabilized On Tuesday, the price of gold stabilized around $1,650 an ounce, halting a recent decline as the dollar lost some gain following the UK's decision to rescind nearly all of its proposed tax cuts, which increased risk appetite in the market. The US Federal Reserve is expected to tighten more in order to reduce inflation, which has continued to put pressure on the price of metal. Recent data revealed that US year-ahead inflation expectations rose, supporting the argument for more rate increases combined with a hot inflation report from September. Despite ongoing inflationary pressures and growing chances of a worldwide recession, gold also continued to perform poorly as a safe-haven asset as investors fled to the dollar due to rising US interest rates. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton touching April 2021 lows Cotton futures fell to a level last seen in April 2021 due to persistent demand worries, while rising interest rates strengthened the dollar and reduced demand for commodities priced in US dollars. On the supply side, however, an optimistic report from the US Department of Agriculture provided some support for the fiber. In light of the ongoing uncertainty on the extent to which unfavorable weather conditions, such as drought and heavy rain, may reduce output in top producer Texas and other states for the 2022–2023 season, the USDA has lowered its outlook for domestic supplies. Cotton Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
The Commodities: The EU Is Looking At A Price Cap Level Of Around US$60/bbl

WTI Crude Oil Recover Slightly From 2-week Lows, Palladium Futures Hitting 2-week Lows, Coffee Futures Hit 1-year Lows

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 19.10.2022 14:32
Summary: Sanctions by the EU against Russian crude threatened to jeopardize the US's planned release of emergency oil stocks. Dollar index climbed back toward 20-year highs following a strong CPI reading. A stronger dollar and an improving crop forecast causing coffee futures to drop. WTI Crude Oil edged above 2 week lows As the latest sanctions by the European Union against Russian crude threatened to jeopardize the US's planned release of emergency oil stocks, WTI crude futures edged above $84 a barrel on Wednesday, recovering from two-week lows. Tankers transporting Russian crude beyond a predetermined price level would be subject to shipping restrictions from the EU, obliging shipowners to abide by the Group of Seven agreement to cap the price of Russian oil. In the meantime, it has been claimed that the US will release 15 million barrels of oil from its emergency supplies in order to lower the high cost of gasoline this winter. Following a White House charge that Saudi Arabia forced other countries to endorse the plan, Malaysia defended an OPEC+ decision to restrict oil production. It said the group “collectively took into consideration factors that include market fundamentals, particularly to address uncertainties in the global oil supply and demand situation.” WTI Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Palladium falls to lowest price in 2-weeks Palladium futures dropped to $2,070 per ounce, the lowest price in more than two weeks, as the dollar index climbed back toward 20-year highs following a strong CPI reading, which hit commodities. Despite rising interest rates and slower GDP, palladium prices are 30% lower than they were in March. It is anticipated that central banks would keep raising interest rates to keep inflation from soaring even when the economy is slowing. Furthermore, despite the price increase and supply chain disruptions, demand for palladium, which is used in auto catalysts for gasoline-powered vehicles, has not yet returned to its pre-pandemic levels. However, there is still a shortfall on the palladium market. Palladium Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Coffee extended losses to 1 year lows A stronger dollar and an improving crop forecast in top producer Brazil as a result of reports of ample rain that may encourage blooming for next year's coffee crop caused Arabica coffee futures on ICE to extend losses, levels not seen in almost a year. The most recent statistics revealed that on October 13th, ICE-certified arabica stocks reached a new 23-year low of 408,419 bags. Additionally, the world's largest consumer of coffee, Europe, has expressed concerns about the demand due to continued economic issues, according to investment bank Itau BBA. Coffee Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Australia Is Expected To Produce A Bumper Year Of Crops

Platinum Futures, RBOB Gasoline Prices Remain Stubbornly High, Wheat Futures Touch 1-month Lows

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 20.10.2022 12:53
Summary: Platinum futures prices down 7.45% in 2022. 3rd week of October saw 1-month lows for Wheat. RBOB Gasoline prices are higher than it was for at least nine of the previous election cycles. Platinum futures dropped in 2022 Since the start of 2022, platinum prices have dropped by 71.71 USD/t oz., or 7.45%, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that monitors the benchmark market for this commodity. Platinum Jan ‘23 Futures Price Chart Wheat facing supply shortages Chicago wheat futures dropped in the third week of October, lingering at levels not seen in a month, as the prospect of a supply shortage was allayed by progress in negotiations for grain trading agreements with the Ukraine. According to UN spokesman Dujarric, ongoing negotiations with Moscow over the expansion of the current agreement establishing a trade corridor for Black Sea ports have been positive and productive. This raises hopes that major exporter Ukraine will be able to ship wheat and free up much-needed silo storage space for the current harvest. According to the most recent World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE), wheat exports will drop to a 50-year low as a result of low water levels along the Mississippi River slowing the shipments, and US domestic stocks have accumulated more than anticipated. Wheat Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart RBOB Gasoline remain stubbornly high Just three weeks out from the midterm elections, US pump prices are still stubbornly high, and the states suffering the most are those that will decide which party will control Congress. The most prominent inflation warning in America is the pump price, which is displayed on street corners around the nation. According to AAA data, the price of petrol was $3.88 per gallon during the first half of October, which is higher than it was for at least nine of the previous election cycles. RBOB Gasoline Nov ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Solid Wage Growth in Poland Signals Improving Labor Market Conditions

UK Retail Sales Data Missed Market Expectations, Coming In Hotter Than Expected

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 21.10.2022 08:41
Summary: U.K Retails data came in hotter than expected. Consumer spending has largely decreased in the U.K. UK Retail Sales Data UK Retail Sales Data heavily missed market expectations on Friday, with YoY data coming in at -6.9% and market expectations that were originally set at -5.0%, and MoM data also missing market expectations, coming in at -1.4% with expectations originally set at -0.5%. The data from both YoY & MoM missed market expectations by a long way, indicating that the U.K economy had deteriorated throughout September more than the markets had expected. Retail Sales track changes in the total amount of retail sales that have been adjusted for inflation. It is the most important gauge of consumer spending, which dominates all other forms of economic activity. The lower than expected readings could be interpreted as bearish or negative, as consumers in the U.K heavily slowdown the spending as the looming recession becomes more real. Effect on the market It could be said that the retail sales help investors to gauge the health of an economy and the existence of inflationary pressures. Consumer spending makes up a large part of the U.Ks GDP, the figures that largely missed market expectations could be interpreted as the U.K economy heading into a recession. The market could expect that the Bank of England (BoE) will continue on their interest rate hiking cycle, and perhaps we could see the BoE turn even more hawkish in their fight against rising inflation. The initial market reaction for the GBP/USD currency pair saw the GBP weaken against the USD, the same goes for the EUR/GBP currency pair, which saw the EUR strengthen against the GBP initially. The FTSE 100 is up as of the release of the Retail Sales Data. Sources: finance.yahoo.com, poundsterlinglive.com, ft.com
The Commodities Feed: First US crude draw this year

Gold’s Rebound In The Wake Of Treasury Note Recovery, WTI Crude Oil Weighed Down By Potential Global Recession, Wheat Futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 21.10.2022 19:46
Summary: Gold rebounded following the recovery for Treasury notes. WTI crude declines as recession potential increases. Wheat drops amidst prospects of positive negotiations between Russia & The Ukraine. Gold’s price rebound As hitting a three-week low of $1,620 earlier in the session, gold prices rebounded over $1,640 an ounce on Friday, following the recovery for Treasury notes after the dollar retreated from recent highs. The Wall Street Journal said that some Federal Reserve members were unsure about whether following through on the aggressively hawkish stance would result in overtightening, which increased demand for bullion. At its upcoming meeting in November, the US central bank is anticipated to increase its funds rate by 75 basis points for the fourth time in a row, intensifying its fight against rising inflation. The spike in the DXY increased the potential cost of storing non-interest-bearing metal, but gold prices are still not far from the 18-month low of $1,613 set on September 28. Prices for gold are predicted to end the week unchanged. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart WTI Crude Oil weighed down by global recession potential WTI oil futures hit a low at $83 per barrel and are now headed for a weekly decline of over 1% as persistent concerns about a potential global recession-driven demand fall are offset by expectations for increased Chinese demand and OPEC+ supply cutbacks. Investors are becoming more concerned about a worsening economic forecast in the face of escalating macro challenges, such as high inflation and tighter financial conditions. Expectations of reducing coronavirus-induced limitations and an uptick in economic activity in top importer China put a floor under prices. Meanwhile, amid growing rumors that the oil cartel could further interfere in markets to support prices, OPEC and its allies, including Russia, agreed to cut production by 2 million barrels per day in November, the largest reduction since the start of the crisis. Concerns about a shortage of supplies were also heightened by a pending ban on Russian crude by the European Union. WTI Crude Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Wheat drops amidst prospects of positive negotiations between Russia & The Ukraine In the third week of October, Chicago wheat futures dropped and remained stable month, as success in negotiations for grain trade agreements with Ukraine allayed worries about a supply shortage. According to UN spokesman Dujarric, ongoing negotiations with Moscow over the expansion of the current agreement establishing a trade corridor for Black Sea ports have been positive and productive. This raises hopes that major exporter Ukraine will be able to ship wheat and free up much-needed silo storage space for the current harvest. According to the most recent World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE), wheat exports will drop to a 50-year low as a result of low water levels along the Mississippi River slowing the shipments, and US domestic stocks have accumulated more than anticipated. Wheat Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
The Special Edition Of The Saxo Market Call Podcast: The Wild Year Of 2022 For Commodities And What May Be In Store In 2023

Silver Rising Amidst Expectations Of A Dovish Fed, Recession Fears Keeping Brent Crude Oil Low, Corn Futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 24.10.2022 15:00
Summary: Fed members were growing anxious around rate hikes continuing at the current rate. Investors are becoming more concerned about a worsening economic forecast. Corn has gained 14.98% in 2022. Silver futures rising The price of spot silver was $19.2 per ounce, which is still near to the two-week high of $19.4 per ounce reached on October 21 amid expectations that the Federal Reserve would pause in raising interest rates. According to reports, Fed members were growing more anxious that, should rate hikes continue at the current rate, the central bank might be unduly aggressive, halting the dollar's rally and boosting demand for gold. However, the central bank is anticipated to increase its funds rate by 75 basis points for the fourth time in a row next week. Even though bullion investments are frequently employed as an inflation hedge, holding non-interest-bearing assets becomes more costly as interest rates rise. Silver Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Brent Crude Oil remains low amidst recession fears On Monday, concerns over a projected worldwide recession-driven decline in demand kept the price of Brent crude futures below the $92 per barrel barrier. Investors are becoming more concerned about a worsening economic forecast in the face of escalating macro challenges, such as high inflation and tighter financial conditions. Furthermore, according to Chinese customs data, demand from the biggest crude importer in the world remained muted in September as a result of ongoing coronavirus-related limitations and export restrictions on fuel. Even still, amid growing rumors that the oil cartel will further interfere in markets to support prices, OPEC and its allies, including Russia, decided to cut production by 2 million barrels per day in November, the largest reduction since the start of the crisis. Concerns about a shortage of supplies were also heightened by a pending ban on Russian crude by the European Union. Brent Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Corn futures Trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that reflects the benchmark market for this commodity shows that corn has gained 88.85 USd/BU or 14.98% since the start of 2022. Corn Futures Price Chart Sources: tradingeconomics.com, finance.yahoo.com
NGAS Prices Are Close To 7-Month Lows, Cotton Futures Touching December 2020 Lows, Gold Weighed Down By Inflationary Pressures

NGAS Prices Are Close To 7-Month Lows, Cotton Futures Touching December 2020 Lows, Gold Weighed Down By Inflationary Pressures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 25.10.2022 14:00
Summary: Prices have dropped about 60% in the past nine weeks. Persistent demand concerns and rising interest rates causing cotton to decline. Investors await further information on the direction of US Fed monetary tightening. NGAS rose during the 4th week of October On the assumption that LNG shipments would rise as a result of the conclusion of maintenance outages at plants like Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Cove Point LNG, and Freeport LNG, US natural gas futures were up in the fourth week of October. Nevertheless, due to projections of lower weather-driven demand, record domestic production levels, and decreased LNG exports that allowed utilities to inject more gas into storage, prices have dropped about 60% in the past nine weeks and are still very close to seven-month lows. Below Refinitiv's forecast on Friday, the average US gas demand, including exports, is anticipated to increase this week. In the meantime, Lower 48 US states have seen an increase in average gas production, rising to 99.5 bcfd so far in October from a record 99.4 bcfd in September. According to the EIA data, US utilities added more gas than anticipated (111 bcf) to storage last week, well exceeding the 91 bcf that was injected during the same week last year and the 73 bcf that was added on average over the previous five years (2017–2021). NGAS Nov ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton supply and demand prospects are falling Due to persistent demand concerns and rising interest rates, which strengthened the currency and reduced the appeal of commodities priced in US dollars, cotton futures fell to a level not seen since December 2020. On the supply side, however, an optimistic report from the US Department of Agriculture provided some support for the fiber. In light of the ongoing uncertainty on the extent to which unfavorable weather conditions, such as drought and heavy rain, may reduce output in top producer Texas and other states for the 2022–2023 season, the USDA has lowered its outlook for domestic supplies. Cotton Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Gold weighed down by inflation worries After swinging wildly in the previous two sessions, gold prices stabilized near $1,650 an ounce on Tuesday as investors carefully awaited further information on the direction of US Federal Reserve monetary tightening. Fed officials are likely to take into account a lesser increase in December amid worries about overtightening after delivering a widely anticipated 75 basis point rate boost in November, the WSJ reported on Friday. Such a view was bolstered by data showing that private sector activity in the US shrank for the fourth consecutive month in October, indicating that the economy is already feeling the effects of tighter financial conditions. Investors continued to be wary of inflation worries, which might trigger another surge in the currency and Treasury yields. Amid increased political and economic unpredictability throughout the world, markets also maintained a strong position in the dollar as a safe-haven asset and as an alternative to gold. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
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US WTI Crude Stockpiles Rising, Palladium Futures, Coffee Futures Approaching 1-year Lows

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 26.10.2022 18:00
Summary: Market concerns about a worldwide recession persisted. Palladium prices have increased by 2.27% since the start of 2022. Coffee prices are driven down by a stronger dollar and an improving crop outlook. WTI Crude Oil futures falling Following a near 1% increase in the previous session, WTI oil futures on Wednesday dropped below $85 per barrel as an industry report indicated a significant build in US crude stockpiles and market concerns about a worldwide recession persisted. US crude stockpiles increased by approximately 4.5 million barrels last week, according to data from the American Petroleum Institute, greatly above forecasts for a boost of only over 200,000 barrels. Investors also were worrying about the possibility of a worldwide economic downturn, as this week's weak US data suggested that the recent, abrasive monetary tightening was already having an effect on the economy. As investors considered the OPEC+ plan to cut output by 2 million barrels from November as well as the impending European Union ban on Russian crude in December, oil prices stayed in a sideways trading range for the past five sessions. WTI Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Palladium Futures up overall in 2022 Increased 42.98 USD/t oz for palladium. Trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity indicates the price has increased by 2.27% since the start of 2022. Palladium Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Coffee futures weighed down by strong dollar Arabica coffee futures on ICE continued to decline, approaching lows not seen in more than a year, as a result of a stronger dollar and an improving crop outlook in top producer Brazil as a result of reports of plentiful rain that may have accelerated flowering for the crop of coffee that will be harvested in 2019. The most recent statistics revealed that on October 13th, ICE-certified arabica stocks reached a new 23-year low of 408,419 bags. Additionally, the largest consumer region in the globe, Europe, is concerned about the demand for coffee due to continued economic issues, according to investment bank Itau BBA. Coffee Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Agricultural Commodities Markets Are Going To Remain Sensitive To Developments In The Russia-Ukraine War

Platinum Futures, Gasoline Prices Are Declining, Wheat Futures Recovering From 5-week Lows

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 27.10.2022 17:04
Summary: Chicago wheat futures were recovering from the five-week low. Gas prices are not far from where they were when Russia invaded Ukraine. Platinum prices have declined by 0.8% in 2022. Wheat futures demand prospects look dim In response to concerns over supply and a weaker dollar, Chicago wheat futures were recovering from the five-week low of $8.3 set on October 25. The Rosario grain exchange reduced its forecast for the 2022–23 harvest by 1.3 million tonnes to 13.7 million due to droughts in Argentina. In the interim, Ukrainian authorities said that strikes by Russia prevented Ukrainian ports from operating to their full capacity, which was reduced to 25%. The exporter will be able to ship wheat and free up much-needed silo storage space, the UN continued to express optimism regarding the expansion of the safe trade corridor for Ukrainian Black Sea ports. Demand indicators remained disappointing in the interim. The latest indication of weaker international demand came from data from the United States, which showed a 46% weekly fall in exports for the week ending October 21. Additionally, according to Chinese customs figures, 370 000 tonnes of wheat were imported in September, which is a 40% decrease from the same month last year. Wheat Futures Price Charts RBOB Gasoline prices are declining In advance of the midterm US elections, gas prices are declining, relieving pressure on Democrats who are dealing with high fuel prices in crucial swing states and elsewhere across the nation. Since its peak of more than $5 in June, the national average price for a gallon of gasoline has dropped by $1.25, prompting administration officials like White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain to draw attention to the drops. According to Biden officials who regularly review the data, the national average price is currently not far from where it was when Russia invaded Ukraine in late February. Officials from the Biden administration have nonetheless stated in closed-door conversations that the national average should be closer to $3.20. RBOB Gasoline Futures Price Chart Platinum Futures Since the start of 2022, the price of platinum has dropped by 7.67 USD/t oz., or 0.80%, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that monitors the benchmark market for this commodity. Platinum Futures Price Chart Sources: bloomberg.com, finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
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Gold On Course To Increase For The Second Consecutive Week, Brent Crude Likely Facing Supply Tightening, Cotton Futures Touching 22-month Lows

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 28.10.2022 17:01
Summary: Gold on course to increase for the second consecutive week. Brent crude futures expected to close the week higher. Stronger dollar and continuing demand worries driving cotton down. Gold supported by weak US economic statistics Taking advantage of steep drops in the dollar and Treasury yields due to rising predictions that the US Federal Reserve may pause the pace of rate hikes later in the year, gold prices remained stable over $1,660 an ounce on Friday and were on course to increase for the second consecutive week. Although markets started to predict that the Fed would become less aggressive in December due to worries about overtightening, the Fed is largely expected to deliver its fourth consecutive 75 basis point rate increase in November. Such forecasts were bolstered by a deluge of weak US economic statistics earlier this week, but the third quarter's better-than-expected US GDP figures provided a counterbalance. Investors continued to be wary of inflation worries, which might trigger another surge in the currency and Treasury yields. Kristalina Gerogieva, managing director of the IMF, urged central banks to keep raising interest rates to combat inflation until they reached a "neutral" level. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Brent Crude Oil facing potential supply tightening Despite easing toward $96 per barrel on Friday, Brent crude futures were still expected to close the week higher due to a tightening supply forecast, record US exports, and a steep decline in the value of the US dollar. Last week, the US exported a record quantity of oil and fuel, despite the fact that local fuel markets experienced seasonal lows in fuel stockpiles, which hampered the forecast for supply. A dramatic decline in the value of the dollar helped to support oil prices as well by lowering the cost of commodities with US dollar prices for consumers using other currencies. Along with snapping a four-month losing streak, the OPEC+ plan to reduce output by 2 million barrels per day starting in November and the intensifying Western sanctions on Russian oil are both driving up oil prices in October. Investors continued to be wary in the meanwhile as the prognosis for demand remained gloomy due to escalating inflation, rising interest rates, and growing recessionary threats. Brent Crude Futures Price Chart Cotton touch 22-month lows The price of cotton futures fell to a 22-month low of 75.1 USd/Lbs under the strain of a stronger dollar and continuing demand worries brought on by difficult economic conditions. According to the most recent estimate from the US Department of Agriculture, both acreage and output grew, and worldwide cotton production is predicted to reach 118.1 million bales in 2022–23, a 2% rise over the previous year. China, Brazil, and India contributed more to the increase in output than the United States and Pakistan did to the decrease. Cotton Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: tradingeconomics.com, finance.yahoo.com
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Prospects Of A More Dovish Fed Supporting Silver, Corn Futures Rally, Brent Crude Weighed Down By Recession Fears

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 31.10.2022 17:42
Summary: Expectations that the Fed will change course by December sparked a bond rally. Worries about a possible world recession and a drop in oil consumption. Chicago maize futures surged to their highest levels in three months. Silver supported by a potentially dovish fed On optimism that the US Federal Reserve would soon cut down the rate of interest rate hikes to avoid overtightening, spot silver extended gains to beyond $19.5 per ounce, moving farther away from a 1-1/2-month low of $18.3 reached in mid-October. Investors are now essentially certain that the US central bank will announce a fourth consecutive 75 basis point rate hike on November 2, but expectations that the Fed will change course by December sparked a bond rally and caused the dollar to weaken, which increased the appeal of non-interest bearing assets. Even still, silver's price has dropped more than 25% from its March peak, when Russia's invasion of Ukraine sparked a surge in precious metals. Silver Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Brent Crude weighed down by recession worries On Monday, the price of Brent crude futures dropped below $95 per barrel as investors became uneasy over persistent worries about a possible world recession and a drop in oil consumption, particularly in China. Concerns that new coronavirus-induced restrictions may harm economic activity and reduce oil consumption were stoked by factory activity falling short of forecasts in the world's largest crude consumer. Nevertheless, despite limited worldwide supplies, the international benchmark increased by more than 10% in October, putting it on course to post its first monthly rise in five. The most significant reduction in output since the start of the crisis was reached in November by OPEC and its partners, including Russia, amid growing rumors that the oil cartel will continue to interfere in markets to support prices. As a component of broader penalties for the invasion of Ukraine, the European Union's ban on Russian oil is also scheduled to go into force in December. Brent Crude Futures Price Chart Corn spiked after Russia pulled out on UN-mediated agreement After Moscow abruptly backed out of the UN-mediated agreement that provided a secure trading route for grain supplies leaving Ukrainian Black Sea ports, Chicago maize futures surged to their highest levels in three months. Although the West disputed the prospect, Russia cited ships being used to deliver weaponry to Ukraine as justification for the cancellation. Following a Russian military embargo that had made seaborne grain exports from Ukraine impossible since February, an agreement that went into effect in July permitted Ukrainian grains to be transported on board ships carrying food from Ukraine. Around 20% of the world's corn exports were made through Black Sea ports prior to the invasion. In addition to prohibiting exports, the stoppage of port activities will prevent Ukraine from releasing crucial storage space in silos as the harvest for the 2022–2023 marketing year is underway, severely endangering the availability of food throughout the world. Corn Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, finance.yahoo.com
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NGAS Down 10% On Tuesday, Gold Increased Ahead Of Wednesday's Fed Announcement, Cotton Futures Touching 22-month Lows

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 01.11.2022 20:58
Summary: US natural gas futures fell over 10%. Gold rose ahead of the Fed monetary policy announcement tomorrow. The price of cotton futures fell to a 22-month low. NGAS close at their lowest since May US natural gas futures fell over 10%, closing in on their lowest level since May at $5.6/MMBtu, as utilities continued to inject gas into storage for the winter despite expectations for milder weather over the next two weeks that should reduce demand for cooling. As record production levels and weaker export demand, notably from Europe, alarmed investors, natural gas prices in the US have now fallen more than 40% from their peak in August. The Cove Point LNG plant in Maryland owned by Berkshire Hathaway Energy, meanwhile, resumed operations on October 28 following a month of maintenance. In early to mid-November, the Freeport plant in Texas is also expected to partially begin operations. NGAS Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Gold increased on Wednesday Ahead of the highly anticipated Fed monetary policy announcement due tomorrow, gold prices increased by about 1% to trade above $1,650 an ounce on Tuesday as the dollar surge came to an end and bond rates dropped. The central bank is expected to deliver another rate increase of gigantic proportions (75 bps), but the likelihood that it will limit the tempo of hikes in December is growing. In other countries, the Reserve Bank of Australia increased interest rates once more by 25 basis points in November, while the Bank of England is scheduled to raise rates once more on Thursday. Despite Tuesday's advances, gold is still under severe pressure and is not far from lows not seen since April 2020 because keeping non-yielding bullion has a higher opportunity cost due to a general increase in borrowing costs. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton under strain of the strong USD The price of cotton futures fell to a 22-month low of 75.1 USd/Lbs under the strain of a stronger dollar and continuing demand worries brought on by difficult economic conditions. According to the most recent estimate from the US Department of Agriculture, both acreage and output grew, and worldwide cotton production is predicted to reach 118.1 million bales in 2022–23, a 2% rise over the previous year. China, Brazil, and India contributed more to the increase in output than the United States and Pakistan did to the decrease. Cotton Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Saxo Bank Podcast: Natural Gas On Colder Weather, Wheat And Coffee Under Pressure, JPY Weaker And More

Platinum Futures, Efforts To Slow Gas Prices Continue, Wheat Futures Down 6%

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 02.11.2022 16:34
Summary: Platinum futures are down 1.11% during 2022. Russia declared that, once its requests have been satisfied by Ukrainian counterparts, it is willing to continue the trade agreement that ensures a safe passageway for grain-carrying vessels. EU efforts to lower high energy prices are slowing down the adoption of renewable energy. Platinum Futures According to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that monitors the benchmark market for this commodity, platinum has dropped 10.67 USD/t oz. or 1.11% since the start of 2022. Platinum Jan ‘23 Futures Price Chart Wheat futures fell 6% on Wednesday Following news that trade for ships transporting grain out of Ukrainian Black Sea ports may resume operations, Chicago wheat futures plunged more than 6% to $8.5 per bushel on Wednesday, dropping considerably from the three-week high of $9 reached the prior session. Russia declared that, once its requests have been satisfied by Ukrainian counterparts, it is willing to continue the trade agreement that ensures a safe passageway for grain-carrying vessels. The action was taken after Moscow abruptly chose to terminate the agreement's participation at the end of October, citing security concerns that Kyiv refuted. The continuance of shipments from Ukraine will boost global supplies in addition to freeing up essential storage space for the upcoming harvest, increasing concerns about a global food crisis that drove wheat prices to a record-high $12.8 in May. Prior to February's Russian invasion of Ukraine, sales from both nations made up about 30% of all exports. Wheat Futures Price Chart RBOB Gasoline futures The CEO of one of the biggest wind turbine manufacturers in the world cautioned that EU efforts to lower high energy prices are slowing down the adoption of renewable energy just as the area wants to boost it up. “Every indication is that the EU and governments have spent more time in finding taxation methods or trying to limit energy prices, which has actually slowed the process and project accruals,” Henrik Andersen, chief executive of Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas, told the Financial Times. In an effort to slow the growth in energy costs across Europe brought on by high gas prices, European energy ministers decided in September to set a $180 per megawatt-hour cap on earnings from the production of wind, solar, and nuclear energy. RBOB Gasoline Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, ft.com, tradingeconomics.com
WTI Crude Oil Driven Down By Recession Concerns, Palladium Touching 5-month Lows, Coffee Futures

WTI Crude Oil Driven Down By Recession Concerns, Palladium Touching 5-month Lows, Coffee Futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 03.11.2022 16:28
Summary: Worries about a likely recession-driven decline in demand for WTI Crude. Dollar index dipped back toward 20-year highs. higher Brazilian real and lower global supplies for coffee. WTI Crude Oil trading low On Thursday, WTI oil futures were trading around $88.50 per barrel, down from a session high of $90.40, as worries about a likely recession-driven decline in demand took precedence. In a decision that was largely anticipated, the Fed increased its benchmark rate by 75 basis points. It did, however, issue a warning that interest rates would rise more than expected, maintaining the pressure on global demand and economy. Losses were however constrained by the likelihood that the global oil market would remain extremely tight. There is growing concern that the oil cartel would further intervene in markets to support prices, despite the recent agreement by OPEC+ to reduce output by 2 million barrels per day in November, the largest since the epidemic. While this was going on, Saudi Arabia warned the US through intelligence that Iran was about to attack Saudi Arabian targets. A battle in the area might cause the world market to lose millions of barrels. WTI Crude Futures Price Chart Palladium touching 5-month lows Palladium futures continued to decline, reaching a low of $1,820 per ounce, the lowest level in nearly five months, as the dollar index dipped back toward 20-year highs due to the possibility of further increases in interest rates, which damaged commodities. Prices for palladium are more than 40% lower than they were in March, since palladium is being replaced by platinum and interest rates are rising. In order to combat inflation even during a slowdown, the Federal Reserve, the most powerful central bank in the world, is projected to keep raising interest rates. Furthermore, despite the price increase and supply chain disruptions, demand for palladium, which is used in auto catalysts for gasoline-powered vehicles, has not yet returned to its pre-pandemic levels. The palladium market is projected to be balanced or in deficit this year and next year, according to analysts who predict supply-demand balances. Palladium Mar ‘23 Futures Price Chart Coffee futures Due in part to the higher Brazilian real and lower global supplies, Arabica coffee futures on the ICE were trading at or around their best levels since October 25. While the International Coffee Organization reported that worldwide coffee shipments from October through September declined 0.4% year over year to 129 million bags, recent data indicated ICE-certified arabica stockpiles fell to a fresh 23-year low of 384,795 bags. The Minas Gerais region of Brazil, which produces around 30% of the nation's arabica crop, received only 79% of the historical average of 28.9 mm of rain last week, according to the most recent Somar Meteorologia report. Coffee Mar ‘23 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
The Commodities Feed: First US crude draw this year

Gold Supported By The Halt In The US Dollar Rally, Brent Crude Futures Increased 4%, Cotton Futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 04.11.2022 15:46
Summary: Gold prices rose by almost 2% on Friday. The price of Brent crude futures increased by about 4%. Cotton prices remained almost 50% below their May peak. Gold prices rose in the wake of the halt of the US dollar rally On Friday, when the dollar rally came to a halt and investors considered the monetary policy prospects, gold prices rose by almost 2%, approaching $1670 an ounce. The most recent payrolls report demonstrated that the US labor market is still strong, with payroll growth above expectations by 261K, supporting the Fed's decision to continue its tightening measures. Investors also believe that much more tightening won't likely be required, despite the unemployment rate exceeding expectations. The Fed Chair stated that it is "premature to discuss pausing" and that interest rates would need to rise more than initially anticipated as the central bank announced its fourth consecutive 75 basis point rate hike on Wednesday. Gold Futures Price Chart Brent crude futures touching levels not seen since late July The price of Brent crude futures increased by about 4% to above $98 per barrel, a level not seen since late July, as news reports that China would ease its coronavirus-related restrictions in the near future improved the outlook for demand. Additionally, the likelihood that the world's oil markets would continue to be highly tight gave bulls another reason for optimism. There is growing concern that the oil cartel would further intervene in markets to support prices, despite the recent agreement by OPEC+ to reduce output by 2 million barrels per day in November, the largest since the epidemic. Concerns about a projected recession-driven decline in demand brought on by a string of draconian tightening measures from important central banks kept prices in check. The international benchmark increased by about 5% this week, putting it on course to advance for a third straight week. Brent Crude Oil Futures Price Chart Cotton futures 50% lower than late July peak As dip buyers started to show up, a significant selloff that had driven cotton futures to a nearly 22-month low of 71.6 last month was tempered. Cotton futures are now moving towards the 80 USd/Lb level. Nevertheless, prices remained almost 50% below their May peak, restrained by a stronger currency and persistent worries about demand brought on by the difficult economic climate. According to the most recent estimate from the US Department of Agriculture, both acreage and yield grew, and worldwide cotton production is predicted to reach 118.1 million bales in 2022–2023—an increase of 2% over the previous year. India, Brazil, and China are mostly responsible for the increased output, which counterbalanced decreases from the United States and Pakistan. Cotton Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
A Significant Change In The Prospects For The Crude Oil Market

Silver falls from its one-month high, Brent Crude facing both weak demand and weak supply outlooks, Corn futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 07.11.2022 17:56
Summary: After rising 7% to a one-month high on Friday, silver dropped down again. Investors weighed limited supply against a dim demand picture. Chicago corn futures declined at the beginning of November. Silver jewelry demand under pressure After rising 7% to a one-month high on Friday, silver dropped down around $20.5 per ounce on Monday. China denied it was considering modifying its zero-Covid policy, which is putting pressure on the demand for silver jewelry. Since more than two years ago, COVID-related limitations have put pressure on sales of silver jewelry in China, a major customer, while a slump in the world economy is lowering demand for electronics and cars. Since its March peak, silver has fallen more than 20% as a result of rising interest rates everywhere. The US Federal Reserve, the most powerful central bank in the world, increased rates for the fourth consecutive time by 75 basis points, and borrowing will continue to rise to a higher peak than expected. Looking ahead, it seems likely that China's economy won't be able to make up for the tightening of global financial conditions even if it is reopened. If the Federal Reserve acts more aggressively than expected, silver's decline will be more apparent. Silver Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Brent Crude Oil futures On Monday, the price of Brent oil futures was hovering around $99 per barrel, reaching levels last seen in late August as investors weighed limited supply against a dim demand picture. In addition, a declining dollar and increased risk appetite also encouraged bulls. With anticipation growing that the oil cartel could further interfere in markets to support prices, OPEC+ just agreed to cut output by 2 million barrels per day in November, the highest since the epidemic. But worries about a probable demand slump brought on by the recession persisted. Over the weekend, Chinese authorities reaffirmed their dedication to the zero-Covid strategy, dimming hopes for a policy change that may boost demand in the world's largest crude importer. Brent Crude Futures ORice Chart Corn futures Chicago corn futures declined at the beginning of November, following the trend for other grains, after Russia declared it would rejoin the UN-mediated agreement that ensures the security of grain exports leaving Ukrainian Black Sea ports. Moscow's decision to withdraw from the deal at the end of October over security considerations was overturned by the action, allaying concerns about a worldwide food crisis. Along with impeding sales, the suspension of port operations would have prevented Ukraine from clearing out significant amounts of silo storage when the harvest for the 2022–2023 marketing year got under way. The USDA reported that 264 thousand tonnes of corn were shipped for the week ending October 20th, far less than the 350 thousand to 1.075 million tonnes of estimates. Corn Futures Price Chart Sources: tradingeconomics.com, finance.yahoo.com
Commodities Update: Strong Russian Oil Flows to China and Volatility in European Gas Market

Gold reaches 1-month highs on Tuesday, US NGAS futures list 10% on Tuesday, cotton futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 08.11.2022 18:18
Summary: The US dollar fell and worrying US economic confidence statistics. NGAS down from 3-week highs. A significant selloff that had driven cotton futures to a nearly 22-month low. Gold prices supported by concerning US economic statistics Gold prices rose to above $1,700 on Tuesday, the highest level in more than a month, as the US dollar fell and worrying US economic confidence statistics made the argument for the Federal Reserve to drop its target interest rate. Investors eagerly anticipate this week's release of the October CPI report in the hopes that it will support the recent decline in inflation and lessen pressure on the Federal Reserve to keep depressing demand. Higher interest rates increase the opportunity cost of storing non-yielding bullion, which reduces the appeal of gold, despite the fact that it is commonly seen as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty. Investors in other markets kept an eye out for China's policy cues to see if it was considering easing up on its zero-Covid policy. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart NGAS down from 3-week high US natural gas futures had a 10% decline on Tuesday, falling from a 3-week high of nearly $7 set the previous day to $6.4/MMBtu. The demand projection for the upcoming week was also revised downward due to warmer weather. The average US gas demand, including exports, is anticipated to increase to 121.2 bcfd from 98.4 bcfd this week, falling short of earlier projections. Increasing LNG exports and declining output have recently bolstered prices. After Berkshire Hathaway Energy's Cove Point LNG plant resumed operations on October 28th, the Texas-based Freeport LNG export facility, which has been idle since June, is expected to start up again by the middle of the month. So far in November, the Lower 48 US states' average gas production has decreased to 98.4 bcfd. NGAS Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton prices 50% down from May peak As dip buyers started to show up, a significant selloff that had driven cotton futures to a nearly 22-month low of 71.6 last month was tempered. Cotton futures are now moving towards the 80 USd/Lb level. Nevertheless, prices remained almost 50% below their May peak, restrained by a stronger currency and persistent worries about demand brought on by the difficult economic climate. According to the most recent estimate from the US Department of Agriculture, both acreage and yield grew, and worldwide cotton production is predicted to reach 118.1 million bales in 2022–2023—an increase of 2% over the previous year. India, Brazil, and China are mostly responsible for the increased output, which counterbalanced decreases from the United States and Pakistan. Cotton Marc ‘23 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com  
Securing Battery Metal Supply Chains: Challenges and Opportunities Amid the Global Energy Transition

WTI crude oil down 2%, palladium touching 5 month lows, coffee touching 15 month lows

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 09.11.2022 17:00
Summary: WTI crude continued their third session of losses. Despite the price increase and supply chain disruptions, demand for palladium has not yet returned to its pre-pandemic levels. The price of Arabica coffee futures dropped to its lowest level in 15 months as supply prospects improved. WTI Crude Oil down amidst concerns of a worldwide recession On Wednesday, WTI oil futures lost approximately 2% of their value and traded near the $87 per barrel level, continuing their third session of losses due to ongoing concerns over a worldwide recession-driven decline in demand. Renewed COVID- Hopes for a gradual economic reopening and a comeback in energy consumption were dashed by 19 outbreaks in China, the world's largest oil importer, which raised fears of potential new lockdowns. Fears that an aggressive tightening campaign by major central banks in developed economies could pull the world into a recession and reduce oil consumption were exacerbated by uncertainty about China's outlook. Additionally, according to API statistics, US oil stockpiles increased by nearly 5.6 million barrels last week, above forecasts for an increase of 1.1 million barrels. Even still, supplies around the world are still exceedingly scarce since OPEC+ cut production in November by 2 million barrels per day, and because the European Union is set to impose a ban on Russian oil in December. WTI Crude Futures Price Chart Palladium touches 5-month lows Palladium futures continued to decline, reaching a low of $1,820 per ounce, the lowest level in nearly five months, as the dollar index dipped back toward 20-year highs due to the possibility of further increases in interest rates, which damaged commodities. Prices for palladium are more than 40% lower than they were in March, since palladium is being replaced by platinum and interest rates are rising. In order to combat inflation even during a slowdown, the Federal Reserve, the most powerful central bank in the world, is projected to keep raising interest rates. Furthermore, despite the price increase and supply chain disruptions, demand for palladium, which is used in auto catalysts for gasoline-powered vehicles, has not yet returned to its pre-pandemic levels. The palladium market is projected to be balanced or in deficit this year and next year, according to analysts who predict supply-demand balances. Palladium Futures Price Chart Coffee touching 15 month lows The price of Arabica coffee futures dropped to its lowest level in 15 months as supply prospects improved and demand projections were expected to decline. World Weather reported that Brazil's 2023–24 coffee crop had grown in a "very excellent climate" due to frequent rain and plenty of sunshine, sparking hopes for a potential record production in the top producer Brazil the following year. Additionally, Colombia, Mexico, and Central America are predicted to produce better crops. Demand is expected to decrease at the same time that global growth slows. Even yet, according to the most recent statistics, ICE-certified arabica stocks hit a new low of 384,795 bags, which is a 23-year low, although traders predicted that stocks would soon rebound. Coffee Mar ‘23 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Australia Is Expected To Produce A Bumper Year Of Crops

Platinum futures touching 4-month highs, US Gasoline Prices High, Wheat shortage concerns driving futures prices

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 10.11.2022 18:57
Summary: Platinum futures increased to their highest level in 4 months. Projections for global wheat supply and ending stocks for the 2022 marketing year have climbed. The West Coast's limited gasoline supply would keep gas prices high. Platinum futures supported by a weaker US dollar Platinum futures increased to their highest level in four months at $965 per ounce as the dollar declined more than 4% since reaching 20-year highs at the end of September, enhancing the attraction of commodities with dollar prices. Although demand has decreased due to slower economic growth, higher interest rates, and a persistent semiconductor shortage that has hurt auto production, the price of platinum is still down more than 15% from its March peak. The platinum market should be in surplus both this year and the following year, according to analysts who predicted supply-demand balances. However, the rise of China's energy sector and the country's robust industrial demand continue to drive up prices for the commodity. Platinum Futures Price Chart Wheat futures Chicago wheat futures reached a two-month low in November before rising to levels seen before Russia's invasion of Ukraine as hopes of a plentiful supply allayed concerns about a shortage. Projections for global supply and ending stocks for the 2022 marketing year have climbed, contrary to forecasts of a fall, according to data from the USDA's WASDE report, as stronger output in Australia and Kazakhstan offset expected declines in Argentina and the EU. Russia's commitment to resume the UN-mediated arrangement, which ensures a safe passage for ships delivering Ukrainian grain after demands have been met by Ukrainian officials, was another factor supporting supplies. The action was taken after Moscow abruptly chose to halt the deal at the end of October, citing Kyiv's denials of any security concerns. Investors are currently anticipating the UN-Russia delegation meeting to talk about extending the pact, as the present agreement expires on November 19. Wheat Futures Price Chart US gasoline has been rising Following a fire on Tuesday night at Chevron Corp.'s El Segundo, California, refinery, California gasoline increased to $1.07 per gallon over NYMEX December gasoline in the Los Angeles wholesale market, according to West Coast market traders. Due to a refinery in northern California losing power and planned maintenance at another plant in southern California, gasoline in the Los Angeles market has been trending upward for the previous two weeks and last traded at 96.5 cents on Tuesday. The West Coast's limited gasoline supply would keep prices high, according to traders. RBOB Gasoline Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Agricultural Commodities Markets Are Going To Remain Sensitive To Developments In The Russia-Ukraine War

Silver prices are 12% up in November, brent crude down on concerns around the reopening of China, corn futures falling

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 14.11.2022 17:20
Summary: Silver prices are nearly 12% higher in November. Investors remained on edge due to concerns over a possible reopening of China. Corn futures had their largest monthly decline on indications of ample supply. Silver futures up in November When compared to the five-month high of $21.7, silver futures were trading near $22 per ounce as speculators continued to predict how much the Federal Reserve will increase interest rates at its upcoming meetings. Despite the October inflation reading being lower than anticipated, Fed policymakers insisted that the central bank is continuing to fight inflation. Even so, silver prices are nearly 12% higher in November as wagers on the Federal Reserve's target rate were reduced by data confirming the trend of reducing inflation. In December, the Fed is expected to increase its target funds rate by 50 basis points (bps), slowing from the four consecutive 75-bps rate increases made since June. Although bullion is frequently employed as an inflation hedge, its attraction is diminished by increased interest rates as they increase the opportunity cost to store non-interest-bearing assets. Silver futures price chart Brent crude oil falling in the wake of relaxed COVID-19 measures in China Brent crude futures were trading at roughly $95 per barrel, a sharp decline from their daily highs of $97 per barrel as investors remained on edge due to a strong currency and concerns over a possible reopening of China. China's National Health Commission recently relaxed certain coronavirus-related restrictions on the top oil import in the world, but an increase in coronavirus cases over the weekend delayed plans for an immediate and thorough reopening. After OPEC+ agreed to limit output by 2 million barrels per day in November, the potential of even tighter supplies continued to support prices. At the same time, a ban on Russian oil by the European Union is scheduled to go into effect in December. Brent crude futures price chart Corn weighed down by strong supply prospects Chicago maize futures experienced their largest monthly decline on indications of ample supply. As poor Chinese demand encourages soybean farmers to grow alternative crops, USDA predictions point to increased corn seedlings and plantation areas for the upcoming marketing year. Expectations for the supply increased as well after Russia declared it will rejoin the UN-mediated agreement that ensures the security of grain exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports. Moscow's decision to withdraw from the deal at the end of October over security considerations was overturned by the action, allaying concerns about a worldwide food crisis. The restoration of trade not only facilitates exports but also allows Ukraine to release significant storage space in silos as the harvest for the 2022–2023 marketing year is underway. Corn futures price chart Sources: tradingeconomics.com, finance.yahoo.com
Commodities Update: Strong Russian Oil Flows to China and Volatility in European Gas Market

Gold future prices remaining stable, NGAS higher amidst expectations of cooler weather, cotton futures recovering their 22-month lows

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 15.11.2022 18:53
Summary: On Tuesday, gold prices remained stable. US NGAS futures increased on expectations of increasing heating demand as a result of colder than usual temperatures. Cotton prices remained almost 50% below their May peak. Gold trading at highest levels in 3 months On Tuesday, gold prices remained stable at approximately $1,770 per ounce as traders reevaluated the outlook for US interest rates in the wake of conflicting signals from the Federal Reserve. The Fed still has a lot of work to do in combating inflation, according to Fed officials, who conceded that the central bank may pause the pace of rate rises in the forthcoming sessions. After delivering four consecutive 75 basis point increases, investors are predicting that the Fed would scale back the magnitude of its rate hikes to 50 basis points starting in December. Gold, however, continued to trade at its highest levels in almost three months, largely as a result of recent dollar weakness and a decline in cryptocurrency prices. Although rising interest rates diminish its appeal because the metal does not pay interest, gold has long been seen as a safe-haven asset in times of economic uncertainty. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart NGAS futures up on cooler temperature prospects In the third week of November, US natural gas futures increased on expectations of increasing heating demand as a result of colder than usual temperatures. There are indications that the Freeport LNG export plant restart won't happen until December, which would increase the amount of gas available for domestic usage. According to other recent EIA statistics, US utilities added 79 bcf of gas to storage last week, falling short of market forecasts for an increase of 84 bcf and falling short of a gain of 15 bcf during the same week last year. NGAS Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton recovering from 22-month lows As dip buyers started to show up, a significant selloff that had driven cotton futures to a nearly 22-month low of 71.6 last month was tempered. Cotton futures are now moving towards the 80 USd/Lb level. Nevertheless, prices remained almost 50% below their May peak, restrained by a stronger currency and persistent worries about demand brought on by the difficult economic climate. According to the most recent estimate from the US Department of Agriculture, both acreage and yield grew, and worldwide cotton production is predicted to reach 118.1 million bales in 2022–2023—an increase of 2% over the previous year. India, Brazil, and China are mostly responsible for the increased output, which counterbalanced decreases from the United States and Pakistan. Cotton Mar ‘23 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
The Commodities Feed: First US crude draw this year

WTI Crude Oil futures, Palladium futures touching 1-month highs, Coffee touching 15-month lows

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 16.11.2022 17:32
Summary: Palladium futures extended gains to their highest in a month. The price of Arabica coffee futures dropped to its lowest level in 15 months. Oil prices were kept in check by worries about a global economic downturn. WTI Crude futures After a Russian-made missile struck Polish territory and killed two citizens, geopolitical worries shook the markets, as WTI crude futures hovered close to $87 per barrel on Wednesday. The missile's launcher is still unknown with certainty, according to Polish President Andrzej Duda, who also noted that it was an isolated incident. As the European Union prepares to impose an embargo on Russian crude supplies starting in December, the possibility of a wider conflict in Europe threatens to compound the outlook for a tightening supply on the oil market. OPEC further reduced its estimates for the growth of the world's oil consumption in 2022 and 2023, citing escalating economic problems such high inflation, rising interest rates, and supply chain disruptions. Oil prices were kept in check by worries about a global economic downturn as major central banks tightened policy further and uncertainty relating to COVID in the world's largest petroleum importer, China. WTI crude futures price chart Palladium futures supported by prospects of a more dovish fed The dollar index neared 3-month lows as palladium futures extended gains to above $2,070 per ounce, the highest in a month, on the expectation that the Fed will raise interest rates more slowly as inflation starts to decline. As a result of higher interest rates, slower economic development, and the replacement of platinum for palladium, palladium prices are still 35% below their March peak. After four straight 75 bps rises, the Federal Reserve, the most powerful central bank in the world, is anticipated to boost the fed funds rate by 50 basis points in December. Furthermore, despite the price increase and supply chain disruptions, demand for palladium, which is used in auto catalysts for gasoline-powered vehicles, has not yet returned to its pre-pandemic levels. The palladium market is projected to be balanced or in deficit this year and next year, according to analysts who predict supply-demand balances. Palladium Mar ‘23 futures price chart Coffee futures fell due to improved supply prospects The price of Arabica coffee futures dropped to $1.64 a pound, its lowest level in 15 months, as supply prospects improved and demand projections were expected to decline. World Weather reported that Brazil's 2023–24 coffee crop had grown in a "very excellent climate" due to frequent rain and plenty of sunshine, sparking hopes for a potential record production in the top producer Brazil the following year. Additionally, Colombia, Mexico, and Central America are predicted to produce better crops. Demand is expected to decrease at the same time that global growth slows. Even yet, according to the most recent statistics, ICE-certified arabica stocks hit a new low of 384,795 bags, which is a 23-year low, although traders predicted that stocks would soon rebound. Coffee Mar ‘23 futures price chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Australia Is Expected To Produce A Bumper Year Of Crops

Platinum supply could experience a shortfall, gasoline touching 4-week lows, wheat touching 2.5 month lows

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 17.11.2022 16:59
Summary: Platinum futures declined below the $1,000 per ounce barrier. Gasoline prices extended to the lowest level in nearly four weeks. Chicago wheat futures fell below a level not reached since late August. Platinum futures down from 8-month high As new outbreaks in top user China crushed hopes for a potential end to its zero-Covid policy, clouding the outlook for demand, platinum futures declined below the $1,000 per ounce barrier, sliding further from an eight-month high of around $1,050. According to statistics from the World Platinum Investment Council, the supply side of the platinum market could experience a shortfall of 219,000 ounces in 2023 as opposed to a surplus of 974,000 ounces in 2022. Beyond the reduction in supplies globally, there was ongoing concern regarding Russian exports. After South Africa, Russia is the second-largest supplier of platinum worldwide. Platinum Jan ‘23 futures price chart Gasoline on track for its 4th consecutive weekly decline Due to increased supply, gasoline futures saw their losses deepen to below $2.5 per gallon in mid-November, the lowest level in nearly four weeks. Following a fourth consecutive week of declines, the latest EIA data revealed that US gasoline stockpiles increased by 2.207 million barrels to 207.9 million last week, far exceeding market forecasts of a 0.31 million-barrel increase. According to the data, US refineries processed an average of 16.2 million barrels of crude oil per day during the week ending November 11th, which is 63,000 barrels per day more than the previous week's average. This is the sixth week in a row that gasoline production has climbed. RBOB Gasoline Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Wheat touching late August lows Chicago wheat futures fell below $8 per bushel, a level not reached since late August, as steady exports from a key exporter, Ukraine, allayed concerns about a lack of supply around the world. The UN-mediated agreement has been extended by Russia for another four months, ensuring a trade route through the Black Sea and releasing pressure on world food prices. As a result of stronger output in Australia and Kazakhstan offsetting probable decreases in Argentina and the EU, figures from the USDA's WASDE report improved predictions for the world supply and ending inventories for the forthcoming marketing year, contrary to expectations of a decline. Wheat futures price chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
OPEC+ Meeting: Saudi Arabia Implements Deeper Voluntary Cuts to Boost Oil Prices

Silver retreating from its five-month high, Brent crude dropping as COVID-19 cases in China surge, Corn futures

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 21.11.2022 18:44
Summary: Silver futures are declining as investors weigh the Fed’s aggressiveness to fight inflation. Concerns over covid-19 related lockdowns in China are weighing on Brent crude. Corn futures up more than 12% in 2022. Silver down from a 5-month high As investors continued to assess the outlook on the Fed's aggressiveness to fight inflation, silver futures declined to below $20.7 per ounce, continuing its retreat from the five-month high of $21.7 hit on November 14th. This decline was pressured by a new rally for the US dollar. The expectation of higher interest rates not only increased the opportunity cost of keeping non-interest-bearing bullion assets, but also decreased demand for industrial silver used as electricity conductors, paralleling the reduction for copper. On the other hand, due in part to looming supply worries, silver futures are still 16% above the 14-month low of $18 per ounce reached on September 1st. In the last 18 months, inventories at the COMEX in New York have decreased by 70% to just over 1 million tonnes, while those at the London Bullion Market Association have decreased for 10 consecutive months to a record-low 27.1 thousand tonnes. Silver Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Brent Crude Oil dropped for its fourth consecutive session On Monday, Brent oil futures dropped below $87 a barrel for the fourth consecutive session due to worries that China might tighten its import restrictions and that major central banks will keep rising interest rates. Over the weekend, China announced the first Covid-related fatalities in six months, and on Monday, localized lockdowns were enacted in some locations as the world's largest oil importer battled resurgent Covid breakouts. Investors were also concerned that tighter financial circumstances might cause the world economy to enter a recession, which would harm demand for energy. However, investors continued to be wary of the very ambiguous supply outlook heading into the winter, with the European Union due to limit Russian crude exports starting in December and OPEC anticipated to maintain tight oil markets. Brent Crude Futures Price Chart Corn futures Since the start of 2022, corn prices have climbed by 71.34 USd/BU, or 12.03 percent, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that monitors the benchmark market for this commodity. Corn Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
Saxo Bank Podcast: Natural Gas On Colder Weather, Wheat And Coffee Under Pressure, JPY Weaker And More

Gold rises in the wake of a retreating US dollar, potential rail strike weighs on US NGAS, Cotton futures under pressure

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 22.11.2022 17:07
Summary: The US dollar retreated from a recent high, cousin gold prices to end a four-day slide. US natural gas futures declined after jumping 7.5% in the previous session. Cotton futures continued to be under pressure from persistent demand worries Gold prices rise in the wake of a weaker USD As the dollar retreated from a recent high, gold prices surged above $1,740 an ounce on Tuesday, ending a four-day slide. Investors were waiting for the minutes of the most recent Federal Reserve meeting, which may provide insight into the timing of future US interest rate increases. The comments of individual Fed officials were also analyzed by traders. For example, San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly cautioned against overtightening, while Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester stated that she wants to see sustained declines in inflation before she can support a halt. The rate outlook has a significant impact on gold since it makes holding non-yielding metal more expensive, decreasing its appeal. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart NGAS declined after a 7.5% rise in the previous session As gas traders watched weather patterns, the delay in Freeport's restart, and a potential rail strike, US natural gas futures declined after jumping 7.5% in the previous session. The largest US rail union's members rejected a tentative contract agreement signed in September, increasing the likelihood of a year-end strike that could halt coal shipments and make power plants use more gas. Additionally, according to current forecasts, extremely cold weather is expected to arrive during the first week of December, which will increase demand for gas-powered heating. On the other hand, more gas is anticipated to be kept available for domestic use now that the restart of the Freeport LNG export facility has been postponed until mid-December while repairs are made to the damage caused by the explosion in June. US utilities added 64 bcf of gas to storage last week, according to EIA data, bringing gas stockpiles closer to the 3.651 tcf five-year average for this time of the year. NGAS Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton weighed down by concerns around demand Cotton futures continued to be under pressure from persistent demand worries resulting from difficult economic conditions and increased supplies, remaining close to a nearly 22-month low of last month and roughly 50% below their May peak. The US Department of Agriculture revealed larger-than-anticipated domestic production and lower worldwide demand forecasts for 2022–2023 in its most recent monthly report. A decline in the Southwest is more than compensated by increases elsewhere, resulting in a 1.5% increase in production in the United States, to 14.0 million bales. Additionally, it is anticipated that this month's worldwide cotton consumption will be 650,000 bales lower, with mill use in Pakistan and Bangladesh expected to be reduced by 300,000 bales. Cotton Mar ‘23 Futures Price Chart Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
WTI crude futures fell 5%, palladium futures touching 5-mont lows, coffee futures touching 16-month los

WTI crude futures fell 5%, palladium futures touching 5-mont lows, coffee futures touching 16-month los

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 23.11.2022 18:27
Summary: WTI crude futures touching January lows. Palladium futures are declining as China's COVID-19 situation heightens. Arabica coffee futures touching the lowest level in 16 month, WTI Crude oil touching 11 month lows As investors considered persisting demand concerns and tracked developments around the G7's price restriction on Russian oil, WTI crude futures fell over 5% to below $77 per barrel, approaching their lowest level since January. Markets have been on edge due to a deteriorating outlook for global demand, with top crude importer China potentially facing tighter coronavirus-induced restrictions due to an increase in infections and advanced economies, primarily the US and Europe, experiencing a decline in economic activity as a result of tighter financial conditions. The G7 also considered a price cap on Putin's oil above the current price of the crude grade to make it profitable for Russia to sell its crude and avoid a shortage of supplies on the global market. Prices were supported by expectations that OPEC would step up its market interventions in response to a decline in demand brought on by the recession. Additionally, EIA data revealed a much greater than anticipated decline in US inventories last week. WTI Crude Futures Price Chart Palladium futures touching 5-month lows In line with other commodities, palladium futures dropped to $1,900 per ounce, edging closer to a 5-month low of $1,800 set on November 3rd as a worsening Covid-19 situation in China and more lockdowns weakened an already weak demand outlook. Prices for palladium are 40% lower than they were in March due to palladium's substitution by platinum, rising interest rates, and sluggish economic development. After four straight 75 bps rises, the Federal Reserve, the most powerful central bank in the world, is anticipated to boost the fed funds rate by 50 basis points in December. Furthermore, despite the price increase and supply chain disruptions, demand for palladium, which is used in auto catalysts for gasoline-powered vehicles, has not yet returned to its pre-pandemic levels. The palladium market is expected to be balanced or in deficit this year and next year, according to analysts who predict supply-demand balances. Palladium Mar ‘23 Futures Price Chart Coffee touching 16-month lows Arabica coffee futures on the ICE extended losses to $1.54 a pound, touching the lowest level in 16 months, as the outlook for the global supply is expected to continue good while the demand is anticipated to deteriorate due to the possibility of a recession. According to an analysis by Rabobank, Brazil's ample rainfall and increasing output in response to high prices since 2020, when demand growth was anticipated to be modest, will assist the global coffee market transition from a tiny deficit in 2022/23 to a surplus in the season that follows. A significant increase in arabica coffee entering warehouses with ICE approval also continued to be a bearish factor. According to the most recent data, ICE-certified coffee stocks were 468,291 bags as of November 15th, a significant increase from the 23-year low of 382,695 bags reached on November 3rd. Coffee Mar ‘23 Futures Price Chart Sources: tradingeconomics.com, finance.yahoo.com
World Platinum Investment Council CEO: ""The Platinum Market Is Forecast To Be In Deficit"

Platinum futures weighed down by COVID-19 lockdowns in China, gasoline touching 5-week lows, wheat futures touching 3-month lows

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 24.11.2022 15:39
Summary: The supply side of the platinum market could experience a shortfall. Higher gasoline supply driving prices down. Wheat prices were under pressure from forecasts of plentiful supplies. Platinum demand looks dim As new outbreaks in top consumer China crushed hopes for a potential end to its zero-Covid policy, clouding the outlook for demand, platinum futures declined below the $1,000 per ounce barrier, sliding further from an eight-month high of roughly $1,050. According to statistics from the World Platinum Investment Council, the supply side of the platinum market could experience a shortfall of 219,000 ounces in 2023 as opposed to a surplus of 974,000 ounces in 2022. Beyond the reduction in supplies globally, there was ongoing concern regarding Russian exports. After South Africa, Russia is the second-largest producer of platinum worldwide. Platinum Jan ‘23 Futures Price Chart Gasoline hitting 5-week lows After a larger-than-expected inventory build last week allayed concerns about a tight market, gasoline futures continued to decline and fell to below $2.5 per gallon, moving closer to a five-week low hit below $2.4 earlier in the week. In contrast to market expectations for a smaller 383,000-barrel increase, the most recent EIA data showed that US gasoline stocks increased by 3.058 million barrels in the week ended November 18th, the largest weekly increase since mid-July. The report also revealed a 625,000 barrel drop in gasoline production, the first weekly decline since early October. RBOB Gasoline Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Wheat touching 3-month lows The fourth week of November saw the lowest price for Chicago wheat futures in three months as benchmark wheat prices were under pressure from forecasts of plentiful supplies. After a time of supply uncertainty, Russia consented to a four-month extension of the UN-mediated agreement that secures a trade route for ships transporting Ukrainian grain in the Black Sea. According to Ukrainian authorities, since the agreement's inception on August 1st, the nation has been able to export more than 11 million tonnes of grain via ships, greatly allaying scarcity concerns for the following marketing year. In consequence, increased Black Sea supplies are expected to give US participants the opportunity to stockpile desperately needed goods in 2022–2033. As a result of improved production in Australia and Kazakhstan offsetting probable decreases in Argentina and the EU, figures from the USDA's WASDE report increased predictions for the world supply and ending stocks for the upcoming marketing year, contrary to expectations of a decline. Wheat Futures Price Chart Sources: tradingeconomics.com, finance.yahoo.com
Chile's Lithium Nationalization and the Global Trend of Resource Nationalism: Implications for EV Supply Chains and Efforts to Strengthen Battery Metal Supply

Gold supported by a falling US dollar, NGAS fell in the wake of weaker demand expectations, Cotton touching 4-week lows

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 29.11.2022 19:15
Summary: Gold rose, recovering the majority of its losses from the previous session. In anticipation of weaker demand, US natural gas futures were trading down from a two-month high. Recession expectations weighing on cotton prices Gold futures rose on Tuesday As the dollar fell on Tuesday, gold rose beyond $1,750 an ounce, recovering the majority of its losses from the previous session. Investors were still determining the likely course of US monetary policy. After US Federal Reserve officials indicated that interest rates will continue to rise well into next year, the yellow metal fell by about 1% on Monday. However, after delivering four consecutive 75 basis point rate hikes, it is largely anticipated that the Fed would moderate the pace of its rate hike to 50 basis points in December. Investors anticipate numerous US economic releases this week as well as Fed Chair Jerome Powell's speech on Wednesday for new information regarding the central bank's plans to tighten monetary policy. The rate outlook has a significant impact on gold because it makes holding non-yielding bullion more expensive, decreasing its appeal. Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart NGAS’s decline on weaker demand expecations In anticipation of weaker demand, US natural gas futures were trading at around $7.3/MMBtu, down from a nearly two-month high of $8/MMBtu reached on November 23. Recent weather predictions predict milder conditions over the following two weeks. Nevertheless, costs are anticipated to stay high due to expectations of a significant demand for heating during the winter. Investors continued to express anxiety about potential interruptions in the coal supply. The largest US rail union's members rejected a tentative contract agreement reached in September, increasing the likelihood of a year-end strike that could halt coal shipments and make power plants burn more gas. At the same time, Europe is clamoring for US exports after Russia threatened to further reduce supplies. The Freeport LNG export plant in Texas, which had to shut down due to a fire in June, anticipates starting to resume operations in mid-December. NGAS Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart Cotton touching 4-week lows On the back of declining demand brought on by worries about an impending global recession, rising supplies, and at their lowest level in over four weeks, cotton futures were trading at approximately 78 USd/Lb. The most recent US Department of Agriculture cotton projections for 2022–2023 showed reduced worldwide demand forecasts for 2022–2023 and a marginal increase in global cotton production from 2021/22. With 14.0 million bales produced, the US, the world's largest cotton exporter, saw production rise by around 1.5% as rises elsewhere more than made up for a decline in the Southwest. A 300,000-bale reduction in mill use in Pakistan and Bangladesh is expected to result in a 650,000-bale decrease in worldwide cotton consumption this month. Cotton Mar ‘23 Futures Price Chart Sources: tradingeconomics.com, finance.yahoo.com
Yen (JPY) Takes A Stab At Resilience, The Grains Sector Has Survived Well

WTI Crude oil prices supported by a fall in US supply, palladium futures touching 5-month lows, wheat futures touching 3-month lows

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 30.11.2022 19:06
Summary: US oil inventories decreased by almost 8 million barrels last week. A worsening Covid-19 situation in China further weakened demand outlook for palladium. Wheat futures were under pressure from ongoing shipments out of Ukrainian Black Sea ports. WTI Crude up for their 3rd consecutive session On Wednesday, WTI crude futures increased for the third session in a row, approaching $79 a barrel as an industry report indicated a significant decline in US crude stocks and a forthcoming OPEC+ meeting stoked concerns about additional production restrictions. According to API statistics, US oil inventories decreased by almost 8 million barrels last week, far more than the predicted decline of 2.487 million barrels and following a decrease of 4.819 million barrels the week before. When OPEC+ meets on December 4 to decide on output strategy, there is speculation that the cartel will further reduce supply to counteract market weakness. On the demand side, the news that China would increase vaccination among its senior citizens helped to push up oil prices. This comes as pressure mounts on the world's top crude importer to pursue economic reopening in the wake of protracted protests. WTI Crude Futures Price Chart Palladium demand outlook is bleak In line with other commodities, palladium futures dropped to below $1,900 per ounce, getting closer to a 5-month low of $1,800 set on November 3rd as a worsening Covid-19 situation in China and more lockdowns weakened an already weak demand outlook. Prices for palladium are 40% lower than they were in March due to palladium's substitution by platinum, rising interest rates, and sluggish economic development. After four straight 75 bps rises, the Federal Reserve, the most powerful central bank in the world, is anticipated to boost the fed funds rate by 50 basis points in December. Furthermore, despite the price increase and supply chain disruptions, demand for palladium, which is used in auto catalysts for gasoline-powered vehicles, has not yet returned to its pre-pandemic levels. The palladium market is projected to be balanced or in deficit this year and next year, according to analysts who predict supply-demand balances. Palladium Mar ‘23 Futures Price Chart Wheat futures touching 3-month lows Chicago wheat futures were under pressure from ongoing shipments out of Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which led to a further decline to below $7.7 in late November, the lowest level in more than three months. After a time of supply uncertainty, Russia consented to a four-month extension of the UN-mediated agreement that secures a trade route for ships transporting Ukrainian grain in the Black Sea. According to Ukrainian authorities, since the agreement's inception on August 1st, the nation has been able to export more than 11 million tonnes of grain via ships, greatly allaying scarcity concerns for the following marketing year. In consequence, increased Black Sea supplies are expected to give US participants the opportunity to stockpile desperately needed goods in 2022–2033. Meanwhile, US farmers may decide to allocate farmland to wheat instead of soybeans due to lower expectations for China's soybean demand amid widespread lockdown protests, which would also increase the supply. Wheat Futures Price Chart Sources: tradingeconomics.com, finance.yahoo.com

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