Commodities

  • Gold could be forming a bottom ahead of a leg up?

    6 January 2016

    Could Gold be Forming a Bottom?

    With equity markets tumbling, escalating tensions between a Saudi-led Sunni bloc against Iran, ongoing hostilities in Syria, North Korea testing what it claims to be a hydrogen bomb, the once precious yellow metal is looking perky. 

    Gold recorded a six-year low in early December (on the same day the euro fell to $1.0525 when the ECB met).  That low (~$1046.45) retested a fortnight later (~$1047.75).  Between the two lows, gold reached almost $1089. If this is a double bottom, the minimum measuring objective is near $1132. 

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  • The sun has set on the most recent commodities boom.

    11 December 2015

    Cutting Two-Thirds of your Workforce: Not a Good Sign

    Anglo American, one of the largest mining companies in the world, has announced a restructure that will cut 85,000 jobs worldwide, a reduction of its workforce by almost two-thirds. The move follows a huge downturn in commodities prices, which have been decreasing since 2011 and have hurt the revenues and profits of mining companies across the globe.

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  • Dollar trends to do not affect all commodities equally.

    9 October 2015

    Gold and Oil Reaction to the U.S. Dollar

    The US dollar has exhibited one of the most impressive trends that the currency market has seen over the last year, as the greenback has risen close to parity relative to the euro on several occasions.  Since the dollar maintains its position as the world’s reserve currency, this creates ripple effects in a number of different markets.  For investors, this is important because it means not all markets are likely to perform at the same rate into the final months of the year.

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  • Approximately one-half of the latest gold rally appears to be due to the yuan.

    13 August 2015

    Dissecting the Recent Gold Rally

    The price of gold rallied by about 5.25% off the five-year low set in late-July near $1172 an ounce  to the high set earlier today.  More than half this rally took place this week, seemingly in response to the heightened uncertainty as China changed its currency regime. 

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  • Perhaps the falling price of gold means the end of the financial crisis.

    23 July 2015

    Is the Falling Gold Price Signaling the End of the Financial Crisis?

    Gold prices have tumbled to a five-year low. As a tradeable commodity, the price of gold is largely linked to supply and demand. While supply remains fairly fixed, demand is shaped by the state of the global economy and investor perceptions of gold’s value as an asset – this is in turn shaped by the strength of the US dollar.

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  • Gold reserve updates show interesting movement of the metal.

    23 April 2015

    Gold is on the Move Between Nations, but with Little Price Reaction

    The price of gold is essentially unchanged from where it finished last year.  There have been several interesting developments.  Of particular note, China, India and Russia were significant buyers last month. 

    It appears that the UK exported gold to Switzerland, where it was refined and then shipped to China and India.  Russia continues to accumulate gold even as its hard currency reserves fall.

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  • Don't forget the demand side of the oil price equation.

    29 January 2015

    Will the Price of Oil Rise on Demand for Refined Products?

    In a previous article I posted a chart from the International Energy Agency’s recent Oil Market Report that shows global demand for refined products catching up to supply by the 3rd quarter of this year. My opinion is that all of the analysts who are now blaming the sharp drop in oil prices on a “glut” of supply could change their tune quickly as consumers adjust to lower fuel costs. Just as higher costs reduce demand for any commodity, lower costs will increase demand.

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  • The global tussle over oil continues unabated.

    15 January 2015

    The Oil-Go-Round Keeps Spinning

    The price of oil has steadied in recent days after making new lows on Tuesday.  The March WTI futures contract approached its 20-day moving average earlier today (~$52.30) for the first time since late November.  This was a new selling opportunity as it has reversed lower.  We are looking for lower prices and it would not surprise us to see the price of WTI fall to the late-2008/early-2009 lows in the $32-33 area. 

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