Opalesque Commodities Briefing » Market Moves http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing Fri, 17 May 2013 01:03:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en Rare earths, oil, gas, other commodities up for grabs http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125463 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125463#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 01:03:17 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125463 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125463>Article Link</a> It won’t be long before the essential raw minerals and commodities of the planet’s Far North such as rare earths, oil and gas get gobbled up by the industrialists. On Wednesday, the Arctic Council granted China, India, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea and Singapore new Observer States status. Essentially, the six nations gained rightful entry to listen in on meetings of the council, as well as propose and finance policies. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125463 Expect more LNG diversions from Europe to Asia in 2H13: BofAML http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125459 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125459#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 01:01:57 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125459 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125459>Article Link</a> LNG prices have fallen on weak demand and high stocks Spot LNG prices in Asia have retreated sharply to $14/MMBtu after reaching a 4-year high of almost $20 in February. Tightness in global LNG markets evaporated as gas demand in North East Asia eased seasonally after the winter and cyclically on rising economic headwinds. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125459 Why gold prices are going down http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125456 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125456#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 01:01:00 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125456 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125456>Article Link</a> Gold investors are just not feeling the love, once again left to wonder why gold prices are going down. The yellow metal dipped again Thursday, with gold for June delivery ending down $10 at $1,386.10 an ounce. It was the sixth consecutive trading day of declines and marked a four-week low for the metal. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125456 George Soros did it and gold slid http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125454 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125454#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 01:00:36 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125454 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125454>Article Link</a> The kind of leverage that billionaire investor George Soros has on the psyche of investors is beyond comparison. When he buys gold investors too, when he sells gold investors too. Actions of George Soros heralds the fortunes of gold; in other words, gold’s future is wedded to Soros’ investment decisions. At least that is how it is in the present conditions. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125454 Singapore commodity firms crimp spending in challenging times http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125447 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125447#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 00:56:20 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125447 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125447>Article Link</a> Singapore-listed commodity firms Olam International Ltd, Noble Group Ltd and Wilmar International Ltd are cutting capital expenditure, making more selective acquisitions and seeking partnerships to weather volatile markets. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125447 Stocks ignore the day’s data; commodities can’t http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125440 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125440#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 01:01:55 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125440 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125440>Article Link</a> The spring swoon may not hit the stock market this year – nothing, it seems, can hit the stock market this year – but it’s visible in the real world. Three data points this morning, as well as Europe’s ongoing morass, show that all is not well outside Wall Street. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125440 Is this the end of an era for OPEC? http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125436 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125436#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 01:00:53 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125436 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125436>Article Link</a> The commodity axis has shifted, according to the latest International Energy Agency’s (IEA) semi-annual review of the oil market. North America’s shale oil boom is about to revolutionize the oil market, threatening OPEC’s grip on commodities. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125436 Challenging domination of oil’s powerful few http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125434 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125434#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 01:00:23 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125434 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125434>Article Link</a> For decades the physical oil market has been the unregulated preserve of a few powerful companies. But in the wake of the Libor scandal, it is subject to intense scrutiny. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125434 Goldman ‘bearish’ on ags but not other commodities http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125429 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125429#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 00:58:58 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125429 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125429>Article Link</a> Agricultural commodities offer by far the worst prospects for returns in a raw materials sector which itself looks a poor rival – for now - to the potential offered by shares, Goldman Sachs said. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125429 That equities/commodities disconnect http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125424 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125424#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 01:34:44 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125424 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125424>Article Link</a> Stocks are up because of rampant QE, which is squeezing investor flows out of bond markets and into equities. And the reason we’ve got rampant QE is the continued lack of near-term economic recovery globally, which is manifestly bad for industrial commodities. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125424 Managers pick ‘commodities collapse’ as top tail risk http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125421 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125421#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 01:33:52 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125421 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125421>Article Link</a> Prolonged low inflation has sent commodities allocations among fund managers to a four-year low, according to a new survey. A quarter of respondents to the Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s monthly poll on manager sentiment said a commodity collapse is the number one tail risk, an increase from 18% in April. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125421 China seen boosting emergency oil-storage capacity, IEA says http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125419 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125419#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 01:33:23 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125419 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125419>Article Link</a> China will probably commission additional storage sites for its strategic petroleum reserve this year, boosting crude demand even as construction work on the program takes longer than expected, according to the International Energy Agency. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125419 IEA forecasts US to account for a third of new oil supplies http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125418 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125418#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 01:33:09 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125418 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125418>Article Link</a> The US will account for a third of new oil supplies over the next five years, more than previously expected, according to the International Energy Agency, illustrating the impact of the shale revolution. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125418 Upcoming OPEC meeting to focus on oil market: Iran oil minister http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125415 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125415#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 01:32:21 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125415 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125415>Article Link</a> Iran’s oil minister says the upcoming meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will mainly focus on the situation of the global oil market. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125415 U.S. oil boom leaves OPEC sidelined from demand growth http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125414 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125414#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 01:32:09 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125414 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125414>Article Link</a> Rising U.S. shale oil production will help meet most of the world’s new oil demand in the next five years, even if the global economy picks up steam, leaving little room for OPEC to lift output without risking lower prices, the West’s energy agency said. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125414 Akshaya Tritiya: India’s gold retail sales up by at least 15pct http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125411 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125411#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 01:31:21 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125411 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125411>Article Link</a> Gold lost its sheen on the auspicious Akshaya Tritiya day by falling nearly Rs 400 but retail purchase got a boost with jewellers saying sales recording at least 15 percent growth. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125411 The commodities supercycle is far from dead http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125405 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125405#comments Tue, 14 May 2013 04:11:13 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125405 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125405>Article Link</a> The main fundamental drivers of the commodities supercycle are still in force and recent commodity price weaknesses are more related to business-cycle fluctuations and short-term commodity-specific supply increases than a change in structural fundamentals. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125405 Iran hopes OPEC lowers output: oil minister http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125402 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125402#comments Tue, 14 May 2013 04:10:14 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125402 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125402>Article Link</a> Iran is unhappy with the current oil prices, its oil minister said Monday, hinting at a proposal for the OPEC to lower its output to compensate for a drop in crude prices. “Iran’s suggestion has always been to reduce OPEC production ceiling,” Rostam Qasemi told reporters at a petrochemical conference in Tehran. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125402 Gold bears pull $20.8 bln as BlackRock says buy: Commodities http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125389 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125389#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 00:27:08 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125389 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125389>Article Link</a> Hedge funds increased bets on lower gold prices after investors pulled a record $20.8 billion from bullion funds this year while BlackRock Inc. (BLK), the world’s biggest money manager, said it’s still bullish. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125389 Hedge funds’ bullish bets on commodities at 6-week high http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125387 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125387#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 00:26:29 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125387 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125387>Article Link</a> The net long money held by hedge funds and other big speculators in commodities is back to a six-week high, moving on from April’s market tumble, as traders piled into oil and oversold crops like coffee, cocoa and corn, trade data showed on Friday. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125387 Really real rates vs. gold http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125379 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125379#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 00:24:12 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125379 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125379>Article Link</a> Gold attracts investment capital when other asset classes fail to deliver. So now equities have clearly regained their appeal after more than a decade of what finance professionals would rather we called “sub-optimal” returns, gold investing has lost its urgency for money managers. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125379 Is silver being manipulated? http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125377 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125377#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 00:23:38 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125377 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125377>Article Link</a> After a recent article I wrote about the potential of a silver bubble, I got a question about the behavior of JPMorgan Chase with regard to the silver market, specifically the allegation that the bank was actively involved in manipulating the silver market through a sizable short position. The basis of the question seemed to be a request to bring forth the issue and address how silver was trading as a result of JPMorgan’s activity and within the context of the global economy in general. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125377 Platinum, Palladium markets may witness deficit in 2013-14: Barclays http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125376 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125376#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 00:23:18 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125376 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125376>Article Link</a> Platinum and palladium markets may witness deficits in 2013 and continue with the trend in 2014 as the challenging mine supply backdrop overshadows the modest recovery in demand anticipated for later in the year, stated London based Barclays in its recent market analysis. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125376 Commodity super cycle isn’t dead, emerging nations keep it alive: ETFS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125371 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125371#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 00:21:15 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125371 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125371>Article Link</a> Commodity super-cycle that began in 1990’s is far from over and it will continue to be driven by resource intensive urbanisation, industrialisation in emerging countries, according to an analysis by ETF Securities Ltd. It said that analysts have shown a tendency to confuse short term correction in prices denoting end of super cycle while such cycles have to be defined over a larger time frame extending to three to four decades. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125371 US targets commodities and corruption http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125364 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125364#comments Fri, 10 May 2013 03:13:36 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125364 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125364>Article Link</a> Archer Daniels Midland is the first commodities trading house to be enmeshed in the US anti-bribery law. It may not be the last. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125364 Middle East oil markets contracting http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125362 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125362#comments Fri, 10 May 2013 03:13:06 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125362 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125362>Article Link</a> The Iraqi and Libyan governments said they would help Egypt cope with its economic crisis by offering up crude oil exports. The Egyptian government of President Mohamed Morsi is trying to right the economic ship more than two years after the country’s revolution. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125362 Palladium likely to remain in deficit next year, GFMS says http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125359 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125359#comments Fri, 10 May 2013 03:12:19 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125359 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125359>Article Link</a> The results of Thomson Reuters GFMS’ Platinum & Palladium Survey 2013 are in, and the news looks good for palladium investors. According to the precious metals consultancy, palladium recorded its highest deficit in 11 years in 2012. Specifically, supply of the metal fell to 8.19 million ounces, a 4-percent decline, while usage grew 5 percent, hitting 9.32 million ounces. That created a 1.12-million ounce gap between supply and demand, a sizeable increase over 2011′s 279,000-ounce deficit. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125359 The case, and risks, for Asian currencies http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125357 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125357#comments Fri, 10 May 2013 03:11:39 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125357 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125357>Article Link</a> Emerging Asian currencies such as the Malaysian ringgit have come back with a vengeance, and their gains might not be done yet. The Malaysian ringgit has gained more than 2% against the dollar so far this month, after the country’s ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Najib Razak won recent national elections. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125357 Such a good fall: Oil & gold booms are over, good for global economy http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125355 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125355#comments Thu, 09 May 2013 03:24:37 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125355 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125355>Article Link</a> China’s voracious demand for every conceivable raw material — oil, steel, soybeans, gold, to name a few — once seemed to spell a future of endlessly rising commodity prices and falling living standards in developed nations. This was a Malthusian vision of scarcity: rising demand from the growing economies of the emerging world would couple with shrinking supplies to drive up the prices of natural resources. Gas prices would never come back down; gold would cost thousands of dollars an ounce. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125355 Druckenmiller says long commodities rally ending on China http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125353 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125353#comments Thu, 09 May 2013 03:23:53 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125353 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125353>Article Link</a> Stanley Druckenmiller, the billionaire hedge-fund manager who returned an average of 30 percent a year from 1986 through 2010, said the long rally by commodities is over as China switches to consumption-led growth rather than investing in infrastructure. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125353 Druckenmiller: Commodities decline just beginning, supply/demand is “deadly” http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125352 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125352#comments Thu, 09 May 2013 03:23:37 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125352 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125352>Article Link</a> Don’t think of the commodities swoon as just a correction after years of outsized gains. The party’s over and the decline is just starting, according to Stanley Druckenmiller. In his Sohn Investment Conference presentation, Druckenmiller said the 2002-2011 gains for commodities were an anomaly and that the declines of the past couple of years are the norm. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125352 A day of reckoning is coming for the global commodities glut http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125351 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125351#comments Thu, 09 May 2013 03:23:21 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125351 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125351>Article Link</a> The best investment idea at Ira Sohn 2013 could be all about shorting everything that’s associated with the voracious Chinese demand for commodities, a symptom of policies that attempted to quell–but really just put on hold–the effects of the financial crisis. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125351 Commodities crackdown forces CTA closure http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125349 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125349#comments Thu, 09 May 2013 03:22:51 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125349 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125349>Article Link</a> Change in regulation causes UK asset management firm to shut its doors to Ucits investors. UK-based global macro manager Cantab Capital Partners is set to close its $320 million commodities trading strategy due to concerns over the impact of new investment restrictions. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125349 OPEC April oil output at 5-month high http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125340 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125340#comments Wed, 08 May 2013 02:25:37 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125340 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125340>Article Link</a> The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries raised its oil output in April to its highest level in five months, the U.S. government said. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125340 Commodities: Be bullish, you’re not buying at the peak http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125326 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125326#comments Tue, 07 May 2013 03:37:29 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125326 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125326>Article Link</a> Gold has cratered into bear market territory. Ditto for silver and copper. Aluminum is in a big downtrend too, along with its metallic cousin nickel. The price of oil has been moving sideways and agricultural commodities are well off last year’s drought-induced highs. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125326 Learn to love commodities when they’re hated http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125325 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125325#comments Tue, 07 May 2013 03:37:01 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125325 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125325>Article Link</a> Sometimes following where money is being invested is a solid course of action. Other times, a better opportunity lies in going the opposite direction. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125325 “Gold rush” reveals scant investment options http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125319 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125319#comments Tue, 07 May 2013 03:35:13 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125319 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125319>Article Link</a> Though credited with stabilizing gold price, the recent gold-buying spree in China reveals a lack of investment options for Chinese households looking to retain asset value. Despite a new price swing, the precious metal will stay buoyant at 1,542 US dollars per ounce for 2013, thanks in part to strong retail demand from China and India, predicted HSBC recently. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125319 I’m still buying gold, and I will never sell my gold: Marc Faber http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125317 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125317#comments Tue, 07 May 2013 03:34:43 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125317 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125317>Article Link</a> Behind the recent gold crash is no central bank manipulation, at least that is what one can gather from the words of the contrarian investor and the author of ‘The Gloom, Boom, & Doom report’, Marc Faber. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125317 Gold and silver: Sentiment reversal is inevitable http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125315 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125315#comments Tue, 07 May 2013 03:34:16 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125315 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125315>Article Link</a> The usefulness of sentiment’s stealth crystal ball is about to be revealed to the litany of unsuspecting precious metal bears and skeptics who have convinced themselves that gold’s bull market is either over or, at the minimum, in need of lengthy ongoing retesting, restructuring and consolidation. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125315 Platinum bets hang in the balance http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125311 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125311#comments Tue, 07 May 2013 03:33:11 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125311 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125311>Article Link</a> A rally in platinum prices is in danger, as promised production cuts from the world’s biggest miner of the metal face opposition from the South African government. Prices are up 6.3% since mid-April, when they plunged alongside gold and other precious metals. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125311 The oil and gold booms are over http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125306 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125306#comments Mon, 06 May 2013 02:01:14 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125306 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125306>Article Link</a> The wreckage caused by China’s great, juddering slowdown continues to spread far beyond the country’s shores. Although most commodities enjoyed a bounce on May 3, after better-than-expected U.S. employment data, the plunge in their prices over the past few months suggests the past decade’s rally is truly broken. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125306 Banks square up in new commodities era http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125304 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125304#comments Mon, 06 May 2013 02:00:43 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125304 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125304>Article Link</a> The number of major investment banks able to be successful commodities players will fall to around five by 2016, according to three heads of investment bank commodities operations. One said: “What we’re seeing now is some of the banks retrenching because they don’t actually know how to make money in commodities anymore or compete with the commodities trading houses. Most banks have relatively generic offerings.” (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125304 Why troublemakers are good for oil majors http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125301 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125301#comments Mon, 06 May 2013 01:59:57 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125301 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125301>Article Link</a> Major Western oil companies also did well during the oil boom, but nowhere near as much. Large integrated companies such as Exxon Mobil aren’t as leveraged to oil prices. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125301 Gold bulls split with Buffett as traders say sell: Commodities http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125299 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125299#comments Mon, 06 May 2013 01:59:21 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125299 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125299>Article Link</a> Hedge funds increased bets on a gold rally by the most in three weeks as central banks signaled no end to economic stimulus, driving prices higher just as analysts and traders turned the most bearish in three years. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125299 Trade in Latin America: Oceans apart http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125288 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125288#comments Fri, 03 May 2013 03:19:19 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125288 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125288>Article Link</a> Latin America, once as riddled with tariff barriers as it is with rivers, mountains and jungles, is about to claim global trade’s starring role. The race to head the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is now down to a Mexican and a Brazilian. Their candidacies highlight a schism that splits the region down the middle. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125288 OPEC exports seen stable amid ‘glum’ demand, Oil Movements says http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125283 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125283#comments Fri, 03 May 2013 03:17:06 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125283 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125283>Article Link</a> The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will keep shipments little changed this month as “glum” demand in the U.S. and Europe counters rising consumption in Asia, tanker tracker Oil Movements said. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125283 Unburnable fuel: Either governments are not serious about climate change or fossil-fuel firms are overvalued http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125282 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125282#comments Fri, 03 May 2013 03:16:51 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125282 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125282>Article Link</a> Markets can misprice risk, as investors in subprime mortgages discovered in 2008. Several recent reports suggest that markets are now overlooking the risk of “unburnable carbon”. The share prices of oil, gas and coal companies depend in part on their reserves. The more fossil fuels a firm has underground, the more valuable its shares. But what if some of those reserves can never be dug up and burned? (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125282 Silver in a weak economy http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125276 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125276#comments Fri, 03 May 2013 03:15:08 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125276 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125276>Article Link</a> Silver in general is standing at a very interesting position, as it’s poised to break out in the short term, while at the same time a weakening economy will play havoc with the precious metal over time. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125276 Palladium shortage surged to 11 year-high in 2012 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125273 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125273#comments Fri, 03 May 2013 03:13:55 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125273 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125273>Article Link</a> Palladium’s deficit rose to the biggest in 11 years in 2012 as strike action in South African mines curbed supply and demand expanded, Thomson Reuters GFMS said. Platinum slipped into a deficit for the first time since 2004. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125273 Growth worries hit stocks and commodities http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125269 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125269#comments Thu, 02 May 2013 03:25:58 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125269 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125269>Article Link</a> Fresh evidence of slowing global growth prompted further falls for industrial commodities, US stocks and the dollar, and gains for Treasury bonds, even as the Federal Reserve backed away from previous hints that the pace of its asset purchase programme might be curbed. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125269 OPEC to try to break deadlock over selecting its next secretary general http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125262 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125262#comments Thu, 02 May 2013 03:23:41 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125262 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125262>Article Link</a> OPEC is again attempting to break the deadlock over selecting its next secretary general, after rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran last year prevented a new candidate being named to its top administrative post. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125262 Gold bull run seen over as bear drop frays faithful http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125256 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125256#comments Thu, 02 May 2013 03:21:42 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125256 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125256>Article Link</a> Gold’s longest winning streak in at least nine decades is poised to end as diminishing trust in the metal’s ability to preserve value spurred a majority of analysts to predict the first annual retreat since 2000. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125256 Uranium – poised for another boom? http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125255 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125255#comments Thu, 02 May 2013 03:21:25 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125255 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125255>Article Link</a> Only a short time ago it seems (five or six years actually) the uranium price was riding high, uranium explorers were springing up everywhere and uranium producer and explorer shares were among the strongest in the mining sector. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125255 Commodities & metals: Wait and see http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125254 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125254#comments Thu, 02 May 2013 03:21:09 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125254 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125254>Article Link</a> In the wake of the recent collapse of several commodity markets, Dennis Gartman of The Gartman Letter has some surprising things to say about where to look for shortages that could drive prices back up. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125254 Slower world growth gives commodity investors cold feet http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125241 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125241#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 03:39:53 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125241 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125241>Article Link</a> Investors are staying away from commodities, fearing that the worst is yet to come after prices plunged in April on signs of slower world economic growth.Wealth managers have been pulling money from commodities since the start of the year, culminating in a major sell off in April when investors dumped gold, copper and oil.Poor economic data from China, Europe and the United States has hit global growth forecasts, making investors reassess the demand for raw materials. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125241 ‘Dr. Doom’ says commodity weakness signals global economic weakness http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125240 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125240#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 03:39:36 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125240 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125240>Article Link</a> Nouriel Roubini is a household name in the financial world as his nickname, “Dr. Doom,” has been rightfully earned, given his propensity for bearish sentiment. Roubini is also not afraid to speak his mind as he has been issuing warnings about the global economy for the past few years. Now, the Dr. has commented on the commodity industry, as he believes its struggles reveal a bigger trend that could see the global economy slip. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125240 What to do about OPEC? http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125237 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125237#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 03:37:31 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125237 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125237>Article Link</a> Cato hosted a policy forum last week (which you can watch in its entirety if you missed it the first time around) to discuss a new paper released by Security America’s Energy Future (SAFE). The paper – written by long-time friends Andy Morriss and Roger Meiners – argues that there is a consensus among academics who have studied OPEC. The consensus? (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125237 Libya pushing for bigger role in OPEC http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125236 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125236#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 03:37:07 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125236 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125236>Article Link</a> Libya will seek to increase its oil output quota within the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) once it is sure it can produce 1.7 million barrels per day (mbpd), up from about 1.5 million currently, Oil Minister Abdelbari Al Arusi said. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125236 Gold market needs time to heal – UBS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125231 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125231#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 03:34:45 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125231 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125231>Article Link</a> The recent collapse in gold prices has forced UBS to downgrade its price expectations, not just for gold, but also for the whole precious metals complex. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125231 Commodity shakeout emboldens risk-seeking investors http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125219 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125219#comments Mon, 29 Apr 2013 01:56:16 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125219 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125219>Article Link</a> Although the speed and scale of the fall has raised eyebrows, it may be that the world is simply entering a seasonal soft patch, as it did last year. And there are hardly any signs of a major investment shift away from risky assets. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125219