Agriculture Agricultural commodities continue to pare their 2020 losses amid the economic recovery, improving fundamentals, and a weaker US dollar. With the greenback cratering 13% since hitting a peak of 103.00 earlier this year, many importers are taking advantage of crops. A lower buck is good for dollar-denominated commodities because it makes it cheaper for foreign investors to purchase. Analysts still agree that agriculture would be one of the hot asset classes over the next 12 months...
Read More »Commodities Week in Review: August 17 to August 21
Commodities Week in Review: August 17 to August 21 Agriculture Many US agricultural commodities extended their rallies this week, driven primarily by a weaker US dollar. Although the greenback finished the trading week slightly higher (0.11%), exporters are taking advantage of a falling currency. The fundamentals, from supplies to weather, were also key factors in crops this week. Cocoa Friday Settlement: +$7.00, or 0.29%,...
Read More »Commodities Week in Review: August 10 to August 14
Commodities Week in Review: August 10 to August 14 Agriculture Many agricultural commodities took advantage of a weaker US dollar this week. With a lower buck, it makes many dollar-denominated commodities cheaper for foreign investors to purchase. As the fundamentals continue to improve, a lot of analysts are forecasting major gains over the next 12 months for US agriculture. Coffee Friday Settlement: +$0.005,...
Read More »Commodities Week in Review: August 3 to August 7
Agriculture Agricultural commodities had a rough week, driven primarily by a strengthening US dollar and escalating geopolitical tensions. Ample supplies, better-than-expected US government ratings, and coronavirus uncertainty also weighed on agriculture. But if the greenback continues its downward descent, could crops perform better over the next few months? Coffee Friday Settlement: -$0.006, or 0.52%, to $1.1485 per pound Weekly...
Read More »Commodities Week in Review: July 27 to July 31
Agriculture It was a rough week for the sector as most agricultural commodities suffered a weekly loss. Many of them also endured a decline in July, primarily due to coronavirus concerns and fundamental issues. Coffee Friday Settlement: -$0.0035, or 0.29%, to $1.186 per pound Weekly Performance: +9.61% July Performance: +15.03% Corn Friday Settlement: -$0.0075, or 0.24%, to $3.15 per pound Weekly Performance: -3.67% July Performance: -8.30% Orange Juice Friday Settlement:...
Read More »Commodity Tracker: 4 charts to watch this week
As oil markets begin to recover from the shocks of recent months, side-effects like falling VLCC rates and congestion at Chinese ports are emerging, write S&P Global Platts news editors. Plus, competition heats up among corn exporters amid low ethanol demand, and UK power prices reflect improving demand. 1. Freight rates dive as call on VLCCs for floating oil storage lessens What’s happening? The amount of crude stored on tankers is showing signs of a descent in response to the...
Read More »Agriculture markets eye normality as countries ease export restrictions
The global food supply chain, as well as demand for agricultural products, faces an unprecedented threat from the coronavirus pandemic. Livelihoods have been destroyed and economies dragged down, while prices of basic foodstuffs soared and countries imposed measures to limit exports and shore up domestic supply, albeit mostly for a short duration. “This is a very peculiar situation for the Food and Agriculture Organization,” Abdolreza Abbassian, senior economist with the UN agency, told...
Read More »Commodity Tracker: 5 charts to watch this week
US-China tensions have bubbled up again, and commodity markets could be caught up in the turmoil, not least LNG. Aviation activity and jet fuel are also in the mix this week, along with corn fundementals in North and South America, and UK solar power. 1. US LNG exporters face new test as China tensions resurface What’s happening? The US move to no longer recognize Hong Kong’s independence from mainland China could lead to new tariffs and a potential collapse of the Phase 1...
Read More »Commodity Tracker: 6 charts to watch this week
Oil producers in North America have announced vast cuts in output, led by ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Chevron. Plus, contrasting gas market signals from both sides of the Atlantic, Brazilian corn exports under pressure and more, in S&P Global Platts editors’ pick of key trends in energy and commodities this week. 1. North American crude output set to decline in reaction to low oil prices… What’s happening? Global oil companies have announced production cuts of...
Read More »Commodity Tracker: 4 charts to watch this week
From crude oil to gas to gold, commodities markets continue to be affected by the outbreak of coronavirus and the impact it has had on global economic sentiment. Read on for our pick of unfolding market trends from S&P Global Platts news editors. 1. Oil traders brace for weak demand What’s happening? A state of contango – where prices for forward delivery are higher than those for nearer delivery dates – has spread through the Dubai crude oil market, implying traders are bracing...
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