Commodity Monthly Monitor – Global investor sentiment at a turning point…

Your reference guide to commodity markets. Includes the latest outlook for each commodity sector and major developments for individual commodities.

Summary

• Early evidence suggests that market volatility could be moderating in line with a lift in investor sentiment, but it is very early days.
• The future of oil prices is tied to Saudi Arabia and Russia cooperation in reducing production.
• Weak currencies and rising production weighs on agricultural sector.
• Gold’s gains capped as volatility moderates and risk aversion recedes.
• Can mining CAPEX cuts and weaker US Dollar continue to buoy industrial metals prices?

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Summary

Early evidence suggests that market volatility could be moderating in line with a lift in investor sentiment, but it is very early days. The direction of oil prices has been leading many asset class moves and as a result, the volatility of oil prices can be informative. Although oil volatility is at the highest level since December 2015, the pace of increase is declining, indicating the market could be on the verge of more stable trading conditions. A more stable market would give the green light for rising investor risk appetite, and a less defensive stance for portfolios.

Somewhat counterintuitively, softer economic data is providing some buoyancy to cyclical assets as investors anticipate that central banks will keep policy extremely accommodative. That means keeping rates on hold in coming months for the US Federal Reserve and rates moving further into negative territory for the European Central Bank. Accordingly, currency movements are a critical input to the investment decision process for foreign assets, and with our expectation of a weaker US Dollar in 2016, this will change the dynamics of commodity investing. These dynamics are nowhere more pronounced than in the precious metals sector: a potentially more positive risk environment is being countered and likely to be more than offset by a weaker USD, coupled low real interest rates and finely balanced investor sentiment.

The future of oil prices is tied to Saudi Arabia and Russia cooperation in reducing production. The oversupply on the global oil market continued to weigh on oil prices, also driving equity benchmarks around the world downward. Recent major producers’ agreement to freeze production has been welcome positively from the market. However more need to be done to absorb the excess supply and support prices this year. The WTI contango suggests $39/bbl by end of the year, with the curve having flattened considerably and below our fair value range of $46-70/bbl.

Weak currencies and rising production weighs on agricultural sector. Agriculture fell by 1.2% as increased USDA grain production forecasts weighed on prices. Weak currencies in producer countries continue to put downward pressure on agricultural commodity prices, such as sugar for example. However, we expect a rebound in cocoa prices as poor weather conditions have not been factored into current prices.

Gold’s gains capped as volatility moderates and risk aversion recedes. A defensive investor stance continues to keep gold (and silver) well supported, but that could change as volatility moderates. Gold and silver are by far the best performing commodities within the complex in 2016. Gold continues to hover around the US$1200/oz level, off the recent highs above US$1260/oz, but a modestly firmer US Dollar and early signs of a US equity market revival has capped gains.

Can mining CAPEX cuts and weaker US Dollar continue to buoy industrial metals prices? Industrial metals were buoyed by a confluence of factors namely – the weaker US dollar, a sway of announcements of production cuts by miners and the shift in focus to underlying fundamentals once again. Infrastructure needs of emerging economies favour demand while mine closures undermine supply. We continue to favour industrial metals

For more information contact:
ETF Securities Research team
ETF Securities (UK) Limited
T +44 (0) 207 448 4336
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