back
Details Cookies
Hong Kong S.A.R
Cookie policy

This website uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience by enabling, optimising and analysing site operations, as well as to provide personalised ad content and allow you to connect to social media. By choosing “Accept all” you consent to the use of cookies and the related processing of personal data. Select “Manage consent” to manage your consent preferences. You can change your preferences or retract your consent at any time via the cookie policy page. Please view our cookie policy here and our privacy policy here

Video: Lithium demand is rising and could gallop further amid Ford & CATL plans, S&P500 in wobble mode

Video: Lithium demand is rising and could gallop further amid Ford & CATL plans, S&P500 in wobble mode

Jessica Amir
Market Strategist

Summary:  Watch our video in under four minutes or read the text for what’s happening in markets, what to watch; plus potential trading and investing ideas to consider.

US equities (US500.I and USNAS100.I) may be wobbly this week, with CPI out Tuesday

Markets seem defensive coming into this week - worried firstly, the Fed can keep rates higher for longer, triggered by hawkish Fed speaker comments last week. Secondly, investors are cautious ahead of US inflation being released on Tuesday  - with CPI expected to drop from 5.7% to 5.5% YoY. The 10-year bond yield climbed 9 bps to 3.72% - its highest level since Jan 1, flagging there a bit of concern ahead. While also in defense mode - buying picked in the US dollar for the second week - taking the US dollar index to close at its highest level since the Jan 2. And this pressured commodities lower. So these catalysts caused investors to trimmed equity gains, also in case CPI data blows hotter than expected. The S&P500 fell 1.1% last week - its biggest weekly drop in 2023.

Australian equites (ASXSP200.I) could also wobble, if employment data is hotter than expected and commodities pair back with a higher US dollar

This week investors and traders will be focused firstly – Australian employment data out for January, due on Thursday, expected to show employment rose by 20,000 from the prior drop, with the unemployment rate expected to remain unchanged at 3.5%. Also importantly, consider the Aussie share market, may be potentially vulnerable for a pair back as the Australian 10 year bond yield has moved up aggressive to 3.81%- its highest level since January. The reason for this, is that the market is expecting the RBA to make ~78.6bps of hikes before pausing in August. So this means unprofitable tech companies and those businesses that don’t pay a dividend yield are vulnerable. From a technical perspective, it also looks like the ASX200 is running out of steam. Click here for our technical analyst's views 

Crude oil (CLH3 & LCOJ3) moves higher on Russian supply falling

Oil posted its largest weekly gain in four months and is currently up 2% $79.72, on Europe banning Russian supply. While Russia is wanting to limit its discount on Urals oil to Brent at $34 a barrel in April, $31 in May, $28 in June and $25 in July. Elsewhere, other supply returned to the market with Tanker loadings of Azeri crude docking at Turkey's Ceyhan terminal. As our Head of Commodity strategy points out, the oil market is awaiting for more demand from China to drive prices higher. For Ole Hansen's weekly oil take click here.  As per our Quarterly outlook, we’re expecting Brent Oil to remain around the $80 levels in this quarter, and move to the $90s in the second quarter and beyond. For more, read our Quarterly Outlook.


Lithium companies on watch with the battery market heating up; Ford and CATL building a battery plant

Lithium imports to China and USA are surging this year, ahead of car makers ramping up production with some of the IEA countries planning the end of sale of fuel engines in seven years, while EV car makers are eager to ramp up car production. Meanwhile, Albemarle reports earnings this week - and will be a proxy to watch for what we may expect from lithium companies this year. In other news, Ford and CATL are reportedly planning to build a $3.5 billion mega battery plant, across 1,900 acres - and employ 2,500 workers. Meaning, they will need to buy industrial metals to produce batteries. This supports Saxo’s bullish view on battery metals; copper, aluminium and lithium. Click the link, for a look at stocks to watch this week across these metals sector. Alternatively refer to Saxo's  Equity baskets under Research, Stocks. 

  

- - - 

Turn to Saxo's
inspiration page for our global market insights and expectations.

To listen to our take on markets tune into our global Podcast.

 

Disclaimer

The Saxo Bank Group entities each provide execution-only service and access to Analysis permitting a person to view and/or use content available on or via the website is not intended to and does not change or expand on this. Such access and use are at all times subject to (i) The Terms of Use; (ii) Full Disclaimer; (iii) The Risk Warning; (iv) the Rules of Engagement and (v) Notices applying to Saxo News & Research and/or its content in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of hyperlinks on the website of a member of the Saxo Bank Group by which access to Saxo News & Research is gained. Such content is therefore provided as no more than information. In particular no advice is intended to be provided or to be relied on as provided nor endorsed by any Saxo Bank Group entity; nor is it to be construed as solicitation or an incentive provided to subscribe for or sell or purchase any financial instrument. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. As such no Saxo Bank Group entity will have or be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information which is available on Saxo News & Research or as a result of the use of the Saxo News & Research. Orders given and trades effected are deemed intended to be given or effected for the account of the customer with the Saxo Bank Group entity operating in the jurisdiction in which the customer resides and/or with whom the customer opened and maintains his/her trading account. Saxo News & Research does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Bank Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication under relevant laws.

Please read our disclaimers:
- Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
- Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-hk/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)

Saxo Capital Markets HK Limited
19th Floor
Shanghai Commercial Bank Tower
12 Queen’s Road Central
Hong Kong

Contact Saxo

Select region

Hong Kong S.A.R
Hong Kong S.A.R

Saxo Capital Markets HK is a company authorised and regulated by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong. Saxo Capital Markets HK Limited holds a Type 1 Regulated Activity (Dealing in securities); Type 2 Regulated Activity (Dealing in Futures Contract); Type 3 Regulated Activity (Leveraged foreign exchange trading); Type 4 Regulated Activity (Advising on securities) and Type 9 Regulated Activity (Asset Management) licenses (CE No. AVD061). Registered address: 19th Floor, Shanghai Commercial Bank Tower, 12 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong

By clicking on certain links on this site, you are aware and agree to leave the website of Saxo Capital Markets, proceed on to the linked site managed by Saxo Group and where you will be subject to the terms of that linked site.

Apple, iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries. AppStore is a service mark of Apple Inc.

Please note that the information on this site and any product and services we offer are not targeted at investors residing in the United States and Japan, and are not intended for distribution to, or use by any person in any country or jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation. Please click here to view our full disclaimer.