Q2 Outlook: Commodities power ahead

Summary: Commodities have cast off the caution that defined the start of this year and powered to strong collective gains, led by energy and industrial metals. As we enter the second quarter the mood is still good, with crude oil riding atop a wave of price-supportive supply news, gold encouraged by a dovish Fed and copper pinning its hopes on a US-China trade détente.

The commodity sector delivered a surprisingly strong return during the first quarter of 2019 with the Bloomberg Commodity Index trading higher by 9%. This remarkable development relates to the fact that the rise was led by growth-dependent commodities such as energy (+17%) and industrial metals (+12.5%).

Markets, including commodities, began the year on the defensive with growth concerns and US Federal Reserve-led liquidity tightening raising concerns about the prospects for 2019.

The year, however, was only a few weeks old before global policy panic set in. In early January, the Fed hit the pause button before abandoning it at the end of the quarter while calling a halt to further quantitative tightening. The Bank of Japan and the European Central Bank followed suit with their own measures, while in China the government stepped in with various initiatives to stabilise the economy as the chance of a trade deal between Washington and Beijing helped sentiment further.

Crude oil’s near-40% rally from the December low has resulted in both WTI and Brent clawing back half the losses seen between October and December. With global demand growth holding up despite the prospect for lower global growth, the market has instead been left to focus on a near-perfect storm of price-supportive supply news.

Aggressive production cuts (both voluntary and involuntary) from the Opec+ group of producers have seen supply from these countries drop by more than was expected. Saudi Arabia was probably angered by the price collapse following the surprise US decision to grant waivers to buyers of Iranian oil and has been cutting production aggressively since then. In addition to these cuts, which hinge on continued cooperation between Russia and Saudi Arabia, the involuntary cuts from Venezuela and Iran (down 1.6 million barrels/day during the past year) have added an additional layer of support.

The six-month waiver that the US granted to buyers of Iranian oil back in November is due to expire in early May and this has raised some questions about what will happen next. But with Opec+ continuing to cut production and the US forcing down exports from Iran and Venezuela, only a major change in the outlook for demand will alter the current positive sentiment.

Several Opec producers, and Saudi Arabia in particular, need oil back above $80/barrel to meet their fiscal obligations and they are unlikely to be satisfied with Brent at $70/b. On that basis, we expect supply to be kept tight over the coming months, thereby supporting a potential extension towards $75/b before it eventually runs out of steam amid renewed concerns about the negative impact to global growth.

The dramatic recent turnaround at the Fed is seen as bullish for gold as the return to a dovish stance highlights the risk of a gold-supportive recession within the next 12 months. The second quarter, however, may not yet provide the spark gold needs to break strong resistance between $1,360/oz and $1,380/oz. Into the second half, however, a formidable challenge could be seen amid support from a weaker dollar, stable to lower bond yields and concerns about global stocks’ ability to forge higher amid raised growth concerns.

We should always keep in mind that many investors buy gold to hold an insurance policy against adverse movements across other investments such as stocks. On that basis, it is worth keeping a close eye on flows in and out of the exchange-traded products often used by long-term investors. So long as stocks continue to show their current resilience, gold is unlikely to mount a strong enough challenge at the massive area of resistance between $1,360/oz and $1,380/oz.

Investors who remain bullish about gold might consider silver, as it remains the “forgotten metal” and is trading 12% below its five-year average relative to gold. Another is platinum, which should be supported by its historic $700-plus discount to palladium and its $400-plus discount to gold.

High-grade copper has managed to reclaim half of what was lost in the aftermath of the US-China trade war breaking out last year. The combination of an eventual de-escalation of the trade conflict and the Chinese policy easing already in place, combined with a relatively tight supply outlook, should continue to provide the support copper needs to yield a positive return in 2019. However, having already returned to our H2’19 target of $3/lb we see the upside as limited into the second quarter. On that basis we are looking for a potential $2.8/lb to $3.05/lb trading range to emerge.

Outrageous Predictions 2023: The War Economy

Billionaire coalition creates trillion-dollar Manhattan Project for energy
The constantly growing global need for energy drives the world's richest to huddle up and launch a R&D project in a size the world hasn't seen since the Manhattan Project gave the US the first atomic bomb.
Read article
French President Macron resigns
The political stalemate in France and the rise of Marie Le Pen following the 2022 elections corners President Macron, forcing him to give up on politics and resign from his position. At least for now.
Read article
Gold rockets to USD 3,000 as central banks fail on inflation mandate
As markets and central banks realise that the idea that inflation is transitory is wrong, and that prices will remain higher for longer, gold is sent through the roof, hitting a price tag of USD 3,000
Read article
EU Army forces EU down path to full union
With continued challenges in the region and a US military that isn't aggressively enacting its former role as global policeman, the European Union agrees to create its own armed forces, bringing the whole region closer.
Read article
A country agrees to ban all meat production by 2030
In an effort to become one of the global leaders on the path to net-zero emissions, one country decides to not only put a heavy tax on meat, but to ban domestic production entirely.
Read article
UK holds UnBrexit referendum
Following a recession and domestic pressure, the United Kingdom is thrown into political turmoil that will end with a vote to wind back Brexit.
Read article
Widespread price controls are introduced to cap official inflation
History tells us that with the war economy comes rationing and price controls. And this time is no different, as policymakers introduce strict price controls that lead to a range of unintended consequences.
Read article
OPEC+ & Chindia walk out of the IMF, agree to trade with new reserve asset
Sanctions against Russia have caused widespread turmoil due to US Dollar moves in countries across the globe that don't consider the US an ally. To relieve themselves from this, they leave the IMF and create a new reserve asset.
Read article
USDJPY fixed to the USD at 200 as Japan overhauls financial system
Following the challenges that faced the Japanese Yen in 2022, the Bank of Japan attempts to keep the currency from sliding. Unsuccessful on the long-term, Japan will launch a reset of its entire financial system.
Read article
Tax haven ban kills private equity
With the war economy comes an increased focus on national interests and sovereign nations' ability to assert themselves. In that regard, the OECD countries turn their attention on tax havens and pull the big guns out, banning them altogether.
Read article

You can access all of our platforms from a single Saxo account.

Preview platform Open Account

Disclaimer

The Saxo 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 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 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 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 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 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-sg/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)

None of the information contained here constitutes an offer to purchase or sell a financial instrument, or to make any investments. Saxo Markets does not take into account your personal investment objectives or financial situation and makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the information nor for any loss arising from any investment made in reliance of this presentation. Any opinions made are subject to change and may be personal to the author. These may not necessarily reflect the opinion of Saxo Capital Markets or its affiliates.

Q2 Outlook: Commodities power ahead

Share

Outrageous Predictions 2023: The War Economy

Billionaire coalition creates trillion-dollar Manhattan Project for energy

French President Macron resigns

Gold rockets to USD 3,000 as central banks fail on inflation mandate

EU Army forces EU down path to full union

A country agrees to ban all meat production by 2030

UK holds UnBrexit referendum

Widespread price controls are introduced to cap official inflation

OPEC+ & Chindia walk out of the IMF, agree to trade with new reserve asset

USDJPY fixed to the USD at 200 as Japan overhauls financial system

Tax haven ban kills private equity

Your browser cannot display this website correctly.