China, the trade war, and commodities China, the trade war, and commodities China, the trade war, and commodities

WCU: Geopolitics boost oil and gold, weigh down copper

Picture of Ole Hansen
Ole Hansen

Head of Commodity Strategy

The geopolitical stage looks increasingly awful following President Trump's decision to slap tariffs on $50 billion of China-made goods. China immediately responded by targeting $3bn of US exports while contemplating additional retaliatory measures. 

The appointments of Iran hawks to Trump's inner circle has further raised the risk of the US re-introducing sanctions against Iran no later than May 12. The two most recent appointments being Pompeo replacing Tillerson as Secretary of State and Bolton stepping into the important job of National Security Adviser instead of McMaster. 

The market responded to these developments by sending stocks sharply lower while bonds and the Japanese yen received a bid as short positions were pared back. 

The Bloomberg Commodity Index traded softer on the week with the reaction to the week's events resulting in crude oil trading higher on the Iran threat to supplies and industrial metals lower on the risk that global growth projections could derail. Gold was supported by both of these developments with short-covering following another dovish US rate hike providing an additional boost. 

Bloomberg Commodity Index

Agricultural commodities were generally weaker with the grain sector left reeling after trade war concerns and softening fundamentals helped trigger profit-taking from speculative traders. During an eight week period up until March 13, funds had swung their position in the three main crops of wheat, corn, and soybeans from a record short of 473,000 lots to a 406,000 long. 

The net-longs in corn and soybeans both exceeded 200,000 lots, the highest level in almost four years. A position this size has according to recent history been difficult to sustain and often led to sharp reversals. 

China is the biggest buyer of US-produced soybeans, a trade that is worth close to $15bn/year. Any escalation of the trade war could see China try to source more beans from South American suppliers. However such a scenario seems highly unlikely on a major scale simply because there are not enough non-US supplies to meet China’s demand. 

Corn and soybeans

Crude oil surged higher after emerging from several weeks of hibernation. The rally began after both WTI and Brent crude oil broke through key technical levels and after receiving fundamental support through the renewed focus on supply disruptions. 

Washington, acting with the blessing of Saudi Arabia, looks increasingly likely to re-introduce sanctions against Iran on May 12, something that could hurt its ability to produce and export crude oil. The risk of the US walking away from the Iran nuclear deal this May rose following the meeting in Washington with Saudi crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman and after Trump replaced his Secretary of State and National Security Adviser with known hawks on Iran, Venezuela, and North Korea.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iran nuclear deal, is an agreement between China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the US, Germany, and the European Union. The market impact of US stepping away from a deal that all the other members still support is unlikely to lead to a significant reduction in Iranian exports. However, its ability to attract the additional foreign capital required to maintain, let alone expand, its production is likely to be impacted as foreign investors (with the possible exceptions of Russia and China) will stay away.

China's March 26 launch of its long awaited yuan-denominated oil futures contract could not occur at a more interesting time given current events. In our Outrageous Predictions for 2018, we tied the launch to a sharp appreciation of the yuan. China has already become the world’s largest crude oil importer and some key exporters, led by Iran and Russia, are probably more than happy to circumvent the petro-dollar. But as always with the launch of a new futures contract, its success very much depends on its ability to attract producers, hedgers, and speculators – all of which are needed to provide the necessary liquidity.

A technical buy signal was triggered following the breakout of the recently established triangle formation. The upside target for WTI could be as high as $71/barrel but first the 2018 high at $66.70/b has to be broken. The potential for this to happen depends on how much the market will continue to focus on supply disruptions compared with the continued rise in non-Opec production and the risk that future demand growth may end up being negatively impacted by a global trade war.

WTI crude oil

Once again gold, as seen on previous occasions, responded positively to another rate hike from the Federal Reserve. While analysts struggled to decide whether this was a dovish or a hawkish hike, the market voted firmly for "dovish" and gold raced higher on short-covering and renewed buying as dark clouds emerged over the global economy. 

Rising trade tensions and a renewed focus on Middle East stability helped send investors towards gold as they took shelter from renewed stock market and dollar weakness, not least against the Japanese yen. A full blown trade war risks shrinking global trade, thereby creating headwinds for global growth and stocks that are ultimately likely to increase safe haven and diversification demand. 

A stronger Japanese yen against the dollar has helped offset the gold-negative impact of rising real yields while another Fed hike provided the market with a fresh buying opportunity.

Gold holdings via exchange-traded products have reached a five-year high with long-term investors continuing to accumulate. Hedge funds were net-sellers of gold futures during the past six weeks and now have room to rebuild longs as the technical and fundamental outlook improves.

Economic indices

A sense of déjà vu hit the gold market as it once again returned to an area where the metal has been rejected on numerous occasions during the past four years. Short-covering post- the Fed rate hike has probably run its course and fresh buying is now required for the market to gain the momentum required to break above $1,375/oz. 

No need to say that we maintain our positive outlook amid a deterioration outlook across other asset classes. Key support remains $1,300/oz while a break above $1,375/oz. could signal an extension towards $1,475/oz.

XAUUSD

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. This content is not intended to and does not change or expand on the execution-only service. 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/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)
Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/legal/saxoselect-disclaimer/disclaimer)

Saxo Bank A/S (Headquarters)
Philip Heymans Alle 15
2900
Hellerup
Denmark

Contact Saxo

Select region

International
International

Trade responsibly
All trading carries risk. Read more. To help you understand the risks involved we have put together a series of Key Information Documents (KIDs) highlighting the risks and rewards related to each product. Read more

This website can be accessed worldwide however the information on the website is related to Saxo Bank A/S and is not specific to any entity of Saxo Bank Group. All clients will directly engage with Saxo Bank A/S and all client agreements will be entered into with Saxo Bank A/S and thus governed by Danish Law.

Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc, registered in the US and other countries and regions. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.