Global Macro Perspectives
Baltic dry index fell 5.7% last week; The hardest hit sectors was Panamaxes with 8.7% loss and Supramaxes with 8.1% loss; Capesizes and Handysizes lost 2.1% and 3.5%. Expectations running high, stockpiles high, financial crisis threatening to cause a economic crisis. Iron ore prices sliding. It looks the things are slowing down in China. On the other hand ship prises rose […]
Baltic dry index fell 2.2% last week, this time on the back of 10.1% Capesize Index loss. Panamax, Supramax and Handysize Index all recorded gains and outperformed the broader index. We had weaker spot iron ore prices, weaker China steel prices and higher iron ore and thermal coal stockpiles. Capesize activity decreased in the recent […]
Another strong week for dry freight. Baltic dry index rose 8.9% last week, again on the back of 10.5% Capesize Index gain. Panamax, Supramax and Handysize Index also recorded gains, but underperformed the broader index suggesting that iron ore is the game. On the positive side we have China steel inventory coming off, decreased China […]
As usual all the data from China cones at the same time. So, let’s start. In short: China trade balance for April was marginally positive, but in my opinion the China ability to run large trade surplussed is lost and will not return in short term. Implications are diverse, maybe most important the quantity of […]
From the press release. April’s PMI points to a moderate slowdown in the expansion of manufacturing activity. We see this as good news because it means that Beijing’s policy tightening is starting to cool the overheated economy, which will help to contain inflationary risk in the coming quarters. Chart 1. China Federation of Logistics & […]
The official China PMI rose from 52 to 55.2; The HSBC/Markit PMI rose from 55.8 to 57. Chart 1. China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing and National Bureau of Statistics PMI / HSBC Markit China Manufacturing PMI
In a sign of strength of iron ore demand iron ore producers and Asian Mills have ended 40 year old annual pricing system and moved to short term pricing. Bloomberg story: Vale, BHP End Annual Ore Talks; Vale Wins 90% Jump. Iron ore producers have managed to get Asian steel mills to agree that iron […]
Baltic dry index fell 3.6% in the last week due to massive 18.6% drop in Capesize Index. Panamax, Supramax and Handysize Index ended all in positive territory. The Capesize Index fell due to increased supply of available vessels which outnumbered the also increased number of cargoes needed to be transported and due to capsize/panamax substitution […]
Baltic dry index rose 8.1% in the last week. Capesize, Supramax and Handysize Index outperformed the BDI, Panamax Index underperformed. Rumors in the iron ore market continue; worlds largest iron ore producer Vale even thinking on abandoning yearly price fixing and selling iron ore on spot market. There is a great disparity between iron ore […]
Chinese Prime Minister Mr. Wen Jiabao delivered a pretty straight forward answer on the U.S. led calls for a yuan appreciation. China official stance is: Yuan is not undervalued; the calls for a Yuan appreciation are clear protectionist acts – they plan to support China export led growth; China is concerned about its U.S. dollar […]
China consumer prices rose 2.7% in February vs. consensus of 2.5% and 1.5% in January. In the same time China producer prices rose 5.4% vs. consensus of 5.1% and 4.3% in January. This obviously is starting to represent a problem for The Peoples Bank of China as CPI this high brings real interest rates to […]