Analysis Topic: Commodity Markets - Metals, Softs & Oils

The analysis published under this topic are as follows.

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Mideast Crisis Update: Don't Count on the Saudi Crude Oil Supply / Commodities / Crude Oil

By: Money_Morning

Kent Moors writes: As the autocratic rule that has dominated the Middle East for decades continues to unravel, volatility in the global oil markets continues to point toward one overriding concern: How can we maintain an oil-flow balance in the face of this escalating uncertainty?

Global oil prices spiked to their highest levels in more than two years on Friday because of worries that the unrest and resulting production curbs in Libya would spread to other oil-exporting countries.

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Silver Rises to New Nominal 30-Year High of $34.44/oz; Italian Banks Want Protection of Gold Reserves / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: GoldCore

Silver has risen another 1.4% today to a high of $34.44/oz and above the 31-year interday high of $34.33/oz reached last Tuesday (February 22nd). Silver is higher in all currencies this morning, especially the Japanese yen. The news that Saudi Arabia may be sending tanks to crush anti-government protests in Bahrain saw buying of silver, gold and oil.

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Global Gold Production and the Australian Gold Stocks Sector / Commodities / Gold & Silver Stocks

By: Neil_Charnock

The production base of the emerging Australian gold stocks has been growing significantly of late.  So have some of the share prices.  Australia now boasts a number of new producers successfully ramping up their operations here and abroad, in the process posting strong capital growth for investors.  Having covered this sector since early 2006 and been invested since 2001 I have been able to watch this sector more closely than most.  Mines take years to bring through discovery, development, commissioning, ramp up and finally to full production.  Therefore the response to higher metal prices is delayed considerably. 

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Ban Crude Oil Imports for Energy Security? / Commodities / Crude Oil

By: Dian_L_Chu

I came across an interesting editorial at Houston Chronicle dated Feb. 26 written by Yale Graduates Energy Study Group discussing energy security and independence.

In the article, the authors propose a federal policy (the "limits" policy) to withdraw U.S. crude and products imports from the world oil market, for example, in a 10-year period. During that period, all imports would be phased out to zero except Canada, whose pipelines run almost exclusively south into the U.S.

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Is Orange Juice Approaching A Double Top? / Commodities / Commodities Trading

By: Dian_L_Chu

Over the past year, orange juice futures have roughly doubled, and could rise some more as the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in February cut its forecast for the US orange crop following a series of winter storms and frosts in Florida.

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Libya Value And Growth Opportunities From Oil and Gas Normalization / Commodities / Crude Oil

By: Andrew_McKillop

OVERVIEW
In the 10 – 15 days from today's date the following is likely and possible: -
 Announcement of plans to recover and relaunch Libyan oil and refined products export
Quick recovery of export capacity of natural gas as well as crude and refined products
New democratic Libyan state and constitution plans announced with approx. 6-month horizon

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Solid Gold Stock Picks / Commodities / Gold & Silver Stocks

By: The_Gold_Report

Toronto-based Ubika Research is making a name for itself on Bay Street. The firm launched its Gold 50 Index in February 2010 and by year-end, the high-potential gold juniors on that list were up a combined 99%. Ubika Cofounder and Analyst Vikas Ranjan returns to The Gold Report for a discerning look at the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, its possible effect on metals markets and several promising junior explorers and producers in this exclusive interview.

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Libyan Oil Is A Red Herring: Unless The Saudis Have a Sulk…Or Worse! / Commodities / Crude Oil

By: Andrew_Butter

According to dispatches the recent events shut-down 75% of Libya’s oil exports. If the situation deteriorates into a full blown civil war then the output could dwindle to nothing.

On top of that, when the UN Security Council starts talking about sanctions; you know you are in for a long haul. What that really means is whilst they “disapprove” they won’t do anything of any practical value to help resolve the violence; case-in-point Iran; which has had sanctions in one form or another for thirty years; and look what that “achieved”.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Technicals of Silver and Silver Miner ETFs / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: Piazzi

Silver has been a clear leader in the PM area.

This is a current count of Silver ETF SLV

Monday, February 28, 2011

JP Morgan Opens Gold Window / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: John_Browne

Earlier this month, J.P. Morgan made an important announcement that received scant coverage in the media: the bank would now accept gold as collateral for loans. The move appears to have been well-timed, for in the ensuing weeks, the price of gold and silver climbed steeply, based largely on political turmoil in the Middle East. But why should Morgan's decision be of interest to anyone outside the bank?

Monday, February 28, 2011

Gold Up, Silver Flat as Middle-East Turmoil Spreads / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: Adrian_Ash

THE WHOLESALE PRICE OF large gold investment bars rose back towards Friday's 2011 highs early Monday afternoon in London, hitting $1415 per ounce as the Dollar fell and European crude oil rose towards new two-year highs above $112 per barrel.

Eurozone stock markets rose but German Bund prices slipped – nudging interest rates higher – despite news that Eurozone inflation slowed to 2.3% in Jan.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Gold Fireworks are About to Begin / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: Toby_Connor

The gold bull is now on the verge of launching the most spectacular up leg of this 10 year bull market. This spring we should see the final parabolic rally of the massive C-wave advance that began in April `09 with a test of the 1980 high at $860. 

First off let me explain gold's 4 wave pattern (and no it has nothing to do with Elliot wave).

Monday, February 28, 2011

February Sees Gold up 6% and Silver up 19% on Inflation and Escalating Geopolitical Risk / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: GoldCore

The paper-driven sell off in the gold market seen in January has been trumped by continuing robust physical demand in January and February. This has resulted in gold rising nearly 6% in February and silver’s strong industrial and investment demand leading to a 19% rise to new nominal 30-year highs.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Libyan Fruitcake Sent Silver to a New High / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: Clive_Maund

After last week's update called for a near-term top in silver we got one more up day, thanks to the antics of the Libyan "fruitcake" digging his heels in and resisting being swept away. After that silver did indeed start to correct back although it ended the week with an up day.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Gold Dome Break Out Held at Resistance, Stocks Bearish Pattern / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: Clive_Maund

Gold broke out above its Dome boundary last week, which was not what we were expecting. Fundamentally this action was due to fears relating to the worsening situation in Libya, and while this breakout is a bullish development, it has not as yet led to a breakout to new highs, and the bearish overall behaviour of PM stocks last week means that it could have been a fakeout.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Agri-Food's Correct as Silver Stays in Fantasy Debt Fueled Bubble Land / Commodities / Agricultural Commodities

By: Ned_W_Schmidt

I said, "Scotty, Beam me up." However, the message was apparently garbled, and Scotty apparently beamed me back instead. Since it seems so much like 2008, it must be Scotty's fault. Or, is it possible that Bernanke's Lap Dogs are again distorting asset prices? Surely they must have learned something from making the same mistake over and over. Even a cat learns faster.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Gasoline: No Cure For High Prices Like High Prices / Commodities / Gas - Petrol

By: Dian_L_Chu

Crude oil market has been on a wild roller coaster ride ever since riots started escalating in Egypt and Libya. The latest Libyan supply disruptions sent WTI futures surging above $103 a barrel in New York on Thursday, Feb. 24, while Brent oil in Europe was also closing in on $120 a barrel.

However, both oil markers retreated mostly due to traders scrambling to reposition when NYMEX and ICE boosted margin requirements on oil futures as crude traded above $100 a barrel.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Crude Oil, Natural Gas and Geopolitics / Commodities / Crude Oil

By: John_Hampson

Revolt in Libya and fear of the spread of revolt to Saudi Arabia and Algeria - all oil producers - helped push oil prices higher last week. Libya shut down what amounts to roughly 1% of the world's supply. Saudi Arabia responded by increasing supply and the IEA discussed releasing some of the emergency stockpiles. These emergency stockpiles amount to 1.6 billion barrels, or around 4 million barrels a day for a year. Given that Libya produces around 1.6m barrels a day and Algeria 1.3m barrels, the IEA could cover the eventuality of both losing all their supply for up to a year, which is clearly an outside scenario. But, if an uprising gathers pace in Saudi Arabia and disrupts its pumping of 10% of world supply, then the supply gap is unlikely to be filled. For now, this also represents an outside scenario, as the Saudi Government has taken proactive steps to placate its people.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Gold Fails to Break to New All Time High Despite Middle East Crisis / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: Merv_Burak

Despite all the turmoil gold was not able to get into new high territory.  It will be interesting which way for gold next week.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Silver Market Hit Hard With Bear Raid / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: Jesse

Friday I said: "Today was the option expiration on the Comex, and those options which are 'in the money' and have not been settled for cash are now converted to March futures positions.

Depending on the size and distribution of those conversions we may see some 'action' in the front month because they are sometimes notoriously weak hands and will receive at least one 'gut check.'"