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Markets Today – Central Banks, UK Boosters, Lira Lows, Apple, Oil, Gold, Bitcoin

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By Craig Erlam, Senior Market Analyst, UK & EMEA, OANDA

What a week we have in store and equity markets are off to another strong start as investors brush aside downside economic risks this winter.

Once again we’re seeing the resilience of investors in action. This week we have a plethora of central bank decisions, the highlight of which will obviously be the Fed on Wednesday, as well as a wide array of economic data and, let’s not forget, more information on the Omicron variant and the risks it poses in the coming months.

The bulk of this week’s event risk is loaded into the second half of the week but there’ll clearly be no shortage of action before then as we’re already seeing. It may just be that there’s heightened focus on Omicron and the measures leaders are taking to get to grips with it and prevent a more severe crisis in the coming weeks.

UK getting nervous about Omicron as over 30s encouraged to get booster

We’re already seeing the effect the new variant is having here in the UK, with more restrictions being imposed and the government urging people 30 and over to get the booster. Suddenly it’s a scramble to get boosted, so much so that we’re seeing long queues outside vaccinations centres and, as I’ve experienced the last 24 hours, a booking website completely incapable of handling the surge in numbers.

The economy was already facing numerous headwinds this winter and the clear concern coming from the top is only going to filter down and be a drag at an important time for many businesses. With the Prime Minister refusing to rule out further curbs before Christmas and his credibility at a low following recent leaks, who knows what the coming weeks will hold. The hope is that the late dash for the booster will be enough to save Christmas this year.

All considered it’s hardly surprising that market pricing for a rate hike from the BoE this week has plunged. The MPC was slaughtered last month for overwhelmingly voting against raising rates after misleading investors in the weeks leading up to the meeting. This time investors are clearly focused more on the rational argument for hiking, which in the current environment, there isn’t much of. February makes much more sense.

Lira plunges against ahead of CBRT on Thursday

I obviously understand why the Fed is the headline event this week but it’s the CBRT I’m most looking forward to. The central bank and government are signing from the same hymn sheet but living on a different planet from the rest of us. Inflation is above 21% and yet interest rates are expected to fall by another 100 basis points on Thursday to 14%, totaling a cut of 500 basis points since September.

A fourth intervention in the currency markets after the dollar rallied above 14 against the lira at the start of the week on the back of the S&P outlook downgrade will prove to be about as successful as the rest. The lines aren’t even blurred between government and central bank anymore, as evident in remarks by Finance Minister Nureddin Nebati on Sunday, when he claimed: “we won’t raise the interest rate”. That makes for an interesting rate decision on Thursday, but unfortunately further pain for Turkish businesses and households for many months to come.

Apple ticking all the boxes

Apple is closing in on a $3 trillion market cap in what would be another landmark moment for the company, coming a little over a year after hitting $2 trillion and three years after $1 trillion. It really is an incredible achievement and just begs the question, how long until it hits $4 trillion? They have a fantastic product lineup and so much to offer in the coming years. It’s had its doubters at times over the years, particularly on the innovation side, but it appears to be ticking all the boxes at the moment.

Oil stabilizes as we await more Omicron data

Oil prices appear to have stabilized over the last week after roaring back from their Omicron-induced losses. OPEC+ put a floor under the price for now as the group warned of sudden adjustments in output but ultimately, the price will only hold up as long as investors continue to believe Omicron poses no substantial threat. Leaders appear more concerned than investors at the moment which is always a worry, but with oil prices 15% off their October highs, there does appear to be some caution priced in at these levels.

Gold range-bound ahead of the Fed

Gold is seeing some support for a second day but remains below $1,800 and within the range it’s traded broadly within over the last few weeks. If it can break above $1,810 it may pick up some momentum to the upside but I struggle to see that ahead of the Fed decision on Wednesday. Then it’s a question of what gold bulls will want to see from the meeting. No taper acceleration? Pushback against rate hikes? Transitory being brought out of retirement? I’m not sure we’ll see any of these.

Bitcoin struggling once more

Bitcoin is back below $50,000 and really struggling to find any bullish momentum when the price does rebound. An improvement in risk appetite hasn’t even helped the cryptocurrency which could be facing a move back towards the levels seen during the flash crash earlier this month if $47,000 falls. Perhaps central banks collectively paring back tightening expectations will get the crypto community excited again this week.

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Crude Oil

Oil Prices Continue to Slide: Drops Over 1% Amid Surging U.S. Stockpiles

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Crude Oil

Amidst growing concerns over surging U.S. stockpiles and indications of static output policies from major oil-producing nations, oil prices declined for a second consecutive day by 1% on Wednesday.

Brent crude oil, against which the Nigerian oil price is measured, shed 97 cents or 1.12% to $85.28 per barrel.

Similarly, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude slumped by 93 cents or a 1.14% fall to close at $80.69.

The recent downtrend in oil prices comes after they reached their highest level since October last week.

However, ongoing concerns regarding burgeoning U.S. crude inventories and uncertainties surrounding potential inaction by the OPEC+ group in their forthcoming technical meeting have exacerbated the downward momentum.

Market analysts attribute the decline to expectations of minimal adjustments to oil output policies by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, known collectively as OPEC+, until a full ministerial meeting scheduled for June.

In addition to concerns about excess supply, the market’s attention is also focused on the impending release of official government data on U.S. crude inventories, scheduled for Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT).

Analysts are keenly observing OPEC members for any signals of deviation from their production quotas, suggesting further volatility may lie ahead in the oil market.

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Energy

Nigeria Targets $5bn Investments in Oil and Gas Sector, Says Government

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Crude Oil - Investors King

Nigeria is setting its sights on attracting $5 billion worth of investments in its oil and gas sector, according to statements made by government officials during an oil and gas sector retreat in Abuja.

During the retreat organized by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, explained the importance of ramping up crude oil production and creating an environment conducive to attracting investments.

He highlighted the need to work closely with agencies like the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to achieve these goals.

Lokpobiri acknowledged the challenges posed by issues such as insecurity and pipeline vandalism but expressed confidence in the government’s ability to tackle them effectively.

He stressed the necessity of a globally competitive regulatory framework to encourage investment in the sector.

The minister’s remarks were echoed by Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, who spoke at the 2024 Strategic Women in Energy, Oil, and Gas Leadership Summit.

Kyari stressed the critical role of energy in driving economic growth and development and explained that Nigeria still faces challenges in providing stable electricity to its citizens.

Kyari outlined NNPCL’s vision for the future, which includes increasing crude oil production, expanding refining capacity, and growing the company’s retail network.

He highlighted the importance of leveraging Nigeria’s vast gas resources and optimizing dividend payouts to shareholders.

Overall, the government’s commitment to attracting $5 billion in investments reflects its determination to revitalize the oil and gas sector and drive economic growth in Nigeria.

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Commodities

Palm Oil Rebounds on Upbeat Malaysian Exports Amid Indonesian Supply Concerns

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Palm Oil - Investors King

Palm oil prices rebounded from a two-day decline on reports that Malaysian exports will be robust this month despite concerns over potential supply disruptions from Indonesia, the world’s largest palm oil exporter.

The market saw a significant surge as Malaysian export figures for the current month painted a promising picture.

Senior trader David Ng from IcebergX Sdn. in Kuala Lumpur attributed the morning’s gains to Malaysia’s strong export performance, with shipments climbing by a notable 14% during March 1-25 compared to the previous month.

Increased demand from key regions like Africa, India, and the Middle East contributed to this impressive growth, as reported by Intertek Testing Services.

However, amidst this positivity, investors are closely monitoring developments in Indonesia. The Indonesian government’s contemplation of revising its domestic market obligation policy, potentially linking it to production rather than exports, has stirred market concerns.

Edy Priyono, a deputy at the presidential staff office in Jakarta, indicated that this proposed shift aims to mitigate vulnerability to fluctuations in export demand.

Yet, it could potentially constrain supply availability from Indonesia in the future to stabilize domestic prices.

This uncertainty surrounding Indonesian policies has added a layer of complexity to palm oil market dynamics, prompting investors to react cautiously despite Malaysia’s promising export performance.

The prospect of Indonesian supply disruptions underscores the delicacy of global palm oil supply chains and their susceptibility to geopolitical and regulatory factors.

As the market navigates these developments, stakeholders remain attentive to both export data from Malaysia and policy shifts in Indonesia, recognizing their significant impact on palm oil prices and market stability.

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