Markets

US Return Could Boost Activity, Focus Remains on BoE and UK Inflation

Stock markets remain slightly in the red on Tuesday but activity should pick up with the return of Wall Street from the long bank holiday weekend.

Published

3 months ago

June 20, 2023

Investors King

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

Stock markets remain slightly in the red on Tuesday but activity should pick up with the return of Wall Street from the long bank holiday weekend.

The focus this week remains on the central banks and whether we are as close to the end of the tightening cycle as everyone wants to believe. While there is the temptation to take what the Fed and others say with a small pinch of salt given their record over the last couple of years and the fact that any pivot was always likely to come late, they have been proven more accurate recently on their assertion that rates need to keep rising.

Markets have been overly optimistic this year and there may be an element of luck on the central bank side – keen to not underestimate inflation again, they were always going to remain hawkish as long as feasibly possible – but the data simply hasn’t justified changing course yet.

That may change over the next couple of months but so far, especially in the UK, the turnaround in inflation has been more akin to a container ship performing a U-turn than a speedboat as many hoped. That may not dramatically increase the terminal rate but it may ensure it remains there much longer. Rate cuts this year look more fantasy than reality now.

The BoE will be hoping for some good news from the UK inflation data tomorrow but I’m guessing policymakers are approaching it with a sense of dread rather than hope. We’re not likely to see any significant progress from the May data but avoiding another nasty surprise may be viewed as a win, allowing the MPC to proceed with 25 basis points rather than 50 which markets are pricing in a 30% chance of at this stage.

Oil remains choppy but flat and in lower range

Oil prices are relatively flat today, mirroring yesterday’s session which was broadly choppy but ultimately directionless. Crude has rebounded strongly since falling toward its 2023 lows early last week but remains in its lower range, roughly between $70-$80 per barrel and it’s showing little sign of breaking that in the short term.

While some believe the market will be in deficit later in the year, aided by the Saudi-driven OPEC+ cuts, which could support prices closer to what we saw late last year and early this, the economy remains one significant downside risk to this amid an adjustment in the markets toward higher rates for longer.

Gold drifting as we await more data

Gold has started the week slightly softer but very little has changed, in that it remains in the $1,940-$1,980 range that it has spent the vast majority of the last month. It was a very quiet start to the week which is why gold has basically continued to drift and that may continue until we see a significant change in the data.

The Fed last week made it perfectly clear that it doesn’t believe it’s done and its commentary this week, including Chair Powell’s appearing in Congress on Wednesday, isn’t likely to change in any significant way from that. It will be interesting to see if we get any response to UK inflation data as a potential signal of stickiness more broadly but then, there’s every chance it could be viewed as a UK issue, rather than an indication of something more, considering how much more the country has struggled until now.

Bitcoin’s recent trend remains against it despite recovery

Bitcoin drifted a little higher at the start of the week and is continuing to do so today. The move back toward $25,000 may have worried some but it’s recovered relatively well since then. The recent trend remains against it and until it breaks the pattern of lower highs – recovery rallies that fall short of recent peaks before falling again – it will continue to look vulnerable. A break below $25,000 could be another blow although gains this year would still remain extremely healthy.

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Crude Oil

Oil Prices Rally Amidst Russian Export Ban and Rate Hike Concerns

Published

19 hours ago

September 22, 2023

Samed Olukoya

Oil prices saw an upward trend on Friday as concerns over Russia’s ban on fuel exports potentially tightening global supply.

This development overshadowed apprehensions of further interest rate hikes in the United States that could impact demand.

However, despite this bounce, oil prices were still on course for their first weekly decline in four weeks.

Brent crude oil gained 46 cents, or 0.5% to $93.76 per barrel while the U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) oil surged by 65 cents, a 0.7% rise to $90.28 a barrel.

These gains were driven by growing concerns regarding tight global supply as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+) continued to implement production cuts.

Toshitaka Tazawa, an analyst at Fujitomi Securities Co Ltd, commented on the volatile nature of the market, stating, “Trading remained choppy amid a tug-of-war between supply fears that were reinforced by a Russian ban on fuel exports and worries over slower demand due to tighter monetary policies in the United States and Europe.”

He further noted that investors would closely monitor OPEC+ production cuts and the impact of rising interest rates, predicting that WTI would trade within a range of approximately $90 to $95.

Russia’s abrupt ban on gasoline and diesel exports to countries outside a select group of four ex-Soviet states had an immediate effect as it aimed to stabilize the domestic fuel market. This export restriction prompted a nearly 5% increase in heating oil futures on Thursday.

Tina Teng, an analyst at CMC Markets, explained, “Crude oil bounced off a session low after Russia banned diesel exports, which included gasoline. The action reversed a downside movement in crude markets following the hawkish Fed decision.”

However, she also warned that mounting concerns about a recession in the Eurozone could continue to exert downward pressure on oil prices.

The U.S. Federal Reserve recently maintained its interest rates but adopted a more hawkish stance, projecting a quarter-percentage-point increase to 5.50%-5.75% by the year-end. This decision heightened fears that higher rates might dampen economic growth and reduce fuel demand.

Also, the stronger U.S. dollar, reaching its highest level since early March, made oil and other commodities more expensive for buyers using alternative currencies.

Crude Oil

NNPCL’s Crude Commitments Create Hurdles for Dangote’s Oil Operations

Published

3 days ago

September 20, 2023

Investors King

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has found itself at the center of a growing challenge faced by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, one of Africa’s largest industrial projects.

As the refinery gears up for full-scale production, it is grappling with unforeseen hurdles caused by the commitments made by NNPCL in the form of crude oil agreements with other entities.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery, a flagship project of the Dangote Group led by billionaire Aliko Dangote, is on the brink of becoming a game-changer in Nigeria’s energy sector. With a promise to significantly reduce the country’s dependence on imported petroleum products, the refinery holds the potential to bolster the nation’s energy self-sufficiency.

However, recent revelations have shed light on the complexity of the oil industry in Nigeria and how contractual commitments can disrupt even the best-laid plans.

According to Devakumar Edwin, the Executive Director of the Dangote Group, in an interview with S&P Global Commodity Insights, the NNPCL, which normally trades crude oil on behalf of Nigeria, has pledged its crude to other entities.

While Edwin did not disclose the specific recipients of NNPCL’s crude commitments, it was previously announced that the company had entered into a $3 billion crude oil-for-loan deal with the African Export-Import Bank. Under this agreement, NNPCL agreed to allocate future oil production to the bank as repayment for the loan.

This unforeseen twist has left Dangote Petroleum Refinery in a predicament, necessitating the temporary importation of crude oil.

Edwin, however, stated that this importation is only a short-term solution, as the refinery expects to receive crude supply from NNPCL starting in November 2023.

The refinery’s ambitious plans include producing up to 370,000 barrels per day of crude, which will be processed into Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) and jet fuel by October 2023. By November 30, 2023, the plant aims to produce Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), providing a much-needed boost to the domestic fuel market.

While the Dangote Group remains committed to its objectives, the delays caused by NNPCL’s prior commitments have raised concerns among oil marketers.

They believe that the prices of diesel and jet fuel, in particular, will only experience a significant reduction once the refinery begins receiving crude oil supplies from Nigeria rather than importing it.

Despite these temporary setbacks, Edwin reaffirmed the refinery’s readiness to receive crude oil, stating, “Right now, I’m ready to receive crude. We are just waiting for the first vessel. And so, as soon as it comes in, we can start.”

In essence, the shift in the refinery’s original timeline can be attributed to the prior commitments made by NNPCL, causing a momentary delay.

However, it remains a beacon of hope for Nigeria’s energy sector, promising a reliable supply of environmentally-friendly refined products and a substantial influx of foreign exchange into the country.

Devakumar Edwin also underscored that the revenues generated from the refinery’s operations would be reinvested in further developments, reaffirming Aliko Dangote’s unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s economic growth.

As the nation eagerly awaits the commencement of production at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, it is clear that the complex web of oil industry contracts and commitments has played an unexpected role in shaping the refinery’s journey towards becoming a transformative force in Nigeria’s energy landscape.

Crude Oil

Oil Prices Retreat as Markets Await Fed Meeting

Published

3 days ago

September 20, 2023

Investors King

Oil prices dipped by almost $1 on Wednesday ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s anticipated interest rate decision.

Investors are grappling with uncertainty surrounding peak rates and the potential impact on energy demand.

Despite a substantial drawdown in U.S. oil inventories and sluggish U.S. shale production indicating a possible tight crude supply for the remainder of 2023, prices tumbled.

Brent crude oil, against which Nigerian oil is priced, slid 88 cents, or 0.9%, to $93.46 a barrel following Tuesday’s peak of $95.96, its highest level since November.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude oil also fell by 1%, or 97 cents, to $90.23 a barrel after hitting a 10-month high of $93.74 the previous day.

Edward Moya, senior market analyst at OANDA, said, “The oil rally is taking a little break as every trader awaits a pivotal Fed decision that might tilt the scales of whether the U.S. economy has a soft or hard landing.”

He emphasized that the oil market remains “very tight” in the short term.

Investors are closely monitoring central bank interest rate decisions this week, including the Federal Reserve’s announcement, to gauge economic growth and fuel demand. While it’s widely expected that the Fed will maintain interest rates, the focus will be on its projected policy path, which remains uncertain.

U.S. crude oil stockpiles declined significantly, with a 5.25 million-barrel drop last week, exceeding the 2.2 million-barrel decline expected by Reuters analysts.

Goldman Sachs analysts raised their 12-month ahead Brent forecast from $93 a barrel to $100 a barrel, citing lower OPEC supply and higher demand. They believe OPEC can maintain a Brent price range of $80-$105 in 2024.

Russia is considering imposing higher export duties on oil products to address fuel shortages, while U.S. shale oil production is set to reach its lowest point since May 2023. On the demand side, India’s crude oil imports declined for the third consecutive month in August due to maintenance and reduced shipments from Russia.

Exxon Mobil Corp has pledged to increase oil production by nearly 40,000 barrels per day in Nigeria, as part of a new investment initiative in the country, according to a presidential spokesperson.