Commodity Blog

Posts Tagged ‘metal’

Orange-juice futures went up after frosts hit Florida, the second greatest grower in the world after Brazil. Cold weather will last for a week, which should be not enough to noticeably damage crops. March futures for orange-juice delivery added $0.083 (6.4 percent) to $1.3735 per pound as of 10:33 on ICE.

Copper prices jumped to the record in 16 months after a strike at the second-biggest mine in the world and as manufacturing in the U.S., China and India increased in December. Last month manufacturing in the U.S. grew at fastest rate in three months. Demand for the metal in China reached a record in the first half of 2009. March futures for copper delivery climbed $0.0505 (1.5 percent) to $3.397 per pound by 11:22 on the New York Mercantile Exchange’s Comex unit.

White sugar price reached the highest level in at two decades in London on concern that flooding in Brazil may harm the crop. Analysts forecast that global sugar production will decline by 13.5 million tons in 2009–2010 season. March delivery for white sugar rose $16.10 (2.3 percent) to $726.30 per metric ton on the Liffe exchange.

Platinum is mainly used in manufacture of the autocatalysts. It is also used in petroleum, electrical, chemical and glass industries as well as investment asset. In 2009 demand for the metal fell as car demand declined because of global economy recession. What future can be expected for platinum in 2010?

As global economy rebounds so demand for platinum from industries, particularly car industry, grows. Jewelry industry showed astounding 80% growth of demand for the metal. Demand in China is steadily growing, expected to add 900,000 oz.

Will supply catch up demand in the next year? Opinions differ at this matter. Supply from South Africa fell 10.6% in 2009. Production in Russia declined 11% in the previous year. But in 2010 output from these countries can rise in response for growing prices. In other regions production slightly grew. Some analysts predict deficit as demand climbs, while other analysts forecast oversupply.

But even in case of oversupply platinum price may in fact grow due to investor involvement. Platinum ETFs increased 89% in 2009. Analysts say that the commodity will be traded in range $1,100-$1,900 in the next year, $1,350 being the most likely price.

Gold prices dropped as rising dollar lowered demand for the precious metal as a hedge against inflation. Restoring U.S. economy returned confidence in the U.S. currency, driving the greenback up. Some investors also were selling the metal to make profit from high gold prices. February futures for gold delivery slid $9.80 (0.9 percent) to $1,098.10 per ounce on the Comex division of NYMEX.

Crude oil little changed, remaining at a five-week high, after heating oil jumped on forecast for cold weather in the U.S. and the dollar rebounded versus the euro. January delivery for heating oil increased $0.0293 (1.4 percent) to $2.1028 per barrel on NYMEX. U.S. oil stockpiles dropped 1.85 million barrels in the week ended December 25th from 327.5 million the previous week. February delivery for crude oil gained $0.1 to $78.87 per barrel on NYMEX.

Platinum hit the record in four weeks after the dollar slid versus the euro, increasing demand for precious metals as an alternative investment. The greenback slid 0.8 percent against the euro. April futures for platinum delivery added $30 (2.1 percent) to $1,432.90 per ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Gold prices reached the record level in a week as the dollar fell, spurring demand for precious metals as an inflation hedge. The precious metal also gained as new home purchases in the U.S. decreased last month and consumer spending increased less than expected, boosting demand for the metal as a haven. February futures for gold delivery increased $7.30 (0.7 percent) to $1,094 per ounce on NYMEX.

Copper prices slid as demand fell and stockpiles grew. Stockpiles monitored by the London Metal Exchange climbed as much as 34 percent since September 30th. Copper also dropped after the dollar gained versus a basket of six currencies, decreasing the attractiveness of some industrial materials. March futures for copper delivery slid $0.0365 (1.2 percent) to $3.0875 per pound by 12:13 on NYMEX.

Platinum gained as the weaker dollar spurred appeal of the metal as an alternative investment. Some traders buy platinum as a store of value when the dollar declines and sell when it rises. January futures for platinum delivery gained $15.30 (1.1 percent) to $1,424.50 per ounce on NYMEX.

The global aluminum surplus will be cut by 54 percent in 2010 compared to this year as demand increase in China, the greatest buyer in the world, with economical recover. Chinese demand also increase with help of government’s economic measures. World demand for the metal will climb 7.6 percent to 37.6 million metric tons in the next year.

Chinese aluminum production will rise 16 percent to 15.5 million tons in 2010 as smelters encouraged restarting their work by increasing metal prices. Despite this analysts don’t expect any significant export from China next year. Global supply will rise 3.5 percent to 38.8 million tons in 2010.

Analysts predict that delivery for aluminum in three months will reach $1,900 per metric ton on the London Metal Exchange in January to March. The metal traded $2,127 per ton as of 17:50 in Tokyo.

Copper tumbled on speculation that the global economic recovery may become slower. Imports of the metal in China, the largest consumer of copper in the world, slid in October for the third time in four months. March delivery for copper slid $0.0065 to $3.252 per pound by 11:39 on the New York Mercantile Exchange’s Comex unit.

Soybeans gained for the first time in three sessions on speculation that global demand for the U.S. oilseed and animal feed increased. Sales grew 58 percent to 27.8 million metric tons since September 1st. January futures for soybean delivery gained $0.0675 (0.7 percent) to $10.4075 per bushel as of 11:52 on CBT.

Hog futures climbed to the weekly high on speculation that a rising prices for U.S. wholesale-pork signaled increasing export demand. Exports are rising as the dollar falls and as countries lift bans on U.S. pork that were put after the swine flu outbreak. February futures for hog settlement climbed $0.003 (0.5 percent) to $0.6695 per pound at 12:21 on CME.

Copper slid in London as growing inventories and the rebounding dollar pushed down demand for the metal. Stockpiles monitored by the London Metal Exchange increased 0.1 percent to 432,075 metric tons, the highest level since April 23rd. March delivery for copper slid 2.3 percent to $3.1245 per pound on NYMEX.

Gold imports by India, the greatest buyer in the world, declined for the seventh straight month as record prices decreased demand for the precious metal. Gold prices touched a record for a third time this week as falling dollar boosted attractiveness of the metal as an inflation hedge. Immediate delivery for gold for dropped 0.7 percent to $1,183.15 per ounce.

Copper slid in New York and London after the dollar gained. Prices also fell as stockpiles of metal in LME-monitored warehouses increased 0.4 percent to 373,800 tons. December delivery for copper slid $0.0325 (1.1 percent) to $2.9125 per pound by 8:27 on the New York Mercantile Exchange’s Comex unit.

Coffee futures declined on speculation that a stronger dollar will decrease demand for commodities. Coffee also fell on concern that yesterdays 5.1 percent surge was overdone. December futures for Arabica-coffee delivery declined $0.025 (1.8 percent) to $1.3985 per pound as of 9:32 on ICE Futures U.S. in New York.

Wheat futures may be opened lower as the rising dollar decrease demand for the U.S. exports and for commodities as an alternative investment. Wheat on CBoT is expected to open about 6 cents lower.

Survey showed that gold may go down because a rising dollar eroding appeal of the precious metal as a hedge against inflation. The U.S. Dollar Index has gained 1.3 percent from the lowest in the 14 months on October 21st. Gold have trend to move inversely to the U.S. currency. December delivery for gold went down 0.8 percent to $1,047.50 per ounce at 12:55 yesterday in New York.

Copper may fall in London on speculation the dollar will rebound, eroding demand and making metals priced in the U.S. currency more expensive for holders of other monies. Analysts said that the metal would fall next week. Three-month delivery for copper remained at $6,651 per metric ton as of 17:00 yesterday on the London Metal Exchange.