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Commodity rates fall after Donald Trump chose US President

Products from oil and gas to metals and grains dropped on Wednesday as the dollar rallied and triumph for Republican politician Donald Trump in the U.S. governmental election stired issues about tariffs and economic development.

Trump recaptured the White House by securing more than the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency, following a campaign of dark rhetoric that deepened the polarization in the country.

Oil rates fell by more than 1% on pressure from the U.S. dollar rally, which was set for its greatest one-day increase since March 2023 against significant peers.

Financiers believe Trump's presidency will bolster the dollar as rate of interest might require to remain high to combat inflation that would originate from new tariffs.

A more powerful U.S. dollar makes greenback-denominated commodities such as oil more pricey for holders of other currencies.

Precious metals likewise fell, with gold moving to a near three-week low, while copper lost more than 2%, making it the worst entertainer of the base metals complex.

Gold will be torn in between the threat of increasing inflation, potentially slowing the speed of U.S. rate cuts, as tariffs are rolled out and continued demand for safe haven properties, Ole Hansen, head of product strategy at Saxo Bank, said.

Product prices started to fall overnight as traders begun to rate in the probability of a Trump win.

This circumstance is expected to produce the assured tariffs on imported goods, particularly targeting China, possibly activating a new wave of trade tensions and economic disruptions, Hansen included.

Nevertheless, Trump could restore sanctions on Iran and Venezuela, getting rid of oil barrels from the market, which would be bullish, said UBS expert Giovanni Staunovo. Iran exports about 1.3 million barrels per day.

Criteria European gas costs also fell by nearly 3% in the middle of issues about gas supplies and Trump's stance on the Middle East conflict and Russia-Ukraine war.

China's industrial metals and steel industries might face headwinds as Trump has promised to impose blanket 60% tariffs on Chinese products to increase U.S. production.

China's steel prices will undertake more downward pressure if Trump wins the election, and domestic steelmakers may face much more severe losses, said Ge Xin, deputy director at Lange Steel Research Centre.

This is since Trump will be more aggressive in regards to steps against China.

The copper market was pricing in the possible roll-back of U.S. electrification initiatives, consisting of aids for electric lorries, which would moisten need.

Agricultural products were likewise hit, with soybean futures in specific trading lower. Wheat and corn were seen as less exposed to restored trade stress with China.

A more powerful dollar makes U.S. grain more pricey overseas, while tariffs proposed by Trump might interrupt U.S. agricultural trade, with soybeans especially reliant on sales to leading importer China.

There are also fears that China could react with retaliatory measures, possibly decreasing U.S. exports of key crops and producing downward pressure on costs.

Shares in European clean energy companies also fell as Trump has actually vowed to scrap offshore wind tasks through an executive order on his very first day in office.

(source: Reuters)