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Iron ore prices rise on optimism about US-China trade agreement
Iron ore prices rose on Monday as signs of reduced trade tensions between China, the United States and Europe outweighed concerns over demand from China, which is the world's largest consumer. On Sunday, top Chinese and U.S. economists hammered out the framework for a trade agreement that U.S. president Donald Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping will decide on this week. By 0208 GMT, the most traded January iron ore contract at China's Dalian Commodity Exchange rose by 0.32% to $774 yuan (US$108.66) per metric ton. As of 1:58 GMT, the benchmark November iron ore traded on Singapore Exchange was $0.24 per ton higher. The gains were limited, however, as the production curtailments in Tangshan, China's top steel hub, raised concerns over demand for this key ingredient. On Sunday evening, the city of Tangshan in northern China announced that it would launch a Level-2 Emergency Response on Monday due to a forecast for worsening air quality. During such emergencies, local steel mills must typically reduce production. Beijing's proposal to implement a more stringent capacity swap plan, which would reduce current capacity and rebalance the supply and demand 14 months after ceasing the previous programme, cast a shadow over the outlook for iron ore. Coking coal, coke and other steelmaking materials fell by 0.84% and 0.71 %, respectively. The benchmarks for steel on the Shanghai Futures Exchange have gained some ground. Rebar gained 0.46%; hot-rolled coils advanced 0.58%; wire rod rose by 0.78%; and stainless steel edged up by 0.04%.
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Gold drops on stronger dollar and US-China trade hopes
Gold prices fell Monday as investors awaited the outcome of major central bank meetings later this week to get a sense of monetary policy. As of 0158 GMT, spot gold was down by 0.7%, at $4,082.77 an ounce. U.S. Gold Futures for December Delivery fell 1% to $4095.80. The U.S. Dollar rose to its highest level in more than two weeks against the Japanese yen. This made gold more expensive for holders of other currencies. On Sunday, the top Chinese and U.S. economists hammered out the framework for a trade agreement that U.S. president Donald Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping will decide on this week. This potential trade agreement between the U.S.and China came as a complete surprise and was a positive for the markets in general. The developments are also negative for gold, according to Capital.com analyst Kyle Rodda. The market is now calmer and the sentiment has cooled. Gold is gaining support because of the prospects for loose fiscal and monetary policies in the future. If that is the case, then gold's upward trend should continue." Federal Reserve officials are widely expected to lower interest rates at their meeting on Wednesday by a quarter of a percentage point. This view is supported by Friday's inflation report, which was softer than expected. The markets will be looking for any comments from Fed chair Jerome Powell that are forward-looking. In a low-interest rate environment, gold that does not yield tends to be more profitable. SPDR Gold Trust is the largest gold-backed ETF in the world. Its holdings dropped 0.52% on Friday to 1,046.93 tons from 1,052.37 tonnes on Thursday. Other than that, spot silver declined 0.3% to $48,42 per ounce. Platinum rose 0.1%, to $160724; and palladium fell 0.2%, to $1426,06.
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Sources say RPT-Reliance is racing to get battery orders out of China before export restrictions.
Reliance Industries, owned by Indian billionaire Mukesh Amani, is hurrying to ship its battery component orders out of China before new export restrictions are implemented, according to two people who were briefed about the issue. This comes as global concerns grow over how Beijing plans to enforce its expanding export control regime. One source said that a team from Reliance had travelled to China in order to accelerate the work. Reliance, as well as the Ministry of Commerce of China, did not respond when asked for comment. Due to the sensitive nature of the situation, the people refused to be identified. To maintain its competitive edge, Beijing has introduced a new rule this month that requires companies to obtain permission before exporting equipment for the battery supply chain. The new restrictions will take effect on November 8. The second source said that at least a dozen foreign customers in the Chinese battery industry are in the same situation as Reliance. Some of them were sacrificing quality assurance and other final stages of production to expedite the shipment of goods. The second source stated, "Who cares that it hasn't yet been painted or if the screws haven’t been checked?" They are saying that we will do the testing when it lands. Just get it out of the door. CHINA HASS A MAJOR ROLE INSIDE THE BATTERY SUPPLY CHAIN The person said that without the Chinese gear Reliance could not fulfill its plan to locally produce or assemble batteries to store the energy generated by its mega solar project, which is being promoted by the Indian Government to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. According to SNE Research, six of the top 10 battery manufacturers in the world are Chinese. People did not specify which Chinese companies provided Reliance. CATL, China’s largest battery manufacturer, stated in a press release that it is confident exports of its products to overseas factories will proceed smoothly under the newly implemented export regime. The export of materials and equipment needed for our European plants is proceeding as planned, it stated. China exported batteries worth $48 billion in the first eight month of this year. This is up 26% from the same period of last year. China's export of batteries adds to the concern that key technologies can be reliant on Beijing and become entangled in trade disputes. China's export restrictions on rare earths has highlighted the dangers of being dependent on a single supplier. Export controls introduced by China in April led to shortages which threatened to cripple global car production. The second source stated that Chinese battery manufacturers are assuring their foreign customers that there is no need to worry about such drastic changes for batteries. Export licences will be issued quickly and widely in the first few months after the new regime takes effect. In the meantime, foreign companies must play a waiting-game. The first source said, "It's a very tense atmosphere." (Reporting from Lewis Jackson in Beijing, Aditi in Delhi and Zhang Yan in Beijing. Editing by Brenda Goh & Jane Merriman.
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Dollar drops ahead of Fed meeting, stocks soar amid optimism about trade deals
Asian stocks soared on Monday and the dollar slowed as signs of eased trade tensions between China & the U.S. boosted risk appetite. This was a good start to the week, which will be highlighted by central bank meetings & megacap earnings. On Sunday, top Chinese and U.S. economists hammered out the framework for a trade agreement that U.S. president Donald Trump and his Chinese equivalent Xi Jinping will decide on this week at their eagerly awaited meeting in South Korea. The trade agreement would stop the steeper American tariffs, and Chinese export controls on rare earths. This would help calm investor nerves frayed by the escalating tensions in trade between world's two largest economies. Stocks soared, with South Korea’s KOSPI adding more than 2 percent each and Japan’s Nikkei crossing landmarks and reaching record highs. MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific share index outside Japan increased by 1.3%. Investors will be looking for confirmation that the current trade truce is still in place and that China’s reform and stimulus signals are translating into tangible growth momentum, said Charu Chanana. Chief investment strategist at Saxo. Nasdaq Futures rose by 0.88%. European futures rose 0.5%. The Nikkei broke 50,000 for the very first time, while the Kospi rose over 4,000. The Australian dollar (often seen as a proxy for China and a risky currency) rose 0.42% to $0.6541. This is near its two-week peak. Blue-chip stocks in China added 0.84% to the opening of Chinese shares. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose by 0.78%. Gold, a safe-haven, fell 1% due to trade deal optimism, while U.S. Treasuries dropped, resulting in a 2.9 basis point increase in the yield on 10-year bonds. Commodities such as soybeans, corn, and wheat surged due to trade deal prospects. Chris Weston is the head of research for Pepperstone. He said that markets have largely priced in a trade agreement as the more likely outcome. The news won't be a big surprise, and it has already been partially priced in. Weston stated that relief buying "could still increase the risk of upside in" risk-sensitive securities during the trading week. CENTRAL BANK RESULTS ARE AWAIT This week, investors will also focus on the central bank meetings taking place in Japan, Canada and Europe. Federal Reserve rates are expected to be cut by 25 basis points, after September data showed that U.S. consumer price increases were slightly lower than expected. However, the impact of the government shutdown on data is still a concern. "While it was difficult for the markets not to expect a 25-bps reduction at the next meeting, the inflation data should encourage expectations of a further 25-bps in December, particularly if the labour data remain sluggish," stated Harun Thilak. He is the head of global capital market for Validus Risk Management. Dollar was little changed, at 152.93yen. It hovered near a 2-week high. Last time, the euro bought $1.1635. In early trading, the dollar index fell 0.1% to 98.824. Both the European Central Bank (ECB) and Bank of Japan (BoJ) are expected to keep rates unchanged this week. The BOJ will likely debate whether the conditions are right to resume rate increases as concerns about a recession caused by tariffs ease. However, political complications could keep them on hold. Focus on Megacap Earnings This week, the U.S. earnings reporting season will be at its busiest. Megacaps like Microsoft, Apple and Alphabet, as well as Amazon and Meta Platforms, are all expected to release results. The "Magnificent 7", a grouping of companies with large market capitalisations and whose shares dominate equity indices, are expected to continue posting stronger results this quarter, even though the margin of profit between them and the rest of index has narrowed. Stock market performance has been driven by the enthusiasm of a number of megacap companies in the artificial-intelligence industry. Chanana, from Saxo, said that the U.S. earnings and guidance provided by big tech companies will be crucial in gauging whether corporate profits are resilient enough to survive a slowing economic environment. The coming week will determine whether the optimism has lasted.
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Oil prices increase after US and China sign trade agreement
Oil prices increased in the early trading on Monday, after U.S. economic officials and Chinese economic officials drew up a framework for a trade deal. This eased fears that tariffs or export restrictions between two of the world's largest oil consumers would dent global growth. Brent crude futures were up 46 cents or 0.7% to $66.40 per barrel at 0027 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude Futures rose 46 cents or 0.75 percent to $61.96, following gains of 8.9% and 7.7% respectively in the previous weeks due to U.S. & EU sanctions against Russia. Haitong Securities stated in a report that the market's expectations had improved after new sanctions against Russia and a easing in tensions between the U.S. and China. This was in response to concerns over crude oversupply, which drove prices lower earlier in October. U.S. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent stated on Sunday that top Chinese and U.S. economists had hammered out a "very substantive framework" for a deal in Kuala Lumpur. This would allow President Donald Trump to meet with President Xi Jinping later this week to discuss the trade cooperation. Bessent stated that the framework would allow for 100% U.S. duty-free tariffs to be avoided on Chinese products and to defer China's export controls of rare earths. Trump said that he is optimistic about reaching a deal with Beijing, and expects to meet both in China and America. Trump said, "I believe we will have a deal" with China. "We will meet with them later in China, and then we will meet in the U.S. either in Washington or Mar-a-Lago." Tony Sycamore is a market analyst with IG. He said that the positive framework of trade deals helps to offset concerns about Russia's ability to offset new U.S. Sanctions, which target Rosneft, and Lukoil by offering deeper discounts, and using shadow fleets, in order lure buyers. Yang An, analyst at Haitong Securities, said: "However, in the event that sanctions against Russian energy prove less effective than anticipated, oversupply could return to market." (Reporting and editing by Sam Li, Lewis Jackson and Sonali Paul).
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Melissa is a Category 4-hurricane as the Caribbean prepares for impact
The National Hurricane Center of the United States (NHC) announced on Sunday that Hurricane Melissa had developed into a Category 4, with winds up to 220km/h. It is expected to intensify as it moves towards Jamaica. The NHC reported that Melissa will be about 110 miles south of Kingston, and is expected to hit Jamaica on Monday or Tuesday night. It will also strike southeastern Cuba in the late afternoon. At a Sunday press conference, the authorities announced that both airports international were closed. They also said 881 shelters had been activated across the country. Desmond McKenzie said, "Many communities will not survive flooding" at a press conference. "Kingston has a very low elevation. Kingston is not immune to any community. The authorities said that a decision would be taken later today on whether or not to issue an order of mandatory evacuation. They also urged residents to evacuate and provided assistance. Authorities say that some residents have refused to board the evacuation buses. "We're going nowhere, we are just riding the storm out." Douglas Butler, local boat captain from Port Royal, said, "Just sit down and make sure that everything is working well. "I take it easy. As long as my food is there, I am able to eat. "That is the most crucial thing." According to the NHC, Melissa will bring between 15 and 30 inches of rainfall to Jamaica and south Hispaniola. The local maximum could reach 40 inches. Eastern Cuba will receive between 10 and 15 inches of rain, with local maximums up to 20. Dana Morris Dixon is Jamaica's Minister of Information. She said that the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) was ready to offer assistance and that several international partners had already committed their support. Morris Dixon stated, "We will feel the intensity of a hurricane from Monday night into Tuesday." This is rain we have never seen before. Reporting by Gursimran and Gnaneshwar in Bengaluru; Zahra and Maria Alejandra Cardona, Kingston; Writing and editing by Alexander Villegas.
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Cameroon opposition protests increase ahead of presidential election
On Sunday, hundreds of opposition supporters blocked roads and set fire to tyres as protests intensified in the commercial capital of Cameroon a day ahead of the presidential election results. The police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the supporters of Issa tchiroma, an opposition candidate. They claim he defeated veteran leader Paul Biya during the vote on October 12, and accuse authorities of rigging the election. After partial results were reported by local media, protests erupted in several cities as Biya (92) was expected to win. The government rejected the opposition's claims of irregularities, and encouraged people to wait until the results were announced. "We want Tchiroma! We want Tchiroma!" The protesters in Douala’s New Bell neighborhood chanted "We want Tchiroma, we want Tchiroma!" They blocked roads and threw stones and other projectiles towards security forces. At least four protesters were detained by police, as reported by reporters. Other parts of the city, including Tchiroma’s hometown Garoua, also saw clashes. Tchiroma’s campaign manager had earlier on Sunday said that authorities had arrested about 30 politicians who supported his candidacy. This heightened tensions. Anicet Tchameni and Djeukam Ekane were among those he claimed were arrested. Djeukam is a prominent member of the Union for Change. Paul Atanga Nji said that arrests were made on Saturday in connection with an "insurrectional" movement, but he didn't say how many or who was arrested. Biya has been the leader of Cameroon, and is currently the oldest ruler in the world. He has held power since 1982. He could be in power for another seven-year period, keeping him there until he's nearly 100. Tchiroma has declared that he is the winner and will not accept anything else. (Reporting and writing by Bate Felix, Nellie Pettit; editing by Andrew Heavens).
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EU considers more flexible climate target in hunt for deal, draft shows
A draft EU document revealed that European Union countries were negotiating proposals for giving industries a more flexible way to meet climate goals. The bloc is trying to gain support from governments to achieve a new target of 2040 to reduce emissions. The EU is negotiating a legally binding target to reduce net greenhouse gas emission by 90% by 2040. It is racing to adopt the goal before the world leaders meet for the U.N. COP30 Climate Summit on November 6. Months of negotiations have not yet yielded an agreement, because some governments have been resistant to green measures and have raised concerns about how to finance a low-carbon shift alongside other priorities such as defence and revitalising the industries. The draft EU compromise proposal seen by revealed that countries had drafted plans to allow the EU review the 2040 goal every two years. This could potentially allow Brussels to weaken this target in the future. The draft would also include in law an agreement that other industries won't be forced to reduce emissions faster if the forests absorb less CO2 than expected or if technologies to remove CO2 are developed slower than anticipated. The draft, dated 25 October, stated that "potential shortfalls in one area should not be made at the expense other areas." No Change to the Carbon Credit Quota The new compromise reflects the demands made by EU leaders at a recent summit, where they discussed "enabling conditions" required to achieve green goals without increasing energy bills for consumers and while supporting businesses that are struggling with cheap Chinese imports or U.S. Tariffs. The ambassadors of EU countries will begin negotiations next week before their climate ministers try to approve the goal on November 4. Although countries are still discussing this, the draft proposal does not change the 90% target for reducing emissions, or the 3% that can be achieved by purchasing foreign carbon credits instead of domestic efforts. Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that credits could cover as much as 5%. The European Commission, in order to win over governments that are sceptical, has promised to make changes to greener measures. This includes price controls on a future carbon market for transportation fuels. Brussels may also weaken its ban on combustion engine cars in 2035 after Germany and Italy put pressure on it. A spokesperson from Denmark, which currently holds the rotating EU Presidency and drafted this document, declined comment. (Reporting and editing by Kate Abnett)
Oil set to experience steepest weekly drop in 3 1/2 months
The oil prices were slightly higher on Friday, after four consecutive sessions of declines. However, they are on course for the steepest weekly drop since late June because market expectations expect that OPEC+ could increase output despite concerns about oversupply.
Brent crude futures rose 18 cents or 0.3% to $64.29 per barrel at 0000 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude climbed by 19 Cents, or 0.3% to $60.67 per barrel.
Brent could end the session at its lowest level since last week's May 30. WTI might finish at levels not seen since May 2 if prices don't recover further in this session.
Brent is down 8.3% on a weekly basis while WTI has fallen 7.6%.
Sources told The Week that OPEC+ may agree to increase oil production in November by as much as 500,000 barrels a day, which is triple the October increase, because Saudi Arabia wants to regain market share.
Tony Sycamore is an analyst with IG. He said, "If OPEC+ announces a 500,000 bpd hike this weekend, that's likely to be a large enough increase to send crude back down, first to the support level of $58.00 before testing this year's lowest $55.00 area."
Analysts say that a potential increase in OPEC+ oil supply, a slowdown in global crude refinery operations due to maintenance, and upcoming seasonal drops in demand will accelerate the buildup of oil stocks in the U.S.
Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday that U.S. crude, gasoline and distillate inventory rose last week due to a decline in refining and demand.
Sycamore stated that "concerns about a US shutdown curtailing economic activity, and the return of Iraqi Kurdish oil to the market are also impacting the crude price."
The Group of Seven finance ministers announced on Wednesday that they would increase pressure on Russia, targeting those countries who continue to buy Russian oil. (Reporting and editing by Jamie Freed; Sudarshan Varadan)
(source: Reuters)