Risk or Resilience? Midyear Global Market Outlook
The resilience of the markets has been impressive in 2017, as stocks continue to move higher despite geopolitical uncertainty. But potential risks remain.
Raw Materials & Resources
Power shift
Coal – end of an era?
Production of coal dropped by a record amount in 2016, reports Bloomberg. China, the world’s biggest energy consumer, burned the least coal in six years and use dropped in the U.S to a level last seen in the 1970s.
Military metal in the flip of a switch
The U.S. could use an existing technology to produce all the specialized “high-purity” aluminum it needs for defense applications, seemingly with the flip of a switch, according to Bloomberg.
India limiting sugar imports
India, the world’s biggest sugar consumer, has no plans to allow extra imports of the sweetener as stocks held in mills will suffice, reports Reuters.
Grease is the new gold
Increase in theft of used vegetable oil has increased due to demand for biofuel production, the largest use for old grease.
Brazilian beef bummer
Brazil’s investigation into tainted food has hit importers, shippers, food processors and customers around the world, reports Bloomberg.
Australian power problems
Australia threatened to impose restrictions on natural-gas exports as it extracted a commitment from global energy companies to supply enough gas to meet growing local demand and prevent a domestic shortage, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Measuring GDP
Gold (production) loses its gleam
The world’s gold miners will be running on the spot for years to come as a surge in gold prices prompts them to secure new production from less profitable projects, according to Bloomberg.
China forecasts corn imports at decade low
According to Reuters, China’s recent forecast of a drop in corn imports to their lowest in at least a decade may end a years-long bonanza for global merchants and producers as maize prices in the world’s biggest grains market have dropped below global prices.
Down Under delay
Australia's plans for a huge increase in its production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) are being dealt a big blow by a series of production delays, as energy companies struggle with technical problems and cost overruns, according to Reuters.
Shale, Propane and Fleets
Sales of propane-powered vehicles are on the rise in the U.S., according to Bloomberg. The increase is especially noticeable among companies that operate fleet vehicles that would normally be powered by diesel.