Market Commentary
Oil Trades Near Highest in Four Months on Colder Weather.
Oil traded near the highest level in almost four months in New York before reports that may show the economy recovering in the U.S. and as lower temperatures buoy demand for heating fuels. West Texas Intermediate was little changed after climbing 0.6 percent yesterday. The U.S. East Coast and Midwest will be 5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.8 Celsius) below normal from Jan. 19 to Jan. 23, according to Commodity Weather Group LLC in Bethesda, Maryland. Retail sales probably rose for a second month in December. “Colder weather is helping the energy complex,” said Andrey Kryuchenkov, an analyst at VTB Capital in London, who predicts WTI may remain capped at about $95.60 a barrel. “The global oil market looks evenly balanced.” Crude for February delivery was at $93.70 a barrel, down 44 cents, in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract increased to $94.14 yesterday, the highest settlement since Sept. 18. Prices dropped 7.1 percent last year.
Gold Forecasters Splitting on Peak for Bull Market.
Danske Bank A/S and Credit Suisse Group AG, the most-accurate gold forecasters, say prices will probably peak this year while their nearest rival, UniCredit SpA, sees no end in sight to the 12-year bull market. Gold will average $1,720 an ounce this year and $1,600 in 2014, said Christin Tuxen of Danske Bank in Copenhagen, who came closest to predicting moves in the past eight quarters. Tom Kendall at Credit Suisse in London expects $1,740 and $1,720 and Jochen Hitzfeld of UniCredit in Munich predicts $1,700 and $1,800. Bullion rose more than sixfold since the bull market began in 2001. All three forecast record average prices this year because central-bank stimulus will sustain buying as a hedge against inflation and currency devaluation. Danske and Credit Suisse predict lower prices in 2014 as economic growth curbs demand for the metal as a protector of wealth while UniCredit says record- low interest rates will maintain gold’s allure.
Copper Falls to 2-Week Low After Rio’s Beats Forecasts.
Copper fell for a third day in New York on concern the euro-region debt crisis is sapping the economy in Germany, the world’s third-biggest user of the metal. Growth in gross domestic product slowed to 0.7 percent last year from 3 percent in 2011, Germany’s statistics office said today. Prices also slid after Rio Tinto Group’s production of mined copper topped analyst estimates, indicating ample supply. “Obviously it’s slightly bad news for Europe, as Germany is what’s dragging the European economy at the moment,” Christin Tuxen, an analyst at Danske Bank A/S in Copenhagen, said by phone today, referring to the German GDP figures. Copper for delivery in March dropped 0.4 percent to $3.621 a pound on the Comex in New York. Prices reached $3.614, the lowest level since Dec. 31. Copper for delivery in three months fell 0.5 percent to $7,964 a metric ton on the London Metal Exchange. “Metal markets will be much more focused on what comes out of China” this week, Tuxen said. Figures due Jan. 18 may show GDP growth strengthened in the fourth quarter and industrial production was little changed last month in the country, the world’s biggest copper consumer, according to analysts.