Crude Oil Retreats amid Rate Hike Concerns in China

Heightened speculations on rate hikes in China have weighed on financial markets. Asian equities plunged amid worries that slowdown in Chinese growth will affect corporate profits while European bourses fluctuated between gains and losses. In the commodity sector, the front month contract for WTI crude oil fell after faltering below 86. Gold, however, climbed for another day to as high as 1377. Sovereign woes in the European periphery remained under the spotlight.

The market focus has once again turned to China. Zhong Jiyin, an economist with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences wrote in China Daily that the country needs to raise interest rates by another 200 bps to curb inflation, given existing excess liquidity. Although the government has implemented a series of measures, including increasing RRR and raising margins for certain commodity futures, the impacts on inflation are not significant and CPI rose to 4.4% y/y in October, The market has been speculating that a rate hike can come over the next few weeks. According to Zhong, raising RRR may help ease the situation but is 'not enough to reverse it. The increase in the required reserve ratios for banks can prevent the rise of excess liquidity and ensure that the situation does not deteriorate further'. It will 'do little to get rid of the existing excess liquidity. Increasing interest rates is a common measure taken to check inflation'.

In Europe, it's obvious that the bailout for Ireland failed to stem contagion. The market currently expects the EU will need to rescue more peripheral European countries with Portugal being the one after Ireland. Indeed, apart from Portugal, CDS spreads and yield spreads between Spanish/Italian bonds and German bunds have continued to soar. According to Bloomberg news, Spain's banks may struggle to refinance about 85B euro in debt in 2011 and this may trigger the country to seek a bailout from EU/IMF.

China' rate hike and European sovereign concerns have dominated the headlines, overshadowing macroeconomic data. Germany's unemployment fell -9K to 3.14M, the lowest level since December 1992, in November. Unemployment rate stayed unchanged at 7.5%. We will have housing, manufacturing and confidence data in the NY session. Growth in S&P/Case-Shiller Composite 20 index may have eased to +1% in September. Chicago Fed will report its manufacturing PMI which probably dipped -0.7 to 59.9 in November. Consumer Confidence is expected to have improved to 52.7 in November from 50.2 in the prior month.

Posted courtesy of Oil N'Gold

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Phil Flynn: Ben Versus The Dragon

The Chinese moved to increase interest rates and Big Ben Bernanke struck back defending quantitative easing and bashing the Chinese. Ben forced the issue with QE2 and now the Chinese are forced to raise rates! Now the question is will the Chinese rate hikes keep coming or will it be too little too late to cool their hot inflation? Right now I would say it’s bordering on too little too late. Ben Bernanke lashed out at China saying they are causing global problems by preventing their currency from strengthening while their economy booms.

It’s just like what I said in my article in the upcoming issue of SFO Magazine when I wrote, “The Fed felt it had no choice (but to print more money,QE2) as the U.S. government moved slow to attack a rising budget deficit and at the same time face an imbalance as the Chinese continue to manipulate their currency." Chinese currency manipulation may help them in the short run yet it could sow the seeds of economic problems in the future.

The Chinese may feel that they have to cheat the world to be successful by controlling their currency but the truth is that if they want to maintain their meteoric economic growth over the long run they would be better served by allowing the market, not the government, to moderate their economy. Chinese currency manipulation is creating a bubble that will burst if they make a misstep, causing major pain the future. Right now that may be hard to imagine as everyone on the globe is so bullish on China yet the recent correction and history is a reminder that things can......Read the entire article.


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Phil Flynn: Shake It Off!

Can the global commodity markets shake off the threats of Chinese rate hikes? Well today they are going to try. Still yesterday the oil markets ignored a very bullish oil inventory report after Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said that he and the state council were drafting measure to address inflation. This led to the belief that interest rates in China may go up dramatically and curtail that oh so precious Chinese oil demand... Not Even a massive drop in US oil supply was enough to deter the market from going lower.

The EIA reported that U.S. commercial crude oil inventories decreased by a whopping 7.3 million barrels from the previous week. At 357.6 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are above the upper limit of the average range for this time of year. Total motor gasoline inventories decreased by 2.7 million barrels last week and are in the upper half of the average range. Both finished gasoline inventories and blending components inventories decreased last week.

Distillate fuel inventories decreased by 1.1 million barrels and are above the upper boundary of the average range for this time of year. Oil Exports and Low imports and refinery maintenance are the reason for the draws. The strikes in France are still taking a toll on our supply. Bloomberg News China International United Petroleum & Chemical Co., the nation’s largest oil trader, plans to boost diesel imports for a second month in December to ease a domestic shortage of the transport fuel.

China International, or Unipec, plans to import 120,000 tons for December delivery, compared with......Read the entire article.


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Bloomberg: Crude Oil Falls From Two Year High on Speculation China May Raise Interest Rates

Crude oil declined from a two year high in New York on speculation China will raise interest rates, damping growth in the world’s biggest energy consumer. Crude fell for the first time in three days and was set for a weekly drop. Equities slid on signs China is preparing to increase the cost of borrowing to curb inflation and the dollar traded near a six week high against the euro as Group of 20 leaders hold an emergency meeting amid concern that Europe’s debt crisis is worsening.

“For the time being $90 is going to be a very strong resistance level; above that, it’s too expensive,” said Andy Sommer, a senior analyst at EGL AG in Dietikon, Switzerland. “There’s a lot of uncertainty about Chinese monetary policy. If they tighten further, that has implications for the oil market.”

Crude for December delivery fell as much as $2.30, or 2.6 percent, to $85.51 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It was at $86.08 at 1:15 p.m. London time. Yesterday, the contract rose to $88.63, the highest price since Oct. 9, 2008. Brent crude for December settlement fell as much as $2.16, or 2.4 percent, to $86.65 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London. The contract expires Nov. 15. The more actively traded January futures fell $1.59 to $87.51.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index retreated 1.4 percent. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index fell as much as 1.8 percent and Standard & Poor’s 500 Index futures slid 1.5 percent. China’s inflation rate rose to the fastest in two years last month, fueling speculation an interest-rate increase is imminent. “People are betting on the Chinese rates and the discussions in the G-20 meeting are responsible for the current heavy selloff,” said Tetsu Emori, a commodity fund manager at Astmax Co. in Tokyo.......Read the entire article.


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Phil Flynn: Dollar Drubbing And Hot Commodities!

QE2 anger around the world continues to grow leading one to wonder if someone in the world might want to say that the United States is a currency manipulator. How will the Chinese get even with us for our dollar printing ways? Well the easy answer is to just buy more commodities. The hot money is pouring in as the dollar gets wacked and commodities take off again. Hedge funds bullish positions in oil hit a 4 year high as they have no other choice but to react to the bullish actions of the Fed. No one should blame speculators for driving up prices because the Fed gave the hedge funds no choice. The Chinese have no choice either as the Fed action may force them into another commodity buying binge.

The Chinese are already stockpiling oil and panic buying in cotton and other commodities may start to take the place of buying US debt. Why lose money on a deckling dollar when you can make money holding gold, silver or corn! There is also some concern on the Brent side that North Sea crude production could fall. Short report today due to computer issues. Still you can always get the latest news by calling me at 800-935-6487 or email me at pflynn@pfgbest.com . You can also catch Phil on the Fox Business Network where you can see him every day!


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Brazil....The New Saudi Arabia?

If any of the oil reserve reports coming out of Brazil can hold up to industry scrutiny, then Brazil is sure to become the "New Saudi Arabia" in the not to distant future. But a not to unfamiliar phenomenon took place as the Brazilian government began to expand it's control of Petrobras. Investors began to flee in droves, and the stock price is proving it.

So is this a buying opportunity or is Petrobras doomed to go the way of Chinese oil companies in the eyes of western investors.




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Phil Flynn: It’s A Barrel Buster!

Crude oil rises after a barrel busting report. US total petroleum supplies hit the highest level in 29 years. Crude stocks are the highest since 1980. Gasoline supplies, the highest levels since 1990. The forward demand covers for supply, the highest since 1995. Demand for petroleum products dropped a whopping 6.4% and prices rise! So I guess this quantitative easing thing is a way to help oil companies and their bottom line. The Fed wants inflation and the Fed gets what it wants and is even thinking about going beyond their informal target rate. The Fed fear deflation and believe that the best weapon against it is inflation real or not.

The Wall Street Journal says that, “the rationale is that getting inflation up even temporarily would push "real" interest rates nominal rates minus inflation down, encouraging consumers and businesses to save less and to spend or invest more” Let’s see how that works for you. At the same time the US and China are getting testy about the currency rate as the Chinese are saying that forcing them to revalue or devalue their currency would lead to a disaster for the world. The set up is so bullish and commodities continue to......Read the entire article.


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Phil Flynn: Manipulation! It Is A Mania!

There are currency manipulators everywhere you look. Now we all know about the Chinese and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner who is going to give Congress an earful about those well known currency manipulating scoundrels as our fine men and women in congress begins a second day of hearings on the China and their manipulative currency ways. But who could have thought that the Japanese were manipulators as well! Well Senator Carl Levin is deeply disturbed with the Japanese and exclaimed that, "China is not the only country with a predatory exchange rate policy”!

He said that the US needs to watch the Japanese and what they are doing! Now of course we all know that currency manipulation is a very wrong thing to do. And if Senator Levin is deeply disturbed with the Chinese he must be even more disturbed with the Federal Reserve that should be grouped in with the rest of the currency manipulators. Don’t tell the honorable senator this but when the Fed prints more money to save the economy they are manipulating there currency. Also when the party in power, and I am not mentioning any names, runs up deficits and borrows money from the Chinese and pays them back in newly printed bills it kind of encourages that naughty behavior.....Read the entire article.

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Crude Oil Climbs to 17 Month High on Signs of Economic Growth

Crude oil surged to a 17- month high and gasoline rose on signs that global economic growth is accelerating, bolstering optimism that fuel consumption will increase this year. Oil advanced as much as 1.6 percent after reports showed U.S., Chinese and European manufacturing expanded, while pessimism decreased among Japan’s largest industrial companies. Government data tomorrow may show that U.S. employers added about 180,000 jobs in March, a Bloomberg News survey showed.

“The economic news recently has generally been good, which has changed the perception of the oil market,” said Sarah Emerson, managing director of Energy Security Analysis Inc. in Wakefield, Massachusetts. “An economic recovery is always good for demand.”
Crude oil for May delivery rose 88 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $84.64 a barrel at 11:16 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Futures touched $85.10, the highest level since Oct. 10, 2008. Prices climbed 5.5 percent last quarter and are 75 percent higher than a year ago.

Gasoline for May delivery increased 1.56 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $2.3228 a gallon in New York. The contract reached $2.3329, the highest level since Oct. 2, 2008. There will be no Nymex futures trading tomorrow because of the Good Friday holiday.....Read the entire article.

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Phil Flynn: China Appreciation Day

Oil prices are under a bit of pressure to start the day as attention turns again to the forex markets. Comments from China about their currency and their foreign exchange reserves are capturing the attention of traders across the commodity spectrum. Is it possible that the Chinese are on the verge of letting the Yuan appreciate for the first time since July of 2008?

Market Watch News reported that Chinese central bank Gov. Zhou Xiaochuan said China will in due course move away from its current currency exchange policy, indicating Beijing doesn't plan to keep the Yuan’s de-facto peg to the U.S. dollar indefinitely. These comments, as well as comments surrounding their reserves are giving a boost to the dollar and helping to bring inflated oil back down to earth. Oil prices have been supported by China in many ways and we are just not talking about demand.

China’s peg to the dollar, or should we say re-peg to the dollar, has created an excess of printed Yuan’s. The Chinese re-pegged their currency to the dollar as the rising Yuan caused China to lose manufacturing jobs as their exports became more expensive. So China went back to its tried and true formula of pegging its currency to the dollar.

hinese’s stimulus, along with the dollar peg, has created the perfect scenario for the Chinese to buy more oil driving up the price and doing no favors to the strength of the green back. The Chinese peg is another weight on the dollar making oil more expensive in dollar terms. Obviously if China lifts its dollar peg this will be bearish for oil, the question is how bearish. Well that depends how much room they give the Yuan to float and when. Gov Xiaochuan says, "Sooner or later, we will exit [these] policies. Of course maybe that means sooner rather than later.

IFAOnline says that China could end its near two-year currency peg on the dollar as soon as next month, according to respected economist Professor Nouriel Roubini. They say that Prof Roubini believes the Beijing government will authorize a 2% increase against the dollar initially, followed by a further 1%-2% strengthening over the next 12 months. "They will move by a token amount. The world is much cloudier in every dimension. They are super cautious."

Also comments about the Chinese appetite for gold may have an impact on commodities. Market watch reported that China's appetite for gold as a way to diversify its foreign exchange reserves is limited because of the metal's poor returns over the past 30 years, the nation's foreign exchange regulator was cited as saying in a report Tuesday. (What, doesn’t he believe G. Gordon Liddy?) Marketwatch says that Yi Gang, director of China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange, said China's gold reserve, at 1,054 metric tons, was the fifth-largest in the world, Dow Jones Newswires reported, citing comments by Yi at a press conference at the National People's Congress.

But Yi downplayed any desire to add the holdings as a strategy to diversify the nation's $2.4 trillion foreign exchange stockpile. "Gold is not a bad asset, but currently a few factors limit our ability to increase foreign-exchange investment in gold," Yi was quoted as saying. A precursor to another China purchase perhaps?
These types of stories are a reminder how the commodity bull market is built on shaky ground. When you build a base on printed money and central bank currency pegs, we know it creates bubbles that can easily burst. Make sure you get out before it does.

You can contact Phil at pflynn@pfgbest.com And as always catch him every day on the best in business news in town, the Fox Business Network.


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Oil Trades at $74 on China Economic Tightening, Saudi Concern

Oil was little changed at $74 a barrel after China sought to temper its economic expansion and a Saudi adviser said the U.S. aims to cut oil imports. China, the world’s second largest oil consuming country, ordered banks to set aside more deposits as reserves for the second time in a month on Feb. 12, signaling slower economic growth and reduced energy demand. Saudi oil ministry adviser Mohammad al-Sabban said today the U.S. is promoting nuclear power as a means of cutting oil imports.

“The market is a bit uneasy about the Chinese tightening,” said Eugen Weinberg, an analyst with Commerzbank AG in Frankfurt. China is not “yet the largest importer; it’s not yet the largest consumer region. Still, it is one of the most important ones.” Crude oil for March delivery traded at $74 a barrel, down 13 cents, at the halt of electronic trading for the contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 1:15 p.m. Trading resumes at 6 p.m. New York time. There is no floor trading today because of the U.S. Presidents’ Day holiday.

The dollar advanced to $1.3601 against the euro, from $1.3632, as of 3:15 p.m. in New York. The Dollar Index, a six- currency gauge of the greenback’s value, rose 0.14 percent to 80.366. A rise in the value of the dollar curbs demand for commodities as an alternative investment. “What we would be looking for in the next week is how the U.S. dollar is going to behave,” said Harry Tchilinguirian, head of commodity derivatives research at BNP Paribas SA in London. “You are going to be looking at how the dollar is going to behave against a number of currency pairs”....Read the entire article.


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Crude Oil Falls as Dollar Strengthens, U.S. Inventories Forecast to Gain

Crude oil fell in New York on concern China may step up efforts to curb credit growth and on a forecast stockpiles in the U.S. will increase. Oil also pared some of yesterday’s gains as the dollar strengthened against the euro, reducing the appeal of commodities as investments. Chinese regulators asked some of the nation’s banks to limit lending after banks lent a record 9.59 trillion yuan last year and stocks surged. U.S. crude inventories probably climbed for a third week through Jan. 15, according to a Bloomberg News survey before an Energy Department report tomorrow.

“The speculation in stocks spooked the Chinese government, they don’t want to create a bubble,” said Gordon Kwan, head of regional energy research at Mirae Asset Securities Ltd. in Hong Kong. “Oil price will drift between $78 and $82. If the dollar continues to rise, it will have an impact on oil in the second quarter.” Crude oil for February delivery fell as much as 65 cents, or 0.8 percent, to $78.37 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, and traded at $78.38 at 1:06 p.m. Singapore time. February futures expire today. The more-active March contract declined 63 cents, or 0.8 percent, to $78.69.

Yesterday, the February contract gained $1.02, or 1.3 percent, to settle at $79.02 a barrel. Trades were combined with those from Jan. 18 because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in the U.S. The dollar climbed to $1.4214 per euro as of 1:05 p.m. in Tokyo from $1.4288 yesterday in New York. It earlier strengthened to $1.4188, the highest level since Sept. 1.....Read the entire article.

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Oil Rises After Report Shows Record Runs at Chinese Refineries

Oil rose for the first time in eight days after China said the country’s refineries processed a record amount of crude last month. Refining volume in China, the world’s second largest energy consumer, climbed 21 percent from a year earlier to 33.4 million metric tons, or 8.1 million barrels a day, according to government statistics. China’s industrial production grew more than estimated in November. “This is the fastest growth in Chinese oil demand since 2004,” Amrita Sen, a London based oil analyst at Barclays Capital, said by phone. “China has really surprised to the upside this year.”

Crude oil for January delivery rose as much as 66 cents, or 0.9 percent, to $71.20 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It was at $71.03 a barrel at 1:31 p.m. London time. Oil prices have fallen 8 percent since the beginning of this month and dropped 3 percent on Dec. 9, when a U.S. government report showed U.S. gasoline inventories rose to the highest level since April. Futures are up 59 percent this year. “China’s oil imports just don’t stop growing,” Frank Schallenberger, head of commodities research at Landesbank Baden-Wuerttemberg, said by phone from Stuttgart. “China will sell more cars than the U.S. this year, and that is pushing up gasoline demand”.....Read the entire article.


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Crude Oil Rises as Chinese Manufacturing Growth Accelerates

Crude oil rose after a report showed Chinese manufacturing expanded at the fastest pace in five years, bolstering hopes that fuel demand will increase in the world’s second biggest energy consuming country. Oil advanced as much as 2 percent after the purchasing managers’ index for China, released today by HSBC Holdings Plc, rose to a seasonally adjusted 55.7 from 55.4, the highest since April 2004. OPEC oil output climbed 0.4 percent to 28.9 million barrels a day last month, a Bloomberg News survey showed.

“The Chinese manufacturing number is very strong and points to higher energy demand in the months ahead,” said Phil Flynn, vice president of research at PFGBest in Chicago. “The Chinese headlines were enough to outweigh reports that OPEC is increasing production.”

Crude oil for January delivery gained $1.05, or 1.4 percent, to $78.33 a barrel at 10:05 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Futures touched $78.85, the highest since Nov. 23. Prices are up 76 percent this year. Oil tumbled 2.5 percent on Nov. 27 after Dubai World, a government investment company burdened by $59 billion of liabilities, sought to delay repayments. The company has begun what it described as “constructive” talks with banks to restructure $26 billion.....Read the entire article.

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Crude Oil in New York Fluctuates as Chinese Imports Gain, Dollar Climbs

Crude oil rose as Chinese crude imports neared a record and the dollar weakened to a 15 month low, buoying demand for commodities. China’s net oil imports were almost 19 million tons, or 4.5 million barrels a day, the second highest level ever, according to data from the Beijing based customs office. Oil rose and gold surged to a record as the dollar’s slide bolstered purchases of raw materials by investors seeking alternative investments. “The Chinese numbers are obviously very supportive,” said John Kilduff, partner at Round Earth Capital, a hedge fund that focuses on food and energy commodity investments, in New York.

“The consistently high import numbers fly in the face of those who say there is nothing fundamental about the rise in oil prices.” Oil for December delivery rose 82 cents, or 1 percent, to $79.87 a barrel at 10:01 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Futures have climbed 79 percent this year. Chinese imports increased as industrial production soared 16 percent from a year earlier, spurring fuel use. Last month’s net imports were the highest since July’s record 19.2 million barrels. China is the second largest oil consumer after the U.S.....Read the entire article.

Dollar Bounces After Slumping Against Euro, Crude Reverses

U.S. crude futures fell on Monday, reversing direction as the dollar bounced off early lows and as Wall Street slumped after opening higher. Sources also said crude's earlier rise above $81 a barrel, which failed to take out the 2009 peak of $82 from last week, and mild U.S. weather provided pressure on heating oil.

The dollar rallied from 14 month lows versus the euro as riskier assets like commodities and U.S. equities fell. The dollar struggled earlier after an opinion piece in a Chinese newspaper said China should increase its holdings of euros and yen in its foreign reserves. U.S. stocks fell, dragged lower by materials and financial shares, erasing earlier gains.

"Crude is trying to consolidate and it's definitely sensitive to swings in the dollar," said Gene McGillian, analyst at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut ......Read the entire article.

Oil Retreats on Greater Than Anticipated U.S. Jobless Claims

Crude oil retreated after more Americans than anticipated filed claims for jobless benefits last week, spurring skepticism about the strength of the recovery from the country’s worst recession since the 1930s. Oil futures dropped more than $1 from the day’s highs after the Labor Department reported that applications for jobless benefits fell by 4,000 to 570,000 in the week ended Aug. 29, exceeding the 564,000 median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. Crude advanced earlier as the Shanghai Composite Index climbed 4.8 percent, the most since March 4. “The oil market is taking its direction from what happens with equities,” said Addison Armstrong, director of market research at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut.....Read the complete article

Crude Oil Falls the Most in a Month as Global Equities Slump

Crude oil prices fell the most in a month as Chinese equities led a global slump on concern a slowdown in lending may derail an economic recovery in the world’s second largest energy consuming country. Oil futures declined for the first time in three days after the Shanghai Composite Index, China’s benchmark, tumbled 6.7 percent on a report that the nation’s banks cut lending. U.S., Asian and European stocks followed the Chinese market lower. “All of what we are seeing today can be blamed on the Chinese stock-market selloff,” said Tom Bentz, a senior energy analyst at BNP Paribas Commodity Futures Inc. in New York. “The Chinese markets have helped support commodities. Price rises have been based on expectations of increased economic growth and demand in China”.....Read Complete Article

Commodities Move Sideways But With A Mildly Bullish Tone

Crude oil recovers modestly in European morning. Rise in Asian stock markets and strong sentiment index in Germany boost price. Currently trading at 72.2, the benchmark contract will continue its narrow trading ahead of oil inventory report.
Germany's IFO business climate index rose to 90.5 in August, compared with market expectation of 89.1, from 87.3 in the prior month. Leading the surprisingly strong number was a +4.6 point increase in the 'expectations' component. The 'current conditions' component also gained +1.8 points during the month. In Asia, stocks advanced as several Chinese companies' reported better than expected earnings results. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index surged.....Complete Story

Sinopec Closes China's Largest Overseas O&G Acquisition for $7.5B

China Petrochemical Corporation ("Sinopec Group") announced that the acquisition of Addax Petroleum Corporation ("Addax") was successfully completed after nearly six months of due diligence and negotiation. Sinopec Group signed the acquisition agreement at an offer price of CAD 52.8 per share on June 24, 2009. It was approved by the Chinese regulatory authorities on August 6th. All pre-requisite conditions have been satisfied, hence Sinopec Group announced the successful closing of this transaction today. Addax Petroleum Corporation is an independent oil producer, established in 1994 and headquartered in Switzerland.....Complete Story