Investors appear to rotate from gold to silver ETPs

Investors appear to rotate from gold to silver ETPs WisdomTree ETF SecuritiesInvestors appear to rotate from gold to silver ETPs

ETF Securities Weekly Flows Analysis – Investors appear to rotate from gold to silver ETPs

Highlights

  • Silver ETPs receive highest weekly inflows since January 2015.
  • Equity contrarians looking to buy Italian ETFs.
  • Long crude oil ETPs saw US$45mn outflows as WTI oil declined the most in 10 weeks.

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Silver ETPs receive highest weekly inflows since January 2015. Silver’s underperformance relative to gold has been correcting in recent weeks. The gold-to-silver ratio has declined to 78 on 25th May from a 2-year high of 82 reached in April. While gold remains under pressure from a rising interest rate environment in the US, silver has the potential to leverage off its industrial’s traits. With global purchasing managers indices seeing improvement in the start Q2, the outlook for industrial demand for silver is looking good. Silver had been in a supply deficit in since 2013 and the lack of capital expenditure in mines in recent years its likely to see that supply deficit persist. Growing demand from electronics (in particular in cars) and photovoltaics bodes well for the metal. Long silver ETPs saw US$97.3mn of inflows last week. Gold ETPs on the other hand saw outflows. Despite gold seeing gains toward the end of the week after the US-North Korea-South Korea summit experienced further turbulence, gold ETPs saw US$63.5mn outflows during the week as gold prices were predominantly falling.

Equity contrarians looking to buy Italian ETFs. The forming of an all-populist coalition government in Italy spooked the market and the FTSE MIB declined a good 4.5% last week. Prior to the events that caused further turmoil over the weekend, ETF investors appear to have sensed a buying opportunity. US$8.2mn of inflows into long FTSE MIB ETFs were the highest since July 2016.

Sugar ETPs saw largest outflows since July 2015 as investors appear to take profit. Sugar prices rose 7% last week as the market reassessed the extent of global over-supply. After a bumper cane crop (and strong crush thereafter), the market was conditioned to think that India would flood the market with high levels of exports. But it appears that India is happy to hold a larger inventory this year. At the same time, less favourable weather is likely to reduce supplies from Brazil and relatively strong oil prices are likely to see a higher amount of cane be diverted to ethanol production rather than sugar. Long sugar ETPs saw US$8.5mn of outflows last week as investors appeared to take profit on the recent price increase.

Investors appear to profit-take on industrial metals. Broad industrial metal prices have risen 1.5% after in the past month, after a period of decline. Investors appear to have taken profit on these moves. US$16.6mn of outflows last week were the highest in eight weeks. While the fundamentals on industrial metals remain supportive, near-term headwinds from an appreciating US Dollar could cap price gains.

Long crude oil ETPs saw US$45mn outflows as WTI oil declined the most in 10 weeks. WTI oil prices fell 5% last week as OPEC and Russia signalled they are ready to increase supply. It is not clear by how much they will increase production or to what extent the 14 member group (and 10 non-OPEC countries participating in the voluntary production adjustments) even agree with reducing production curbs. We expect more clarity after the 174th OPEC meeting scheduled on 22nd June.

For more information contact:

ETF Securities Research team
ETF Securities (UK) Limited
T +44 (0)207 448 4330
E research@etfsecurities.com

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The information contained in this communication is for your general information only and is neither an offer for sale nor a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. This communication should not be used as the basis for any investment decision. Historical performance is not an indication of future performance and any investments may go down in value.

This document is not, and under no circumstances is to be construed as, an advertisement or any other step in furtherance of a public offering of shares or securities in the United States or any province or territory thereof. Neither this document nor any copy hereof should be taken, transmitted or distributed (directly or indirectly) into the United States.

This communication may contain independent market commentary prepared by ETFS UK based on publicly available information. Although ETFS UK endeavours to ensure the accuracy of the content in this communication, ETFS UK does not warrant or guarantee its accuracy or correctness. Any third party data providers used to source the information in this communication make no warranties or representation of any kind relating to such data. Where ETFS UK has expressed its own opinions related to product or market activity, these views may change. Neither ETFS UK, nor any affiliate, nor any of their respective officers, directors, partners, or employees accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct or consequential loss arising from any use of this publication or its contents.

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Contrarians appear to sell US Dollar and buy sugar

Contrarians appear to sell US Dollar and buy sugar

ETF Securities Weekly Flows Analysis – Contrarians appear to sell US Dollar and buy sugar

Highlights

  • US$6.7mn inflows into short USD long EUR ETPs as investors place contrarian trades.
  • Gold outflows resumed after two weeks of inflow.
  • Falling sugar prices draw out potential bargain-hunters.

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US$6.7mn inflows into short USD long EUR ETPs as investors place contrarian trades. In a week where US 10-year Treasury yield temporarily rose above 3% for the first time since 2014, which unleashed pent-up US Dollar strength, ETP investors appeared to take on a contrarian trade. The US Dollar basket rose 1.4% with particular strength against the Euro (1.6%). The Euro depreciated the most on Thursday following acknowledgment from the European Central Bank (ECB) that economic data has been weak in the recent past and that economic developments will need to be closely watched during Q2. While Mario Draghi, the ECB’s President, offered balance in comments highlighting that weakness could be due to temporary factors and come in the shadow of a strong spurt of growth at the end of 2017, the overall tone was judged by the market to be dovish. ETP investors however, appear positioned the Euro to reverse the depreciation seen last week.

Gold outflows resumed after two weeks of inflows. Rising Treasury yields and an appreciating US Dollar drove gold prices 1.1% lower and led to US$23.1 outflows from gold ETPs. That brings a break to several weeks of inflows, when gold had seen support from rising geopolitical risk. A historic summit between North Korea and South Korea last week led to an accord to completely “cease all hostile acts against each other” and work on denuclearising the Korean peninsula. That has taken some of the geopolitical premium off gold.

Falling sugar prices draw out potential bargain-hunters. Last week’s inflows of US$8.9mn into long sugar ETPs were the largest since January 2015. Sugar prices have tumbled 23% since the beginning of the year with global sugar markets amply supplied. With the EU having lifted its export quotas on sugar last year and plenty of supply coming from the major raw cane sugar producers like Brazil and India, sugar has come under pressure. However, as we switch over to the 2018/19 season, some speculate that more cane will be diverted to ethanol production in Brazil, amid higher oil prices (ethanol is alternative fuel in Brazil, with most cars able to consume either gasoline or ethanol). That could leave less cane available for sugar and potentially higher prices.

Outflows from platinum and palladium ETPs follow weak car sales. Platinum ETPs had outflows of US$7.1mn while palladium ETPs had outflows of US$10.6mn. Both metals are used in autocatalysts and so are sensitive to auto sales. European passenger car sales declined 5.3% y-o-y in March 2018 (marking the first fall in March since 2014) and commercial vehicles fell 2.5% y-o-y in March 2018.

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This communication has been issued and approved for the purpose of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 by ETF Securities (UK) Limited (“ETFS UK”) which is authorised and regulated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”).

The information contained in this communication is for your general information only and is neither an offer for sale nor a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. This communication should not be used as the basis for any investment decision. Historical performance is not an indication of future performance and any investments may go down in value.

This document is not, and under no circumstances is to be construed as, an advertisement or any other step in furtherance of a public offering of shares or securities in the United States or any province or territory thereof. Neither this document nor any copy hereof should be taken, transmitted or distributed (directly or indirectly) into the United States.

This communication may contain independent market commentary prepared by ETFS UK based on publicly available information.

This communication may contain independent market commentary prepared by ETFS UK based on publicly available information. Although ETFS UK endeavours to ensure the accuracy of the content in this communication, ETFS UK does not warrant or guarantee its accuracy or correctness. Any third party data providers used to source the information in this communication make no warranties or representation of any kind relating to such data. Where ETFS UK has expressed its own opinions related to product or market activity, these views may change.

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Commodities slide as investors misread policy signals

Commodities slide as investors misread policy signals

Commodity Monthly Monitor – Commodities slide as investors misread policy signals

August/ September 2015

Summary

Confusion around China’s currency policy drives volatility across the commodity complex. With many market participants thinking the change in Chinese currency policy was a competitive devaluation rather than a move to introduce more market dynamics, fears that the authorities have become desperate to reignite economic growth has led to a sell-off in cyclical commodities. At the same time, the gold price has benefited, reversing some of the negative sentiment towards the metal we have seen in past months. As the dust settles, we believe that industrial metals will grind higher as supply tightens and the market realises that Chinese demand is not bad as feared. Although consensus expectations are for a Federal Reserve rate hike in September, recent Fed minutes indicate it is not a sure thing and so some of the US dollar pressure on commodities may ease. The capitulation in oil prices has driven demand higher and will likely provide high-cost producers the incentive to cut back on production. US$200bn of capex cuts have announced across the oil and gas sector, which will help the market come closer to balance as we move toward year-end and into 2016.

Strengthening El Niño to become a catalyst for wheat, corn, cocoa and sugar prices in coming months. While plentiful supplies have led to wheat, corn and sugar price declines over the past month, an intensifying El Niño is likely to impact sensitive growing periods for these crops and drive prices higher.

Uncertainty around Chinese currency policy reinstates gold’s haven status. In recent weeks gold has increased as China’s change in currency policy caught investors off-guard. That contrasts the waning defensive role of the metal during the worst of the Greek financial crisis.

Negative sentiment surrounding the Chinese growth outlook weighs on industrial metals. Renminbi depreciation has prompted speculation that the outlook for economic growth will not favour Chinese metal demand. At the margin the stronger US Dollar has also adversely impacted industrial metals prices.

Oil prices capitulate as OPEC production hits a 3-year high. Higher OPEC production and rising US rig counts have driven prices sharply lower. We believe that these low prices are likely to drive non-OPEC, non-US, high-cost production down, shifting global market share.

For more information contact:

ETF Securities Research team
ETF Securities (UK) Limited
T +44 (0) 207 448 4336
E  info@etfsecurities.com

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Coffee and Sugar Prices Continue to Slide

Coffee and Sugar Prices Continue to Slide

Coffee and Sugar Prices Continue to Slide

  • The last few months have seen coffee and sugar prices continue their relentless march lower, as adverse currency movements and bearish supply forecasts weigh on sentiment in both markets. The result is that coffee and sugar prices have fallen to low levels by historical standards prompting the question: has either coffee or sugar found a floor?

Net Flows & Speculative Positioning

  • In the last five months, speculative positioning in the futures market has turned increasingly bearish towards coffee and sugar (see Figure 1 below). However, we’ve seen falling prices prompt a total of US$121mn of funds enter long coffee and sugar ETPs year to date. With coffee at 18 month lows and sugar at six and a half year lows, investors appear to be using this as an opportunity to gain long exposure at attractive levels.
  • Sugar to Sink Lower
    The demand picture for the global sugar market is strong, as sugar consumption in China and India continues to grow to record levels. However, we believe that the demand side is overshadowed by robust global production, which looks set to add to already swollen sugar stockpiles (see Figure 2 below). Furthermore, with Indian authorities announcing in March that they will initiate subsidies to encourage sugar exports, the global market looks set to be flooded with supply. This should see the price of sugar continue its slump and move lower in the near term. Investors can express bearish views on sugar through short sugar ETPs that rise in value as the price of sugar falls.

Investors wishing to express the investment views outlined above may consider using the following ETF Securities ETPs:

Coffee

Sugar

The complete ETF Securities product list can be found here.

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