An improvement in US and European manufacturing activity as well as news that the “official” Chinese PMI number climbed back into expansion territory for the first time in 8 months bodes well for a more sustainable global recovery effort.
Palm Oil
Large Grain Supply May Not Be Enough!
Several years ago, the amount of food consumed inside the home was surpassed by what was consumed outside of the home.
Sentiment Was Overly Negative Going into the 2016 Equity Market Lows
Last week we suggested that the “long dark shadow” of deflation was starting to fade, and given the impressive rally off the February low through the end of the month, we would suggest that sentiment was overly negative going into the 2016 equity market lows, as the global swoon was mostly about disappointing forward momentum and not some major, difficult-to-solve obstacle.
The World is Creeping Toward Recovery
The impressive stock market rally so far in October highlights the ability of the marketplace to put an optimistic face on the global situation.
Commodity Sentiment Was Overdone
We won’t suggest that the recent lows in many commodities are solid, but value-hunt buying of copper assets by Carl Icahn, a $4.00 single-day rise in crude oil prices, and a 1,000-point, 2-day bounce in the Dow suggest that sentiment was overdone on a number of fronts.
World Economy Factoring a Return to Recession?
The list of positive global data flows expanded last week with improvements in UK Unemployment, China Retail Sales, and US February and March Industrial Production figures.
Market Spotlight: Soybean Oil
Soybean Oil is the natural oil extracted from whole Soybeans. Typically, about 19% of a Soybean’s weight can be extracted as crude Soybean Oil. The oil content of U.S. Soybeans correlates directly with the temperatures and amount of sunshine during the Soybean pod-filling stages.
Indian, Chinese reduced interest pushes down soybean’s price
The belief that the two countries with the biggest use of palm oil might reduce their purchases prompted the commodity‘s futures to slip, Bloomberg reports. Recent purchase records for China and India are weak, according to the director of Singapore-based commodities shop. Some investors might already be on vacation or they could have already sold… Read more.
Palm oil dips after 33-month high
After increasing to their highest prices in almost three years, palm oil futures took a dip on Tuesday, likely because of investors attempting to capitalize on those high prices, Bloomberg reports. Palm oil for February delivery dipped 1.1 percent to 3,680 ringgit ($1,177) per metric ton after striking 3,766 ringgit ($1,150) on Tuesday, which was the… Read more.
Consumer foods giant investing in palm oil alternative
Palm oil is a necessary ingredient in a wide variety of consumer products, from food to soaps. Yet it generates its fair share of controversy; naturally harvested palm oil has been linked to deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia, and its price is linked to sometimes-volatile commodity markets. Unilever, the London-based maker of Dove soap and… Read more.