Brent Crude Oil Price Falls With Demand Prospects, Poor Corn Crop Health In the Midwest, Silver Futures
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Summary:
- China’s oil purchases are down 9.5% compared to a year ago.
- Poor Corn Crop health in the wake of extreme weather conditions.
- Fed continuing to stress the importance of keeping inflation low.
Brent Crude Oil prices dropping as demand prospects fall
Amid a dimming demand picture, Brent crude futures were trading around the $94 per barrel level. Refiners lowered inventories amidst a slower-than-anticipated demand rebound, according to data released over the weekend, which revealed that China, the biggest crude importer in the world, purchased 9.5% less oil in July than a year earlier. Last week's US government results were followed by weak Chinese data that indicated rising US crude stocks and falling gasoline consumption. Nevertheless, encouraging US labor and Chinese export statistics reduced some worries about a world recession that would sap demand.
Brent Crude Futures Price Chart
Corn prices close to 8-month lows
After the USDA's weekly report revealed poor crop health amid heatwaves in the Midwest and plains, corn futures increased to a 1-week high of almost $6 per bushel. The agency gave the U.S. maize crop a satisfactory to exceptional condition rating of 61%, far below than experts' expectations and down from 64% a week earlier. The crop that will be harvested in September is likely to suffer from the hot, dry weather that was present during key corn pollination. Corn prices, however, are still close to an 8-month low of $5.9 set on July 5th due to USDA predictions for greater supplies in 2022–2023 and negative demand outlook brought on by escalating recession fears.
Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart
Silver prices remain subdued
Ahead of this week's US inflation reading, silver futures remained steady at the $20.1 per ounce level, following other bullion to move slightly higher with a decline in risk sentiment. Even still, prices stayed below the $20.3 one-month high set earlier in the month as hawkish views for the Fed increased in the wake of numerous policymakers stressing the importance of bringing inflation down. More than twice as many jobs were added in the US economy in July as analysts had predicted, and the unemployment rate surprisingly crept down to 3.5%. The data caused markets to speculate that the Fed will raise rates by 75 basis points for the third time in a row at its upcoming meeting, which attracted investors to the US dollar and away from bullion.
Silver Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart
Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
