Commodities: Poor Corn Crop Supporting Prices, Brent Crude Prices, Silver Prices Rising
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Summary:
- OPEC+ meeting on Wednesday.
- Corn crop health is poor.
- Silver prices are rising.
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Brent Crude Oil prices
After dropping for two consecutive months, Brent crude futures dipped around $103 per barrel on Monday as a deteriorating forecast for global demand overcame indications of continued supply constraints. The world's top oil importer, China, surprisingly experienced a decline in factory activity in July as a result of Covid-19 flare-ups and a dimming global outlook, according to official data released over the weekend. The US economy contracted for the second consecutive quarter, according to data released last week. Rising inflation and additional monetary tightening are projected to keep growth in check. Libya's oil minister, Mohamed Oun, told Bloomberg that after a string of interruptions, the nation's production had returned to normal at 1.2 million barrels per day. Markets are now anticipating the OPEC+ meeting on Wednesday, where it is anticipated that it will maintain its policy of moderate supply increases in the face of capacity limitations and underinvestment in oil fields, maintaining the tight global supply.
Brent Crude Oil Futures Price Chart
Poor corn crop health
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. However, despite higher supply predictions from the USDA for 2022–2023 and negative demand prospects brought on by rising recession fears, corn is still close to its 8-month low of $5.9 set on July 5th.
Corn Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart
Silver prices rising
Following other precious metals, silver prices increased above $20 per ounce after the Federal Reserve continued its tightening course with a 75 basis point increase in interest rates at its July meeting. The action increased the momentum of major central banks' tightening policies since inflation in the biggest economies in the world has not yet peaked. The ECB increased policy rates by 50 basis points, which was more than predicted, and the BoE is likely to do the same thing the following week. Prices are still very close to the $18.1 two-year low that was reached earlier this month as worries about an economic downturn drove investors to the US dollar.
Silver Sep ‘22 Futures Price Chart
Sources: tradingeconomics.com, finance.yahoo.com
