Summary:
- Platinum futures declined below the $1,000 per ounce barrier.
- Gasoline prices extended to the lowest level in nearly four weeks.
- Chicago wheat futures fell below a level not reached since late August.
Platinum futures down from 8-month high
As new outbreaks in top user China crushed hopes for a potential end to its zero-Covid policy, clouding the outlook for demand, platinum futures declined below the $1,000 per ounce barrier, sliding further from an eight-month high of around $1,050. According to statistics from the World Platinum Investment Council, the supply side of the platinum market could experience a shortfall of 219,000 ounces in 2023 as opposed to a surplus of 974,000 ounces in 2022. Beyond the reduction in supplies globally, there was ongoing concern regarding Russian exports. After South Africa, Russia is the second-largest supplier of platinum worldwide.
Platinum Jan ‘23 futures price chart
Gasoline on track for its 4th consecutive weekly decline
Due to increased supply, gasoline futures saw their losses deepen to below $2.5 per gallon in mid-November, the lowest level in nearly four weeks. Following a fourth consecutive week of declines, the latest EIA data revealed that US gasoline stockpiles increased by 2.207 million barrels to 207.9 million last week, far exceeding market forecasts of a 0.31 million-barrel increase. According to the data, US refineries processed an average of 16.2 million barrels of crude oil per day during the week ending November 11th, which is 63,000 barrels per day more than the previous week's average. This is the sixth week in a row that gasoline production has climbed.
RBOB Gasoline Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart
Wheat touching late August lows
Chicago wheat futures fell below $8 per bushel, a level not reached since late August, as steady exports from a key exporter, Ukraine, allayed concerns about a lack of supply around the world. The UN-mediated agreement has been extended by Russia for another four months, ensuring a trade route through the Black Sea and releasing pressure on world food prices. As a result of stronger output in Australia and Kazakhstan offsetting probable decreases in Argentina and the EU, figures from the USDA's WASDE report improved predictions for the world supply and ending inventories for the forthcoming marketing year, contrary to expectations of a decline.
Wheat futures price chart
Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
