• English
  • 简体中文
  • 繁體中文
  • Tiếng Việt
  • ไทย
  • Indonesia
Subscribe
Real-time News
September 20th - According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), from January to August, the top ten passenger car manufacturers sold a total of 4.014 million vehicles, accounting for 67.9% of total passenger car sales. Among these ten companies, SAIC Motor and Tesla saw varying degrees of sales growth compared to the same period last year, while the sales of the other companies all declined to varying degrees.On September 20th, Orient Securities Research stated that the LPR (Loan Prime Rate) for both maturities remained unchanged in September, largely in line with market expectations. The stable LPR since the beginning of the year reflects the fact that first-half GDP growth reached 4.7%, falling within the annual economic growth target range of 4.5% to 5.0%, with accelerated development in new productivity sectors, represented by high-tech manufacturing. This means that although domestic investment and consumption have weakened since the second quarter, and economic growth momentum has declined somewhat, macroeconomic policies have maintained strong resolve, and monetary policy remains in an observation period. This is the fundamental reason why the LPR remained unchanged in September. We predict that the central bank may implement policy-driven interest rate cuts later, which will lead to a follow-up reduction in the LPR. The Politburo meeting on July 30th emphasized the need to "fully leverage the effectiveness of existing policies, promptly plan and introduce practical and effective incremental policies, and increase counter-cyclical adjustments," and required "comprehensive use and timely adjustment of monetary policy tools." Considering the economic and financial situation and price trends, the possibility of a new round of incremental policies cannot be ruled out.Chinas total electricity consumption in August rose 1.7% year-on-year, unchanged from the previous month.Chinas total electricity consumption in August was 1,033.2 billion kilowatt-hours, compared to 1,040 billion kilowatt-hours in the previous month.September 20th - From January to August, total electricity consumption in China reached 7,173 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 4.3%. By sector, primary industry electricity consumption was 104.6 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 3.3%. Secondary industry electricity consumption was 4,529.7 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 4.4%; among which, industrial electricity consumption was 4,488 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 4.6%, and high-tech and equipment manufacturing electricity consumption was 845.1 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 9.3%. Tertiary industry electricity consumption was 1,425.6 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 7.1%; among which, charging and swapping services and internet data services consumed 114.7 billion and 69.5 billion kilowatt-hours respectively, with growth rates reaching 55.1% and 42.5% respectively. Residential electricity consumption was 1,113.2 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 0.3%.

WTI crude oil drifts above $80.00 amidst a US Dollar rebound and supply shortage concerns

Alina Haynes

Apr 10, 2023 14:16

 101.png

 

In the early hours of Monday, purchasers of WTI crude oil struggled to maintain the price above $80.70 as risk aversion and hawkish Fed forecasts bolstered the US Dollar. However, threats to Oil supplies, primarily emanating from China and OPEC+, appear to keep purchasers of black gold optimistic.

 

US Dollar Index (DXY) reverses a four-day downtrend near 102.25 despite the inability of US Treasury bond yields to recover due to recession concerns. However, US 10-year and 2-year Treasury bond yields remain under pressure near 3.37 percent and 3.95 percent, respectively. In doing so, the benchmark bond coupons extend the previous day's losses and illustrate the market's flight to protection in response to concerns of an economic decline.

 

In spite of this, the recent disappointing US data reignite concerns of a recession in the world's largest economy and challenge the optimists in the energy sector. However, the positive US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data enabled Fed hawks to return to the table and renew demands for a 0.25 percentage point rate hike in May. The same constrains the value of the US dollar and stimulates demand for WTI crude oil.

 

On the other hand, geopolitical concerns surrounding China, particularly after the dragon nation's military exercises near Taiwan, combine with last week's unexpected OPEC+ production cut to keep Oil purchasers optimistic.

 

China's willingness to defend the global economy through robust monetary and fiscal easing at home also enables Oil purchasers to maintain optimism in the face of optimism among the world's largest Oil consumers.

 

The Easter Monday holiday in spot markets may limit Oil price movements, but the investors appear to be out of steam, so US inflation and Fed Minutes will be closely monitored for signs of a pullback.