Category Archives: Commodities

Inflation Cometh: The End of Cheap Chinese Goods

Posted on March 24, 2011 by macromon

We  posted yesterday about the end of Chimerica and have written several pieces on the rapid increase in Chinese manufacturing wages and end of the secular disinflation caused by the entry of the country’s labor force into the global economy.   … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Commodities, Employment, Policy | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Chart of the Day: History of U.S. Energy Consumption

Posted on March 24, 2011 by macromon

At today’s closing prices, crude oil is now trading more than 4x its BTU energy equivalent price relative to natural gas.  If sustained,  which we have our doubts,  it will interesting to see how this chart develops over the next … Continue reading →

Posted in Chart of the Day, Commodities, Crude Oil, Energy | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Chart of the Day: QE2 and the Bernanke Curve?

Posted on March 17, 2011 by macromon

Sure there are fundamental reasons or a story for why commodity prices are moving higher, but let’s see what happens, especially to food and energy,  when if the Fed concludes quantitative easing and long-term yields spike.    Negative real interest rates … Continue reading →

Posted in Chart of the Day, Commodities, Crude Oil, Currency, Fiscal Policy, Monetary Policy, Policy | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Natural Gas Stocks Pop in Down Market

Posted on March 16, 2011 by macromon

Some natural gas stocks did well in today’s terrible tape.  Two that we are watching and are long are Ultra Petroleum (UPL) and Southwestern Energy (SWN).  Both have been consolidating and have recently cleared their 50-day moving averages. Southwestern pierced … Continue reading →

Posted in Charts, Commodities, Crude Oil, Equities | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Nattie’s Day Has Come

Posted on March 15, 2011 by macromon

The ugly bear market in natural gas may be about to end, in our opinion.  The nuclear crisis in Japan will force policymakers to look for alternative energy sources for electricity generation and natural gas is set up perfectly. Natural … Continue reading →

Posted in Charts, Commodities, Crude Oil, Energy, Japan | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Chart of the Day: Copper & Rubber

Posted on March 9, 2011 by macromon

While the world obsesses over the direction the price of oil,  copper and rubber are rolling over.  These are the two to monitor,  in our opinion,  as China Air drops its landing gear.   Dr.  Copper is at key support and … Continue reading →

Posted in Chart of the Day, China, Commodities | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Today’s Action in Futures

Posted on March 7, 2011 by macromon

Barchart.com wraps up today’s action in futures.   The water is getting choppy and making for some difficult fishing.   A few more days of action like this will send many back to land to wait for calmer waters. (click here if … Continue reading →

Posted in Commodities, Currency | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Chart of the Day: Components of the Gasoline Price

Posted on March 4, 2011 by macromon

Traveling in California today we witnessed $4.00 gas and prompted us to think what makes up the price.  We constructed the following chart from a U.S. Energy Information Agency (E.I.A.)  time series. Notice in May 2001 the crude component of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cartoon of the Day, Commodities, Crude Oil | Tagged | 8 Comments

Saudi stocks flop, gold rocks as US weighs action in Libya

Posted on March 1, 2011 by macromon

Debka reports the U.S. naval and air fleet is repositioning around Libya for potential “hit-and-run” raids to cripple Qadaffi’s air capability.  This isn’t new news, but we’re wondering out loud if the Saudis have been consulted and are on board. … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Commodities, Crude Oil, Geopolitical, Global Stock Performance, Gold, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sensitivity Analysis of Higher Gas Prices

Posted on February 22, 2011 by macromon

We‘ve constructed the following cheat sheet to give a sense of how higher oil and gas prices will impact the pocketbook of individual consumers and families given various gas prices and average miles driven.   Of course, much depends on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Commodities, Crude Oil | Tagged , , | 2 Comments