Newswire: China & Commodities in focus

China stops expansion projects in steel industry for three years - Xinhua

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) Thursday announced a three-year moratorium on approvals of new expansion-related proposals in the iron and steel industry, as the government pledges to eliminate outdated capacity.


CISA stance hurts small steel mills - China Daily

China's top negotiators in the bitter and protracted row over the price of iron ore seem destined never to agree - risking a loss of face that will raise questions about whether they are up to the job and who it is they are actually representing.

Their apparent refusal to compromise is damaging the competitiveness of smaller domestic steel mills, forcing them to buy from their larger counterparts, say analysts. The bigger firms have been content to pay whatever the spot price is for ore and pass on the premiums.


CNPC to speed up oil assets buy plan - Xiao Wan of eChinaCities

China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), the country's largest oil and gas producer, will speed up overseas acquisitions in regions such as Africa and South America this year, in a bid to boost China's quest for energy security.


Coal mines to merge in new plan - China Daily

A large-scale restructuring of the coal industry in China's major coal-producing province of Shanxi, starting at the end of this month, will reduce accidents and improve efficiency by shutting down small coal mines, officials said.

"The restructuring this time is the largest after years of adjusting the coal industry's structure," Miao Huanli, planning section director of Shanxi provincial coal bureau, said yesterday.

[Commodities] -- Is the rally over?

Commodity Rally May Falter on Supply, Speculators

June 29 (Bloomberg) -- Commodities, heading for the first quarterly advance in a year, may struggle to repeat their gains in the next three months as supply expands and speculators sell.

Nickel may average 29 percent less in the third quarter than now, crude oil 16 percent, copper 14 percent and gasoline 10 percent, analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg show. Hedge funds and speculators cut their bets on higher prices by 23 percent in the two weeks ended June 23, the first back-to-back drop since March, based on an index using U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission data. The World Bank said June 22 the global recession will be deeper than it expected three months ago.

“Commodities have gotten a little ahead of themselves,” said Walter “Bucky” Hellwig, who helps oversee $30 billion at Morgan Asset Management in Birmingham, Alabama. “As long as there’s uncertainty about growth, that’s going to be headwind commodities won’t be able to overcome.”

Commodities rose 14 percent this quarter, led by nickel, oil and sugar, after three consecutive declines, according to the Reuters/Jefferies CRB Index of 19 raw materials. This year’s 57 percent advance in oil costs, combined with widening budget deficits, may cause another global slump, said Nouriel Roubini, the New York University economics professor who predicted the financial crisis.

Click here to access the full article from Bloomberg

Newswire: China South America

[Peru - China] -- Peru, China relations "at best moment"

Chinese ambassador to Peru, Gao Zhengyue, said that relations between his country and Peru "are at their best moment" in history.

According to him, both countries have deepened the confidence in the political, economic, technological educational, cultural, tourism and justice areas, among others.

The Chinese diplomat noted the increase of the economic, trade flow and bilateral investments, and highlighted the increase of the Chinese investments in Peru, with over seven billion dollars.

"I am convinced that with joint efforts the relations between our two brotherly countries will enter a new stage of development and reach a higher level in the two peoples’ benefit," said Zhengyue.


[Latin America - China - Africa] -- China's new frontier

Chinese telecom-gear makers Huawei and ZTE have already conquered Africa and Asia. Next stop: Latin America.

(Fortune Magazine) -- At phone operator Movistar's sales offices in Buenos Aires, customers line up to buy high-speed wireless services to access the web on their mobile phones. Most Argentines don't realize, though, that the company providing the gear for their broadband connections isn't a longtime supplier to Latin America like Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, or Motorola, but a relative newcomer called Huawei.

China's telecom suppliers are coming to the Americas. Pursuing the same formula they've used to win business throughout Asia and parts of Africa (selling cheap gear in low-income countries), equipment makers Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment (also known as ZTE) and Huawei are now getting a foothold in countries such as Argentina, Chile, and Colombia. Says Leandro Musciano, project director at Movistar Argentina, a unit of Spain's Telefónica: "Price is important."


[Caribbean - China] -- China's expanding relations with Latin America and the Caribbean

Commentary
By Odeen Ishmael

The recent visit of Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva to China in May 2009 reflected the Asian nation’s expanding economic and political influence in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). One year ago, the Brazilian government had announced that China would surpass the United States as its major business partner. The results of da Silva’s visit verified this after the two nations signed 13 agreements, including a $10 billion loan from the China Development Bank to Brazil's state oil company Petrobras. Petrobras also concluded a deal with a subsidiary of China's oil refiner Sinopec for the export of crude oil. A major commercial agreement will also see the beginning of huge poultry exports to China.

Brazil's two-way trade with China, one of the few economies still growing despite the global crisis, reached US$3.2 billion in April, surpassing the $2.8 billion trade total with the US. So far this year, Brazilian exports to China grew 65 percent over the same period in 2008, rising from $3.4 billion to $5.6 billion.

Newswire: China

Regulate with a Big Stick, Not a Fly Swatter
China's securities regulators should focus on sound oversight and tough discipline to protect, not merely stabilize, the market.

Three cases that came to light during the second week of May drew attention to regulatory efficiency and tight enforcement in the securities market. A former president of China Galaxy Securities, Xiao Shiqing, was arrested May 13. That same day, Sinolink Securities (SSE: 600109) announced that its chairman, Lei Bo, had been placed under investigation. And a day later, Rongtong Fund Management booted fund manager Zhang Ye for suspected involvement in so-called "rat trading."

On the surface, these cases seem unrelated. Each involves a different context. But deep down, each is connected to how regulatory agencies shoulder their responsibilities. And now, once again, concerns have been raised about regulatory oversight and regulatory capture.


Securities legislation protects investors
Small investors' interests are high on the agenda in the revision of China's Securities' Law, which will be deliberated by China's legislature later this year.

But the country's legal system still needs improvement to enable investors to make full use of the Securities Law, including taking steps like "collective action" against listed companies that cheat, said a senior lawmaker.


China Spends 61.2% of 2009 Investment Budget
The central government has already spent 61.2 percent of its 2009 investment budget as it pours funds into infrastructure, education and health care, the official Xinhua News Agency reported on May 27.


China's Manufacturing Expands for Third Month, Adding to Signs of Recovery
China’s manufacturing expanded for a third month, adding to evidence that the world’s third-largest economy is recovering from its deepest slump in almost a decade.


Geithner to Tell China No One More Concerned About U.S. Deficit Than Obama
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner arrived in Beijing with a pledge that the Obama administration will control its borrowing as he sought to reassure China its holdings of U.S. government debt are safe.


China's Steel Association Rejects Iron Ore Prices Reached by Rio, Nippon
The China Iron & Steel Association rejected an agreement on ore prices reached between Rio Tinto Plc and Nippon Steel Corp., according to a statement on the group’s Web site. The price reached between Rio and Nippon Steel doesn’t reflect changes in the global market and would result in losses for Chinese steelmakers, the group said.


Treasuries `Only Game in Town' as China Boosts Holdings While Dollar Falls
For all the hand-wringing over the dollar’s slide, the expanding U.S. deficit and the nation’s AAA credit rating, the bond market shows international demand for American financial assets is as high as ever.


China Increases Diesel, Gasoline Prices as Much as 8%, Aiding Oil Refiners
China, the world’s second-biggest energy consumer, increased fuel prices by as much as 8 percent today, allowing the nation’s refiners to pass on climbing crude oil costs.

Prices charged by refiners to wholesalers for gasoline and diesel rose by 400 yuan ($58.57) a metric ton, the National Development and Reform Commission, China’s Beijing-based economic planning agency, said on its Web site late yesterday.

Weekend Newswire: Commodities

[Crude Oil] -- Oil Falls on Speculation Recovery Will Falter, Reducing Global Fuel Demand
Crude oil fell the most in almost a month on concern the global economic recovery may falter, reducing demand for fuel.


[Natural Gas] -- Nymex Gas Falls as Reports Show Industrial Demand Will Be Slow to Recover
Natural gas futures fell for a third day as reports showed that demand for the fuel from factories and power plants will be slow to recover during the recession.


[Copper] -- Copper's U-Shaped Base Signals Rise, StanChart Says: Technical Analysis
Copper may rise to levels not seen since October in the month ahead, as the metal forms a U-shaped base, Standard Chartered Bank said, citing trading patterns.


[Gold & Silver] -- Gold Advances in N.Y. on Speculation Equity Rally May Stall; Silver Gains
Gold prices rose, extending a rally to two weeks, as investment demand increased on rising consumer prices and signs that a rally in U.S. equities may be ending. Silver futures fell.


[Platinum & Palladium] -- Platinum Falls as Dim Auto Outlook Cuts Demand in N.Y.; Palladium Gains
Platinum prices fell as the U.S. auto- industry slump eroded demand for the metal used in pollution- control parts. Palladium rose for the first time this week.


[Steel] -- China Steel Industry Likely to Post Loss in 2009, Baosteel Chairman Says
China’s steel industry may post a loss this year, Baosteel Group Corp. Chairman Xu Lejiang said at a conference in Shanghai today. Xu said the Chinese steel industry is oversupplied and faces severe structural problems that have been worsened by the financial crisis.


[Soybeans] -- Soybeans Head for Third Weekly Gain as Demand Cuts U.S. Supply
Soybeans climbed, heading for a third weekly gain, on speculation that increased global demand may further reduce inventories in the U.S., the world’s biggest grower and exporter of the crop.


[Investments] -- Where Commodities Fit In Your Portfolio
Commodities are a great way to diversify your portfolio, but if you are considering allocating some money to the group, don’t expect to catch a draft in the near future, even if there are signs the worst of the global slowdown may be over.

Newswire: Latin America - Brazil

Brazil is dominating the Latin America section on Bloomberg this morning with 6/7 articles in the Financial News tab focused on developments pertaining to the Brazilian economy, stock markets or specific companies.

Brazil to Sell $500 Million of Bonds, Tapping Into Rally to Lower Costs
Brazil plans to sell $500 million of 10-year bonds in international markets as soon as today, taking advantage of a rally in emerging-market debt, according to a person familiar with the transaction.


Bovespa Halts Biggest Rally Since Early 2009 on Profit, Economy Concerns
Brazilian stocks fell, halting their biggest rally since the start of the year, on concern the deepening slowdown in Latin America biggest economy will hurt the profit outlook for banks and commodity producers.


Vale Predicts 55% Tumble in Mining Investment as Quarterly Profit Declines
Cia. Vale do Rio Doce, the world’s biggest iron-ore producer, said global investment in the mining industry may fall by $60 billion this year after the company posted its third straight decline in quarterly profit.


Brazil's Central Bank Says Global Slump May Allow for Further Rate Cuts
Brazilian central bank policy makers said the global economic slump may allow them to keep lowering interest rates without jeopardizing their inflation target, according to the minutes of the April 28-29 meeting posted on the bank’s Web site today.


Gerdau 1st-Quarter Profit Falls 90% as Output, Sales Fall in U.S., Brazil
Gerdau SA, Latin America’s biggest steelmaker, said first-quarter net income fell 90 percent as sales volumes slumped on a global economic slowdown.


Brazilian Banks Are Most Expensive Since Bovespa's Peak, JPMorgan Says
Investors should reduce holdings of Brazilian bank stocks after valuations climbed to the most expensive level since the nation’s equity market peaked last year, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co.

The fate of Copper

Found a informative & interesting perspective on the copper market from Ship Chartering this afternoon.


Ship Chartering is a site which "aims to inform readers on the Shipping Industry with emphasis on Ship Chartering, Sale and Purchase of Vessels, Bunker Cost for Ship Owners, Ship Brokers, Charterers and Traders as well as the Baltic Index."

Some significant and furious activity is happening in China where Copper is concerned. This is not recent and there has been a significant rise in Chinese demand for refined Copper imports since the last three consecutive months.

Imports reached a record 211,527 tonnes in December 2008, up 89 percent more than December 2007 and 49 percent higher than November 2008. Only last month we talked of slowing down of the Chinese economy and these rising imports of Copper don’t match the growth pattern of China.

One of the reasons for China’s sudden rise in demand could be the result of its government’s serious and wide scale efforts to ease bank lending, and hence stimulate domestic business.

The requirement could be for some large scale planned project that the Chinese government has chalked and ready but awaiting funds which the government’s stimulus package will provide for.

Click here to access the full entry from Ship Chartering