Commodities (Crude Oil & Copper) & Macro Outlook

Leon Cooperman, billionaire investor and former Goldman Sachs CEO, warned in a CNBC interview on the 17th that the U.S. economy could enter a recession next year at some point, dragging down stock markets. Cooperman cited excessive optimism in current market valuations and corporate earnings

According to Yonhapinfomax, the USD/KRW exchange rate weakened to 1,415.60 won on August 18 as U.S. retail sales fell 0.6% in July, marking the largest monthly decline since May 2025 and defying market expectations for a 0.1% gain. The data undermined expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate i

According to Leon Cooperman, hedge fund manager and former Goldman Sachs CEO, interviewed on CNBC, the U.S. could enter recession within the next year as artificial intelligence enthusiasm wanes and inflation pressures mount. Cooperman warned that market signals resemble past boom-and-bust cycles, w

Seoul's bond market monitored international oil prices on August 18th ahead of a 10-year treasury auction, as investors awaited the Bank of Korea's monetary policy committee meeting next week. Oil prices rose following the expiration of a 60-day negotiation deadline from a June US-Iran ceasefire

US stock markets closed mixed on August 17 (local time), with major indices declining while the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index surged 1.64% as artificial intelligence and semiconductor stocks continued to attract investor interest. The divergent performance came as geopolitical tensions

According to Yonhapinfomax, South Korea's bond market on August 18 is closely monitoring oil price movements and awaiting the central bank's revised economic forecast to be announced next week. International crude oil rose following the expiration of a 60-day negotiation deadline on a U.S.-Iran

Japanese stocks showed mixed performance on August 18 as the Nikkei 225 index declined while the Topix index gained, following the effective collapse of a US-Iran ceasefire extension. At 9:22 AM, the Nikkei 225 fell 337.62 points (0.49%) to 68,882.63, retreating from the 69,000 level recovered the p

According to Jin10 Futures, on August 18, the PVC market is expected to see modest upward price pressure from rising ethylene dichloride costs and crude oil uncertainty, though fundamentals remain weak with increasing production forecasts and steady but soft

According to Jin10, South China LPG market saw mixed weakness yesterday (August 18), with weak demand and ample supply exerting downward pressure. However, rising international crude prices and outer market strength provided cost support, keeping the market resilient. The market is expected to

According to Jin10 Futures, on August 18, China's butadiene rubber prices rose yesterday following overnight gains in crude oil amid escalating U.S.-Iran tensions. Diene prices extended their uptrend, with plant ex-factory prices for butadiene rubber adjusted upward yesterday. Traders' holding

US 30-year Treasury yields surged to 5.31% intraday on August 17 (local time), marking the highest level since June 2007—approximately 19 years. This occurred despite growing expectations that the Federal Reserve would not raise interest rates further, as US retail sales fell 0.6% in July, the

According to Yonhapinfomax, on August 17, U.S. stock indices fell for a second consecutive day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 272.63 points (0.51%) to 53,459.78, the S&P 500 fell 40.70 points (0.52%) to 7,745.06, and the Nasdaq Composite declined 84.25 points (0.32%) to 26,644.91. The 30-

According to Guru Club, U.S. stock indices fell overnight on August 18, with storage and optical communication sectors defying the downward trend. WTI crude oil surged above $90 per barrel amid escalating Middle East tensions. Additionally, the 30-year U.S. Treasury yield reached its highest level i

According to New York Stock Exchange data, on August 17, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 272.63 points, or 0.51%, to 53,459.78, while the S&P 500 declined 0.52% on growing geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran and concerns over rising crude oil

BHP Billiton reported full-year net profit of $9.83 billion, falling short of analyst expectations of $10.95 billion. The mining company's underlying earnings reached $13.2 billion, exceeding analyst forecasts of $12.69 billion. Capital and exploration spending totaled $10.26 billion for the full ye

According to Jin10, international oil prices surged approximately 3% on Monday, August 18, amid darkening prospects for U.S.-Iran negotiations. A memorandum of understanding signed by both nations in June technically expired on Monday. Tensions persist over multiple issues including the Strait of

International crude oil prices rose over 2% on August 17 (US Eastern Time), with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) September delivery closing at $84.50 per barrel, up $2.10 (2.55%) from the previous session, and Brent October closing at $90.87 per barrel, up $2.35 (2.65%). The price surge followed

International oil prices surged over 2% on August 17 (US Eastern Time), with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) September futures closing at $84.50 per barrel, up $2.10 (2.55%), and Brent October futures rising $2.35 (2.65%) to $90.87 per barrel. The rally intensified in afternoon trading amid

According to MarineTraffic data, on August 17, only 3 commercial vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours, down sharply from an average of 110 daily before the U.S.-Iran conflict intensified. Over the same period, 37 vessels passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The

According to Petrobras CEO Magda Chambriard, the company will complete its Morpho well in the Amazon River mouth basin within approximately 15-20 days following the discovery of oil and gas resources. Petrobras plans to drill three additional wells in the same exploration block and is currently