Commodities (Crude Oil & Copper) & Macro Outlook

According to a report by China CITIC Futures on August 14, PTA (purified terephthalic acid) production has fallen below 50% operating rates for the first time on record, as crude oil supply shortages remain unresolved. The report notes that chemical sector near-term output recovery is constrained, w

Ukraine sent a truce proposal to Russia on August 13, calling for both sides to stop attacking civilian targets in the Black Sea, with the offer relayed through a third party. The proposal arrived after weeks of escalating strikes turned the region into a conflict zone, directly impacting one of the

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched a missile at an ADNOC-affiliated vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz on August 8, 2026, according to the UAE Foreign Ministry, which condemned the attack as an act of piracy and a breach of international maritime law. No injuries or casualties

According to the UAE, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacked an ADNOC-affiliated vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz with a missile on August 8, 2026. No injuries or casualties were reported from the strike. The UAE Foreign Ministry directly accused Iran of breaching international

According to Jin10, citing a Haiton Futures report on August 14, Maersk cut its large container rate for week 35 to $4,100, prompting other carriers to adjust pricing. MSC followed suit, adjusting its SS-level rate starting August 17 to $4,440 per large container (index-inclusive), with actual

According to Jin10 Futures, CBOT soybean oil futures closed lower Thursday (August 14), with benchmark contract sliding 0.6% in line with international crude oil weakness. Traders cited soft crude oil futures and weak U.S. soybean oil

According to ANZ Research, crude oil prices fell slightly in early trading on Aug 14, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures declining 0.1% to $81.20 per barrel. The bank's analysts highlighted conflicting market signals: supply indicators suggest Persian Gulf producers including the United

According to Jin10 Futures, on Thursday August 14, LME three-month copper futures fell 0.05% to $14,126.5 per ton, declining for a third consecutive day amid a stronger dollar and escalating geopolitical tensions. Intraday prices touched $14,369.5, approaching January 29's all-time high. Analysts

According to ChainCatcher, U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent announced on August 13 that the U.S. will continue economic sanctions on Iran and maintain a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, preventing any goods from entering or leaving Iranian

Korean treasury futures rose in overnight trading on August 14, with the 3-year contract climbing 8 ticks to 103.37 and the 10-year contract gaining 33 ticks to 105.96. The rally was driven by relief over US producer price data for last month and a rare decline in international oil prices. Foreign i

According to Yonhap Infomax, on August 14, South Korea's 10-year government bond futures rose 33 basis points to 105.96, while 3-year futures gained 8 basis points to 103.37. The gains followed weakness in U.S. Treasury yields and lower-than-expected producer price data from the U.S. Department of

On August 13, China Silver Group International (02099) approved an expansion plan for its Jiama copper-polymetallic mine in Tibet. The company plans to increase daily processing capacity from the current 50,000 tons to approximately 160,000 tons per day, pending completion of a pre-feasibility

According to Newsis, the U.S. stock market closed strong on August 13 amid easing inflation concerns. The S&P 500 rose 50.49 points (0.65%) to 7,798.99, marking an all-time high, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 214.54 points (0.81%) to 26,803.03. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 269.72 poi

According to Business Insider, on August 13, former Rothschild Group Chief Investment Officer Jim Paulson warned of five signals that could threaten the U.S. stock market's earnings momentum. In a recent Substack post, Paulson noted that while 86% of S&P 500 companies beat second-quarter profit

According to Jin10, overnight on August 14, Ukrainian forces struck a major Russian oil refinery in southwestern Russia, while Russian military claimed control of Petrivka in Donetsk region. Russian forces also targeted Danube River port infrastructure near Reni and Izmail ports, according to the

According to Guru Club, aluminum futures on the London Metal Exchange fell 1.6% to $3,258.5 per ton on Thursday, as a major Middle East smelter announced a restart earlier than expected, easing concerns over tightening

According to U.S. Energy Secretary Wright, on August 13, the United States maintains daily monitoring of vessel traffic transiting the Strait of Hormuz, tracking the number of ships entering and exiting the strategic

According to Guru Club, on August 14, Brent crude oil futures fell 2.2% to settle at $87.07 per barrel, while WTI September futures declined 2.4% to $81.25 per barrel, ending a streak of recent gains.

The US dollar declined slightly on August 13th at 4pm Eastern Time as weaker-than-expected wholesale inflation data initially pressured the currency, according to Yonhap Infomax. The dollar index (DXY) fell 0.040 points to 99.960, while the dollar-yen rate rose 0.019 yen to 159.520 yen. The decline

According to Yonhapinfomax, on August 13, the U.S. dollar index fell to 99.960 in afternoon New York trading, down 0.040 points (0.040%), as July producer price inflation disappointed markets. The headline PPI rose 4.7% year-over-year, below the forecast of 4.9%, and increased 0.0%