Commodities (Crude Oil & Copper) & Macro Outlook

According to RBC Capital Markets, the Trump administration released optimistic signals this week that a U.S.-Iran agreement on the Hormuz Strait could come quickly, prompting oil prices to fall and stock markets to surge, but the deal has not materialized. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said

According to Guru Club, crude oil prices jumped on August 9 following a missile strike on a UAE vessel in the Strait of Hormuz early on August 8. WTI crude surpassed $77 per barrel and Brent crude exceeded $82 per barrel, each rising over 1% intraday. In response to the escalation, Iraq reported a 7

According to IBK Investment & Securities, Germany's Rhine River water level hit record lows recently, constraining the European petrochemical supply chain. The research report noted that reduced European supplies could increase substitution demand for Korean chemical exports not only to Europe but a

According to Iran's IRNA news agency, on August 8 local time, Mohammad Baqer Zolgadr, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, warned that "the Strait of Hormuz will not open unless the United States corrects its behavior." Zolgadr laid out six conditions including ceasing threats

Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) faces mounting financial pressure as the Ministry of Climate and Environment advances regional electricity rate reductions and AI data center tariff reforms to support mega projects including semiconductor industrial complexes in the Honam region. The

According to China's National Bureau of Statistics, the Producer Price Index declined 0.7% month-over-month in July, with the decline widening by 0.4 percentage points compared to the previous month. The chief statistician of the Urban Division attributed the decline primarily to external factors, w

According to China's State Bureau of Statistics, the country's consumer price index rose 0.5 percent year-over-year in July, down 0.5 percentage points from June. Gold jewelry prices surged 24.6 percent, while personal care products and household appliances rose 1.7 percent and 0.2 percent

According to China's National Bureau of Statistics, July consumer prices fell 0.1% month-on-month (MoM), with the pace of decline narrowing by 0.2 percentage points compared to June. International oil price fluctuations drove a 10.7% drop in domestic gasoline prices, contributing

Germany's Rhine River hit a record low water level of 24cm at Kaub on the 3rd, the lowest since observations began in 1880, according to an IBK Securities report. The extreme drought has intensified raw material procurement constraints for Germany's petrochemical value chain, which was already

According to a report by IBK Investment & Securities researcher Lee Dong-wook, Germany's Rhine River water level hit a record low of 24 centimeters on August 6, marking the lowest since records began in 1880. The ultra-low water level is constraining raw material supplies for Europe's

According to U.S. officials, Ukraine agreed yesterday (August 8) to avoid attacking non-Russian-flagged oil tankers and Black Sea infrastructure critical to Kazakhstan's crude exports. Ukraine has established a communication point to enable commercial shipping companies to coordinate and ensure

According to multiple sources, on August 9, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz led to a 75% decline in Iraqi oil exports. The United Arab Emirates' ADNOC reported that one of its tankers was struck by a missile attack while transiting the strait early Saturday morning; the company stated the

According to China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), the Bohai 19-6 giant gas field Phase I project commenced full production on August 9, with daily output exceeding 5,200 tons of oil-gas equivalent. The project has proved natural gas

Foreign investors net purchased Korean 3-year treasury bond futures for 12 consecutive trading days from the 23rd of last month to the 7th of this month, totaling 137,410 contracts according to data from Yonhap Infomax. The buying activity drove 3-year treasury bond futures prices from 102.6 to 103.

According to Jin10, U.S. July CPI data released on Friday, August 9 is expected to show a month-over-month increase of 0.1%, with core CPI rising 0.2% monthly and 2.5% year-over-year, marking the smallest annual increase since February. The report may indicate energy-related price pressures have

According to Jin10, citing Vice President JD Vance's interview with Fox News on August 9, Iran has informed the U.S. that it has no plans to impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz. Vance stated that while some factions within Iran's system have discussed the possibility, Tehran has told Washington it

According to Jin10 citing Fox News, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Saturday (August 9) that the United States is in "active negotiations" with Iran. "We are using every tool available—diplomatic, economic, and military measures—to ensure the best outcome for the American people," Vance said

According to Jin10, the U.S. Treasury on Friday (Aug 7) froze offshore company assets held by Republican donor and oil tycoon Harry Sardar related to Venezuelan oil production operations. The Treasury also issued a license authorizing Sardar to liquidate his stake in the company. Sardar, who has

According to BlockBeats, U.S. crude oil inventories fell to 712 million barrels on August 8, marking the lowest level since March 1984. The decline follows 17 consecutive weeks of decreases, surpassing the previous record of 16 consecutive weeks set in 2021. Total inventories have dropped 166 millio