 "Metal stocks shed 7% this week in the biggest meltdown in 13 months")
This year's most successful trade ‘long metal stocks’ seems to be unraveling amid a selloff in global commodity prices.
The BSE Metal index tanked 7 per cent this week---the biggest setback since the week ended May 10, 2020 when the index had corrected 10 per cent.
Coal India, Vedanta, JSW Steel and SAIL have been the biggest losers declining more than 8 per cent each. The fall, however, comes after a sharp up move this year,
Experts said the strengthening US dollar and China’s efforts to cool off inflation are the key factors behind this week’s meltdown in commodity and stock prices.
“China’s plan to sell metal reserves to check recent price hikes has hurt sentiments. The market is likely to continue in the consolidation phase for a short while," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.
From its peak on May 10, the BSE Metal index is down 11 per cent. Prior to this fall, the index had gained as much as 75 per cent this year.
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“The prices of commodities have fallen during the week, cutting into months of gains and weighing on equity markets, as China takes steps to keep a lid on rising prices. A strong US dollar also has put downward pressure, “added Shrikant Chouhan, Executive Vice President, Equity Technical Research at Kotak Securities
The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index during the week posted its longest daily gaining streak since March 2020 amid the US Federal Reserve signaling that its ultra-easy monetary policy will soon come to an end.
The Bloomberg Commodity Spot Index, which tracks prices for 23 raw materials, was down for the sixth session on Friday. Commodities that have seen their big rallies this year such as platinum, nickel and iron ore, are seeing downward price pressure. Also, those projected to benefit from reopening also are seeing a pullback, with copper heading for its worst week in more than a year. Nickel and iron ore too have seen a correction.
China has said it will release metals from state reserves in a timely manner to push prices back to a normal range, ramping up efforts to cool the surge in commodities.
“Risk-off is front and center thanks to the hawkish words from the Fed, which came on the back of the Chinese government-led directives over prior weeks,” said Michael Cuoco, head of hedge-fund sales for metals and bulk materials at StoneX Group.
Not just base metals but prices of agri commodities too have come under pressure.
The Soybean futures index has erased its 2021 advance, sliding more than 20 per cent from an eight-year high reached in May, while corn and wheat have also tumbled.
The Bloomberg Grains Spot Subindex slid the most since 2009 on Thursday, before edging higher on Friday as markets recovered some losses.
The gall in oil and tin were relatively subdued compared to other commodities.