BCA Indicators/Model
Weekly Performance Update For the week ending Thu Aug 12, 2021 The Market Monitor displays the trailing 1-quarter performance of strategies based around the BCA Score. For each region, we construct an equal-weighted, monthly rebalanced portfolio consisting of the top 3 stocks per sector and compare it with the regional benchmark. For each portfolio, we show the weekly performance of individual holdings in the Top Contributors/Detractors table. In addition, the Top Prospects table shows the holdings that currently have the highest BCA Score within the portfolio. For more details, click the region headers below to be redirected to the full historical backtest for the strategy. BCA US Portfolio
Market Monitor (Aug 12, 2021)
Market Monitor (Aug 12, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA US Portfolio S&P500 TRI 1.92% 0.77% Top Contributors ANAT:US TX:US COKE:US MPLX:US R:US Weekly Return 43 bps 32 bps 16 bps 13 bps 11 bps Top Detractors MAA:US BMY:US EOG:US IQV:US EXR:US Weekly Return -8 bps -7 bps -4 bps -3 bps -2 bps Top Prospects TX:US ESGR:US SC:US IT:US MPLX:US BCA Score 97.76% 97.12% 96.66% 93.62% 93.56% BCA Canada Portfolio
Market Monitor (Aug 12, 2021)
Market Monitor (Aug 12, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA Canada Portfolio S&P/TSX TRI 1.45% 0.77% Top Contributors WIR.UN:CA ATZ:CA WSP:CA LNF:CA WFG:CA Weekly Return 49 bps 30 bps 21 bps 13 bps 13 bps Top Detractors CRON:CA DCBO:CA TOU:CA ONEX:CA EMP.A:CA Weekly Return -32 bps -10 bps -6 bps -5 bps -4 bps Top Prospects RUS:CA PXT:CA TOU:CA CS:CA ELF:CA BCA Score 97.10% 96.65% 95.68% 95.64% 95.54% BCA UK Portfolio
Market Monitor (Aug 12, 2021)
Market Monitor (Aug 12, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA UK Portfolio FTSE 100 TRI 1.71% 1.39% Top Contributors MXCT:GB AAF:GB DEC:GB 888:GB SSE:GB Weekly Return 40 bps 21 bps 17 bps 16 bps 16 bps Top Detractors DATA:GB NLMK:GB SVST:GB SRE:GB GROW:GB Weekly Return -14 bps -12 bps -10 bps -6 bps -4 bps Top Prospects SVST:GB VVO:GB NLMK:GB TUNE:GB CTH:GB BCA Score 99.30% 98.26% 96.72% 95.21% 94.84% BCA Eurozone Portfolio
Market Monitor (Aug 12, 2021)
Market Monitor (Aug 12, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA EMU Portfolio MSCI EMU TRI 1.54% 1.45% Top Contributors HLAG:DE ARTO:FR TESB:BE ROTH:FR STR:AT Weekly Return 35 bps 22 bps 17 bps 13 bps 11 bps Top Detractors ALESK:FR LOUP:FR NESTE:FI MBH3:DE EDNR:IT Weekly Return -27 bps -7 bps -3 bps -1 bps 0 bps Top Prospects FDJ:FR STR:AT SOLV:BE IPS:FR EDNR:IT BCA Score 97.99% 97.67% 97.18% 96.81% 96.17% BCA Japan Portfolio
Market Monitor (Aug 12, 2021)
Market Monitor (Aug 12, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA Japan Portfolio TOPIX TRI 1.04% 1.27% Top Contributors 4694:JP 1419:JP 9543:JP 7958:JP 3291:JP Weekly Return 37 bps 18 bps 14 bps 14 bps 11 bps Top Detractors 5021:JP 3468:JP 8977:JP 8097:JP 3132:JP Weekly Return -16 bps -12 bps -5 bps -4 bps -4 bps Top Prospects 6960:JP 9436:JP 4966:JP 2208:JP 5930:JP BCA Score 99.88% 99.82% 99.68% 99.61% 99.27% BCA Hong Kong Portfolio
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Total Weekly Return BCA Hong Kong Portfolio Hang Seng TRI 0.34% 1.19% Top Contributors 1866:HK 316:HK 857:HK 1277:HK 98:HK Weekly Return 45 bps 19 bps 18 bps 15 bps 15 bps Top Detractors 6118:HK 990:HK 148:HK 691:HK 973:HK Weekly Return -49 bps -28 bps -14 bps -12 bps -10 bps Top Prospects 1277:HK 691:HK 215:HK 2877:HK 98:HK BCA Score 99.99% 98.52% 98.13% 96.98% 96.82% BCA Australia Portfolio
Market Monitor (Aug 12, 2021)
Market Monitor (Aug 12, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA Australia Portfolio S&P/ASX All Ord. TRI 1.29% 1.12% Top Contributors YAL:AU NHC:AU JLG:AU CAJ:AU ARF:AU Weekly Return 66 bps 27 bps 25 bps 21 bps 18 bps Top Detractors REA:AU PSQ:AU AQZ:AU EZL:AU AX1:AU Weekly Return -31 bps -24 bps -21 bps -19 bps -11 bps Top Prospects MGX:AU GRR:AU MHJ:AU ARF:AU PIC:AU BCA Score 99.63% 99.45% 97.40% 96.12% 96.06%
Highlights The DXY index appears to be following the seasonal pattern of strengthening in the summer and weakening towards year-end. In this context, the most attractive vehicles to play a decline in the dollar are the Scandinavian currencies over the longer term, and the yen in the very near term. Our composite attractiveness model ranks the US dollar and the NZ kiwi as the least attractive currencies, particularly on the basis of valuation. Our limit buy on long AUD/NZD was triggered at 1.05. Pessimism on the Aussie is becoming overdone, while the economy could stage a coiled spring rebound once vaccination rates improve. Feature Chart I-1Was Dollar Strength Seasonal?
Was Dollar Strength Seasonal?
Was Dollar Strength Seasonal?
Since July 20, the DXY index has been consolidating its gains, and appears to be following the general seasonal pattern of strengthening in the summer, and eventually weakening towards year-end (Chart I-1). With this as a backdrop, it is instructive to revisit our attractiveness ranking, and highlight which currencies might benefit most from a dollar decline. Our framework is based on three major vectors – the macroeconomic environment, valuation, and sentiment. Our macro vector tracks relative economic strength as measured by relative PMIs and real interest rate differentials. Other factors such as a country’s basic balance and external vulnerability are also considered. In our valuation vector, we consider a swathe of models including PPP, more high-frequency indicators such as our intermediate-term timing model, as well as longer-term models based on relative productivity trends. Finally, we also consider positioning to gauge if our view is mainstream or out of consensus. Using this framework, the most attractive vehicles to play a decline in the dollar are the Scandinavian currencies over the longer term, and the yen more near term, if rates remain well behaved. Meanwhile, the US dollar and the kiwi rank as the least attractive currencies, particularly on the basis of valuation (Chart I-2). Chart I-2An Attractiveness Ranking Of Currencies
Which Are The Most Attractive Currencies In The G10?
Which Are The Most Attractive Currencies In The G10?
Macroeconomic Environment: Real Interest Rates Chart I-3The US Sports A Very Negative Real Yield
Which Are The Most Attractive Currencies In The G10?
Which Are The Most Attractive Currencies In The G10?
On the short tenors, the US is among those sporting the most negative real rates (Chart I-3). But what is interesting is that we know that there is a divergence in how various central banks are treating their inflation overshoot relative to the Federal Reserve. For example, both Norway and New Zealand have negative 2-year real rates, but their central banks are on track to lift short rates this year. However, the telegraphed messages from the Fed are that there will be no interest rate increases until 2023. This will push US real rates towards becoming more negative vis-à-vis other G10 countries. In our report titled Which Rates Matter For Currencies, we suggested that the recent decline in US Treasury yields should curtail strong inflows into US fixed income. This should ease upward pressure on the dollar. Macroeconomic Environment: Basic Balance Chart I-4Basic Balances Across The G10
Which Are The Most Attractive Currencies In The G10?
Which Are The Most Attractive Currencies In The G10?
The basic balance is one of the most important determinants of a currency’s attractiveness, simply because it captures the ebb and flow of demand for a country’s domestic assets. In a nutshell, the basic balance is the sum of the current account surplus and long-term investments. Trade surpluses underpin underlying demand for a country’s goods and services, while capital account surpluses suggest a country’s assets are under high demand. As such, persistent basic balance surpluses are usually associated with an appreciating currency and vice versa. There has been a sea change in the basic balances across the G10, a fact we highlighted in our recent report titled On The Fed Shift, And Balance Of Payments. One of those shifts involves Australia seeing tremendous improvement in its basic balance surplus. In terms of rankings, Sweden sports the best basic balance surplus in the G10, followed by Australia and the euro area (Chart I-4). Meanwhile, the US ranks the worst in terms of basic balances, a big vulnerability for the currency. Macroeconomic Environment: External Debt A country’s external debt situation tends to only matter during crises. Therefore, in the current context of global fiscal and monetary stimulus, as well as generous Fed swap lines to assuage any dollar funding pressures abroad, external (especially USD) debt does not pose a significant threat for currencies. In an absolute sense, external debt as a share of GDP is highest in the UK, Switzerland, and Sweden (Chart I-5). However, what matters most often for vulnerability are net external assets rather than gross liabilities. Based on this measure, Japan, Norway, Canada, Switzerland and Sweden are the most attractive countries, based on net external assets (Chart I-6). Chart I-5External Debt In The G10
Which Are The Most Attractive Currencies In The G10?
Which Are The Most Attractive Currencies In The G10?
Chart I-6Net International Investment In The G10
Which Are The Most Attractive Currencies In The G10?
Which Are The Most Attractive Currencies In The G10?
Valuation: Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) Our PPP valuation model is our default in terms of evaluating a currency’s fair value, since by definition, it reveals price arbitration between any two countries. Chart I-7The Dollar Is Expensive
Which Are The Most Attractive Currencies In The G10?
Which Are The Most Attractive Currencies In The G10?
As we have documented, our model offers unique insight into a true PPP fair value, since it accounts for the fact that consumer price baskets tend to differ in composition from one country to the next. In order to get closer to an apples-to-apples comparison across countries, two adjustments are necessary. First, categorizing the consumer price index (CPI) into five major groups. In most cases, this breakdown captures 90% of the national CPI basket. This includes food, restaurants, and hotels (1), shelter (2), health care (3), culture and recreation (4), and energy and transportation (5). The second adjustment is to test the significance of individual price ratios, with the exchange rate as the dependent variable. This allows us to observe the most influential price ratios that help explain variations in the exchange rate. As a control strategy, we use a weighted average combination of the five groups to form a synthetic relative price ratio. If, for example, shelter is 33% in the US CPI basket, but 19% in the Swedish CPI basket, relative shelter prices will represent 26% of the combined price ratio. This allows for a uniform cross-country comparison, as opposed to using the national CPI weights. The results show the US dollar as overvalued, especially versus the Scandinavian currencies and the yen (Chart I-7). The results are based on the synthetic relative price ratio. Valuation: Intermediate-Term Timing Model (ITTM) Our ITTM is our favored model in the short term, because it gives signals with much higher frequency. Back in 2016, when we developed this indicator, it proved useful in helping global portfolio managers increase their Sharpe ratio in managing currency exposure. The idea was quite simple: For every developed world country, there were three key variables that influenced the near-term path of its exchange rate versus the US dollar: Interest Rate Differentials: We have elaborated at length that interest rate differentials are a key driver for currencies. Given that we get interest rates in real time, they are great inputs into any high-frequency model. Inflation Differentials: Inflation destroys the purchasing power of a currency, both in theory and practice (Chart I-8). Assuming no transactional costs, the price of a dishwasher cannot be relatively high and rising in New York versus Manila. Either the US dollar needs to fall, the Philippine peso needs to rise, or a combination of the two has to occur to equalize prices across borders. Risk Factor: Exchange rates are risk assets. Ergo, the ebb and flow of risk aversion will have an impact on currencies, which is particularly the case for commodity exporters. We will be releasing a revamped version of our trading model in the coming weeks, incorporating results from ITTM. In a nutshell, our ITTM models have been a very good timing tool. And the signal today is to overweight JPY, AUD, SEK, and NOK in the G10 space (Chart I-9). Chart I-8Inflations and Currencies
Inflations and Currencies
Inflations and Currencies
Chart I-9The Dollar Is Expensive Shorter Term
Which Are The Most Attractive Currencies In The G10?
Which Are The Most Attractive Currencies In The G10?
Valuation: Long-Term Fair Value Model Chart I-10The Dollar Is Not Attractive Longer Term
Which Are The Most Attractive Currencies In The G10?
Which Are The Most Attractive Currencies In The G10?
Our long-term FX models try to capture the movement in exchange rates over a business cycle (3-5 years, let’s say). Included in these models are much slower-moving variables like productivity differentials, and cumulative changes in the current account and basic balance. These models cover 22 currencies, incorporating both G10 and emerging market FX markets. We did an overhaul in these models this year, to account for rising Chinese productivity. Similar to our ITTM models, the longer-term valuation indicator favors the Scandinavian currencies, the yen, and the Aussie dollar (Chart I-10). Sentiment: Speculative Positioning The final consideration in our ranking is sentiment. In general, the dollar is a momentum currency and as such, you want to be long when bullish consensus and/or net speculative positioning is low and rising. Chart I-11 shows that the dollar has failed to break above its major trendlines, at the same time when bullish consensus on the dollar is rising (Chart I-12). This warns that a powerful countertrend reversal could be underway. Chart I-11The Dollar And Momentum
The Dollar And Momentum
The Dollar And Momentum
Chart I-12The Dollar And Sentiment
The dollar and sentiment
The dollar and sentiment
According to CFTC data, the most shorted currencies are the Australian dollar and Japanese yen (Chart I-13). In our framework, these are the currencies slated to stage very powerful countertrend reversals, given we put the pandemic behind us. Chart I-13Everyone Is Long The Greenback
Which Are The Most Attractive Currencies In The G10?
Which Are The Most Attractive Currencies In The G10?
Housekeeping Chart I-14AUD/NZD and Relative Rates
AUD/NZD and Relative Rates
AUD/NZD and Relative Rates
Our long AUD/NZD position was triggered this week at 1.05. The messaging from the RBA and the RBNZ have been vastly different, whereby the former is cautious about the rising Delta variant infection rate, and the latter is focused on financial stability admist a bubbly housing market. On a relative policy basis, our bias is that the likelihood of rates adjusting higher than market expectations is higher in Australia than in New Zealand (Chart I-14). As we are eventually going to put the virus behind us, underappreciated currencies such as the AUD could stage a mean-reversion rally. Chester Ntonifor Foreign Exchange Strategist chestern@bcaresearch.com Trades & Forecasts Forecast Summary Core Portfolio Tactical Trades Limit Orders Closed Trades
Weekly Performance Update For the week ending Thu Aug 05, 2021 The Market Monitor displays the trailing 1-quarter performance of strategies based around the BCA Score. For each region, we construct an equal-weighted, monthly rebalanced portfolio consisting of the top 3 stocks per sector and compare it with the regional benchmark. For each portfolio, we show the weekly performance of individual holdings in the Top Contributors/Detractors table. In addition, the Top Prospects table shows the holdings that currently have the highest BCA Score within the portfolio. For more details, click the region headers below to be redirected to the full historical backtest for the strategy. BCA US Portfolio
Market Monitor (Aug 5, 2021)
Market Monitor (Aug 5, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA US Portfolio S&P500 TRI 0.16% 0.24% Top Contributors IT:US ANAT:US IPG:US TX:US DELL:US Weekly Return 37 bps 17 bps 13 bps 7 bps 5 bps Top Detractors EOG:US SCCO:US EPD:US COKE:US GPC:US Weekly Return -12 bps -12 bps -11 bps -10 bps -9 bps Top Prospects TX:US SC:US ESGR:US SIM:US MPLX:US BCA Score 98.74% 97.90% 97.72% 95.28% 95.08% BCA Canada Portfolio
Market Monitor (Aug 5, 2021)
Market Monitor (Aug 5, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA Canada Portfolio S&P/TSX TRI -0.66% 0.34% Top Contributors DCBO:CA CSU:CA LNF:CA RUS:CA L:CA Weekly Return 23 bps 13 bps 12 bps 10 bps 6 bps Top Detractors POU:CA CS:CA PXT:CA QBR.A:CA TOU:CA Weekly Return -30 bps -27 bps -18 bps -17 bps -15 bps Top Prospects CS:CA ELF:CA CFP:CA TOU:CA PXT:CA BCA Score 99.08% 97.59% 97.07% 95.45% 94.41% BCA UK Portfolio
Market Monitor (Aug 5, 2021)
Market Monitor (Aug 5, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA UK Portfolio FTSE 100 TRI 1.51% 0.71% Top Contributors MXCT:GB EMG:GB SXS:GB GROW:GB DOTD:GB Weekly Return 27 bps 24 bps 21 bps 20 bps 19 bps Top Detractors BAKK:GB DRX:GB RIO:GB DEC:GB RMG:GB Weekly Return -23 bps -14 bps -12 bps -7 bps -5 bps Top Prospects SVST:GB VVO:GB NLMK:GB POLR:GB CTH:GB BCA Score 99.35% 98.65% 96.88% 96.06% 95.95% BCA Eurozone Portfolio
Market Monitor (Aug 5, 2021)
Market Monitor (Aug 5, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA EMU Portfolio MSCI EMU TRI 1.14% 1.26% Top Contributors HLAG:DE ERF:FR ARTO:FR ALESK:FR VGP:BE Weekly Return 48 bps 40 bps 28 bps 19 bps 14 bps Top Detractors FDJ:FR FLUX:BE TFI:FR ROTH:FR STR:AT Weekly Return -16 bps -13 bps -10 bps -8 bps -7 bps Top Prospects STR:AT FDJ:FR IPS:FR EDNR:IT TFI:FR BCA Score 98.58% 98.38% 98.08% 97.05% 96.87% BCA Japan Portfolio
Market Monitor (Aug 5, 2021)
Market Monitor (Aug 5, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA Japan Portfolio TOPIX TRI -1.12% 0.08% Top Contributors 4694:JP 5021:JP 8595:JP 7716:JP 8630:JP Weekly Return 20 bps 15 bps 8 bps 8 bps 7 bps Top Detractors 1419:JP 3459:JP 2208:JP 9945:JP 2124:JP Weekly Return -40 bps -25 bps -24 bps -15 bps -11 bps Top Prospects 9436:JP 6960:JP 2208:JP 5930:JP 4966:JP BCA Score 99.88% 99.75% 99.73% 99.55% 99.02% BCA Hong Kong Portfolio
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Total Weekly Return BCA Hong Kong Portfolio Hang Seng TRI 1.06% -0.42% Top Contributors 316:HK 6118:HK 691:HK 973:HK 98:HK Weekly Return 48 bps 33 bps 20 bps 15 bps 12 bps Top Detractors 1083:HK 3799:HK 990:HK 148:HK 590:HK Weekly Return -16 bps -14 bps -12 bps -10 bps -5 bps Top Prospects 1277:HK 98:HK 215:HK 691:HK 2877:HK BCA Score 99.96% 98.79% 98.24% 97.99% 97.44% BCA Australia Portfolio
Market Monitor (Aug 5, 2021)
Market Monitor (Aug 5, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA Australia Portfolio S&P/ASX All Ord. TRI 0.19% 1.10% Top Contributors MAQ:AU OCL:AU JLG:AU BLX:AU EZL:AU Weekly Return 36 bps 26 bps 20 bps 19 bps 16 bps Top Detractors GRR:AU MGX:AU MHJ:AU MAU:AU IDX:AU Weekly Return -61 bps -34 bps -26 bps -22 bps -14 bps Top Prospects MGX:AU GRR:AU MHJ:AU BFG:AU EZL:AU BCA Score 99.48% 99.45% 99.25% 97.33% 96.44%
Highlights The rapid spread of the COVID-19 delta variant in Asia will re-focus precious metals markets anew on the possibility of another round of lockdowns and the implications for demand, particularly in Greater China and India, which account for 33% and 12% of global physical demand for gold (Chart of the Week).1 Regulatory crackdowns across various sectors in China will continue to roil markets over coming months. Policy uncertainty around these crackdowns is elevated in local financial markets, and could spill into global markets. This will support the USD at the margin, which creates a headwind for gold and silver prices. Ambiguous and contradictory signaling from Fed officials following the July FOMC meeting re its $120-billion-per-month bond-buying program also adds uncertainty to precious-metals and general commodity forecasts. Despite this uncertainty, we remain bullish gold and silver. More efficacious jabs will become available, which will support the global economic re-opening, particularly in EM economies. In DM economies, vaccination uptake likely increases as risks become more apparent. We continue to expect gold to trade to $2,000/oz and silver to trade to $30/oz this year. Feature Markets once again are focused on the possibility lockdowns will follow rising COVID-19 infections and deaths, as the delta variant – the most contagious variant to date – spreads through Asia and elsewhere. Chart of the WeekCOVID-19 Delta Variant Rampages
Uncertainty Checks Gold's Recovery
Uncertainty Checks Gold's Recovery
Chart 2COVID-19 Infections, Deaths Rising
Uncertainty Checks Gold's Recovery
Uncertainty Checks Gold's Recovery
Infection and death rates are moving higher globally (Chart 2). COVID-19 infections are still rising in 78 countries. Based on the latest 7-day-average data, the countries reporting the most new infections daily are the US, India, Indonesia, Brazil, and Iran. The countries reporting the most deaths each day are Indonesia, Brazil, Russia, India, and Mexico. Globally, more than 42% of infections were in Asia and the Middle East, where ~ 1mm new infections are reported every 4 days. We expect more efficacious jabs will become available, which will support the global economic re-opening, particularly in EM economies. In DM economies, vaccination uptake likely increases as risks become more apparent. China's Regulatory Crackdown Markets also are contending with a regulatory crackdowns across multiple sectors in China, which is part of a years-long reform process initiated by the Politburo.2 Industries ranging from internet, property, education, healthcare to capital markets will have new rules imposed on them under China's 14th Five-Year Plan as part of this process. Our colleagues in BCA's China Investment Service note the pace of regulatory tightening will not moderate in the near term, as policymakers transition from an annual planning cycle focused on setting economic growth targets to a multi-year planning horizon. "This allows policymakers to have a higher tolerance for near-term distress in exchange for long-term benefits," according to our colleagues. The overarching goal of this reform process is to introduce more social equality in the society. Of immediate import for precious metals markets is the potential for spillover effects outside China arising from the policy uncertainty that already is emanating from that market. Uncertainty boosts the USD and gold. This makes its effect uncertain. In our most recent modeling of gold prices, we have found strong two-way feedback between US and Chinese policy uncertainty.3 We also find that broad real foreign exchange rates for the USD and RMB exert a negative influence on gold prices, while higher economic uncertainty pushes gold prices higher (Chart 3). In addition, across markets – Chinese and US economic policy uncertainty – have similar effects, suggesting economic uncertainty across these markets has a similar effect as domestic uncertainty at home (Chart 4).4 Chart 3Domestic Uncertainty, Real FX Rates Strongly Affect Gold Prices...
Domestic Uncertainty, Real FX Rates Strongly Affect Gold Prices...
Domestic Uncertainty, Real FX Rates Strongly Affect Gold Prices...
Chart 4...As Do Cross-Border Uncertainty, Real FX Rates
...As Do Cross-Border Uncertainty, Real FX Rates
...As Do Cross-Border Uncertainty, Real FX Rates
This is yet another reason to pay close attention to PBOC and Fed policy innovations and surprises: they affect each other in similar ways within and across borders. Fed Officials Add Uncertainty Following the FOMC meeting at that end of last month, various Fed officials expressed their views of Chair Jerome Powell's post-meeting remarks, or again resumed their campaigns to begin tapering the US central bank's bond-buying program. Chair Powell's remarks reinforced the data-dependency of the Fed in directing its bond buying and monetary accommodation. He emphasized the need to see solid improvement in the jobs picture in the US before considering any lift-off of rates. As to the Fed's bond-buying program, this, too, will depend on progress on reducing unemployment in the US. Powell also reiterated the Fed views the current inflation in the US as transitory, a point that was emphasised by Fed Governor Lael Brainard two days after Powell's presser. Some very important Fed officials, most notably Fed Vice Chair Richard Clarida, are staking out an early position on what will get them to consider reducing the Fed's current accommodative policies, chiefly an "overshoot" of PCE inflation, the Fed's favored gauge, above 3%. Other Fed officials are urging strong action now: St. Louis Fed President James Bullard is adamant that tapering of the Fed's bond-buying program needed to begin in the Autumn and should be done early next year. Bullard is supported by Governor Christopher Waller. The Fed's bond-buying program is more than a year old. Beginning in July 2020, the Fed started buying $80 billion of Treasurys and $40 billion of mortgage-backed securities every month, or ~ $1.6 trillion so far. This lifted the Fed's balance sheet to ~ $8.3 trillion. Thinking about this as a commodity, that's a lot of asset supply removed from the Treasury and MBS market, which likely explains the high cost of the underlying debt instruments (i.e., their low interest rates). It is understandable why the gold market would get twitchy whenever Fed officials insist the winddown of this program must begin forthwith and be done in relatively short order. The loss of that steady stream of buying could send interest rates higher quickly, possibly raising nominal and real interest rates in the process, which, given the sensitivity of gold prices to US real rates would be bearish (Chart 5). While it is impossible to know when the tapering of the Fed's asset-purchase program will end, these occasional choruses of its imminent inauguration add to uncertainty in the US, which also depresses precious metals prices, as Chart 5 indicates. A larger issue attends this topic: economic policy uncertainty is not contained within national borders. Above, we noted there is a two-way feedback between US and China economic policy uncertainty. There also is a long-term relationship in levels of economic policy uncertainty re China and Europe, which makes sense given the trading relationship between these states. Changes in the two measures of economic policy uncertainty exhibit strong co-movement (Chart 6). Chart 5Taper Talk Makes Precious Metals Markets Twitchy
Taper Talk Makes Precious Metals Markets Twitchy
Taper Talk Makes Precious Metals Markets Twitchy
Chart 6Economic Policy Uncertainty Goes Across National Borders
Uncertainty Checks Gold's Recovery
Uncertainty Checks Gold's Recovery
Investment Implications The increase in COVID-19 infection and re-infection rates, and death rates, is forcing commodity markets to reevaluate demand projections and the likelihood of continued monetary accommodation globally. This ultimately affects the prospects for commodity prices. Conflicting interpretations of the state of local and the global economies increases uncertainty across markets, especially precious metals, which are exquisitely sensitive to even a hint of a change in policy. This uncertainty is compounded when top officials at systematically important central banks provide sometimes-contradictory interpretations of the state of their economies. Despite this uncertainty we remain bullish gold and silver, expecting efficacious vaccines to become more widely available, which will allow the global recovery to regain its footing. We are less sanguine about the prospects for the winding down of the massive monetary accommodation globally, particularly that of the US, where data-dependent policymakers still feel compelled to provide almost-certain policy prescriptions in an increasingly uncertain world.This is a fundamental factor driving global uncertainty. We remain long gold expecting it to trade to $2,000/oz this year, and long silver, expecting it to hit $30/oz. Robert P. Ryan Chief Commodity & Energy Strategist rryan@bcaresearch.com Ashwin Shyam Research Associate Commodity & Energy Strategy ashwin.shyam@bcaresearch.com Commodities Round-Up Energy: Bullish While US crude oil inventories rose 3.6mm barrels in the week ended 30 July 2021 gasoline stocks fell 5.3mm barrels, contributing to an overall decline in crude and product inventories in the US of 1.2mm barrels, according to the US EIA's latest tally (Chart 7). US crude and product stocks have been falling throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and now stand ~ 13% below year earlier levels at 1.7 billion barrels. Crude oil stocks, at 439mm barrels, are just over 15% below year-ago levels. This reflects the decline in US domestic production, which is down 7.1% y/y and now stands at 11.2mm b/d. US refined-product demand, however, is up close to 9% over the January-July period y/y, and stands at 21.2mm b/d. Base Metals: Bullish Workers at the world's largest copper mine, Escondida in Chile, are in government-mediated talks with management that end on Saturday to see if they can avert a strike. There is a chance talks could be extended five days beyond that date, under Chilean law. The mine is majority owned by BHP. Workers at a Codelco-owned mine also voted to strike and will enter government-mediated talks as well. These potential strikes most likely explain why copper prices have been holding relatively steady as other commodities have come under pressure, as markets reassess the odds of a demand slowdown brought about by surging COVID-19 infections, which are hitting Asian markets particularly hard (Chart 8). Chart 7
Uncertainty Checks Gold's Recovery
Uncertainty Checks Gold's Recovery
Chart 8
Copper Prices Recovering
Copper Prices Recovering
Footnotes 1 We flagged this risk in our July 8, 2021 report entitled Assessing Risks To Our Commodity Views, which is available at ces.bcaresearch.com. 2 Please see Pricing A Tighter Regulatory Grip published on August 4, 2021 by our China Investment Strategy. It is available at cis.bcaresearch.com. 3 We measure this using Granger-Causality tests. 4 These broad real FX rates are handy explanatory variables, in that they combine two very important factors affecting gold prices – inflation and broad FX trade-weighted indexes. Additional modelling also suggests these broad real FX rates for the USD and RMB coupled with US real 2- and 5-year rates also provide good explanatory models for gold prices. Investment Views and Themes Strategic Recommendations Tactical Trades Commodity Prices and Plays Reference Table Trades Closed in 2021 Summary of Closed Trades
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Weekly Performance Update For the week ending Thu Jul 29, 2021 The Market Monitor displays the trailing 1-quarter performance of strategies based around the BCA Score. For each region, we construct an equal-weighted, monthly rebalanced portfolio consisting of the top 3 stocks per sector and compare it with the regional benchmark. For each portfolio, we show the weekly performance of individual holdings in the Top Contributors/Detractors table. In addition, the Top Prospects table shows the holdings that currently have the highest BCA Score within the portfolio. For more details, click the region headers below to be redirected to the full historical backtest for the strategy. BCA US Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 29, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 29, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA US Portfolio S&P500 TRI 3.04% 1.20% Top Contributors TX:US JLL:US NUE:US KOF:US GOOG.L:US Weekly Return 39 bps 30 bps 30 bps 22 bps 18 bps Top Detractors SIG:US VZ:US FLO:US ENBL:US ET:US Weekly Return -5 bps 0 bps 0 bps 0 bps 1 bps Top Prospects TX:US ESGR:US ANAT:US BRK.A:US GOOG.L:US BCA Score 97.19% 96.51% 95.94% 95.89% 94.88% BCA Canada Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 29, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 29, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA Canada Portfolio S&P/TSX TRI 1.14% 1.13% Top Contributors CS:CA LNF:CA TCL.A:CA CRON:CA WIR.UN:CA Weekly Return 37 bps 13 bps 12 bps 9 bps 9 bps Top Detractors MG:CA WEED:CA GIB.A:CA BB:CA QBR.A:CA Weekly Return -7 bps -6 bps -5 bps -4 bps -3 bps Top Prospects CS:CA CFP:CA LNF:CA ELF:CA TOU:CA BCA Score 98.26% 97.64% 96.54% 93.43% 92.34% BCA UK Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 29, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 29, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA UK Portfolio FTSE 100 TRI 2.15% 1.62% Top Contributors FDEV:GB GLTR:GB NVTK:GB EMIS:GB DEC:GB Weekly Return 25 bps 21 bps 21 bps 21 bps 19 bps Top Detractors HFD:GB BAKK:GB PZC:GB RMG:GB NFC:GB Weekly Return -14 bps -10 bps -7 bps -7 bps -6 bps Top Prospects SVST:GB VVO:GB TUNE:GB ROSN:GB NLMK:GB BCA Score 99.04% 97.11% 96.41% 94.58% 94.15% BCA Eurozone Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 29, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 29, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA EMU Portfolio MSCI EMU TRI 1.49% 1.58% Top Contributors APAM:NL MELE:BE ATS:AT STR:AT SON:PT Weekly Return 36 bps 27 bps 25 bps 17 bps 17 bps Top Detractors 094124453:BE CNV:FR FDJ:FR TL5:ES POST:AT Weekly Return -25 bps -14 bps -12 bps -10 bps -8 bps Top Prospects STR:AT POST:AT FDJ:FR SOLV:BE GIMB:BE BCA Score 98.84% 97.16% 95.14% 95.08% 94.70% BCA Japan Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 29, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 29, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA Japan Portfolio TOPIX TRI 0.51% 1.22% Top Contributors 3132:JP 9543:JP 5021:JP 7994:JP 3459:JP Weekly Return 23 bps 15 bps 13 bps 13 bps 9 bps Top Detractors 6345:JP 8060:JP 8979:JP 3539:JP 6960:JP Weekly Return -15 bps -12 bps -10 bps -10 bps -6 bps Top Prospects 6960:JP 9436:JP 4966:JP 3468:JP 3291:JP BCA Score 99.66% 99.47% 99.40% 97.68% 97.42% BCA Hong Kong Portfolio
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Total Weekly Return BCA Hong Kong Portfolio Hang Seng TRI -3.79% -5.08% Top Contributors 323:HK 329:HK 468:HK 28:HK 3308:HK Weekly Return 15 bps 12 bps 6 bps 2 bps 0 bps Top Detractors 215:HK 2877:HK 1919:HK 1898:HK 506:HK Weekly Return -57 bps -43 bps -32 bps -24 bps -22 bps Top Prospects 1277:HK 98:HK 990:HK 857:HK 1606:HK BCA Score 99.92% 98.95% 98.61% 98.01% 98.01% BCA Australia Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 29, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 29, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA Australia Portfolio S&P/ASX All Ord. TRI 1.29% 0.47% Top Contributors GRR:AU SDG:AU ZIM:AU RUL:AU DDR:AU Weekly Return 41 bps 28 bps 27 bps 21 bps 17 bps Top Detractors FLN:AU CVW:AU CAJ:AU SGLLV:AU AST:AU Weekly Return -17 bps -16 bps -9 bps -8 bps -5 bps Top Prospects GRR:AU BFG:AU BLX:AU BSE:AU SOL:AU BCA Score 99.02% 98.62% 97.96% 97.14% 96.64%
Weekly Performance Update For the week ending Thu Jul 22, 2021 The Market Monitor displays the trailing 1-quarter performance of strategies based around the BCA Score. For each region, we construct an equal-weighted, monthly rebalanced portfolio consisting of the top 3 stocks per sector and compare it with the regional benchmark. For each portfolio, we show the weekly performance of individual holdings in the Top Contributors/Detractors table. In addition, the Top Prospects table shows the holdings that currently have the highest BCA Score within the portfolio. For more details, click the region headers below to be redirected to the full historical backtest for the strategy. BCA US Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 22, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 22, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA US Portfolio S&P500 TRI 0.37% 0.18% Top Contributors AN:US IPG:US JLL:US DELL:US ESGR:US Weekly Return 42 bps 19 bps 12 bps 7 bps 6 bps Top Detractors SIG:US LPX:US FLO:US MTZ:US PEG:US Weekly Return -13 bps -9 bps -8 bps -6 bps -5 bps Top Prospects TX:US MPLX:US BRK.A:US ESGR:US ANAT:US BCA Score 97.25% 95.16% 95.13% 93.88% 91.26% BCA Canada Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 22, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 22, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA Canada Portfolio S&P/TSX TRI -0.95% -0.42% Top Contributors ONEX:CA RCH:CA QBR.A:CA SMU.UN:CA TCL.A:CA Weekly Return 13 bps 12 bps 6 bps 6 bps 3 bps Top Detractors IFP:CA CS:CA CFP:CA CRON:CA CNQ:CA Weekly Return -25 bps -21 bps -15 bps -13 bps -10 bps Top Prospects LNF:CA CS:CA IFP:CA CFP:CA ELF:CA BCA Score 98.98% 98.62% 98.50% 96.76% 93.76% BCA UK Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 22, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 22, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA UK Portfolio FTSE 100 TRI 0.73% -0.61% Top Contributors FDEV:GB FDM:GB HFD:GB SVST:GB GLTR:GB Weekly Return 42 bps 26 bps 12 bps 12 bps 10 bps Top Detractors SPI:GB RMG:GB TUNE:GB CMCX:GB MNOD:GB Weekly Return -18 bps -11 bps -10 bps -9 bps -8 bps Top Prospects SVST:GB ROSN:GB GROW:GB NLMK:GB RMG:GB BCA Score 99.11% 96.58% 95.14% 93.80% 93.56% BCA Eurozone Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 22, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 22, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA EMU Portfolio MSCI EMU TRI 0.22% 0.25% Top Contributors CNV:FR MONT:BE REY:IT PHA:FR ROVI:ES Weekly Return 20 bps 16 bps 10 bps 9 bps 8 bps Top Detractors ATS:AT RWAY:IT LOUP:FR PMAG:AT SON:PT Weekly Return -12 bps -11 bps -9 bps -7 bps -7 bps Top Prospects STR:AT TESB:BE SOLV:BE BB:FR FDJ:FR BCA Score 99.74% 97.33% 96.76% 96.66% 96.57% BCA Japan Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 22, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 22, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA Japan Portfolio TOPIX TRI -0.77% -1.81% Top Contributors 7593:JP 8117:JP 6960:JP 6413:JP 3459:JP Weekly Return 8 bps 7 bps 6 bps 4 bps 4 bps Top Detractors 5021:JP 5020:JP 3291:JP 7994:JP 6641:JP Weekly Return -19 bps -14 bps -13 bps -12 bps -12 bps Top Prospects 4966:JP 6960:JP 9436:JP 6641:JP 8117:JP BCA Score 99.72% 99.39% 99.01% 98.49% 98.41% BCA Hong Kong Portfolio
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Total Weekly Return BCA Hong Kong Portfolio Hang Seng TRI -0.77% -0.97% Top Contributors 215:HK 2380:HK 316:HK 990:HK 323:HK Weekly Return 30 bps 26 bps 14 bps 12 bps 11 bps Top Detractors 220:HK 3600:HK 468:HK 856:HK 2232:HK Weekly Return -29 bps -25 bps -24 bps -22 bps -19 bps Top Prospects 1277:HK 2232:HK 857:HK 1606:HK 990:HK BCA Score 99.81% 99.47% 99.25% 98.76% 98.51% BCA Australia Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 22, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 22, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA Australia Portfolio S&P/ASX All Ord. TRI 0.10% 0.56% Top Contributors NEC:AU RUL:AU JLG:AU SGF:AU GRR:AU Weekly Return 22 bps 17 bps 16 bps 15 bps 12 bps Top Detractors AGI:AU FLN:AU BLX:AU DDR:AU PSQ:AU Weekly Return -47 bps -12 bps -8 bps -8 bps -8 bps Top Prospects GRR:AU BFG:AU PIC:AU BLX:AU SOL:AU BCA Score 99.09% 98.31% 97.86% 97.46% 97.33%
Dear Client, We will be presenting our quarterly webcast next week, and, as a result, will not be publishing on 29 July 2021. We will cover our major calls for the quarter and provide a look-ahead. I look forward to the Q+A, and am hopeful you will tune in. Bob Ryan Chief Commodity & Energy Strategist Highlights Chart Of The WeekOPEC 2.0's Hand Strengthened By Production Agreement
OPEC 2.0s Hand Strengthened By Production Agreement
OPEC 2.0s Hand Strengthened By Production Agreement
The deal crafted by OPEC 2.0 over the weekend to add 400k b/d of oil every month from August preserves the coalition, and sends a credible signal of its ability to raise output after its 5.8mm b/d of spare capacity is returned to market next year.1 KSA and Russia will remain primi inter pares, but the position of OPEC 2.0's core producers – not just the UAE, which negotiated an immediate baseline increase – was enhanced for future negotiations. This deal explicitly recognizes they are the only ones capable of increasing output over an extended period. We assume the revised production baselines for core OPEC 2.0 effective May 2022 reflect the coalition's demand expectations from 2H22 onward. Our modeling indicates core OPEC 2.0's output will almost converge on the revised baseline production of 34.3mm b/d by 2H23, when we expect these producers to be at ~ 33.4mm b/d. Holding our demand estimates constant from last week, our revised supply expectations prompt us to move our forecast closer to our June forecast. We expect Brent to average $70/bbl in 2H21, with 2022 and 2023 averaging $74 and $80/bbl (Chart of the Week). Feature The deal concluded by OPEC 2.0 over the weekend will do more than add 400k b/d of spare capacity to the market every month beginning next month. It also does more than preserve the producer coalition's successful production-management strategy. The big take-away from the deal is the clear message being sent by the coalition's core members – KSA, Russia, Iraq, UAE and Kuwait – that they are able to significantly increase output after their 5.8mm b/d of spare capacity has been returned to the market over the next year or so. It does so by raising the baselines of the core producers starting in May 2022, clearly indicating the capacity and willingness to raise output and keep it there (Table 1). Table 1Baseline Increases For Core OPEC 2.0
OPEC 2.0's Forward Guidance In New Baselines
OPEC 2.0's Forward Guidance In New Baselines
What OPEC 2.0's Deal Signals Internally, the deal is meant to recognize the investment made by the UAE in particular, which was not being accounted for in its current baseline. Externally – i.e., to competitors outside the coalition – the deal signals OPEC 2.0's successful production management strategy will continue, by raising the likelihood the coalition will remain intact. This has kept the level of supply below demand over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic (Chart 2), and is responsible for the global decline in inventories (Chart 3). Chart 2OPEC 2.0 Durability Increases
OPEC 2.0 Durability Increases
OPEC 2.0 Durability Increases
Chart 3Inventories Will Remain Under Control
Inventories Will Remain Under Control
Inventories Will Remain Under Control
Specifically, the massive spare capacity still to be returned to the market between now and 2H22 can be accomplished with minimal risk of a market-share war breaking out among the core OPEC 2.0 members seeking to monetize their off-the-market production before the other members of the coalition. Most importantly, the revised benchmark production levels that becomes effective May 2022 signal the coalition members with the capacity to increase production can do so. Longer-Term Forward Guidance We assume the revised production baselines for core OPEC 2.0 effective May 2022 reflect the coalition's demand expectations from 2H22 onward. Our modeling indicates core OPEC 2.0's output will approach the revised baseline reference levels of 34.3mm b/d, hitting 33.4mm b/d for crude and liquids output by 2H23 (Table 2). Table 2BCA Global Oil Supply - Demand Balances (MMb/d, Base Case Balances) To Dec23
OPEC 2.0's Forward Guidance In New Baselines
OPEC 2.0's Forward Guidance In New Baselines
This implies the core group expects to be able to cover production declines within the coalition and to meet demand increases going forward. The estimates are far enough into the future to prepare ahead of time to increase production. Our estimates for core OPEC 2.0 production reflects our assumption the revised baseline levels do reflect demand expectations of the coalition. In estimating the coalition's production, we rely on historical data from the US EIA, which allows us to estimate future production using regressors we consider reliable (e.g., GDP estimates from the IMF and World Bank). Non-OPEC 2.0 Production We use EIA historical data for non-OPEC 2.0 production as well. In last week’s balances, we substituted the EIA's estimates for non-OPEC 2.0 producers ex-US for our estimates, which resulted in lower supply numbers throughout our forecast sample. This threw off our balances estimates in particular, as we did not balance the decrease in supply from this group using the new data set with an increase from another group. We corrected this oversight this week: We will continue to use EIA estimates for non-OPEC 2.0 ex-US countries, but will balance the decrease in oil production from this cohort with increased supply from other countries. Chart 4US Shales Are The Marginal Barrel
US Shales Are The Marginal Barrel
US Shales Are The Marginal Barrel
For US oil production, we will continue to estimate it as a function of WTI price levels, the forward curve and financial variables – chiefly high-yield rates, which serve as a good proxy for borrowing costs for the marginal US shale producer, which we view as the quintessential marginal producer in the global price-taking cohort (Chart 4). Our research indicates US shale producers – like all producers, for that matter – are prioritizing shareholder interests first and foremost. This means they will focus on profitability and margins. While we have observed this tendency for some time, it appears it is gaining speed, as oil and gas producers are now considering whether they want to retain their existing exposure to their hydrocarbon assets.2 There appears to be a reluctance among resource producers generally – this is true in copper, as we have noted – to substantially increase capex. This could be the result of covid uncertainty, demand uncertainty, monetary-policy uncertainty or a real attempt to provide competitive returns. We think it is a combination of all of these, but the picture is clouded by the difficulty in separating all of these uncertainties. Income Drives Oil Demand Chart 5Income Drives Oil Demand
Income Drives Oil Demand
Income Drives Oil Demand
Our demand estimates will continue to be driven by estimates of GDP from the IMF and the World Bank. We have found the level of oil consumption is highly correlated with GDP, particularly for EM states (Chart 5). Holding our demand estimates constant from last week, our revised supply expectations prompt us to move our forecast closer to our June forecast. This week, we also will adjust our inventory calculations, which will rely less on EIA estimates of OECD stocks. In the recent past, these estimates played a sizeable role in our forecasts. From this month on, they will play a smaller part. This is why, even though our supply estimates have risen from last week, there is not a significant change to our inventory levels. Investment Implications Holding our demand estimates constant from last week, our revised supply expectations prompt us to move our forecast closer to our June forecast. We expect Brent to average $70/bbl in 2H21, with 2022 and 2023 averaging $74 and $80/bbl. We remain bullish commodities in general, given the continued tightness in these markets. We expect this to persist, as capex remains elusive in oil, gas and metals markets. This underpins our long S&P GSCI and COMT ETF commodity recommendations, and our long MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF (PICK) recommendation. Robert P. Ryan Chief Commodity & Energy Strategist rryan@bcaresearch.com Ashwin Shyam Research Associate Commodity & Energy Strategy ashwin.shyam@bcaresearch.com Commodities Round-Up Energy: Bullish US natural gas exports via pipeline to Mexico averaged just under 7 bcf/d in June, according to the EIA. Exports hit a record high of 7.4 bcf/d on 24 June 2021. The record high for the month was 7.4 Bcf/d on June 24. The EIA attributes the higher exports to increases in industrial and power demand, and high temperatures, which are driving air-conditioning demand south of the US border. Close to 5 bcf/d of the imported gas is used to generate power, according to the EIA. This was up close to 20% y/y. Increases in gas-pipeline infrastructure are allowing more gas to flow to Mexico from the US. Base Metals: Bullish China reportedly will be selling additional copper from its strategic stockpiles later this month, in an effort to cool the market. According to reuters.com, market participants expect China to auction 20k MT of Copper on 29 July 2021. This will bring total sales via auction to 50k MT, as the government earlier this month sold 30k MT at $10,500/MT (~ $4.76/lb). Prior to and since that first auction, copper has been trading on either side of $4.30/lb (Chart 6). Market participants expected a higher volume than the numbers being discussed as we went to press. In addition to auctioning copper, the government reportedly will auction other base metals. Precious Metals: Bullish Interest rates on 10-year inflation-linked bonds remain below -1%, as U.S. CPI inflation rises. US 10-year treasury yields have rebounded since sinking to a five-month low at the beginning of this week. The positive effect of negative real interest rates on gold is being balanced by a rising USD (Chart 7). Safe-haven demand for the greenback is being supported by uncertainty caused by COVID-19’s Delta variant. Gold prices are still volatile after the Fed’s ‘dot shock’ in mid-June.3 This volatility is reducing safe-haven demand for the yellow metal despite rising economic and policy uncertainty. Ags/Softs: Neutral Hot, dry weather is expected over most of the grain-growing regions of the US for the balance of July, which will continue to support prices, according to Farm Futures. Chart 6Copper Prices Going Down
Copper Prices Going Down
Copper Prices Going Down
Chart 7Weaker USD Supports Gold
Weaker USD Supports Gold
Weaker USD Supports Gold
Footnotes 1Please see 19th "OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting concludes" published by OPEC 18 July 2021. 2Please see "BHP said to seek an exit from its petroleum business" published by worldoil.com July 20, 2021. 3Please refer to ‘“Dot Shock” Continues To Roil Gold; Oil…Not So Much’, which we published on July 1, 2021 for additional discussion. It is available at ces.bcaresearch.com. Investment Views and Themes Strategic Recommendations Tactical Trades Commodity Prices and Plays Reference Table Trades Closed In 2021 Summary of Trades Closed
OPEC 2.0's Forward Guidance In New Baselines
OPEC 2.0's Forward Guidance In New Baselines
Weekly Performance Update For the week ending Thu Jul 15, 2021 The Market Monitor displays the trailing 1-quarter performance of strategies based around the BCA Score. For each region, we construct an equal-weighted, monthly rebalanced portfolio consisting of the top 3 stocks per sector and compare it with the regional benchmark. For each portfolio, we show the weekly performance of individual holdings in the Top Contributors/Detractors table. In addition, the Top Prospects table shows the holdings that currently have the highest BCA Score within the portfolio. For more details, click the region headers below to be redirected to the full historical backtest for the strategy. BCA US Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 15, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 15, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA US Portfolio S&P500 TRI 0.73% 0.92% Top Contributors TX:US ESGR:US AN:US ANAT:US PSB:US Weekly Return 31 bps 27 bps 17 bps 13 bps 7 bps Top Detractors DELL:US ET:US SIG:US LPX:US ENBL:US Weekly Return -16 bps -16 bps -14 bps -14 bps -13 bps Top Prospects ESGR:US MPLX:US ANAT:US BRK.A:US TX:US BCA Score 98.82% 95.52% 95.26% 94.88% 94.47% BCA Canada Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 15, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 15, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA Canada Portfolio S&P/TSX TRI -0.92% 0.61% Top Contributors CS:CA RUS:CA GIB.A:CA NWH.UN:CA CSU:CA Weekly Return 18 bps 10 bps 7 bps 5 bps 5 bps Top Detractors CFP:CA IFP:CA BB:CA WEED:CA CRON:CA Weekly Return -34 bps -30 bps -23 bps -17 bps -14 bps Top Prospects LNF:CA IFP:CA CFP:CA CS:CA LNR:CA BCA Score 99.21% 99.11% 97.65% 96.46% 95.82% BCA UK Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 15, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 15, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA UK Portfolio FTSE 100 TRI 0.42% -0.27% Top Contributors TUNE:GB SVST:GB NLMK:GB AGRO:GB MNOD:GB Weekly Return 34 bps 26 bps 22 bps 20 bps 18 bps Top Detractors HFD:GB FDEV:GB DEC:GB PZC:GB NVTK:GB Weekly Return -25 bps -18 bps -16 bps -14 bps -12 bps Top Prospects SVST:GB NLMK:GB GLTR:GB ROSN:GB GROW:GB BCA Score 98.36% 97.66% 95.92% 95.79% 93.68% BCA Eurozone Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 15, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 15, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA EMU Portfolio MSCI EMU TRI -0.27% 1.28% Top Contributors APAM:NL POST:AT ATS:AT SOLV:BE US:IT Weekly Return 18 bps 11 bps 7 bps 6 bps 6 bps Top Detractors CNV:FR ROTH:FR PHA:FR GTT:FR REY:IT Weekly Return -33 bps -11 bps -9 bps -8 bps -8 bps Top Prospects STR:AT FDJ:FR ROTH:FR SOLV:BE TESB:BE BCA Score 99.81% 98.29% 97.59% 97.45% 97.16% BCA Japan Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 15, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 15, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA Japan Portfolio TOPIX TRI 1.70% 1.00% Top Contributors 7994:JP 9543:JP 6960:JP 8133:JP 8630:JP Weekly Return 20 bps 19 bps 17 bps 13 bps 12 bps Top Detractors 8117:JP 8979:JP 3468:JP 3539:JP 4326:JP Weekly Return -17 bps -4 bps -3 bps -2 bps -0 bps Top Prospects 4966:JP 8117:JP 6960:JP 9436:JP 8133:JP BCA Score 99.95% 98.90% 98.70% 98.13% 97.70% BCA Hong Kong Portfolio
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Total Weekly Return BCA Hong Kong Portfolio Hang Seng TRI 1.03% 3.11% Top Contributors 2877:HK 3600:HK 1898:HK 323:HK 148:HK Weekly Return 64 bps 54 bps 31 bps 25 bps 24 bps Top Detractors 1919:HK 316:HK 329:HK 43:HK 990:HK Weekly Return -56 bps -51 bps -40 bps -29 bps -25 bps Top Prospects 1277:HK 98:HK 857:HK 1606:HK 990:HK BCA Score 99.86% 99.31% 99.04% 98.80% 98.67% BCA Australia Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 15, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 15, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA Australia Portfolio S&P/ASX All Ord. TRI 0.42% 0.02% Top Contributors GRR:AU RUL:AU JLG:AU AST:AU SDG:AU Weekly Return 50 bps 22 bps 18 bps 10 bps 8 bps Top Detractors TLX:AU NEW:AU PSQ:AU CVW:AU SGF:AU Weekly Return -22 bps -18 bps -17 bps -16 bps -13 bps Top Prospects BSE:AU BFG:AU GRR:AU AGI:AU SGF:AU BCA Score 98.77% 98.47% 98.41% 98.34% 97.32%
Highlights Global oil demand will remain betwixt and between recovery and relapse through 3Q21, as stronger DM consumer spending and increasing mobility wrestles with persistent concerns over COVID-19-induced lockdowns in Latin America and Asia. These concerns will be allayed as vaccines become more widely distributed, and fears of renewed lockdowns – and their associated demand destruction – recede. Going by US experience – which can be tracked on a weekly basis – as consumer spending rises in the wake of relaxed restrictions on once-routine social interactions, fuel demand will follow suit (Chart of the Week). OPEC 2.0 likely will agree to return ~ 400k b/d monthly to the market over the course of the next year and a hal. For 2021, we raised our average forecast to $70/bbl, and our 2H21 expectation to $74/bbl. For 2022 and 2023, we expect Brent to average $75 and $78/bbl. These estimates are highly sensitive to demand expectations, particularly re containment of COVID-19. Feature For every bit of good news related to the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a cautionary note. Most prominently, reports of increasing demand for refined oil products like diesel fuel and gasoline in re-opening DM economies are almost immediately offset by fresh news of renewed lockdowns, re-infections in highly vaccinated populations, and fears a new mutant strain of the coronavirus will emerge (Chart 2).1 In this latter grouping, EM economies feature prominently, although Australia this week extended its lockdown following a flare-up in COVID-19 cases. Chart of the WeekUS Product Demand Revives As Economy Reopens
US Product Demand Revives As Economy Reopens
US Product Demand Revives As Economy Reopens
Chart 2COVID-19 Infection And Death Rates Keep Markets On Edge
Demand Dictates Oil Price Expectations
Demand Dictates Oil Price Expectations
Our expectation on the demand side is unchanged from last month – 2021 oil demand will grow ~ 5.4mm b/d vs. 2020 levels, while 2022 and 2023 consumption will grow 4.1 and 1.6mm b/d, respectively (Chart 3). These estimates reflect the slowing of global GDP growth over the 2021-23 interval, which can be seen in the IMF's and World Bank's GDP estimates, which we use to drive our demand forecasts.2 Weekly data from the US seen in the Chart of the Week provide a hint of what can be expected as DM and EM economies re-open in the wake of relaxed restrictions on once-routine social interactions. Demand for refined products – e.g., gasoline, diesel fuel and jet fuel – will recover, but at uneven rates over the next 2-3 years. The US EIA notes the recovery in diesel demand, which is included in "Distillates" in the chart above, has been faster and stronger than that of gasoline and jet fuel. This is largely because it reflects the lesser damage done to freight movement and activities like mining and manufacturing. The EIA expects 4Q21 US distillate demand to come in 100k b/d above 4Q19 levels at 4.2mm b/d, and to hit an all-time record of 4.3mm b/d next year. US gasoline demand is not expected to surpass 2019 levels this year or next, in the EIA's forecast. This is partly due to improved fuel efficiencies in automobiles – vehicle-miles travelled are expected to rise to ~ 9mm miles/day in the US, which will be slightly higher than 2019's level. Jet fuel demand in the US is expected to return to 2019 levels next year, coming in at 1.7mm b/d. Chart 3Global Oil Demand Forecast Remains Steady
Global Oil Demand Forecast Remains Steady
Global Oil Demand Forecast Remains Steady
Quantifying Demand Risks We use the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases as the backdrop for modelling demand-destruction scenarios in this month’s oil balances (Chart 2). We consider different scenarios of potential demand destruction caused by the resurgence in the pandemic (Table 1). Last year, demand fell by 9% on average, which we take to be the extreme down move over an entire year. In our simulations, we do not expect demand to fall as drastically this time. Table 1Demand-Destruction Scenario Outcomes
Demand Dictates Oil Price Expectations
Demand Dictates Oil Price Expectations
We modelled two scenarios – a 5% drop in demand (our low-demand-destruction scenario) and an 8% drop in demand (our high-demand-destruction scenario). A demand drop of a maximum of 2% made nearly no difference to prices, and so, we did not include it in our analysis. In both cases, demand starts to fall by September and reaches its lowest point in October 2021. We adjusted changes to demand in the same proportion as changes in demand in 2020, before making estimates converge to our base-case by end-2022. The estimates of price series are noticeably distinct during the period of the simulation (Chart 4). Starting in 2023, the low-demand-destruction prices and base-case prices nearly converge, as do their inventory levels. Prices and inventory levels in the high-demand-destruction case remain lower than the base-case during the rest of the forecast sample. OPEC 2.0 and world oil supply were kept constant in these scenarios. World oil supply is calculated as the sum of OPEC 2.0 and Non-OPEC 2.0 supply. Non-OPEC 2.0 can be broken down into the US, and Non-OPEC 2.0, Ex-US countries. Examples of these suppliers are the UK, Canada, China, and Brazil. OPEC 2.0 can be broken down into Core-OPEC 2.0 and the cohort we call "The Other Guys," which cannot increase production. Core-OPEC 2.0 includes suppliers we believe have excess spare capacity and can inexpensively increase supply quickly. Chart 4Brent Forecasts Rise As Global Economy Recovers COVID-19 Demand Destruction Scenarios
Brent Forecasts Rise As Global Economy Recovers COVID-19 Demand Destruction Scenarios
Brent Forecasts Rise As Global Economy Recovers COVID-19 Demand Destruction Scenarios
OPEC 2.0 Remains In Control We continue to expect the OPEC 2.0 producer coalition led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Russia to maintain its so-far-successful production policy, which has kept the level of supply below demand through most of the COVID-19 pandemic (Chart 5). This allowed OECD inventories to fall below their pre-COVID range, despite a 9% loss of global demand last year (Chart 6). We expect this discipline to continue and for OPEC 2.0 to continue restoring its market share (Table 2). Chart 5OPEC 2.0 Production Policy Kept Supply Below Demand
OPEC 2.0 Production Policy Kept Supply Below Demand
OPEC 2.0 Production Policy Kept Supply Below Demand
Chart 6...And Drove OECD Inventories Down
...And Drove OECD Inventories Down
...And Drove OECD Inventories Down
Table 2BCA Global Oil Supply - Demand Balances (MMb/d, Base Case Balances)
Demand Dictates Oil Price Expectations
Demand Dictates Oil Price Expectations
Our expectation last week the KSA-UAE production-baseline impasse will be short-lived remains intact. We expect supply to be increased after this month at a rate of 400k b/d a month into 2022, per the deal most members of the coalition signed on to prior to the disagreement between the longtime GCC allies. This would, as the IEA notes, largely restore OPEC 2.0's spare capacity accumulated via production cutbacks during the pandemic of ~ 6-7mm b/d by the end of 2022 (Chart 7). It should be remembered that most of OPEC 2.0's spare capacity is held by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, which includes the UAE. The UAE's official baseline production number (i.e., its October 2018 production level) likely will be increased to 3.65mm b/d from 3.2mm b/d, and its output in 2H21 and 2022 likely will be adjusted upwards. As one of the few OPEC 2.0 members that actually has invested in higher production and can increase output meaningfully, it would, like KSA, benefit from providing barrels out of this spare capacity.3 Chart 7OPEC 2.0 Spare Capacity Will Return
Demand Dictates Oil Price Expectations
Demand Dictates Oil Price Expectations
As we noted last week, we do not think this impasse was a harbinger of a breakdown in OPEC 2.0's so-far-successful production-management strategy. In our view, this impasse was a preview of how negotiations among states with the capacity to raise production will agree to allocate supply in a market starved for capital in the future. This is particularly relevant as US shale producers continue to focus on providing competitive returns to their shareholders, which will limit supply growth to that which can be done profitably. We see the "price-taking cohort" – i.e., those producers outside OPEC 2.0 exemplified by the US shale-oil producers – remaining focused on maintaining competitive margins and shareholder priorities. This means maintaining and growing dividends, and returning capital to shareholders will have priority as the world transitions to a low-carbon business model (Chart 8).4 For 2021, we raised our average forecast to $70/bbl on the back of higher prices lifting the year-to-date average so far, and our 2H21 expectation to $74/bbl. For 2022 and 2023, we expect Brent to average $75 and $78/bbl (Chart 9). These estimates are highly sensitive to demand expectations, which, in turn, depend on the global success in containing and minimizing COVID-19 demand destruction, as we have shown above. Chart 8US Shale Producers Focus On Margins
US Shale Producers Focus On Margins
US Shale Producers Focus On Margins
Chart 9Raising Our Forecast Slightly
Raising Our Forecast Slightly
Raising Our Forecast Slightly
Investment Implications In our assessment of the risks to our views in last week's report, we noted one of the unintended consequences of the unplanned and uncoordinated rush to a so-called net-zero future will be an improvement in the competitive position of oil and gas. This is somewhat counterintuitive, but the logic goes like this: The accelerated phase-out of conventional hydrocarbon energy sources brought about policy, regulatory and legal imperatives already is reducing oil and gas capex allocations within the price-taking cohort exemplified by US shale-oil producers. This also will restrict capital flows to EM states with heavy resource endowments and little capital to develop them. Our strong-conviction call on oil, gas and base metals is premised on our view that renewables and their supporting grids cannot be developed and deployed quickly enough to make up for the energy that will be foregone as a result of these policies. Capex for the metals miners has been parsimonious, and brownfield projects continue to dominate. Greenfield projects can take more than a decade to develop, and there are few in the pipeline now as the world heads into its all-out renewables push. In a world where conventional energy production is being forced lower via legislation, regulation, shareholder and legal decisions, higher prices will ensue even if demand stays flat or falls: If supply is falling, market forces will lift oil and gas prices – and the equities of the firms producing them – higher. As for metals like copper and their producers, if supply is unable to keep up with demand, prices of the commodities and the equities of the firms producing them will be forced to go higher.5 This call underpins our long S&P GSCI and COMT ETF commodity recommendations, and our long MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF (PICK) recommendation. We will look for opportunities to get long oil and gas producer exposure via ETFs as well, given our view on oil and metals spans the next 5-10 years. Robert P. Ryan Chief Commodity & Energy Strategist rryan@bcaresearch.com Ashwin Shyam Research Associate Commodity & Energy Strategy ashwin.shyam@bcaresearch.com Commodities Round-Up Energy: Bullish The US EIA expects growth in large-scale solar capacity will exceed the increase in wind generation for the first time ever in 2021-22. The EIA forecasts 33 GW of solar PV capacity will be added to the US grid this year and next, with small-scale solar PV increasing ~ 5 GW/yr. The EIA expects wind generation to increase 23 GW in 2021-22. The EIA attributed the slow-down in wind development to the expiration of a $0.025/kWH production tax credit at the end of 2020. Taken together, solar and wind generation will account for 15% of total US electricity output by the end of 2022, according to the EIA. Nuclear power will account for slightly less than 20% of US generation in 2021-22, while hydro will fall to less than 7% owing to severe drought in the western US. At the other end of the generation spectrum, coal will account for ~ 24% of generation this year, as it takes back incremental market share from natural gas, and ~ 22% of generation in 2022. Base Metals: Bullish Iron ore prices continue to trade above $215/MT in China, even as demand is expected to slow in 2H21. Supply additions from Brazil, which ships higher quality 65% Fe ore, have been slower than expected, which is supporting prices (Chart 10). Separately, the Chinese government's auction of refined copper earlier this month cleared the market at $10,500/MT, or ~ $4.76/lb. Spot copper has been trading on either side of $4.30/lb this month, which indicates the Chinese market remains well bid. Precious Metals: Bullish The 13-year record jump in the US Consumer Price Index reported this week for the month of June is bullish for gold, as it produced weaker real rates and sparked demand for inflation hedges. Fed Chair Powell continued to stick to the view that the recent rise in inflation is transitory. The Fed’s dovish outlook will support gold prices and likely will lead to a weaker US dollar, as it reduces the possibility that US interest rates will rise soon. A falling USD will further bolster gold prices (Chart 11). Chart 10
BENCHMARK IRON ORE 62% FE, CFR CHINA (TSI)RECOVERING
BENCHMARK IRON ORE 62% FE, CFR CHINA (TSI)RECOVERING
Chart 11
Gold Prices Going Down
Gold Prices Going Down
Footnotes 1 We highlighted this risk in last week's report, Assessing Risks To Our Commodity Views, which is available at ces.bcaresearch.com. Two events – in the Seychelles and Chile, where the majority of the populations were inoculated – highlight re-infection risk. Re-infections in Indonesia along with lockdowns following the spread of the so-called COVID-19 Delta variant also are drawing attention. Please see Euro 2020 final in UK stokes fears of spread of Delta variant, published by The Straits Times on July 11, 2021. The news service notes that in addition to the threats super-spreader sporting events in Europe present, "The rapid spread of the Delta variant across Asia, Africa and Latin America is exposing crucial vaccine supply shortages for some of the world's poorest and most vulnerable populations. Those two factors are also threatening the global economic recovery from the pandemic, Group of 20 finance ministers warned on Saturday." 2 Please see the recently published IMF World Economic Outlook Reports and the World Bank Global Economic Prospects. 3 If, as we suspect, KSA and the UAE are playing a long game – i.e., a 20-30-year game – this spare capacity will become more valuable as investment capex into oil production globally slows. Please see The $200 billion annual value of OPEC’s spare capacity to the global economy published by kapsarc.org on July 17, 2018. 4 Please see Bloomberg's interview with bp's CEO Bernard Looney at Banks Need ‘Radical Transparency,’ Citi Exec Says: Summit Update, which aired on July 13, 2021. In addition to focusing on margins and returns, the company – like its peers among the majors – also is aiming to reduce oil production by 20% by 2025 and 40% by 2030. 5 This turn of events is being dramatically played out in the coal markets, where the supply of metallurgical coals is falling as demand increases. Please see Coal Prices Hit Decade High Despite Efforts to Wean the World Off Carbon published by wsj.com on June 25, 2021. Investment Views and Themes Strategic Recommendations Tactical Trades Commodity Prices and Plays Reference Table Trades Closed in 2021 Summary of Closed Trades
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Weekly Performance Update For the week ending Thu Jul 08, 2021 The Market Monitor displays the trailing 1-quarter performance of strategies based around the BCA Score. For each region, we construct an equal-weighted, monthly rebalanced portfolio consisting of the top 3 stocks per sector and compare it with the regional benchmark. For each portfolio, we show the weekly performance of individual holdings in the Top Contributors/Detractors table. In addition, the Top Prospects table shows the holdings that currently have the highest BCA Score within the portfolio. For more details, click the region headers below to be redirected to the full historical backtest for the strategy. BCA US Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 8, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 8, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA US Portfolio S&P500 TRI -1.33% 0.06% Top Contributors TX:US IT:US PSA:US TGT:US GOOG.L:US Weekly Return 15 bps 7 bps 7 bps 6 bps 6 bps Top Detractors SIG:US WES:US MTZ:US SEM:US LPX:US Weekly Return -22 bps -16 bps -15 bps -14 bps -13 bps Top Prospects ESGR:US MPLX:US ANAT:US TX:US BRK.A:US BCA Score 98.48% 97.38% 96.24% 94.71% 94.62% BCA Canada Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 8, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 8, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA Canada Portfolio S&P/TSX TRI -0.62% -0.43% Top Contributors WIR.UN:CA EMP.A:CA SMU.UN:CA NWC:CA H:CA Weekly Return 8 bps 8 bps 8 bps 7 bps 5 bps Top Detractors WEED:CA CRON:CA IMO:CA LNR:CA BB:CA Weekly Return -26 bps -17 bps -17 bps -13 bps -13 bps Top Prospects LNF:CA CS:CA IFP:CA RUS:CA NWC:CA BCA Score 99.30% 99.18% 98.93% 98.46% 96.93% BCA UK Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 8, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 8, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA UK Portfolio FTSE 100 TRI -0.37% -1.25% Top Contributors PZC:GB OXIG:GB SRE:GB BYG:GB FDM:GB Weekly Return 22 bps 16 bps 16 bps 14 bps 9 bps Top Detractors SPI:GB HFD:GB DEC:GB NFC:GB NVTK:GB Weekly Return -28 bps -26 bps -11 bps -10 bps -9 bps Top Prospects SVST:GB NLMK:GB GROW:GB GLTR:GB MNOD:GB BCA Score 99.78% 99.55% 98.11% 98.07% 95.26% BCA Eurozone Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 8, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 8, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA EMU Portfolio MSCI EMU TRI -0.37% -1.66% Top Contributors ALTA:FR MONT:BE ATS:AT PHA:FR LOUP:FR Weekly Return 27 bps 20 bps 12 bps 5 bps 4 bps Top Detractors OMV:AT BB:FR US:IT TESB:BE CNV:FR Weekly Return -17 bps -16 bps -15 bps -12 bps -10 bps Top Prospects STR:AT SOLV:BE FDJ:FR TESB:BE ROTH:FR BCA Score 99.79% 98.01% 97.87% 97.25% 96.82% BCA Japan Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 8, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 8, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA Japan Portfolio TOPIX TRI -0.31% -0.97% Top Contributors 6960:JP 8979:JP 9543:JP 4694:JP 3468:JP Weekly Return 17 bps 10 bps 9 bps 8 bps 7 bps Top Detractors 8595:JP 3291:JP 3539:JP 7593:JP 4966:JP Weekly Return -33 bps -15 bps -9 bps -8 bps -8 bps Top Prospects 4966:JP 8133:JP 3291:JP 6960:JP 8117:JP BCA Score 99.91% 99.20% 98.35% 97.57% 97.49% BCA Hong Kong Portfolio
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Total Weekly Return BCA Hong Kong Portfolio Hang Seng TRI -2.28% -5.43% Top Contributors 990:HK 856:HK 215:HK 43:HK 2380:HK Weekly Return 33 bps 26 bps 18 bps 7 bps 4 bps Top Detractors 3600:HK 6100:HK 329:HK 857:HK 468:HK Weekly Return -29 bps -27 bps -24 bps -22 bps -22 bps Top Prospects 1277:HK 1839:HK 98:HK 2232:HK 857:HK BCA Score 99.98% 99.35% 99.32% 99.19% 98.85% BCA Australia Portfolio
Market Monitor (Jul 8, 2021)
Market Monitor (Jul 8, 2021)
Total Weekly Return BCA Australia Portfolio S&P/ASX All Ord. TRI 0.12% 0.98% Top Contributors GRR:AU ZIM:AU YAL:AU NHC:AU PSQ:AU Weekly Return 72 bps 23 bps 22 bps 11 bps 10 bps Top Detractors FLN:AU NEC:AU BLX:AU RIC:AU TLX:AU Weekly Return -38 bps -27 bps -23 bps -17 bps -15 bps Top Prospects BFG:AU AGI:AU BSE:AU ZIM:AU JLG:AU BCA Score 99.07% 99.04% 98.90% 97.03% 97.01%