Weekend Economists Ring in the New! New Year 2015

[Demeter]

24. Commodities Head for Record Losing Run on Oil to Dollar

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-12-30/commodities-head-for-record-losing-run-on-oil-s-rout-dollar

Commodities headed for the biggest annual loss since the global financial crisis in 2008, retreating for a record fourth year, as a global glut spurred a rout in oil prices and a stronger dollar cut the allure of raw materials.

The Bloomberg Commodity Index (BCOM), which tracks 22 products from crude to copper, fell 0.9 percent to 105.1845 points at 8:53 a.m. in New York, after dropping to the lowest level since March 2009 earlier today. It’s lost 16 percent this year, with crude, gasoline and heating oil the biggest decliners. A fourth year of losses would be the longest since at least 1991.

Energy prices retreated in 2014 as a jump in U.S. drilling sparked a surge in output and price war with OPEC, which chose to maintain supplies to try to retain market share. The dollar climbed to the highest level in more than five years as a U.S. recovery spurred speculation that the Federal Reserve will start to raise borrowing costs next year. Commodities are set for a volatile year in 2015, with crude oil poised to extend its slump, according to Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd.

“What we’re seeing is that supplies from North America have really outpaced worldwide demand growth and as a result, we have a supply glut,” Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates LLC in Houston, said by phone. “And that of course has put pressure on prices over the last several months. And as a result, it’s dragging down commodities indexes as well.” MORE