Recent CRG Associates in the News
Metal Bulletin’s 2018 rankings solidify almost a decade long run for Meir as one of the most accurate analysts in terms of base and precious metal price predictions.
Commodity Research Group’s Edward Meir, exclusive metals consultant to INTL FCStone, was ranked first overall for his 2018 base metals price predictions and fourth for precious metals in the Fastmarkets/Metal Bulletin’s APEX analyst survey.
The 2018 rankings solidify almost a decade long run for Meir as one of the most accurate analysts in terms of base and precious metal price predictions. Meir shared his thoughts on being named as one of Metal Bulletin’s top analysts for 2018, “I am extremely honored to have secured a number one ranking among my peers for Metal Bulletin’s annual APEX 2018 base metals survey. Needless to say, markets these days are frequently influenced by events beyond the scope of traditional commodity forecasting and so to have such a good result and to be recognized for it is indeed very satisfying. My thanks to Fastmarkets/Metal Bulletin, INTL FCStone and most of all, to our many devoted readers. Let’s see what 2019 has in store!”
Previously, Meir received the #1 analyst ranking for base metals in 2011, 2014 and 2015 and so has taken the number one spot in four out of the last eight years. Meir has also obtained a top five precious metals ranking in three of the past five years (2013-2018).
Meir’s Commodity Research Group has been retained exclusively by INTL FCStone as an independent research consultant for both base and precious metals.
Andy Lebow discussing latest inventory report
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=236&v=FFd9Xqs_IwA
Surprise build for oil inventories – Andrew Lebow on latest oil inventory data
Oil producers could face bankruptcy – Andrew Lebow on Reuters
Is OPEC Still Relevant? – Andrew Lebow on Fox Business News
In the Business Press
It’s the Iranian Oil Guessing Game. And the Bears Are Winning ►
“You are seeing a real fundamental shift in the market from concern about a shortfall to now real concern about maybe there is too much supply in the market.”
– Andrew Lebow
Oil Slips as Rising Production Outweighs Shrinking U.S. Supplies ►
“It’s always telling when the market really doesn’t fire after a bullish number. Investors look at production as something that could be worrisome down the road.”
– Andrew Lebow
Oil inventories fall, but less than expected: Commodity Research Group ►
Andy Lebow, senior partner at the Commodity Research Group, joins BNN for a look at the latest oil inventories. He reacts to reports from the IEA that says non-OPEC countries will raise oil output in 2018.
Peak Demand Would Not Crash the Oil Industry ►
“Over time, you’d definitely see consolidation, particularly downstream. But demand for petrochemicals and light products won’t just disappear. Majors would get bigger because of their access to capital”.
– Andrew Lebow
U.S. crude shipments set to pick up as export window opens ►
“You look at U.S. crude runs, Asian crude runs and the growing Asian appetite for light sweets – it would lead one to believe that the arb has a good chance to tighten up”
– Andrew Lebow
Oil falls on worries over swelling U.S. stockpiles ►
“We’ve seen a fairly significant increase in crude stocks since the beginning of the year and yet the market has been able to maintain its relative buoyancy. I think the underlying sentiment is bullish … what’s been key to the market is you’ve seen the tightening of the spreads, especially in the front.”
– Andrew Lebow
All Eyes on OPEC as Global Glut Persists ►
“This meeting is somewhat existential in nature. The group can’t afford another fiasco … OPEC clearly wants to get prices out of the current range.”
– Andrew Lebow
New technologies allow the shale industry to thrive ►
“It is clear that one of those countries most severely affected will be Russia; not because it doesn’t have the supply of oil and gas; but rather the current round of international sanctions clearly interdicts the technology transfer of the very processes and adaptations which have enabled the growth of the U.S. industry in the face of a price decline.”
– Dr. Gary K. Busch
Oil up 4 percent as Saudis mull meeting, tighter market forecast ►
“The markets clearly are deriving support from both the IEA report and statements from the Saudi oil minister. In a crude market that has seen a combined increase of 200,000 gross short speculative positions over just the past six weeks, any talk of a potential coordinated effort from producers, no matter how unlikely the prospect, will lead to short covering.”
– Andrew Lebow
More pain seen for U.S. crude as product glut adds to gloom ►
“The market may be adjusting to the reality that crude stocks are not only not going to draw rapidly, but also that as we move into refinery maintenance season, that could exacerbate the problem”
– Andrew Lebow
Is Another Oil Price Spike Inevitable? ►
“It’s certainly possible prices will hit $80 by 2020, but it’s a difficult call. Non-OPEC supply is where a lot will be lost, but right now we have a big overhang in stocks getting in the way of prices rising substantially.”
– Andrew Lebow
Cruel summer for U.S. refiners as margins tank ►
Summer driving season is in full swing and American motorists are filling their tanks at a healthy clip, but that is not swelling the profit margins as much as usual at U.S. independent oil refiners.
“PADD 1 is a holy mess. It is very unusual. If a market becomes extremely oversupplied, like PADD 1, they are going to have to cut runs.”
– Andrew Lebow
The Stressed-Out Oil Industry Faces an Existential Crisis ►
“There’s a short fix, and a long fix. Are we going for the short fix of a production cut, or the long-haul slog of rebalancing the market? That’s what everyone at CERA is going to be talking about. And it’s all dependent on the Saudis.”
– Andrew Lebow
Crude’s slide ignites interest in oil exchange traded funds ►
“One of unintended consequences of the ETF in ’09 was to push contango out and lead to more storage being built — thankfully, because we needed it”
– Andrew Lebow