Monday, October 13, 2008

Data problem = commodity rally?

The Baltic Dry Index has been falling for the last three months and in free fall for the last month. I had originally interpreted that as slackening world demand and particularly by China indicating a worldwide economic slowdown. Now a report from Naked Capitalism suggests that shipping volumes have seized up because of the financial crisis:
I spoke to another friend of mine this afternoon, whose father has been in the shipping business forever. Pristine credit rating, rock solid balance sheet. He says if he takes his BNP Paribas letter of credit to Citi today for short term funding for his vessels, they won't give it to him. That means he can't ship goods, which means that within the next 2 weeks, physical shortages of commodities begins to show up.

Readjust growth expectations?
If this condition of inability to ship because of problems in inter-bank credit market is widespread, then we have a case of analysts getting fooled by the data. The steps taken by the authorities to ease these conditions could then spark an enormous rally in the markets, in equities and especially in commodities.

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