John Faraclas
The BDI (Baltic Dry Index) closed earlier on today 11 points up since yesterday at 1,576 which is though minus three points down since last week’s 1,579 points! Mixed Wets with the Dirties improving… Geopolitics a liability for all in a bankrupt Planet Ocean – most issues which are more or less the same as in our last Monday’s (15/10) recap. John Faraclas’ daily and weekly recaps:
The Capes’ volatility dominated the Dry markets with the BCI at 2,230 up 54 since yesterday and plus 61 since last week’s 2,169 points… Volatility at its best… Caution as one size doesn’t constitutes a health and sustainable Market.
The Panamaxes’ BPI was down 11 points at 1,775 “equalising” last Friday’s closing; NO CHANGE!
The Supras’ BSI was hit; on a daily basis same was down 11 points at 1,170 and on a weekly basis down 34 losing the 1,200 points threshold clocking 1,204!
The Handies’ BHSI gained two points and now reads 670; the weekly result was also good: plus 13 points from 657!
Now, for setting the record straight: the BDI is 10,217 points below the all time high of the 20th of May 2018 when it stood at 11,793 points; it is also 1,286 points higher from the all time low of the 10th of February 2016 and lastly same is 671 points below that of the end of December 2013 when it stood at 2,247 points. Make your calculations and see what do get out of these figures…
The Wets as said with mixed feelings; the last published BDTI (Dirties) and BCTI (Cleans) stood at 998 – plus 25 and 589 – minus nine. The weekly “score” was 75 points plus for the Dirties from 913 and minus five for the Cleans – from 594 respectively. Hopefully we might soon witness the Dirties above the 1,000 point mark…
The WTI at US$ 69.30 was a bit up and down a few dollars since last week; not bad, but still too high!
Wonder what’s the White House view on the 2020, scrubbers et al…
Did I hear you say Arctic Shipping? What’s the Environmental and geopolitical environment there?
On the Geopolitical front:
The MIGRANTS still the number one issue; I guess we have to become tough with all politicians involved as when the trouble strike in their court yard it will be too late. Make or break as, all things being equal, Brussels in particular have make it a total mess to a point of no return with inhumane behaviour against the locals in Spain, Malta, Greece and Italy – the counties mostly suffering but also for the MIGRANTS! Deaths, rapes, exploitation, prostitution, drownings, money fiddling, you name it… Turkey is trying to entertain its terrible state of affairs and sends them over by thousands… At the other side of the Atlantic an unusual build-up with Mexico and the Guatemalan border as many Hondurans use every means to cross over… Another messy and itchy situ…President Trump is explicit: nobody comes here (in the USA) from this caravan..
The Wars in Syria and Iraq continue although it seemed the end result had been achieved; so what’s up now there. CAUTION! Caution as the entire Middle East might go up in flames any moment… Iran – and others, does it’s best to trigger further mess which will draw in Israel and a full scale conflagration might be the only “solution” as the winner takes it all!
Greece: The internal situation must be corrected as after the brain drain of 447,000 Greeks between 25-45 years old who left the country and rightly so since the mess begun thanks to the moron politicians and their cronies within Greece and Brussels and Greece now faces the Business drain as listed and non listed companies have left the country and continue to do so. Enough!!! On the foreign front things get sour… Expect major developments in Greece and one way or another they will come like a tsunami and totally unexpected. Greece needs a leader and not political managers; end of the story… What an unnecessary melodrama with the resignation of Greece’s Foreign Affairs minister…
Cyprus too has too many internal as well as external issues in East Med’s neighbourhood… Turkey continues to bully this EU member state too (as it does with Greece) and still occupies its northern part for no reason… Blackmailing the West in a multiple of ways will be at the end of the day the end of Turkey’s existence as we know now…
The Balkans is the focal point for NATO’s and the EU’s well-being but… you need two in a tango… CAUTION as things might turn sour… Too many issues there; Albania with Kosovo, still many Serbian issues with almost all its neighbours – Peace must be just!! Bosnia Herzegovina and Croatia are also having issues… fYRoM too and not just for the name shake, but in reality far beyond that…
Italy’s politicians particularly the current politicians Messrs. Conte, Salvini, Di Maio, Tria will make the best for the Italian people and make Brussels wonder… Wait and see the end result! Like with president’s Trump maxim: America First; now it’s: Italy First!
BREXIT continues with too many twists and turns… Who wants to reverse and why the BREXIT result! Extensions too are on the way but the political turmoil is on… Let’s see how many will attend tomorrow’s demo… All in all the ball is in Brussels court!
Mind the financial state of the EU as things can have a domino effect. Who isn’t bankrupt there… But you cannot bully small nations or upset other major economies simply because somebody has once again terrible scenarios…
Another Saudi saga with the Khashoggi issue threatening too many things… and lives too… Expect surprises…
In South America now; Brazilian front-runner Jair Bolsonaro aims for a wide win… Let’s see… Neighbouring Argentina does its best and let’s hope it goes through as its finances aren’t that “helpful”…
China’s economy and finances aren’t the way many had predicted… Wonde what’s next for the Renminbi… Japan though is gaining momentum and the Subcontinent tries its best… One needs some more tough governance there…
Africa who its chronic problems needs immediate attention.
In Australia everything leads to difficult times ahead with the expected win of Dr. Keryn Phelps.
Putin’s Russia continues its own agenda on world politics and let’s how they tackle a possible American pull out from the INF agreement signed by Roland Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev… CAUTION…
On another tone and note all is set for the WISTA International annual event – this year in Norway up in Tromsø… 23-26 October! “Breaking the Ice – Developing dialogues for sustainable business in the Arctic” is the main theme for the conference. Based on this overall theme, the conference will deliver keynote speeches and panel discussions covering Leadership, Competence, the Environment, Search & Rescue, the Digital Shift and Green Technology. These are all linked to opportunities and challenges for the maritime industry in the Arctic region taking into consideration the changing ice conditions and opening of new sailing routes. Will report live; stay tuned!
Have a nice weekend and remain on guard from actions emanating from Pirates, Terrorists and Criminals of any kind wherever you are on Planet Ocean…
