John Faraclas
Perplexed Markets; and what a week that was… with Geopolitics and Coronavirus…
The BDI (Baltic Dry Index) ended down two points since yesterday at 631 amid an unprecedented Geopolitical mess and an “uprising” feeling that something very bad will develop all over Planet Ocean due to Coronavirus. John Faraclas’ daily and weekly recaps:
The BDI although was on a positive upwards mode – even a minimal one, lost these two vital points and still causes worries to all. On a weekly basis though the BDI was up 14 points – from 617 on the 6th of March…
The Capes still the biggest issue with 44 points plus but still on a minus mode, that being expressed to minus 311 points. The weekly though count fount the BCI losing only one point from the minus 312 recorded last Friday… Still CAUTION!!!!
The Panamaxes’ BPI had a bad week overall and now stands at 1,007 points – down 28!! On a weekly basis the BPI was down 61 points from 1,068 on the 6th of March… Another size being CAUTIONED!
Good news for both the Supras and the Handies; the BSI gained five and the BHSI nine points respectively and now read 750 and 395… For the Surpass the 700 points threshold has been re-gained… The weekly gains were 62 and 45!!!!! Well done in a rather odd market environment…
The Wets look promising; the last published BDTI (Dirties) and BCTI (Cleans) stood at 1,434 and 816 – up 261 and 23 points respectively. The weekly gains were “spectacular” with the Dirties up 670 – from 764 and the Cleans up 131 from 685 last week meaning good money for all!!
The WTI was up 23 cents since yesterday and now stands at US$31.73… On a weekly basis same was down US$ 9.55 – from US$ 41.28 on Friday the 6th of March 2020!!! That’s billions of Dollars lost!!!!! but saved in favour of the poor!!!!!
The Stock Markets too had it badly with a few trillions lost… Harsh reminders of 1987 and 2008-2009 periods…
Did I hear you say trillions? Then don’t forget that Planet Ocean is in red US$ 257 (twohundredandfiftyseventrillion)… That’s the big issue…
Now, add Coronavirus and see what you get… COVID-19 will for sure change our lives in its entirety – how we shop, travel and work for the foreseeable future. It was about time somebody talks on the missing discipline aspect!!!! Somebody talks on greediness!!!! Somebody talks about honesty and non-political risk assessment existing and not all this hype on say the Environment and other burning issues!!!! The coming week will be instrumental for all… all over Planet Ocean… Did I hear you saying travelling by airplanes? What hygiene you find in the toilettes? – To be fair: pathetic… “Forget” the size which with all due respect cannot accommodate even anorexics… How do you “drop” the paper you clean yourself in the “bin” when you have to touch all bacteria and microbes all covered with all sorts of viruses in the bin’s opening on the side just under the wash basin. All this is because the greedy, mainly national/state owned airlines want to optimise and get more passengers on board… State-owned airlines’ toilet layout, size and hygienic facilities are in a mess… Low cost airlines’ too… Just to remind you on their greediness vis-à-vis offering food and luggage allowance like in the past and under the pretext of the oil prices rising 12 (twelve) years ago they cut-off everything!!!! Do you fancy a flight of fancy with me? Then I can saw you all this mess… and more!!!! Ah! And how long does it takes these days of Coronavirus to thoroughly clean and disinfect an airplane of say 250 passengers? Do airlines perform this humane duty and above all TASK!!!? Obviously this applies to all means of Transport…
Our Industry, the entire Shipping Industry is the best in tackling any issue far better than any other for centuries now, particularly from all land-based ones. Discipline is the name of the game here, Responsibility too. Wonder why other sectors haven’t done so. The ISM and ISPS are examples of organised and disciplined businesses!!!!
Worth condemning World leaders for not having a coherent policy on Health issues!!!! The effect of their inability might lead to even a social upturn… They are NOT responsible people!!!! After SARS and other outbreaks why we are NOT ready to tackle these epidemics now becoming pandemics? Remember the effect of STD’s… it goes even worse…
Congratulations to all who have cancelled many Conferences, Forums, Awards as well as Educational and Training Events / Exhibitions all over Planet Ocean… Shame to all those who haven’t got the guts to do so in other sectors. Use the means of Business Technology and confer…
On the Geopolitical front MIGRANTS still remains the number one issue all over Planet Ocean… Turks headed by Erdogan, the most inhumane human-politician today, uses the MIGRANTS to capitulate… SHAME! Shame to the EU which still remains a spectator and doesn’t send its entire war machine to fully blockade every single inch of Turkey to ensure NOT a single MIGRANT with the auspices of the Turks crosses over to Greece and conversely to the European Union!!! Nemesis, as we have many times mentioned, will strike and then the shit will hit the fan for all…
Islanders on the Greek Aegean Islands had enough from the apathy of all involved to sort out this cancerous issue which is designed on purpose…It’s not about Syrian MIGRANTS as same form only the 8-10% (eight to ten centum) of those arriving, actually send by Turkish PM Erdogan; the majority are Afghanis and sub-Saharan ones… Let’s stop the fake news once and for all. Greece is known from ancient times as the country of Xenius Zeus for its hospitality and giving assistance to all. That doesn’t mean that others have to overstay their welcome there. It’s mainly the EU headed by Germany’s PM Frau Merkel to blame. No way the Greeks will destroy their social cohesion. It’s not money, its accommodating all these poor people who for many reasons that we have mentioned in many previous articles herein travel to “safety” but at the same time they severely damage Europe’s social cohesion; end of the story – study Anthropogeography, Religion et al… The events over the last two weeks in the borderline between Greece and Turkey on the Evros River demonstrates how dangerous PM Erdogan can be… It’s not an asymmetrical attack as many think of, is a premeditated despicable and inhumane murderous plan… He’s the Master of Blackmail !!! The sufferings and problems will continue in Evros and the Greek Aegean Islands of Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos, Leros, Kalymnos, Kastelorizon… What does the EU and NATO on the Turkish Airforce and Naval Ships daily intrusions of Greece’s and conversely European Union airspace and waters? If Turkey deserves NATO’s help on Idlib, what then NATO has to do for Greece when it cannot stop an alliance member, Turkey, to continuously pester another member? Eh!!! From the one hand the EU pesters Greece to repay back its loans; has the EU glitterati politicians in Brussels ever calculated the amount the Greek Airforce spends for reconnaissance of the intruding Turkish Airforce jets and naval ships in Greece’s and EU airspace and sea waters all these years either post WWII or post 1952 when both countries joined NATO? SHAME!!!!
And never forget what Cyprus suffers from Turkey… Not now, not 46 years ago but ever since Cyprus’ Independence!!!
Nearby in Israel Binyamin Netanyahu fights both for his party, existence and Israel. It’s time he proves that he can contribute to a long lasting Peace. Same applies for the Palestinian leadership. As we say in Marine Insurance, “it’s a both to blame collision”; you dead well know what I mean!!!!
Next door Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad with the support of Russia’s Vladimir Putin has most of his land back… What next? Turkey doesn’t really play NATO’s card but its own gains, remember this when the day of reckoning comes there…
BREXIT “seems” to be on the sidelines but that’s no true; expect strange things to happen for both sides… CAUTION!!!! Some fail to understand that they must not fear to negotiate!!!
In the USA the race for nominations and elections leading to the new president continues and let’s see how Joe Biden does at the end of the day… Can Bernie Sanders win, and if so, can he overthrow President Trump? And then what? Can either save Planet Ocean’s Economy? The Environment? Health issues – such as Coronavirus??? Ah! AND M I G R A N T S – particularly in USA’s Mexican border… Still troubles in Afghanistan despite the USA and the Talibans signed a Peace deal… China and Tariffs still a major issue..
Central and South America continue to face financial issues and situ will reach a point of no return! Watch this space! Maduro urges families to have six children… Any interpretation please???
In Africa things might get sour; it’s all about Democracy they say… But how Democratic Freedom can be accompliced there…? Demonstrations there are increasingly leading to a major social upturn and the number of MIGRANTS arriving in the MED from sub Saharan countries tells it all… Africa matters for all; its population is now One Billion people; “soon” it will be double. Can Democracy do the trick? But one needs to know the real term and functions of Pericles’ Democracy that lead to Pericles’ Golden Century!!!!
Japan is closely watching all developments both in its close proximity as well as the global ones; never underestimate the Japs!!!!!
Why is it so “quiet” in India and Pakistan?
Iranians are also a worry for all and with the oil price mess and race to overtake the Saudis expect mess…
Bordering Iraq still in a mess… The killings continue…
Libya will also produce more mess; CAUTION!!!
Planet Ocean is on fire!!!!
AND a Question to test your IQ in business and trade: “Is Globalisation a needed mess given the reaction with Coronavirus?”… For Shipping and the Shipbuilding Industry and the distortion of EU’s shipbuilding a lot can be said… For goods too… Nobody can match Europe in its entirety!!! Protectionism here and now!!!! We look forward to your written comments!!!
Have a nice evening and weekend; continue to remain on guard from actions emanating by Pirates, Terrorists, Criminals and any Business Hooligan whatsoever wherever you are on Planet Ocean!!! Use discipline, ethics and common sense to fight Coronavirus’ intrusion and be ready to face COVID-19’s …music!!! We live in more than interesting times!
P.S. Was it Friday 13th….
2 comments
Sunday 15th March, 17:30 – South London. Watching TV and feeling that while Planet Ocean inhabitants have not yet found an uniform criteria. Africa … does Africa exist? We have not heard how are they? Have they the virus? Or is people safe? south America, well for starters, 3 men were in Caracas selling in a square alcohol bottles and face masks. Alcohol was sold at about $5 considering that those $5 can buy you a lot! So people tired of black marketeers got together, punched up these 3 men and took all their merchandise. Venezuelans are already tired of living in a country next to hell, that this incident took out the worst of them. everyone knows that hospitals are the worst place to be and meanwhile Mr Maduro says that is the blockade that have Venezuela and the hospitals like this ….so …. We will never know who, how, what and how many have contracted the virus. In Panama. Flights to and from Europe and China and other places are being cancelled, a large number of Panamanian living in the capital has run as an stampede to the country side and the small towns, so the virus may spread faster. Speculation is there! A sack of 100oranges usually $5 is now $18 – so people in social media are asking for government to regulate prices and stop abuse! Now Panama registry has issued notoces for seafarers and ships, but what it worries me, is what is happening to seafarers that need to leave or join ships worldwide? What is happening in ports? Are ports been kept worldwide segregated for goods to go through. As an example, Cadburys chocolates are produced in Poland, how they are going to be distributed? By sea? Now that the neighboring countries are closing borders?
Many banks left UK to Europe….. Are they goin to reactivate back to UK, trucks …from Spain could those go to Bilbao and como by Plymouth with food – would this be allowed?
People needs to think locally, local food, local drinks (at least we still have plenty of beer and Scotch in UK) local business working in small scale, a new dawn to our lives and tastes, I remember my dad used to travel when I was a child and always brought back souveniers or lovely unique things from the countries he visited. Nowadays the same stone with 3 shelves and a different set of name painted on it, depending wherever you Bought it and the the disticntive Made in China label … time to sit in the quiet corner and think about (1) our seafarers , (2) how to regenerate our local industry (3) how to help the family, how to spend more time as people and slow the pace, money or criptocurrencies or OECD or even tax heavens would not help us to cure the virus, our spirit of belonging, our faith, and the work of our scientific will help to remedy and ease this terrible disease. Meanwhile spear a thought for hospital staff and for those in charge of funerals…. Pray if you believe and if you don’t, meditate A calmed spirit can help seeing things clearer …
Great post!