Market’s mild surge amid total uncertainty in geopolitics and Coronavirus, manna from heavens…
The BDI (Baltic Dry Index) gained 39 points since yesterday and now reads 1,161. Wets as always with mixed feelings. Uncertainty grows with too many issues on Geopolitics and the Coronavirus anathema. John Faraclas’ daily recap:
The Capes’ BCI was up 79 points and now reads 1,320, surpassing the 1,300 point threshold…
The Panamaxes continue to rise surpassing the 1,400 points threshold, with the BPI now at 1,427 – up 39!
Six valuable points for the Supras’ BSI now at 1,023…
666 is a powerful number reflecting the energy of the sun and principle of reason, will and authority and this is what happens today with the Handies’ BHSI – up three and concluded an all positive, an upwards Dry Market!
The Wets with mixed feelings, being the norm over the last year; the last published BDTI (Dirties) and BCTI (Cleans) stood at 430 – minus five and 413 – plus 18 points respectively; good to see the Cleans above the 400 point threshold… all in all …a balancing act so to speak with the Wets!
Boxhips surprisingly still enjoy good freight rates but for how long? Cross your fingers and let us see bunker prices remain low. My personal view is that container ships MUST have speed leaving behind the land alternative and all that Silk Road bubbles…
On the Sales and Purchase front new eco-friendly tonnage particularly rotor wind driven like the ANEMOI one does have a future! We will be faced with an interesting and very much necessary new building boom yet again as technology and AI advances. HR will be though an issue… Environmental ways / means of propulsion a MUST…
On Demos, following the first VLCC scrapping reality after 18 months last November, there are some believing of a Demo-spree… we shall see… we must add here that scrapping passenger and cruise tonnage due to Covid – in Turkey, was the wrong choice as these ships could have been used for the MIGRANTS… Wake up and be practical and humane… Just make the calculations…
Bad news for Shipping and Humanity at large the rise above the US$ 47 mark of the WTI, now at US$ 47,01 – being US$ 1,37 higher since yesterday (US$ 45.64). Ultra CAUTION should be observed…
The Geopolitical front maintains a shifting-sand momentum, a very dangerous one, thanks to the warmongers… Mind me I do love Wars and as a Hellene I am “interwoven”, let’s say with the Maxim and fully believe in: “War Father of All”, and I “complete” same by adding “if you don’t destroy you cannot rebuilt, this is the pitiful message from history” – something that I continuously mention since 1983 – at this very point may I remind you what I always stress same by pausing the question: “What is the product of the second World War ?”– for shipping of course… The reply again, I am sure you remember: “The long period time charters – ten plus years each, to rebuild the world”. Today, with technology and weapons of mass destruction, one has to be fully disciplined controlled as the end is nigh… Imagine nukes not just in the procession of major powers, but in the hands of terrorists without a cause… eh??? One has to expect the coming of Armageddon which we have numerous times mentions in our reporting… CAUTION as the coming War and its projections in the faulty line from Gib to Afghanistan and from the Caucuses to the Horn of Africa might introduce unprecedented situations never ever imagined before, coupled with religious ingredients – this is where Turkey and its famous infamous backers are leading society / humanity. Shame on all counts. CAUTION as the latest meeting of EU smells hooliganism by many EU members for non-agreeing in tough sanctions against president Erdogan – in person and Turkey at large!
MIGRANTS still the number one issue… Have you ever wondered why this issue takes such an importance?
BREXIT: walking on a tight rope… Acrobats though fell only once… before leaving behind their careers… Try to paraphrase this with the current situation which might cause a point of non-return amongst humans, the humans living in the UK and EU… Watch this space and see whose the final looser both in the sort and long term… Ah! And who, which nation is to be blamed for the BREXIT…
The EU remains in tatters and wonder what’s next… A powerful EU and UK interwoven with the USA can only deter Putin’s Russians and Chinese, particularly in Trade… Japan can play a pivotal role to all this melee…
Caution for the Sub-Continent “combatants”..
At the other side of the Atlantic all eyes and minds are focusing on the aftermath of the Festive Season leading to the 20th of January 2021 when we will finaly(?) have the new USA’s president in the Oval Office… It’s only when the fat lady comes out to sing that the show ends… The USA imposes sanctions and prohibitions to Chinese companies in its stock markets… CAUTION for both sides… Ah! And what about the Sino-Australian relationship? Eh!!!
Central and South Latin America in total turmoil… Another region which might joint our faulty line above and produce, firstly a major social upturn within the nations there and then War…
In the South China Sea and general in the entire Pacific Basin things aren’t getting any better…
Africa must finally meet with the Millennium’s demands or meet its Nemesis; first and foremost: end of Corruption. Secondly: tell off the Chinese distorting and exploiting everything there; add the proxy post-colonial wars, trade wars and see what you get. Mind the Ethiopian – Eritrea latest Tigray region upturn…
More Geopolitical news tomorrow Friday with the weekly recap.
Coronavirus makes waves and the Vaccine issue the headlines as well as the curfews… err lockdowns… MASKS the MUST and mess / debris in the streets, pavements… Let us see the effect of the Vaccine and when, if ever “liberation” comes. At best my belief is that Coronavirus will become yet another flu issue… There is no light at the end of the tunnel… at least for the time being… The public MUST be re-assured that nothing sinister is being included in the vaccines and there will NOT be any side effect whatsoever, as same are portrayed, seen in social media… from many sources… Indeed there are (possible) side effects in all vaccines and medicines, but here we are faced with more serious issues… One thing which also created mess and raised eyebrows was the time spend for clinical tests, AND I do agree… Too sort and too fast /speedy procedures… Will await the results… Did I hear you say Metallaxis ??? (yet another powerful Greek word…)
Have a nice evening ensuring you continue to remain on guard from actions emanating from Pirates, Terrorists, Criminals and any Business Hooligans whatsoever wherever you are on Planet Ocean. Once again a big THANK YOU to all who really care for all humans – Doctors, Nurses, Seafarers, Dockers, Port Authorities et al during this Coronavirus disaster!! We repeat: Do please invest in Hospitals including Equipment, Doctors, Nurses and any useful means to avoid further disasters! Become more disciplined and care for the Environment too. Lastly: Education and Training for all to be able to tackle these disasters. Let us work collectively together and NOT opt for a fistful of Dollars to restart the already collapsed global economy… which is in red US$ 280 (twohundredandeighty) trillion…
