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Markets, Geopolitics and Coronavirus: A week to remember…

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Markets, Geopolitics and Coronavirus: A week to remember…

John Faraclas

A “promising”, hopefully, beginning for both the Dry and Wet Markets, a despicable one though on Geopolitics and Coronavirus given the events in Washington’s Capitol and the uncertainty over Covid-19 respectively. John Faraclas’ daily and weekly brief recaps:

The BDI (Baltic Dry Index) ended up 158 points at 1,606 since yesterday when it stood at 1,448 points surpassing both the 1,500 and 1,600 points threshold; on a fortnight basis the BDI was up 240 points from 1,366 on 24th of December 2020… A good but volatile situ…

The Capes’ BCI was up 426 points since yesterday and now reads 2,548 surpassing the 2,200, 2,300, 2,400 and 2,500 points threshold thus keeping the Dry Market buoyant… On a fortnight basis, same was up 542 points since 24 Dec 2020 when it clocked 2,006 points…

The Panamaxes’ BPI was up 55 points since yesterday and now stands at 1,559 which is also 231 points plus since 24 Dec 2020 when same stood at 1,328 points surpassing both the 1,400 and 1,500 points threshold.

Single digit plus points for the Supras’ BSI now at 1,029 – plus six, but minus ten since 24 Dec 2020 when same stood at 1,039…

And a falling Handies’ BHSI now at 656 – minus five since yesterday and minus 21 since 24 Dec 2020 when the BHSI stood at 677 points…

So all in all a Capes mainly driven Dry Market with Panamaxes “following” suit… The promising thing was that the year begun – on the 4th of January with a low but positive mode:

BDI 1,374 plus eight, BCI 2008 plus two, BPI 1,364 plus 39, BSI 1,028 plus 11, the exception being the BHSI at 669 minus eight…

The Wets with mixed feelings; the last published BDTI (Dirties) and BCTI (Cleans) stood at 520 – minus four and 447 – plus one points respectively. The …score on a fortnight basis was positive; the Dirties plus 54, up from 466 (24/12) and the Cleans plus 62, from 385 (24/12) surpassing the 500 and 400 points respectively. As for the opening of 2021(04/01) the Dirties were up 77 points from 543 and the Cleans up 49 from 434 respectively…

Box Trade is going through its most odd calibration and convergence is the name of the game even in “post” Coronavirus’ times…

We insist in going for newbuildings; newbuildings of any type; remember this!!!

Let us hope 2021 to be a better year despite the fact that my sinking feelings tells me otherwise; time to fail in my projections…

The WTI stood 48 cents higher since yesterday at US$ 50.93… A fortnight ago, same stood at US$ 48.28… It is a MUST same falls below the US$40 mark – not just below the US$ 50 mark… The year, thank Posidon, begun at US$ 48.13…

Geopolitically all eyes are locked on the change of guard in Washington following last Wednesday’s despicable events at the Capitol. Now you can understand our position and mentioning  immy after the election week 3-10 November 2020 when we continuously mentioned that president Trump would not go easily… Command is the sweetest thing all over Planet Ocean. Moreover, there are many wise voices out there insisting that even Donald Trump’s election had Moscow’s and Beijing’s flavour… Never ever the world witnessed such a presidential term with odd attitudes which now divide a nation, the most powerful one to the extent that is has been said that somebody has called a fast one against the American people. We hope that cool-minded heads, the military and the National Guard will do everything to contain any possible upset, which will stigmatise the American dream and the values of Western Democracy. CAUTION. We sincerely hope that president-elect Joe Biden, vice-president-elect Kamala Harris and their Administration in all fronts will do everything to unite AND reunite the American people for the benefit of the entire Planet Ocean – even for the Russians and Chinese as both with their tactics wish to create chaos all over for their own gains – seven decades of Communism in former Soviet Union and its current practices to destabilise many nations and the Chinese despicable commercial practices speak and prove the dangers looming in the background. Indeed we shall see a Reset and an exciting Reboot this year so be on guard and let us save Democracy and Commercial Freedom as well as Business Ethics even under a new era on Planet Ocean whilst we tackle the Coronavirus Anathema with many strings – mutations attached and projected to come up… Never forget we are also in the 13th Year since the credit crunch that started in 2008 and now coupled with the worse ever Recession we all struggle and we have to ensure we do not witness any global social upturn.

MIGRANTS still going viral with incalculable repercussions everywhere; be it the Med and in particular the Central – East Med / Aegean Sea coupled with Erdogan’s blackmail against the European Union and also promoting his Blue Motherland in trying to occupy other sovereign countries’ land – such as Cyprus’, Greece’s’, Syria’s’ to name but a few nations, having the blessings of German run European Union and NATO’s on purpose ignorance, yes you are reading correctly: NATO’s on purpose ignorance. The German presidency of the European Union has spectacularly failed on just two important issues: Turkish and Islamists aggression via / using MIGRANTS and Vaccines to safeguard the European citizens, the wrong German policy on energy resources. MIGRANTS now are also an everyday issue in the Straits of Dover; Shame eh! Let us see how the Portuguese presidency acts… Once again, to refresh your memory, we insist for a Naval Blockade with a Mandate and Rules of Engagement to apply firstly all over the Anatolian Coast of Turkey and then all over Med and  also in the vulnerable British Channel. No excuses…

Turkey’s aggression MUST end here and now. The hypocrisy of many EU members is monumental in siding with the Turks. Indeed they are trying to keep alive The Sick Man of Europe” as, if they stop their support, their banks and financial institutions will go under due to the colossal Turkish debts accumulated over the years and in particular the last thirty years. The USA and NATO too are also responsible for this mess. They all ignore the fact that Turkey exports Islamic terrorism in any way once can imagine. Turks threat the West and Christianity as well as Judaism of a total revolt and attack by asking Muslims for a social and religious upturn… CAUTION… Too many skeletons both in Donald Trump’s and Frau Merkel’s cupboards… Russia too, despite centuries old and long wars, cultivates Turkish aggression to harm both NATO and Europe… China too in another way, basically under cover with trade and logistics and the famously infamous Silk Road. The borders of Cyprus and Greece are borders of the EU, conversely their EEZ; end of the story. Learn Maritime Law which includes the Law of the Seas!

BREXIT’s aftermath causes and will continue to cause tsunamis; nothing is over and one needs to find a harmonised way for the geographical area of Europe – be it EU or not for the sake of the people of Europe, from Lisbon to the Ural Mountains. Mind the rise of Labour Party… Can Boris Johnson survive as unemployment might go beyond the levels of the Great Depression…? The people of the United Kingdom might get more united and avoid destruction…

Many members of the EU continue to face a multiple of issues and despite the Coronavirus anathema same must be shorted out..:

Let’s see Germany first and what Mrs. Merkel’s tube baby can do…

In Italy the coalition is shaking… but also quitting the EU is flying around…

France has many issues with minorities more than any other EU state…

Imagine social upturns, rebellions and revolutions in European states including even ousting by force of heads of states…

The Balkans continue to be a strange place and one should watch not just the west Balkans, but the entire Balkans… where Russia and Turkey are trying to capitulate on Western mistakes…CAUTION!

At the other side of the Atlantic and in particular up north the USA are in the eye of the cyclone. Ultra CAUTION should be observed all over the USA as many Trumpists might cause upsets – not just in Washington… Let us hope Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, their administration and the entire security services keep America unscathed…

In Latin Central and South America the situation remains unchanged; expect the unexpected… as financial this part of the globe suffers and will continue to suffer. The only way out is reforms, real Democracy and end of corruption… Russia is trying hard in Venezuela but…

In Africa, the drama continues with corruption as Law, Order does not exist, and China’s intrusion will destabilise the entire African Continent. Proxy wars by the old colonial powers continue and all are trying to get rid of the Chinese…

In the Middle East CAUTION is a MUST as there might be a conflagration in all fronts with Israelis and Palestinians and neighbours getting involved in a big melee… Syria is being kept off from the news and in the West we know very little unless we have our own sources… Peace will come there at a big price and let us hope the Kurdish issue has a successful conclusion. Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey MUS give in an allow the creation of the Kurdish State. I will create Peace in tandem with Peace between Armenians and Azeris..

Iran too is a thorny issue for all, but there is not smoke without fire… The Iranian issue and in particular the nuclear one MUST be handled more than wise as wrong projections might wipe out many populations in the region….

The Subcontinent is also a region in big question… India and Pakistan might fight a non-conventional quickie war… and China might get involved too…

In the Far East, China primarily upsets continuously the Americans in the South China Sea and the Taiwan chapter might erupt…  Add the Chinese practices on trade and their low priced goods and see what else is coming up… will the new USA administration continue Trump’s sanctions…

North Korea despite what news allow us to know, hasn’t changed an iota of its policy

Japan is closely watching as Japanese vested interests in the region goes beyond your imagination…

Australia and New Zealand, the main of Oceania’s ingredients, are trying to keep the balance…

Financially, we have just reached as said back a few days ago, the US$ 300 trillion World Debt so you can imagine were life stands given the despicable Coronavirus Anathema.

Coronavirus (Covid-19 ) and its strains, mutations and whatever else is involved, proves the inability of World Leaders – some of which lead very powerful nations, to manage the situation and provide on time the Vaccine for all, repeat for all and repel all those who object and revolt… we are until this very  moment witnessing a spectacular failure on the issue. Let us hope though that something will change for the better but we all need to be disciplined and the politicians responsible…

Tourism and in particular Maritime Tourism is totally in red and below zero and only Posidon knows how same will be resurrected. Don’t ask me for the catastrophy of the airlines…

In this turbulent geopolitical and unhealthy environment Shipping is trying its best to keep the supply chain in order via intermodalism and save peoples lives from starvation and cold weather, but at the same time, Shipping is changing b becoming Shipping for the very very very few as we have warned you numerous times in this medium…

Opppps for The Year of the Ox!

Have a nice evening and weekend and 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$ 300 (threehundred) trillion…

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