Dry Markets plummeting, whilst Wets struggle with Coronavirus rocking Geopolitics
Despite the fact that last week ended on a falling note – despite the 56 points plus – 1,810 (22/01) vs. 1,754 (15/01), this week Capes’ fall of 1,080 points brought the BDI down to 1,452 points. Wets falling too following a short lived “rise”, now struggle to remain above the 500 points. Geopolitics might surprise you all given the Coronavirus developments. John Faraclas daily and weekly recap:
The BDI (Baltic Dry Index) lost 18 points since yesterday and now “rests” down to 1,452 points which is also 350 points below last week’s 1,810 points, losing the 1,800, 1,700, 1,600 and 1,500 points threshold; a catastrophe so to speak thanks to the Capes plummeting effect… Uncertainty, but also never forget that one size doesn’t make or constitute a market…
The Capes’ BCI was modestly down 55 points at 1,890 – we mention modestly as same lost 200, 352, 320, and 153 on 28, 27, 26 and 25 Jan 2021 respectively. These 1,080 points down from 2,970 on 22 Jan 2021 send a shivering message to all. CAUTION as losing 11 (eleven) threshold / barriers so to speak, is a major warning for all. Lucky those who managed fixtures last week…
Steady more or less were the Panamaxes with the BPI up two points at 1,633; on a weekly basis the BPI lost 26 points – from 1,659… Cross your fingers as maintaining the 1,600 points is a good omen… Obviously pre and post-Panamaxes have a strange competition and same is being clearly reflected in respective period freight rates…
Same situation with Supras’ BSI; following a good week 15/01 to 22/01 and going over and above the 1,100 point threshold, this week although with single daily figure rise did fairly well. On a daily basis the BSI was down a point to 1,165 and on a weekly up 22 – from 1,142…
You don’t have to be big to be beautiful… Sizewise the Handies did overall well. The BHSI surpassed the 700 points threshold with these four points today and at 701 looks safe. On a weekly basis 31 plus points pays dividends…
All in all, one has to be very cautious with the Dry Markets which include Boxhips….
On the Wets, things are more or less …stable; the last published BDTI (Dirties) and BCTI (Cleans) stood at 517 – minus four and 511 – minus two points respectively. On a weekly basis the Dirties were up five and the Cleans one point respectively – from 512 and 510 on 22/01 . The previous week saw both Wet Indices go over and above the 500 point mark – a very much needed situation…
Maritime Tourism is dead and we foresee , if all goes well with the Coronavirus anathema, to see the Cruise Industry come back in 2025, yes, 2025 you read correct. Tourism too has to change modus and pattern…
The WTI stood at US$ 52.14 which is down 35 cents since yesterday; on a weekly basis the WTI was down 92 cents – from US$ 53.06. Not a good start as same even reached on 15 Jan 2021 US$ 53.78… CAUTION as situ might backfire. Per mare per terra we need to see same not even a cent above the US$ 40 (forty) mark.
On the Geopolitical front things are getting worse:
Still all eyes are focusing on Washington awaiting the first 100 days of the new USA Administration laid by the new president Joe Biden who together with Kamala Harris MUST completely change the USA and the World at large if he wishes to see America continue to be Planet Ocean’s leader in all aspects. USA’s dominance is a MUST and MUST not be lost as the World will be completely destroyed…
The MIGRANTS issue continue to be the number one issue bothering all of us and now is the time to give an end as if by the end of 2022 situ remains as of today, expect despicable developments.
Turkey’s attitude as well as that of its backers will for sure demolish Peace in the wider region of the Faulty Line from Gib to Afghanistan and from the Caucuses to the Horn of Africa…
Greece should resist all this hypocrisy around the Aegean, Central and East Med from its EU and NATO allies using a double language… Nemesis always strikes. It is for Greece’s vested interests to extend and maintain 12 miles in the Aegean Sea too; end of the story. We have said live on TV that international waters in the way some see or understand same is different from reality. We can entertain live on any A1 TV station any interested party… End of the story! Remind you that this coming Sunday is the 25th Anniversary from the Imia islet crisis and the perpetrators are still Scott free… This crisis must end.
The new US Administration MUST realise that Greece is the only bastion of Stability, Peace and Democracy in the entire region. Again: End of the story… Wake up before the new Armageddon!
BREXIT causes tremors; expected though…
The European Union continues to be in a mess… on all aspects and on all counts; with the Coronavirus issue on the Vaccine, the mess turns despicable… still too many skeletons in the cupboard. What a fiasco! Let’s hope something good comes out from the Portuguese presidency… Mind the MIGRANTS burning issue!!!! (we are reminding this following our reference above).
At the other side of the Atlantic all await to see former president Trump seat on the dock. On top of what he is accused by the Democrats – but also from a great number of Republicans, there were revelations in the media about his relationship with the Russians long before he become president… CAUTION as revelations and evidence can severely damage his future… Some talk about the dark side of American Politics under Trump. We shall see… Indeed the tasks of president Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris are too many, delicate and mandatory to restore Law and Order in the USA and proper control on Planet Ocean. The Russians and Chinese are thorny issues as well as the Turks. Health issues, particularly with COVID-19, a big test…
Central and South Latin American still in turmoil and poverty… Russia is trying to destabilise the region starting from Venezuela this time…
Russia has also to oversee the Navalny issue as protests continue…
China might cause mess in South China Sea as well as with Taiwan – recent Chinese provocations and show of its air force might must be taken seriously… Taiwan won’t stay idle nor its supporters in the region and beyond…
North Korea seems in hibernation but we advise CAUTION…
No change in the “fortunes” of Africa…
Australia is in a different mode but caution with the Chinese; a must relationship to be re-shaped.
Japan is closely watching…
The Sub-Continent looks relatively quiet…
On the Coronavirus front, the Business Hooligans have the upper hand and now they call a fast one on all of us with the Vaccines. We need to see some people in high places in the EU r e s i g n forthwith and seat on the dock. Shame! Coronavirus in tandem with Recession will create a big mess and we can see many revolting and hold protests; that might lead to a social uprising with whatever this entails… Discontent is on the rise all over Planet Ocean… If something good is to come out, that will be at best in 2025… We urge all people to use Discipline and the politicians to exercise Responsibility… as the Covid Credit Crunch is already lethal… Don’t ask what will happen in a year’s time!
Mind the currency wars and watch out the USDollar!
Talking on Health issues, let’s hope that Joe Biden will do his best on the Environment which is becoming traumatised by inhumane human actions…
We must teach people, particularly youngsters, how to learn and tackle in the future more Covid-like disasters…
Also we need to see an end to sex harassment all over Planet Ocean, and people who suffered to come forward and speak up; they will save future generations… It’s not just in Sports or Entertainment, its in Business and Academia too! Lock in jail all pesters and perpetrators and stripe them off completely in public; I mean their awards and fortune, seize their bank accounts. Do everything possible for all to learn, even in the hard way their lesson well… Name and Shame them here and now!
Respect to Seafarers and never ever again to see incapable Governments and the IMO doing nothing whilst at the same time ships move cargoes all over the seven seas and saved Planet Ocean!!! We are talking simply on the despicable Crew Changes mess.
Fortify our systems and protect same from Cyber Crime; a M U S T !
On the bright side; look out for the GIWA awards – ensure you vote!!!!!
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…
