Trump’s VICTORY pushed metal prices higher

• The current copper spike may not last, but it shows copper’s long-term potential, especially if part of the announced infrastructure program materializes.
  
• Unlike copper, other metals aren’t in a sweet spot due to unlimited supply, and recent and large price increases.
  
• Gold is the riskiest of all metals, especially now with no more election uncertainty, a stronger dollar, and the expected FED action in December that will have us seeing higher interest rates.
  

In the last couple of weeks, metal prices have moved. Copper has made an historic surge of 21.5% in the last two weeks, while gold fell 7.5% from its peak. As Trump won the election, the expectation of intensified construction and increased investments in infrastructure have pushed copper prices higher while gold suffered as the world didn’t come to an end. The short term moves in metal prices aren’t that significant as they are influenced mostly by speculators, but an analysis can show us where the long-term risks and opportunities lie.

In less than a month, copper has gone from $2.09 per pound to the price of $2.52 as I’m writing this. At the same time, copper warehouse levels have decreased. Warehouse levels decreasing isn’t a clear indicator for copper price movements as many times in the last 5 years copper prices have declined alongside declining warehouse levels.



The move in copper is likely a result of Trump’s promising of $500 billion in additional spending on infrastructure and a total of $1 trillion over ten years to rebuild roads, bridges, airports, hospitals, and schools.

U.S. copper consumption in 2015 was 1,976 tons, which is 8.5% of global consumption. As the majority of U.S. copper consumption is used for wire which is then used for construction and infrastructure, it is understandable that the hype around copper is growing. Additionally, state and local spending on infrastructure is at 30-year lows.


With total U.S. public construction spending at $270 billion per year, the announced spending of $1 trillion in the next 10 years would certainly increase demand for copper.


As such political plans are always uncertain and take time, the spike in copper prices might just be temporary, but it shows the potential copper has as small positive changes in demand quickly lead to a supply deficit and prices surge. You can read our article on copper fundamentals here to get a better picture on the risk reward situation copper offers. Gold has again shown its riskiness and continues to define itself as a pure speculative play as its price has fallen sharply in the last two weeks.


Another negative for gold is the continuous strengthening of the dollar and the potential for higher interest rates.


A look at Q3 results from the three big gold miners will paint a clear picture for gold.Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX) had Q3 2016 revenues of $2,297 million and net profit of 175 million, or 7.6% net profit margin. Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM) had revenues of $1,791 million with a net loss of $358 million, or a negative net profit margin of 19%, while the third of the big gold miners, Goldcorp (NYSE: GG) had revenues of $915 million with net earnings of $59 million, or a 6.4% net profit margin. Given that all companies realized an average gold price between $1,333 and $1,335 in Q3 with net margins of 6.4% and 7.6% for the profitable ones, the current gold price of $1,216 per ounce will result in no profits and could easily lead to the same scenario we witnessed last winter.


If gold prices further retreat on a stronger dollar and higher interest rates, a trip to single digits shouldn’t be a surprise for the iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (NYSEARCA: RING).

Iron ore has already doubled since its January 2016 lows, while aluminum prices have been steadily rising. Zinc prices have also been rising as zinc has entered its supply deficit phase.

If there will be increased demand from the U.S., we can expect higher lows and higher highs in all metals related to construction. If Chinese demand doesn’t slow down and U.S. demand increases, we will be able to say that 2016 was the bottom of the metal cycle and also that it was the start of a new bull market for metals.

The metal movements in the last few weeks have confirmed copper’s long term undervaluation as its supply is large at the moment but not flexible. This situation created the recent spike in prices and will probably influence future spikes.

Other metals, like iron ore and aluminum, will see increased prices on increased demand but in a more cyclical way as their supply is limited only by price and not by mining quantity restrictions.

As for gold, it represents the riskiest metal currently due to questionable fundamentals and economic values, except in periods of global turmoil. Low miner profitability even at these prices could indicate trouble ahead for gold miners. Therefore, investors should be exposed more to copper and zinc, followed by aluminum and iron ore, and lastly to gold. Of course, traders have a different perspective, but knowing the fundamentals will certainly help.

source: investiv