EM PM, Ecstrat

Emad Mostaque

EM PM

Ecstrat

Ecstrat is a consultancy advising on asset allocation between global equity markets, with a focus on the intersection of governments, geopolitics, governance and markets.
 
Over the past few years and more especially since the Great Financial Crisis (GFC), investors have become more focused on short-term market movements and real-time returns and have consequently neglected the analysis of the underlying structural themes that underpin longer term performance.
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More specifically we believe that the evolution of governance-based relationships between investors, controlling shareholders, labour and the state is one of the primary determinants of both relative and absolute performance between individual equity markets.
 
We will endeavour to provide investors with some of the context surrounding governance-related issues which encompass many different disciplines including history, economics and political science, as well as the financial metrics which are the most obvious manifestation of the structural characteristics of each market.
 
We will pay particular attention to the shifts and potential inflection points for governance in individual markets as these are often the best lead indicators for both economic and market performance.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

The events that have occurred in Paris, Baghdad and Beirut over the last few days confirm the rising geopolitical risk we are facing across the world, with these being declared as the first of the coming storm. An Arab Winter is coming and the inability of the world to band together to defeat a relatively small force in Raqqa bodes ill for our ability to handle it. This piece looks at some key questions over Daesh  -- the Arabic acronym for Islamic State -- and how we deal with them. Daesh can…

 The events that have occurred in Paris, Baghdad and Beirut over the last few days confirm the rising geopolitical risk we are facing across the world, with these being declared as the first of the coming storm. An Arab Winter is coming and the inability of the world to band together to defeat a relatively small force in Raqqa bodes ill for our ability to handle it. This piece looks at some key questions over Daesh  -- the Arabic acronym for Islamic State -- and how we deal with them. Daesh can…

Oil markets continue to be turgid as producers look to make up lower prices by increased volume.&nbsp;This has led to markets that are severely overstretched versus their fundamentals.If we look at the oil futures curve structure and elements likely to impact it, oil looks like it may surprise to the upside much as it has surprised to the downside.This piece summarises the bull case for a complex topic.

Oil markets continue to be turgid as producers look to make up lower prices by increased volume.&nbsp;This has led to markets that are severely overstretched versus their fundamentals.If we look at the oil futures curve structure and elements likely to impact it, oil looks like it may surprise to the upside much as it has surprised to the downside.This piece summarises the bull case for a complex topic.

FX Strategist

Greg Gibbs

Fundamental analysis of topical themes in FX

Amplifying Global FX Capital

Amplifying Global FX Capital was founded in 2015 and is fully owned by Greg Gibbs. It is a registered company both in Australia and Colorado, USA and is a licensed in Australia to provide financial services.

We are producing a regular trading view orientated macroeconomic analysis of topical themes in global financial markets, with a particular focus on foreign exchange. We invite you to view an “executive summary” of these reports in “AmpGFX Reports” under our “Research” menu.

These reports are drawn from the analysis of Greg Gibbs and inform the capital management he undertakes on behalf of the company. The trading performance is posted periodically on our website. We aim to build our company into both a research and capital management business. We are currently in the planning phase for managing capital for wholesale customers.

Greg Gibbs has spent his working life of more than 26 years in financial markets, beginning in 1989 at the Reserve Bank of Australia, after completing a Bachelor of Economics Degree (Honours) at the Australian National University. He has been a CFA Charterholder since 2005. He has worked in Sydney, Singapore, New York and London for major global banks and presented on foreign exchange markets to major financial institutions and companies around the world, and maintained a high profile in the financial media.

Before Amplifying Global FX Capital, Greg was the Head of Asia Pacific Market Strategy at the Royal Bank of Scotland based Singapore. He now resides in Breckenridge Colorado.

Macroeconomics

As we head towards the US payrolls report, US rates have continued to drift up this week, building on the rise last week on a less dovish than expected FOMC. Provided the payrolls report is not too far from expected, the EUR may reassert its recent downtrend.&nbsp; The spreads between EUR and USD interest rates have moved to new lows since 2007.&nbsp; Oil prices appear to be shaking off the bear-market, rejecting moves much below $50 and energy sector equities have performed well recently, offering support for the CAD.&nbsp; The RBA is keeping a rate cut up its sleeve for now.

As we head towards the US payrolls report, US rates have continued to drift up this week, building on the rise last week on a less dovish than expected FOMC. Provided the payrolls report is not too far from expected, the EUR may reassert its recent downtrend.&nbsp; The spreads between EUR and USD interest rates have moved to new lows since 2007.&nbsp; Oil prices appear to be shaking off the bear-market, rejecting moves much below $50 and energy sector equities have performed well recently, offering support for the CAD.&nbsp; The RBA is keeping a rate cut up its sleeve for now.

AmpGFX - Oil may be stabilizing, rate pressure on EUR

This note looks at the background of the recent Ankara bombing, the political situation in Turkey and its position in the region.The note starts with an analysis of who benefits from the political violence we have seen reintroduced to Turkish politics and how it is sharpening the differences between various groups inside Turkey (the final conclusion is al Qaeda benefits most, ignored by most).We then consider the political and religious background of the AKP and how it impacts its current actions and the efficacy of the security forces is then considered, finishing with some thoughts on the Battle of the Five Armies that we are now seeing in Syria and why Russia has now entered the fray.The conclusions are somewhat somber, but it feels like we may be close to a bottom in some key areas with a path to ruin unlikely and some level of political stability to return to Turkey with my core view still being an AKP majority for November 1st, with a CHP-coalition next most likely, both of which would cause the market and currency to rally in the next few weeks.

This note looks at the background of the recent Ankara bombing, the political situation in Turkey and its position in the region.The note starts with an analysis of who benefits from the political violence we have seen reintroduced to Turkish politics and how it is sharpening the differences between various groups inside Turkey (the final conclusion is al Qaeda benefits most, ignored by most).We then consider the political and religious background of the AKP and how it impacts its current actions and the efficacy of the security forces is then considered, finishing with some thoughts on the Battle of the Five Armies that we are now seeing in Syria and why Russia has now entered the fray.The conclusions are somewhat somber, but it feels like we may be close to a bottom in some key areas with a path to ruin unlikely and some level of political stability to return to Turkey with my core view still being an AKP majority for November 1st, with a CHP-coalition next most likely, both of which would cause the market and currency to rally in the next few weeks.

Despite recent weakness Gulf markets have proved to be some of the most resilient in EM in the face of collapsing oil prices. There is evidence that Qatar and Abu Dhabi in particular may provide a safe haven in turbulent markets and other regional markets look to be approaching a market even in a low oil price environment. Societal change has also started, potentially resulting in more resilient nations in the future.

Despite recent weakness Gulf markets have proved to be some of the most resilient in EM in the face of collapsing oil prices. There is evidence that Qatar and Abu Dhabi in particular may provide a safe haven in turbulent markets and other regional markets look to be approaching a market even in a low oil price environment. Societal change has also started, potentially resulting in more resilient nations in the future.

United States

SM Energy Company is an independent energy company that explores for and produces natural gas and crude oil.  The Company's operations are focused on The ArkLaTex, Gulf Coast, Mid-Continent, Rocky Mountains, and Permian Basin regions.

PDC Energy, Inc. produces and distributes petroleum products. The Company produces, develops, explores and markets crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. PDC Energy operates in the United States.

Southwestern Energy Company is an independent energy company primarily focused on natural gas and crude oil exploration, development and production (E&P) within the United States.  The Company operations also include natural gas gathering, transmission, and marketing, as well as natural gas distribution.

Civitas Resources, Inc. operates as an oil and natural gas company. The Company focuses on developing and producing crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in Colorado's Denver-Julesburg (DJ) Basin. Civitas Resources serves customers in the United States.

Sunoco LP distributes motor fuel to convenience stores, independent dealers, commercial customers, and distributers. The Company also operates convenience stores and retail fuel sites. Sunoco is located in the United States.

Equitrans Midstream Corporation owns, operates, acquires, and develops midstream assets in the Appalachian Basin. The Company manages natural gas transmission, storage, and gathering systems, as well as high-and low-pressure gathering lines. Equitrans Midstream serves customers in the United States.

EnLink Midstream, LLC is an independent midstream energy services company that offers supply and marketing services to oil and gas producers and consumers. The Company is involved in natural gas gathering, treating, processing, transmission, distribution, supply and marketing, and crude oil marketing. EnLink Midstream owns pipelines and plant facilities in the United States.

Antero Midstream Corporation owns, operates, and develops midstream energy assets. The Company offers gathering and compressions, water distribution, clearwater facility, fractionation, and pipeline safety services. Antero Midstream serves customers in the United States.

New Fortress Energy LLC operates as an an integrated gas-to-power company. The Company develops, finances, and constructs energy infrastructure assets. New Fortress Energy serves customers in the United States.

Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. is an oil and gas exploration and production company. The Company produces petroleum products. Northern Oil and Gas is currently focused on the Rocky Mountain regions of the United States.

SK Innovation Co., Ltd. refines, markets, and distributes oil.  The Company produces a variety of petroleum products, such as gasoline, kerosene, liquefied petroleumgas (LPG), and diesel oil.  SK Energy also manufactures petrochemical p roducts, including paraxylene, synthetic resins, styrene monomer, and ethylene.

S-Oil Corporation refines crude oil and sells petroleum and its related products.  The Company mainly focuses on petroleum refining, petrochemical, and lubricant business. S-Oil's major products are gasoline, bunker oil, kerosene, naphtha, lubricants, benzene, toluene, and xylene.

Huolinhe Opencut Coal Industry Corporation Limited of Inner Mongolia is mainly involved in the production and selling of coal in China.

Huolinhe Opencut Coal Ind Corp Ltd. (002128 CH)

PT Adaro Energy Tbk is a coal mining company. The Company and its subsidiaries currently deal in coal mining and trade, coal infrastructure and logistics, and mining contractor services.

Shanxi Xishan Coal & Electricity Power Co., Ltd. mines and processes coal. The Company also generates electric power.

Guanghui Energy Co., Ltd. is principally engaged in energy development, automotive services and real estate property leasing. The Company is in the business of coal mining and related coal chemical manufacturing. The Company is also engaged in the processing and distributing of granite materials and trading of general merchandise such as plastic doors and windows.

Shanxi Lu'an Environmental Energy Development Co., Ltd. mines, processes, and markets low sulfur high quality coal. The company also researches and develops coal and environment protection related technologies.

Shanxi Lu'An Environmental Energy Dev.Co (601699 CH)

Petronet LNG Ltd. was formed by the Government of India to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) into the country. The Company is a joint venture between GAIL, ONGC, IOC and BPCL. Petronet LNG has also selected GAZ de France as a strategic partner. The Company has set up LNG receiving ports in Dahej (Gujarat) and Kochi (Kerala).

Frontline PLC owns a fleet of very large crude carriers and tankers that transport crude oil and oil products between ports. The Company's vessels are managed by ship management companies. Frontline conducts activities worldwide.

Inner Mongolia Yitai Coal Co., Ltd. operates in coal mining, processing, and distribution.  Through its subsidiaries, the Company also operates in hotel management, licorice planting, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and manages roadways.

Murphy Oil Corporation is a worldwide oil and gas exploration and production company with refining and marketing operations in the United States and the United Kingdom. The Company also has exploration and production activities in countries that include United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Ecuador. Murphy Oil has retail operations as well in the United States.

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Murphy Oil Corp (MUR US)

Deconstructing Daesh

The events that have occurred in Paris, Baghdad and Beirut over the last few days confirm the rising geopolitical risk we are facing across the...

Emad Mostaque

How Oil Can Head over $100 by 2017

Oil markets continue to be turgid as producers look to make up lower prices by increased volume. This has led to markets that are severely...

Emad Mostaque

AmpGFX - Oil may be stabilizing, rate pressure on EUR

As we head towards the US payrolls report, US rates have continued to drift up this week, building on the rise last week on a less dovish than...

Greg Gibbs

Ankara: Cui Bono?

This note looks at the background of the recent Ankara bombing, the political situation in Turkey and its position in the region.The note starts...

Emad Mostaque

Will the Gulf remain resilient?

Despite recent weakness Gulf markets have proved to be some of the most resilient in EM in the face of collapsing oil prices. There is evidence...

Emad Mostaque

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