Marketmind: Oil not so slick

By Jamie McGeever

(Reuters) – A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever.

Falling oil prices are often seen as good news for world markets, signaling weaker inflationary pressures as well as a boost to households’ purchasing power and corporate profit margins.

Crude’s current slump, however, is more of a mixed bag.

Oil slid to a 10-month low on Monday, accelerating a decline that has now reached around 15% in the last two weeks. The drivers of the drop – both short- and medium-term – are concerning.

The demand outlook in China is deteriorating as authorities there become mired in numerous battles against COVID-19 flare ups. Hopes Beijing will open up the economy soon seem fanciful, spelling trouble for a world already facing slowdown next year, even recession in many key economies.

Wall Street fell on Monday, with energy one of the worst performers. The energy sector index slid almost 3% to a four-week low before recovering. But after having surged around 60% this year – the only major S&P 500 sector to rise this year – there is plenty downside potential.

China’s pandemic plight is also fueling safe-haven demand for the dollar – which rose strongly on Monday – and a stronger dollar tends to weigh on commodity and energy prices.

The benefits of lower oil this time around may not be so clear-cut. All else equal, a stronger dollar tightens financial conditions, which may be what policymakers want in the fight against inflation, but growth and risk appetite will suffer.

The eventual good news is the impact on inflation. futures are at a 10-month low, which has dragged the year-on-year price rise down as low as 7%. In March it was over 100%.

But right now, oil’s slide is being driven by weakening demand, growth fears and a strong dollar. None of that is encouraging for investors or risk assets in the near term.

Oil price & year-on-year change

Three key developments that could provide more direction to markets on Tuesday:

– China’s Baidu (NASDAQ:) earnings (Q3)

– Taiwan unemployment (October)

– Fed’s Mester, Bullard and George speak

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