Equity & Credit Research

Duncan Chan

Macroeconomics

<ul>
<li>Potential de-escalation may compress risk premiums, but Treasury yields around 4.5–5.0% still compete with equities, suggesting broader participation may remain selective near term.</li>
<li>Aluminium increasingly stands out as inventories declined approximately 7–8% and physical conditions tightened, while copper remains broadly consistent with surplus expectations.</li>
<li>Evidence remains more supportive for energy security and infrastructure themes, including uranium, AI infrastructure and offshore rigs, while coal and lithium still require clearer signs of tightening.</li>
</ul>


Potential de-escalation may compress risk premiums, but Treasury yields around 4.5–5.0% still compete with equities, suggesting broader participation may remain selective near term.
Aluminium increasingly stands out as inventories declined approximately 7–8% and physical conditions tightened, while copper remains broadly consistent with surplus expectations.
Evidence remains more supportive for energy security and infrastructure themes, including uranium, AI infrastructure and offshore rigs, while coal and lithium still require clearer signs of tightening.


US-Iran De-Escalation: Looking Beyond Risk Premiums

Commodities

<ul>
<li>Upstream tightness is real, with TC/RC turning negative and sulphuric acid availability tightening, but refined supply continues to expand, preventing system-wide tightening. </li>
<li>Demand growth c.1.5–1.6% (2026 vs 2.1% prior), reducing absorption capacity. The balance is shifting back to surplus, with +96kt (2026) and c.300-400kt (2027), even after disruptions.</li>
<li>Inventories (&gt;1.0mt peak; 745kt LME+SHFE in Mar, +56% m/m), muted premiums (US$30–60/t vs &gt;US$100/t in tight markets), and contango (–US$20/t cash–3M) confirm supply is delayed, not removed.</li>
</ul>


Upstream tightness is real, with TC/RC turning negative and sulphuric acid availability tightening, but refined supply continues to expand, preventing system-wide tightening. 
Demand growth c.1.5–1.6% (2026 vs 2.1% prior), reducing absorption capacity. The balance is shifting back to surplus, with +96kt (2026) and c.300-400kt (2027), even after disruptions.
Inventories (&gt;1.0mt peak; 745kt LME+SHFE in Mar, +56% m/m), muted premiums (US$30–60/t vs &gt;US$100/t in tight markets), and contango (–US$20/t cash–3M) confirm supply is delayed, not removed.


Copper: Acid Bottlenecks Persist, but Surplus Is Re-Emerging

Iron Ore, Copper, Equities, Mint Finance

Umang Agrawal

Iron Ore, Copper, Equities

Deep Fundamental Analysis

Mint Finance

Mint Finance's investment research blends deep fundamental analysis with technical & quant insights. Investment strategies straddle across multiple asset classes with risk management embedded into every trade to deliver an outsized reward-to-risk ratio.

Mint Finance's research is centered around three key themes. First, energy transition and climate change. Second, artificial intelligence. Third, shifting world order with its impact across politics and monetary economics.

<ul>
<li>Rising seaborne supply and weak Chinese steel margins dragged iron ore lower, though resilient blast furnace activity continue to offer support.</li>
<li>BHP slows Pilbara decarbonisation while Fortescue accelerates ahead, highlighting a widening divide in Australia’s iron ore transition strategy.</li>
<li>Iron ore’s downtrend remains intact after a bearish crossover, though prices nearing key support could trigger a short-term rebound attempt.</li>
</ul>


Rising seaborne supply and weak Chinese steel margins dragged iron ore lower, though resilient blast furnace activity continue to offer support.
BHP slows Pilbara decarbonisation while Fortescue accelerates ahead, highlighting a widening divide in Australia’s iron ore transition strategy.
Iron ore’s downtrend remains intact after a bearish crossover, though prices nearing key support could trigger a short-term rebound attempt.


Iron Ore Sentiment Stays Fragile but a Key Technical Support Is Cushioning the Pullback

<ul>
<li>Rising Chinese port arrivals and softer steel production continue to weigh on iron ore fundamentals despite resilient hot metal output.</li>
<li>Iron ore’s recent rally is increasingly losing technical conviction, with momentum indicators now aligning toward a more defensive near-term setup.</li>
<li>Managed money participants remain selectively bullish on iron ore, though persistent short buildup highlights lingering caution around China demand and market volatility.</li>
</ul>


Rising Chinese port arrivals and softer steel production continue to weigh on iron ore fundamentals despite resilient hot metal output.
Iron ore’s recent rally is increasingly losing technical conviction, with momentum indicators now aligning toward a more defensive near-term setup.
Managed money participants remain selectively bullish on iron ore, though persistent short buildup highlights lingering caution around China demand and market volatility.


Rebuilding Supply-Side Pressure Is Strengthening Bearish Conviction in Iron Ore

<ul>
<li>Improving Chinese mill profitability and resilient operating rates continue supporting iron ore demand, even as rising seaborne supply caps upside momentum.</li>
<li>Technical indicators continue to support iron ore prices, though increasingly stretched momentum signals suggest upside may become harder to sustain.</li>
<li>Managed money participants continued to tilt bullish as sharper short covering offset long liquidation, reinforcing confidence in resilient iron ore demand conditions.</li>
</ul>


Improving Chinese mill profitability and resilient operating rates continue supporting iron ore demand, even as rising seaborne supply caps upside momentum.
Technical indicators continue to support iron ore prices, though increasingly stretched momentum signals suggest upside may become harder to sustain.
Managed money participants continued to tilt bullish as sharper short covering offset long liquidation, reinforcing confidence in resilient iron ore demand conditions.


Elevated Iron Ore Prices Leave Limited Headroom Without a Fresh Market Trigger

Australia

BHP Billiton Limited is an international resources company.  The Company's principal business lines are mineral exploration and production, including coal, iron ore, gold, titanium, ferroalloys, nickel and copper concentrate, as well as petroleum exploration, production, and refining.  Dually-listed company with BLT LN.

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BHP Group Ltd (BHP US)

US-Iran De-Escalation: Looking Beyond Risk Premiums

Re-sharing as recent market developments continue to raise the question of whether fading geopolitical risk premiums alone are enough to support...

Duncan Chan

Copper: Acid Bottlenecks Persist, but Surplus Is Re-Emerging

Re-sharing as recent copper strength continues to raise the question of whether upstream tightness is genuinely transmitting into the refined...

Duncan Chan

Iron Ore Sentiment Stays Fragile but a Key Technical Support Is Cushioning the Pullback

Iron ore markets remain under pressure from rising seaborne supply and weak Chinese steel margins, while technical indicators continue to point...

Mint Finance

Rebuilding Supply-Side Pressure Is Strengthening Bearish Conviction in Iron Ore

Chinese port arrivals and softer steel production are impacting iron ore fundamentals, with a recent rally losing technical conviction.

Mint Finance

Elevated Iron Ore Prices Leave Limited Headroom Without a Fresh Market Trigger

Firm Chinese steel demand and resilient mill profitability continue to support iron ore prices, though current levels are increasingly raising...

Mint Finance

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

US-Iran De-Escalation: Looking Beyond Risk Premiums

Re-sharing as recent market developments continue to raise the question of whether fading geopolitical risk premiums alone are enough to support...

Duncan Chan

Copper: Acid Bottlenecks Persist, but Surplus Is Re-Emerging

Re-sharing as recent copper strength continues to raise the question of whether upstream tightness is genuinely transmitting into the refined...

Duncan Chan

Iron Ore Sentiment Stays Fragile but a Key Technical Support Is Cushioning the Pullback

Iron ore markets remain under pressure from rising seaborne supply and weak Chinese steel margins, while technical indicators continue to point...

Mint Finance

Rebuilding Supply-Side Pressure Is Strengthening Bearish Conviction in Iron Ore

​Chinese port arrivals and softer steel production are impacting iron ore fundamentals, with a recent rally losing technical conviction.

Mint Finance

Elevated Iron Ore Prices Leave Limited Headroom Without a Fresh Market Trigger

Firm Chinese steel demand and resilient mill profitability continue to support iron ore prices, though current levels are increasingly raising...

Mint Finance

Chinese port arrivals and softer steel production are impacting iron ore fundamentals, with a recent rally losing technical conviction.