Contrarian Investor: China is still crucial for commodities

Commodity markets have reached an inflection point

At the height of the last commodities boom, a narrative emerged that captivated Western investors excited by the prospect of a new super-cycle.

Put simply, it said China ruled. The middle kingdom's demand for all things material, and capable of manufacture, dictated it would be a dominant customer for a range of industrial metals and energy products.  Strangely enough, this narrative has largely disappeared from the public debate. Yet evidence is beginning to emerge that China never lost its super-sized role in the commodity markets. China: Are there reasons to be optimistic despite debt burden and Trump threat? In fact, China may be trying to exert even more influence than before, cornering the trade in some key metals wh...