2008-08-12 Saudi Oil Output


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Saudi Oil Output

The Saudi production increase tells me world demand was up, even at the higher prices.

Yes, US demand was down 800,000 bpd vs last year, and yes other world demand may fall.

Only when demand for Saudi output falls sufficiently will they be dislodged from being swing producer and price setter.

That is not to say they won’t continue to disguise their role as best they can, and allow volatility as various world inventory positions (cash and futures) are being liquidated, as is probably the case currently.

Saudi output is also getting very near capacity of maybe 11 million bpd.

If demand goes above that they lose control of price on the upside.


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AGY MBS UPDATE: 08/12/08


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On Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 5:18 PM, Andrew wrote:

AGY MBS UPDATE: 08/12/08

General Themes:

  • Mortgages were weaker to dealer hedge ratios – versus CXLs they were down only -5cents
  • The small CXL daily price change masks what was a pretty bad performance for mortgages
  • Dealer OAS’s are back to the wides of last week – Lehman has FN5.5 LOAS at +90bps
  • What could help mortgages?
  • Asian buying returning
  • Capital raising by the GSE’s, (or capital injection by Tsy)
  • Reduced capital surplus guidelines from OFHEO
  • Convexity led rally in rates

not to mention investors recognizing value vs tsy’s, atraight agency paper, quality AAA corporates, libor, and other lower yielding paper


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2008-08-12 US Economic Releases


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ICSC-UBS Store Sales WoW (Aug 12)

Survey n/a
Actual -1.1%
Prior 0.0%
Revised n/a

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ICSC-UBS Store Sales YoY (Aug 12)

Survey n/a
Actual 2.6%
Prior 2.9%
Revised n/a

Year over year looking fine.

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Redbook Store Sales Weekly YoY (Aug 12)

Survey n/a
Actual 1.5%
Prior 3.5%
Revised n/a

Softer but no collapse.

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ICSC-UBS Redbook Comparisson TABLE (Aug 12)

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Trade Balance (Jun)

Survey -$62.0B
Actual -$56.8B
Prior -$59.8B
Revised -$59.2B

Lower than expected and moving lower even with crude prices up in June.

I still think last months number was too high which is part of the reason for the June drop.

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Exports MoM (Jun)

Survey n/a
Actual 4.0%
Prior 1.2%
Revised n/a

Government and exports continue to support GDP.

Q2 now looking to be revised to maybe north of 3%.

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Imports MoM (Jun)

Survey n/a
Actual 1.8%
Prior 0.3%
Revised n/a

Up due to crude and gasoline prices.

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Exports YoY (Jun)

Survey n/a
Actual 21.1%
Prior 18.2%
Revised n/a

Looking more like an export economy every day. Weak domestic consumption and ok employment.

Workers earn enough to drive to work and eat, and the rest of their output gets exported to someone else.

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Imports YoY (Jun)

Survey n/a
Actual 13.5%
Prior 12.5%
Revised n/a

Mostly petro and product prices.

Other imports are down.

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Trade Balance ALLX (Jun)

Ex petro down to about 20 billion.

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IBD-TIPP Economic Optimism (Aug)

Survey 39.0
Actual 42.8
Prior 37.4
Revised n/a

Up some, but less than expected.

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Monthly Budget Statement (Jul)

Survey -$95.0B
Actual -$102.8B
Prior -$36.4B
Revised n/a

Government spending and exports supporting GDP more than most anticipate.

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Monthly Budget Statement ALLX (Jul)

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ABC Consumer Confidence (Aug 10)

Survey n/a
Actual -50
Prior -49
Revised n/a

Bumping along the bottom.

Inflation hurting confidence as wages remain ‘well contained’.

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ABC Consumer Confidence ALLX (Aug 10)


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