Aforti Exchange

Market Summary by AFORTI: Rising WSE, Expanding Oil and the Green Revolution in Africa

7 January 2025

Macroeconomic situation

Poland:

1. New Year;

2. PMI for industry (points; Dec): value 48.2; forecast 48.7; previously 48.9;

3. CPI inflation (preliminary; %; y/y; Dec): 4.8; forecast 4.9; previously 4.7;

Eurozone:

1. PMI for industry (final; pt; Dec): value 45.1; forecast 45.2; previously 45.2;

Germany:

1. PMI for industry (final; pt; Dec): value 42.5; forecast 42.5; previously 42.5;

2. unemployment rate (%; Dec): value 6.1; forecast 6.2; previously 6.1;

USA:

1. Chicago PMI (pt; Dec): value 36.9; forecast 42.5; previously 40.2;

2. Home purchase contracts signed (%; m/m; Nov): value 2.2; forecast 0.7; prior 1.8;

3. S&P/Case-Shiller 20 house price index (%;y/y; Oct): value 4.2; forecast 4.1; previously 4.6;

4. FHFA house price index (%;m/m; Oct): value 0.4;forecast 0.5; previously 0.7;

5. new jobless claims (thousands; week): value 211; forecast 222; previously 220;

6. PMI for industry (final; points; Dec): value 49.4; forecast 48.3; previously 48.3;

7. ISM manufacturing (final; Dec): value 49.3; forecast 48.4; previously 48.4;

Foreign exchange market

The Polish zloty (PLN) was unchanged against the euro (EUR) with a change of 0.04% and oscillated between 4.2630 and 4.2808.

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In contrast, against the US dollar (USD), the Polish zloty (PLN) weakened by 1.16% and oscillated between 4.0787 and 4.1746.

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Oil and gold market

The price of BRENT crude oil rose by 4.32% and settled in a range of US$73.36-76.71/barrel.

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The gold price rose by 0.62% and settled in a range of US$2,609.94-2,679.61 per ounce.

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Stock market

The WIG index was up 2.01% for the week, oscillating between 79,389 and 81,840.

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Summary

In the US, the dollar should be strong and stable until Donald Trump becomes president, but after the election, strongly inflationary trends could significantly weaken the dollar (USD). 

In China, the median house price is typically 30-40 times higher than the median income. The Chinese have a low quality of life, with many businesses requiring a ‘996’ work schedule system (9am to 9pm; 6 days a week). Mid-sized towns and cities are booming dynamically. 

        The Gulf countries are involved in partnerships in the West and with China.

        The unemployment rate in the Middle East and North Africa is at 24.4% (almost double the global average). 

         Sudan is mired in civil war and the world's greatest humanitarian threat, among other famines. 

          In May 2024, the African National Congress, which had been in power since 1994 (since the election of Nelson Mandela), was removed from power in South Africa. This was voter punishment for corruption, rising crime and high unemployment (a rate among the highest in the world). This year South Africa will host the G20 summit. Africa is dominated by authoritarian governments, South Africa being one of the exceptions - governments of flawed democracy. 

         Africa is undergoing a ‘green revolution’. The governments of Germany and China are investing billions of dollars in renewable energy sources in Africa. Despite the rapid economic growth of countries such as resource-rich but non-resource-intensive-states, there is still a lot of catching up to do, as in the case of Angola, GDP per capita is still a third lower than in 2014.

Zbigniew Lazar
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
AFORTI.BIZ

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