Lambert Commodities News Today

It is an awkward, but unavoidable truth: the war in Ukraine brings an uncomfortable windfall for traders.

Investors selling off Russia-focused metals and mining entities following the country’s invasion of Ukraine have sharply lowered valuations, while companies with fewer direct ties to Russia have started evaluating their own investments. Companies have been left to make their own decisions on Russian investments. Global governments, while willing to restrict Russia’s financial operations, have avoided ...

The US, European Union and UK are seeking to halt imports of Russian oil and gas, with financiers and traders urged to seek out new sourcing markets while upping support for renewables.  US President Joe Biden has announced a total ban on oil, liquified natural gas (LNG) and coal imports from Russia, while the European ...

Banks across the world are reviewing all trade and commodities transactions involving Russia as the nation’s economy becomes a “massive moving target” in the crosshairs of sanctions enforcers in the US, Asia and Europe. Governments, including those of the US, UK, EU, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Australia, have now imposed, or vowed to impose, ...

Soaring oil prices are not necessarily good news for large commodity trading houses hoping to replicate last year’s record profits, experts believe.  The international Brent crude benchmark rose above US$88 a barrel this week, its highest level in more than seven years, prompting suggestions it could top US$100 in the coming weeks.  The price surge ...

Despite a stable end to 2021, the commodity finance industry remains wary of being embroiled in another fraud scandal. Though price rises and strong liquidity have led to booming business at the top end of the market, smaller traders continue to struggle for access to finance. Could strengthening collateral checks or warehouse inspections help mitigate ...

Banks are retrenching after the coronavirus crisis led to defaults by some trading houses, intermediaries in the global movement of oil, metals and agricultural goods which link producers and end-users, and also exposed a series of frauds.

Fraud is driving banks out of commodity trade finance with financial stress linked to the COVID-19 pandemic exposing how widespread it had become, a conference organised by the International Grains Council was told on Tuesday. Jean-Francois Lambert, founding partner at Lambert Commodities, told the IGC’s annual conference that the situation was more serious than during ...