Oil

China's reflation policies have succeeded in reviving iron ore and steel prices, which are up 45.6% and 52.6% from their January lows, along with the profitability of domestic steelmakers.

Saudi oil policy, like its defense policy, will be more aggressive and less predictable, following Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's apparent nullification of a production "freeze" deal at Doha.

A weaker USD resulting from more dovish forward guidance from the Fed, and evidence of continued production declines in non-OPEC and OPEC countries will continue to buoy oil prices.

We do not expect Russia and OPEC members to reach a production-limiting agreement at the April 17 meeting in Doha, but that does not diminish our bullish expectations for a rebalancing of oil markets in H2 2016.

These general themes - along with our assessment that markets were overestimating downside price risk and underestimating upside risks arising from supply destruction and geopolitical instability - supported the best-performing strategic recommendations we made last quarter.

While the post-GFC linkage between oil prices and medium-term inflation expectations evident in the 5-year/5-year (5y5y) CPI swaps market will continue to be debated for years to come, this is an empirical fact that will affect monetary policy and the evolution of FX and real interest rates over the medium term.

The old cyclical market axiom that "nothing cures low prices like low prices" has never held
truer than in today's oil market.

Lower oil prices are aggravating financial and social stress in poorer OPEC states, particularly in Venezuela, where the government recently executed a gold-for-cash swap ahead of looming debt payments.

The Fed's decision to scale back intended interest rate hikes reflects economic reality.

We differ markedly with the U.S. EIA's assessment of the near-term evolution of oil supply and demand.