It is becoming harder and harder to navigate the economic environment these days. There are so many contradictory factors at play that nobody knows anything for sure these days. The Federal Reserve is contemplating one last rate hike in May on mixed but overall positive data coming in on Friday April 16, 2023, which might be followed by a pause and even rate cuts, in order to provide the economy with a “soft landing”.

We are living in interesting times these days. Just as the world seemed to have overcome the COVID pandemic, China confused the markets again by massive lockdowns, after 28,000 new cases were reported on November 22, 2022 alone. It is estimated that restrictions are affecting productivity up to one fifth of GDP, and in turn this has significant effect on the world economy, and most metal prices for example.