Baltic Dry Index

[Joshuatree]

has hit a 30 year Baltic Dry Index fall is mainly due to oil, commodity price slump

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/baltic-dry-index-fall-is-mainly-due-to-oil-commodity-price-slump-20150210-13ahzp.html#ixzz3RKjfsG2M

[macduffy]

I followed the BDI closely for several years in the 1990's and later and found it to be a good predictor of demand for bulk commodities. But as the ANZ analyst points out, the BDI's relevance has lessened in recent years as the supply of bigger vessels has overtaken the demand for raw materials and thereby affected the demand/supply balance for shipping. Not the leading indicator that it used to be.

[macduffy]

Yes, the BDI has gone out of fashion as a leading indicator of the demand for bulk commodities but, for those still interested, it continues to plumb record depths.

http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user92183/imageroot/2016/01/20160115_BDIY_0.jpg