Sharemarket turmoil and the Shipping markets

I thought this would be an opportune time to discuss the current sharemarket turmoil and the possible affects on the shipping markets.

Although there is some lagged correlation the BDI quite often works in a different space to the worlds sharemarkets. Sharemarkets measure the value of companies at a given moment and this doesnt necessarily represent or reflect the amount of trade that is going on.

Even if prices for commodities dip and the value of shares dip - people still charter ships. Supply side issues play a major part in the equation.

As has been the case for the last 10 years the major demand side factors for the BDI remain the emrging economies appetite for coal and iron ore.

If we see the demand for these two take a hit then we will see a drop in the shipping markets. The world waits to see how the EAST absorbes the problems confronting the WEST (Euro and USA)...

The BDI remains at strong levels.

Cheers
VS