Portia Crowe/Business Insider
A top oil trader is counting on President Donald Trump’s border tax to increase oil prices – helping American producers while hurting American car drivers.
“If the tax is adopted, WTI could move to a $ 10 [per barrel] premium to Brent providing a substantial economic advantage to US producers,” according to an investment outlook from Andurand Capital Management, a $ 1.6 billion hedge fund firm. “Such a tax would also increase domestic gasoline prices in the US.”
A copy of the January 16 note was reviewed by Business Insider.
Trump said January 23 that he would impose a significant “border tax” on companies that move production outside of the US to other countries. America’s oil giants have production facilities around the world, and could be impacted by such a tax.
London-based Andurand Capital Management is run by Pierre Andurand, and was up 22.2% last year compared to the 16.9% return of the S&P GSCI Crude index, according to the note. In December, Andurand’s fund gained 6.8% net of fees, owing largely to a long position in crude oil (long Brent, WTI future and call options), the note said.
Here’s the relevant excerpt from Andurand’s outlook (emphasis added):
“We believe that OPEC would like to achieve higher oil prices quickly to counteract the potential cross border tax adjustment supported by President elect Donald Trump. The issue of the Trump border tax policy is a real wild card and could have a significant impact on US and foreign oil prices. If the tax is adopted, WTI could move to a $ 10/bbl premium to Brent providing a substantial economic advantage to US producers. However, such a tax would also increase domestic gasoline prices in the US. At current relatively low oil prices, we believe that there is still room for the tax to be implemented. However, if OPEC succeeds in propping oil prices up towards $ 70/bbl, President Trump might face resistance from US gasoline consumers and drop the tax adjustment (at least for the energy sector). While we believe there is a 30% chance for the tax adjustment to go through, it also reinforces our belief that OPEC will do anything that is necessary to push oil prices higher as soon as possible.
We continue to monitor macro-economic developments around the world. We currently do not see strong downside risks to our current bullish outlook on oil prices. Recent reports suggest rising concerns with the US Dollar strengthening and its potential negative impact on commodities. President elect Donald Trump wants to increase exports and reduce imports while expanding domestic activity, a combination that would be positive for the US Dollar. We do not see further strengthening of the US Dollar as a threat to our constructive supply and demand oil balances. Although there may be some correlation, this is very different than causality.
On the demand side, the start of fiscal policies should be net positive for US oil demand growth and should offset slightly lower non US demand growth caused by a stronger US dollar. In fact, we would tend to be more constructive on demand growth given data points to systematic upward revisions from key agencies over the last few years.”
The note also added that Trump’s election should also have a negative effect on Iranian oil production growth.
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