The reflation trade is fading. Here’s what to avoid, and where to seek refuge, in commodities.

Tom Price, head of commodities strategy at U.K. brokerage Liberum, said there are three factors contributing to what he says is the end of the reflation trade.

The first is the Federal Reserve’s planned tapering of its bond purchases this year, which created upside risks for inflation-adjusted rates and the dollar, and downside risks for globally traded commodities. Another is China’s continued actions to restrict domestic activity, including credit controls, property taxes and the release of strategic stockpiles, that he said is intended to reduce growth to between 6% and 7%, from 8% in the second quarter. And finally, there is the coronavirus, with the delta variant impacting the U.S., Australia and other countries.

Price has for months dissented with the commodity supercycle view, espoused by many on Wall Street. “Reopening of the global economy saw a synchronized resurrection of demand and restocking activity, at odds with a still-dormant supply-chain,” he said. The broad-based rally resembles those of 1984, 1991, 2001 and 2009 — and typically lasts six to 18 months.

Price said traders should stay from commodities that have attracted lots of speculative inflow — namely copper and iron ore.

On copper HG00, +0.54%, he said even after this week’s pullback, he sees more downside for prices. “While copper’s market signals indicate strengthening fundamentals in recent weeks, a global macro-reversal appears to be overwhelming the physical support,” he said, highlighting U.K.-listed Chilean miner Antofagasta ANTO, -1.78% as a popular copper pure play to avoid.

Iron ore is having an even tougher time than copper, hurt both by the Fed taper risk as well as China-led steel production cap, as he highlighted a sell rating on Rio Tinto RIO, -2.31%, which is predominantly an iron-ore play.

Also read: Why iron-ore prices are on track to suffer their largest monthly loss on record

As to which commodities offer correction protection, he offered up four. One is thermal and metallurgical coal, as China has been boosting imports, highlighting commodities trader Glencore GLEN, -0.60% and recent spinoff Thungela TGA, -5.70% as ways to play that theme. Another is U.S. aluminum and steel, as the industrial recovery in the U.S. has revealed it is short these commodities, with local capacity capped and imports marginalized by tariffs. U.S. Steel X, -7.20% and Alcoa AA, -11.01% are ways to play that theme.

Price also likes crude oil CL.1, -1.88%, as OPEC and Russia offset weakness with its production and inventory management strategy, and gold GC00, +0.17%, which should benefit from investor uncertainty, and benefit Shanta Gold SHG, -3.70%, a U.K.-listed Tanzania miner.

The buzz

Tesla TSLA, -2.25% showcased its artificial-intelligence systems and unveiled plans for a humanoid robot.

Chip equipment maker Applied Materials AMAT, +1.44% reported a stronger-than-forecast 79% profit rise and guided to stronger current-quarter results than anticipated.

Foot Locker FL, +1.27% jumped in premarket trade after the athletic-apparel retailer reported stronger-than-forecast earnings on a surprise jump in same-store sales.

The U.K. approved an antibody cocktail for COVID developed by Regeneron REGN, +3.16% and Roche CH:ROG. AstraZeneca AZN said it will file for regulatory approval of a COVID antibody cocktail, which it says reduces the risk of getting COVID-19 by 77%.

Johnson & Johnson JNJ, +0.78% said its chief executive, Alex Gorsky, will cede that role and become executive chairman. Joaquin Duato, a company insider, will take on the CEO role.

The markets

U.S. stock futures ES00, -0.34% NQ00, -0.04% were in the red in the early hours.

The Hang Seng HSI, -1.84% suffered through another rough session, falling 1.8%, as the index is now 19% below its February highs on the continued regulatory crackdown in China.

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There’s never a great time to encounter a python, but a supermarket is surely an unusual place to do so.

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