Part 2/10:
Shipping rates, prominently represented by the Baltic Dry Index (BDI), have historically been a leading indicator of economic activity, mirroring shifts in the supply and demand for essential materials such as coal and steel. This month, the BDI fell to alarming lows, correlating closely with other financial indicators such as interest rates, treasury yields, and ratios like copper to gold. This convergence signals that the supposed stability bolstered by prior stimulus measures is beginning to falter, yielding to the realities of economic fundamentals.