Daily FNArena News - Commodities

Silver finished 2010 strongly thanks to an increase in investment demand but industrial demand remains the long-term key to prices.

Once hailed as a reliable lead indicator for bulk commodity prices, the Baltic Dry Index appears to have lost the plot.

Oil prices have again pushed above the US$100 per barrel mark but in the view of Barclays Capital this is unlikely to derail the economic recovery or US consumption.

Supply issues persist to help push spot uranium higher yet again last week.

Zinc underperformed the base metals complex in 2010 and expectations are it will take some time for fundamentals to improve enough for price performance to pick up.

A glance through the latest expert views and predictions about commodities with few signs aluminium prices can improve short-term but better conditions in steel, coal and copper markets.

Barclays Capital suggests a greater Chinese influence on the lead market this year should see the metal’s performance improve.

A glance through the latest expert views and predictions about commodities with market conditions supportive for sugar, fertiliser and platinum group metal prices but less so for gold.

An usually busy January month has cemented the new bull market for uranium.

A glance through the latest expert views and predictions about commodities with positive views on the Australian energy sector and titanium but reasons for caution on precious and base metals and the steel sector.