Daily FNArena News - Commodities

Ahead of the Herd’s Rick Mills believes there are compelling reasons to invest in junior resource companies.

The US dollar rallies and metal prices fall, usually. Brokers look at rising copper production and portend an oversupply in iron ore.

Jonathan Barratt of Barratt’s Bulletin suggests gold’s resilience suggests a bullish stance although silver’s tardiness may provide for outperformance.

Uranium prices have been falling or lying limp for almost five years now, but the market is much tighter than most realise.

Chinese steel movements pressure iron ore price but Oz miners are still competitive if price stays well above US$80/t. Base metals outlook continues to diverge.

Brokers find coal looks forlorn while gold costs loom large. Nickel is stuck in a range while oil & gas producers may soon become yield stocks.

Jonathan Barratt of Barratt’s Bulletin believes copper may have seen a low, as long as Chinese economic data pick up post the New Year’s disruption.

Short positions have increased in silver and gold while Oz copper stocks underperform the metal. Time to buy aluminium on dips, and DAP prices improve.

Analysts believe iron ore prices may ease, a bit, while Chinese steel production stays firm. Alumina’s price drop is delayed while lead is a buying opportunity.

Activity in the spot uranium market was steady last week and prices ticked just a little bit higher.