Daily FNArena News - Commodities

Speculators are pushing up spot uranium trading volumes and subsequently prices as utilities ponder their positions.

Commodity supply reductions look less likely; nickel stocks perform strongly; US thermal coal outlook lowered; zinc deficit to deepen.

Uranium buyers indicated last week they were prepared to pay higher prices.

Commodity pricing reflects surging supply; gold bugs re-emerge; agricultural supply pressures; and weaker prices weigh on copper equities.

Interested uranium buyers have begun to queue in early 2015, forcing cautious sellers to back off their offer prices.

Impact on miners of oil fall; energy picks; structural changes in mineral sands; aluminium production, prices and inventory up; and gloom for thermal coal.

Spot U3O8 is on the rise and industry consultant TradeTech suggests overall activity bodes well for the first quarter of 2015.

Further downside for bulk prices envisaged; base metals have the better outlook; volatility is likely short term; and value opportunities in gold and copper.

Australia’s terms of trade position deteriorates; iron ore break even reviewed; coking coal exports slow; and copper surplus expected.

Brokers take a close look at the drivers of the aluminium market and the outlook for 2015.