Daily FNArena News - Commodities

Irrespective of a supposedly more positive picture emerging, spot uranium continues to find no buying support.

Oil & gas production previews; Chinese commodity demand; soft commodities, Australian beef

With Japan set for its first reactor restarts and sanctions against Russia threatening to restrict enriched supply, the spot uranium price should be rising. But it continues to fall.

Nickel has been a strong performer this year and analysts think the sector’s time in the sun has arrived. Preferred stocks are discussed.

Ahead of Australian resource sector quarterly production reports, brokers highlight favoured commodities and stock preferences.

Concern over potential global enriched uranium supply constraints from Russia has hurried up utility demand but the current supply overhang means ongoing price weakness.

Demand for mineral sands improves, worst not yet over for copper, Grasberg’s copper future and the slippery slope for coal prices.

2014 is shaping up as the year that the world starts moving away from very low interest rates so the importance of supply and demand should re-emerge for commodities.

The spot uranium price continued to drift lower last week as sellers bowed further to a lack of urgency from buyers.

Soggy outlook for coal prices, iron ore subdued and copper struggles. Meanwhile, there’s a chance the central bank agreement on gold sales will come to an end.