Daily FNArena News - Commodities

Disparities in the aluminium market have analysts perplexed while mineral sands should improve this year and diesel is still powering platinum usage.

The spot uranium price has dipped again while the world awaits a decision from Japan and analysts argue over the outlook.

Grain prices are expected to stay high and gold is subdued. The copper balance is teetering while zinc is definitely in surplus. Goldman finds thermal coal productivity a mixed blessing.

It was last August when an institutional buyer entered the spot market for a sizeable volume of uranium. They’re back.

Macquarie thinks 2014 could be a significant year for small copper stocks, while iron ore strength continues. Citi turns bullish on miners and JP Morgan suspects coal prices will disappoint.

Aluminium and nickel prices potentially should be squeezed by Indonesia’s export ban, but there are many reasons why they won’t be.

Analysts are increasingly confident 2014 will be the year of the first reactor restarts in Japan, and expect the uranium price response to be swift and significant.

Brokers advise caution on picking gold stocks, while zinc and lead markets are tight, oil supply is expected to strengthen and China puts the pincers on fertiliser policy.

A quiet end-of-year mood has sunk in for buyers and sellers of yellowcake, reports industry consultant TradeTech.

US Fed policy a key feature for the 2014 commodities outlook but nickel, aluminium and gold are seen as subdued, while JP Morgan thinks US shale oil could still change the game in crude.