Daily FNArena News - Commodities

Platinum potential, gold demand and 2014 commodity preferences in the face of plateauing Chinese demand.

Japan’s new longer term nuclear policy proposal has done little to stir up demand in the short term market.

There’s a new risk hovering over the iron ore price profile but analysts are not too worried at this stage.

Brokers consider the impact of Indonesia’s ban on the nickel price. Credit Suisse considers which of the big two Oz miners will return capital while Merrills looks at Oz gold stocks likely to raise capital.

The first restart date for a Japanese reactor post-Fukushima is quietly moving closer while the spot uranium market continues to track sideways.

Spot uranium activity remains lacklustre but developments in Japan may suggest some light at the end of the tunnel.

Paladin’s announced shutdown of its Kayelekera project will remove supply and has thus sparked a higher uranium spot price.

Macquarie asks why Chile’s mine output is up but refined copper falls. Citi disputes a deficit in aluminium is looming. High gas prices will force contraction in domestic usage, observes Goldman Sachs.

Iron ore and copper look like winners, gold prices may ease before recovering and a supply shortfall is looming in tin.

January saw a jump in activity in the uranium market over a quiet December.