Daily FNArena News

A glance through the latest expert views and predictions about commodities. Sentiment on base metals; upbeat zinc miners; US dollar impact on metals; gold outlook; lithium demand.

Lithium? Ahead of the Herd’s Rick Mills explains why vanadium is the metal of the battery-powered future.

General insurers IAG and Suncorp have outlined the expected losses from February’s hail storm in Sydney. Several brokers review the impact on FY17 natural peril budgets.

Michael Gable of Fairmont Equities suggests Northern Star Resources is offering a means to capture gold price upside.

Iron ore prices have rallied as Chinese steel consumption has surprised to the upside. Will the heady prices last?

ASIC has automotive dealer finance commissions in its sights. Brokers are not overly concerned about these changes and suspect a softer growth outlook for automotive retailing is more significant.

Lithium producer Orocobre has encountered problems with its inventory and production guidance has been lowered. Brokers are reasonably confident the issues can be addressed.

Craig Parker of Moat Capital suggests the index is currently stuck between 5600-5800, looking for direction.

A glance through the latest expert views and predictions about commodities. Aluminium prices; iron ore demand; manganese rally; gold outlook; the zinc conundrum.

A summary of the previous session’s corporate earnings result releases, including broker views, ratings and target price changes and beat/miss assessments.