Base Metals and Minerals

A wrap of events affecting the market on Friday night and the weekend and a preview of the week ahead.

A glance through the latest expert views and predictions about commodities with BA Merrill Lynch offering its picks for 2011, updates from commodity conferences and on nickel and PCI coal.

Wall Street can’t seem to get any Santa rally traction as Europe overhangs and China might be planning a policy change. Dow down 2.

BTIG Market Strategist Mike O’Rourke explains why equities, not commodities, are the place to be.

ATW’s Jerry Simmons explains why investors should always watch what’s happening in the copper market.

The big sell-off in US bonds was the focus last night while markets look out for a Chinese rate rise on the weekend. Dow up 13.

Wall Street opened stronger on confirmation the Obama Administration had compromised on tax cuts before a late sell-off wiped out the gains. Dow down 3.

A glance through the latest expert views and predictions about commodities, with buying not building a cheaper option for copper producers, positives for iron ore, coal and oil prices and some strategies for the coming year.

What to do about Europe? The Europeans don’t seem to know. Uncertainty breeds weakness as the bulls try hard to drive the Bernanke gravy train. Dow down 19.

A glance through the latest expert views and predictions about commodities, with bad weather offering some positives for coal, strong Chinese demand a positive for gold, upgrades for copper and revisions to energy price forecasts.