Base Metals and Minerals

US bond yields fell sharply last night despite US wholesale inflation showing a surprise gain. The world remains confused. Dow down 101. (Accessible only for subscribers before 10:15 AEST)

The ASX 200 is back at 5500, the budget held no great surprises, and Wall Street paused last night at its highs. Dow up 19. (Accessible only for subscribers before 10:15 AEST)

Time to become overweight in miners? Do commodity prices matter more than volume to Australia’s economy? Gold remains subdued while nickel adjusts to Indonesian bans.

Sharp rebounds in the Nasdaq and Russell 2000 turned potential pullback into a new S&P high last night. Dow up 112. (Accessible only for subscribers before 10:15 AEST)

Is the sun setting on the iron ore boom? Bell Potter ponders what a three-way merger might mean in the base metals sector. DJ Carmichael asks why some gold stocks are not performing.

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

Down one day, up the next, up in the morning and down in the afternoon. Dow up 32. (Accessible only for subscribers before 10:15 AEST)

A pullback of Russian troops and more soothing words from the Fed gave blue chips a boost last night while the Nasdaq rout continued. Dow up 117. (Accessible only for subscribers before 10:15 AEST)

Aluminium is heading for deficit in JP Morgan’s view. Consolidation is Bell Potter’s theme for the Oz nickel sector, while Macquarie sees some value in mid cap energy stocks.

Rare earth producer Lynas Corp has averted a cash shortage for now with a planned equity raising and debt restructure.