Iron Ore

Following another earnings report-driven up-day, traders are catching glimpses of the all-time highs through the clouds. Dow up 66. (Accessible only for subscribers before 10:15 AEDST)

Copper is becoming an increasingly important earnings driver for both BHP and Rio Tinto, without forgetting iron ore and coal.

The Bank of Japan played the compromise card yesterday while Wall Street begins to feel giddy in the rarefied air. Dow up 62. (Accessible only for subscribers before 10:15 AEDST)

Michael Gable of Novus Capital believes a pullback in the Rio Tinto share price is likely before another push to new highs.

Wall Street was closed last night leaving European stocks to push higher as the world awaits an expected policy shift from the Bank of Japan. (Accessible only for subscribers before 10:15 AEDST)

Rallies will be hard fought this year and stock picking needs to be selective, as brokers air expectations for resources, retail, building, software and healthcare.

Prices for copper, platinum and molybdenum are expected to push higher, while the outlook for gold turns a little more bearish.

While the prospects for iron ore have been looking increasingly good, we all know all good things must come to an end.

A swift reversal in the pricing outlook for iron ore should turn Rio Tinto into a major beneficiary in the two years ahead.

Stockbroking analysts have taken a look at iron ore, gold prices, the copper market, nickel and the prospects for Australian energy plays.