Daily FNArena News - Commodities

Softening Chinese steel demand suggests a weak short-term outlook for steel but expectations remain for a tighter market and higher margins from 2013.

A glance through the latest expert views and predictions about commodities, with cost curves expected to support prices, an over-reaction in iron ore prices and adjustments to metal price estimates.

Buyers have begun to reappear in the uranium spot market but sellers are still plentiful.

A glance through the latest expert views and predictions about commodities with updates on base metal markets, why iron ore prices should strengthen and steel markets tighten and silver’s surplus.

Recent volatility and ongoing uncertainty with respect to Europe and global growth is the backdrop for Barclays Capital’s review of commodity price expectations.

A glance through the latest expert views and predictions about commodities with the outlook weak for both steel and nickel, gold expected to go higher and a closing of oil price spreads.

Jonathan Barratt of Barratt’s Bulletin suggests the cotton price is at a crossroads and advises accumulation.

Extensive flooding in Thailand may have disturbing ramifications for inflation in China while meteorologists are warning Australia may again be in for another wet tropical summer.

There are some similarities between gold price action in 2008 and now and Barclays Capital sees enough positive drivers to suggest further gains in the metal’s price are likely.

Activity was brisk but the spot market thin as ups and downs in the week saw the uranium price unchanged.