MARKET TALK: Base Metals Eye Funds, Trade Cautious

Metals market participants are cautiously eyeing the base metals to see "whether funds are in trouble with another Amaranth-type sell-off," says BaseMetals analyst Will Adams. "Given the sell-off in oil and the metals in early January, this would not be a surprise," Adams notes. London Metal Exchange trade is looking "increasingly nervous" but weaker prices may prompt more trade buying of copper and zinc, he adds.