Related Quotes
| Symbol | Price | Change |
| FCX | 119.58 | -0.51 |
| |
Press Release Source: The Bedford Report On Tuesday December 14, 2010, 8:46 am EST
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - 12/14/10) - Copper prices surged to all-time highs yesterday after the Chinese central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged, signalling that the nation's demand for copper may increase even more. According to the International Copper Study Group, simple supply and demand is the primary reason for the close to 25 percent spike in copper's price this year. The study group claims that for the first eight months of the year, mine production increased a mere 1 percent year on year, while usage was up more that 8 percent. Should the strong demand trends continue, analysts argue that the price of copper could continue its record run. The bulls who believe that copper prices will continue to surge may be inclined to look into copper miners. Investors in copper miners are banking on rising earnings, as copper prices rise, to provide value. The Bedford Report examines the outlook for companies in the Copper Industry and provides research reports on Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. (NYSE:FCX - News) and Katanga Mining Ltd. (TSX:KAT - News). Access to the full company reports can be found at:
www.bedfordreport.com/2010-12-FCX
www.bedfordreport.com/2010-12-KAT
Mining and metals consulting firm CRU estimates that China's copper consumption will almost double by the end of 2020, which would account for nearly 50 percent of world copper sales. With over 1.3 billion citizens, China needs loads of the red metal to meet its modernization requirements for electricity and infrastructure.
A report last Friday from Bloomberg said that shipments of copper and copper products into China surged 29 percent in November to 351,597 metric tons from October. Total imports in the 11 months of 2010 gained 0.7 percent to 3.95 million tons.
The Bedford Report releases regular market updates on the copper industry so investors can stay ahead of the crowd and make the best investment decisions to maximize their returns. Take a few minutes to register with us free at www.bedfordreport.com and get exclusive access to our numerous analyst reports and industry newsletters.
In the company's most recent quarter, Freeport-McMoRan posted earnings of $1.2 billion, or $2.49 per share. The company sold its copper for an average of $3.50 per pound during the quarter, compared with $2.75 per pound in the same quarter last year. Last week the company announced a special $1.00 per share dividend payable on Dec 30 to all shareholders of record as of Dec 20.
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