Copper Rises to 4-Month High
Copper futures in the US were above the $5.1 per pound mark, testing their highest level in four months amid mounting concerns of low supply. A series of mine disruptions from major producers drove sellers to raise their selling prices though the fourth quarter. These include a fatal incident at Freeport-McMoRan's Grasberg mine in Indonesia, which halted activity at the source responsible for over 3% of global copper supply, in addition to signals that output will slow its recovery in Chile and Peru due to recurring protests. Consequently, Chilean state-miner Codelco offered offered record-high prices to Chinese buyers, signaling a potential shift to prioritize US consumers. Copper futures and base metals also gained support from expectations that the US Federal Reserve is likely to lower borrowing costs again this year, supporting the outlook for domestic manufacturers and lowering dollar-priced commodities.