DEFINITION of 'Doctor Copper'
Market lingo for the base metal that is reputed to have a Ph.D. in economics because of its ability to predict turning points in the global economy. Because of copper's widespread applications in most sectors of the economy - from homes and factories, to electronics and power generation and transmission - demand for copper is often viewed as a reliable leading indicator of economic health. This demand is reflected in the market price of copper. Generally, rising copper prices suggest strong copper demand and hence a growing global economy, while declining copper prices may indicate sluggish demand and an imminent economic slowdown.
I learn something every day on FR. I've often heard the term "Dr. Copper" and I knew they were talking about the price of copper, but I didn't know the tie-in as an economic predictor. I thought is was just supposed to sound cute.