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Copper prices hit a record, breaking $5 per pound for the first time
Forexlive ^ | May 14, 2024 | Adam Button

Posted on 05/14/2024 11:56:21 AM PDT by Miami Rebel

The May and June US copper contracts both touched $5 per pound today, a record high for the metal.

The story is well-known and something I've been writing about for years: There has been minimal investment in new supply and the green transition is incredibly copper-intensive.

The latest leg is also benefiting from current and future demand for data centers and electricity in general. In addition, China's economy is improving and it's responsible for about 50% of global copper demand.

The picture remains impressive. Goldman Sachs last month said copper is in "the foothills of what will be its Everest" and with the break to $5, clearing the 2022 highs, the argument is compelling. Notably though, today's price action has been volatile. After starting at $4.80, it surged to $5.04 only to retrace to $4.91. A close above $5 would add some confidence for the bulls.

Ultimately though, it will come down to supply and demand. For the bulls, the most powerful indicator is the investment pipeline. It takes 10-15 years to develop a greenfield copper mine so there is very little that can be done if prices skyrocket, aside from additional recycling.

That supply response pales in comparison to what could be insatiable demand for green energy, power transmission, data centers, EVs and even weapons.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: copper; minerals; mining
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To: Miami Rebel

Jacketed Hollow Points about to skyrocket.


21 posted on 05/14/2024 1:00:55 PM PDT by Rinnwald
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To: Miami Rebel

Copper mines played a significant role in Atlas Shrugged. Francisco d’Anconia destroyed his copper mines to prevent the looters from taking them.


22 posted on 05/14/2024 1:01:10 PM PDT by DeplorablePaul
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To: Miami Rebel

The old pure copper pennies now have 3 cents worth of copper in them.


23 posted on 05/14/2024 1:11:36 PM PDT by Nateman (Democrats did not strive for fraud friendly voting merely to continue honest elections.)
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To: Miami Rebel

Pre-1982 penny is now worth three cents.


24 posted on 05/14/2024 1:12:47 PM PDT by Z28.310 (z28.310 control group...look it up)
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To: Osage Orange

The Copper mine in Sandy Utah has it operation paid for by the copper. The silver and Gold impurities in the copper are the profit. Over a ton of Gold every year on average.


25 posted on 05/14/2024 1:15:58 PM PDT by Nateman (Democrats did not strive for fraud friendly voting merely to continue honest elections.)
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To: Miami Rebel

My old copper pennies may one day be worth more than their numismatic value


26 posted on 05/14/2024 1:25:24 PM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: CatOwner

EV chargers MOST at risk.


27 posted on 05/14/2024 1:29:40 PM PDT by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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To: Miami Rebel

Sounds like transcripts from “ATLAS SHRUGGED”

TIME TO READ THAT BOOK AGAIN.


28 posted on 05/14/2024 1:31:07 PM PDT by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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To: EvilCapitalist
Save those old pennies.

How much is an old copper penny worth now?

29 posted on 05/14/2024 1:39:50 PM PDT by montag813
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To: montag813

“How much is an old copper penny worth now?”

I have about 30 lbs of them, IIRC it is 1982 and later pennies that have the high copper content. I THINK it is illegal to sell them for melt down.


30 posted on 05/14/2024 2:10:34 PM PDT by DAC21
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To: teeman8r

Wait until some figure out what tossing chains over power lines do it gives them time for cutting and loading before it’s found out where the problem is at.

It was done in Michigan and Indiana about 30 years ago.


31 posted on 05/14/2024 2:15:29 PM PDT by Vaduz
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To: Nateman; Z28.310

And a pre-1965 US quarter now had around $5 worth of silver in it.

An older relative told me that Las Vegas casinos once used old American silver dollars in their slot machines. So the smart play would have been ignore the slots, and just gather up those silver dollars.

Here’s a little discussion about that.

https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/951207/slot-machines-and-silver-dollars


32 posted on 05/14/2024 2:15:40 PM PDT by Leaning Right (The steal is real.)
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To: montag813

“How much is an old copper penny worth now?”

If my Jethro Bodine cyphering is correct. 160 1982 pennies (or older) is about 1 pound of copper, so $1.60. And copper is $5 a pound. Of course that isn’t what you will get when you sell it to the middle man.


33 posted on 05/14/2024 2:16:42 PM PDT by DAC21
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To: DAC21; montag813

Out of curiosity I just looked it up - as an old retired guy, I’ve got the time.

It’s US pennies *before* 1982 that had the high copper content. The newer ones are copper-plated zinc coins.

And DAC21, you were right. It is illegal to melt down US pennies. I never would have thought that.

https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/copper-pennies/


34 posted on 05/14/2024 2:23:52 PM PDT by Leaning Right (The steal is real.)
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To: Miami Rebel

if I remember correctly, most of the mined silver is a byproduct of copper mining


35 posted on 05/14/2024 2:25:04 PM PDT by algore
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To: Miami Rebel

I have physical gold and silver. I am also long some gold and silver stocks


36 posted on 05/14/2024 3:21:20 PM PDT by Osage Orange (ooooOO)
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To: CatOwner

Tesla Supercharger nozzles cut and stolen at Vallejo charging station
https://abc7news.com/post/tesla-supercharger-nozzles-cut-and-stolen-at-vallejo-charging-station/14811449/


37 posted on 05/14/2024 3:29:57 PM PDT by minnesota_bound (Need more money to buy everything now)
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To: Miami Rebel

I wish I could post a pic of my copper stash. It gives me great joy tossing more scrap pipe on the pile.


38 posted on 05/14/2024 3:36:52 PM PDT by Sawdring
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; BraveMan; cardinal4; ...

39 posted on 05/14/2024 6:18:31 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
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To: Miami Rebel

And Andrew Jackson went apoplectic when he learned bacon had gone up to 2¢ a pound.


40 posted on 05/14/2024 9:31:37 PM PDT by Paal Gulli
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