The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: BHP, Rio Tinto, Southern Copper, Freeport-McMoRan and KAZ Minerals

Chicago, IL – January 06, 2021 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: BHP Group BHP, Rio Tinto Group RIO, Southern Copper Corporation SCCO, Freeport-McMoRan Inc. FCX and KAZ Minerals PLC KZMYY.

After gaining 25.8% in 2020, copper has commenced 2021 on a bright note with three month copper futures touching a high of $3.61 per pound before closing at $3.55 per pound on Jan 4 — close to the eight-year high of $3.64 per pound hit in December 2020. Copper has been gaining on solid manufacturing data from top consumer China as the economy continues to recover from the pandemic. Also, pickup in industrial activity, and optimism surrounding vaccines and subsequent rollouts in certain economies have been working in favor of the metal lately.

Despite the overall gain last year, it had been a roller coaster ride for the red metal. The year 2020 started promisingly for copper with progress on the trade dispute between the U.S. and China, and improving economic prospects. However, the COVID-19 pandemic soon snapped the trend.