Rio Tinto plc (ADR) (RIO), Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX): The Coming Copper Boom?

Exit stage left
Both BHP and Rio are selling off their coal-mining assets to focus on their core businesses, though Rio Tinto plc (ADR) (NYSE:RIO) is also said to be looking at strategic alternatives for its copper and gold mines, too. BHP and Anglo American, however, are prioritizing copper exploration for their operations, with the former only exploring for copper and the latter saying the red metal is a major component of its exploration funding.

Although under pressure, copper’s price has held up better than either gold or silver. With supplies promising to remain scarce, investors may want to look at the miners for opportunities to profit, as they’ve seen their share prices peel back by double-digit percentages. They might be best positioned to capitalize on what could become a new copper boom.

The article The Coming Copper Boom? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Rich Duprey has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold.

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