The base metals were mixed again on Wednesday. Copper had some big ups and downs but in the end was little changed as it finished at $3.6206/lb., down a penny and a half.

The base metals were mixed on Monday. Copper was off in the pre-dawn hours but rallied back during the New York session yesterday, to finish little changed at $3.6665/lb., down just over a tenth of a cent.

The base metals endured a serious bloodbath on Thursday. Copper fell off a cliff at the open of the New York session and never recovered, finishing at its intraday low of $3.6416/lb., down 10½ cents.

The base metals were all mired in the red again on Wednesday. Copper nosedived from the pre-dawn hours to the open of the New York session, bottoming at $3.69 before cutting about half its losses to finish at $3.7464/lb., down 5 1/3 cents.

Interesting how certain threads come together…I read recently that copper producers are complaining about the skyrocketing costs of sulfuric acid. A few days later, I read about Mosaic, a fertilizer company – about how the rising cost of sulfuric acid could impact its profit margins.

The base metals were mostly in the red on Tuesday. Copper tumbled during the early part of the New York session, but rallied strongly from there to regain most of the lost ground and finish at $3.7999/lb., down a penny from Friday.

The base metals were mostly in the black on Friday. Copper bottomed out at $3.72 in the pre-dawn hours, but rallied straight through from there to finish at its intraday high of $3.8099/lb., up 6 cents.

Mining investors take note… If copper, zinc, nickel, and tin prices remain close to current levels, these miners will make a ton of money this year.

The base metals took a severe beating on Thursday. Copper was down from the pre-dawn hours straight through the day, only coming off its lows near the noon hour and finishing at $3.497/lb., down 6 cents.

The base metals were mostly in the red on Wednesday. Copper was erratic, bouncing all over during the day, but ended up sliding somewhat, finishing at $3.8102/lb., down 3 cents.