Countries with strong commodity and cash reserves are going to be great markets on the far side of this financial crisis.

The base metals were all splashed with red on Friday. Copper cratered during the pre-dawn hours, and was still at its lows after the noon hour, but it staged a late rally that took it back to finish at $1.4519/lb., down only 2 cents.

The base metals were all leaking red on Tuesday. Outside of a brief morning blip up, copper declined from the pre-dawn hours straight through, finishing at its intraday low of $1.4256/lb., down 11 cents from Friday. Pretty much the same story for nickel, which closed at its intraday low of $4.4006/lb., down more than 20 cents.

FTSEurofirst 300 falls 1.5 percent… Banks under pressure on poor economic outlook… Miners, oils slip…

China’s bold measures to confront the economic crisis make it a great place to invest, says Don Miller. And the best places to find profits are in infrastructure, consumer goods and energy sectors. Don gives seven stocks that have a bright future in China’s economic growth story.

BHP Billiton Ltd. (NYSE:BHP) is getting stronger, says Horacio Marquez, even as commodity prices slump. With its low costs and diversified operations, the natural resources producer is well positioned to ride out the credit crisis. And when commodity prices rebound next year, Horacio says BHP will lead the recovery. He recommends buying shares at today’s distressed prices, and holding for big long-term profits.

Commodities will rebound in the New Year, says Martin Hutchinson. Supply and demand fundamentals remain bullish for natural resources. Even more importantly, massive increases in the money supply will create inflation, against which hard assets are an important hedge. Martin gives five ways to play this trend in 2009.

The brutal market sell-off in emerging markets has led many to doubt their importance in the global economy. But Horacio Marquez says the ‘right’ countries in Latin America will thrive in the New Year. Top of the class is Brazil, but Horacio also sees good opportunities in Chile and Mexico.

China may soon ask the world”s top iron ore producers to reduce the prices they charge for the key steel component by as much as 82%.

U.S. stocks open slightly lower in thin holiday trade… Retailers fall on worry about weak “Black Friday” sales… Energy shares pressured as oil prices slip below $53