The base metals were mixed on Thursday. Copper declined during the pre-dawn hours, but recovered well during the day, moving into the green to finish at $1.4709/lb., up a penny and a half.

The base metals were all shoved back deep into the red on Monday. Copper declined from the pre-dawn hours to mid-morning, then traded just off its intraday low for the rest of the day, finishing at $1.4285/lb., down nearly 9 cents.

Rio Tinto Slows Expansion; Foreign Real Estate Investors Bullish; Abbott Laboratories Buys Advanced Medical Optics; Congo Jacks Primary Rate to 55%; Ford May Need TARP; LG Chem Gets a Charge from GM

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.

The base metals were all slightly higher on Wednesday. Copper fell from the pre-dawn hours to just after the New York open, after which it rose to just past the break-even point, finishing at $1.3679/lb., up a quarter-cent.

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.

President-elect Barack Obama has made no bones about wanting to jump-start the renewable energy markets – pledging $150 billion for the development of biofuels, solar and wind power, other alternative energy sources during his first term.

China Exports and Import Decline; Rio Guts 14,000 Jobs; Wells Fargo CEO Sees Housing Bottom; Orascom Lands North Korea Telecom Deal; Office Depot Shutters 112 Stores; JA Solar Cuts 4Q Estimates

White House and Democrats tentatively agree to auto aid… Eastman Kodak, Electronic Arts warn on outlook… Energy shares could get lift from higher oil prices

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%.