Copper, a coveted metal boosting miners

AFP explores the reasons behind the gains. Profits boost Australian resources group BHP saw net profit surge almost 28 percent to US$5.64 billion in the final six months of last year, the group's fiscal first half. Alongside the recent earnings, BHP stated that it was the world's largest copper producer after raising output by about 30 percent in the past four years, including from its vast Escondida mine in Chile. In the same week, Swiss miner Glencore announced a return to profit last year and...