智通财经网·2025-08-01 23:07Group 1 - Copper prices experienced a historic drop, with a 22% decline on the COMEX, marking the largest single-day drop since 1968, falling to $4.33 per pound [1] - The U.S. government announced new tariffs on copper products, excluding raw copper and scrap, leading to significant sell-offs by investors who had stockpiled copper in anticipation of the tariffs [1] - Major copper mining companies saw their stock prices plummet, with Southern Copper Corp down nearly 7% and Freeport-McMoRan down 11% [1] Group 2 - Some analysts view the price drop as a "rational return," as U.S. copper prices had surged approximately 40% this year due to trade tensions, creating a significant premium over London Metal Exchange prices [2] - The recent tariff announcement has led to a narrowing of the price gap between U.S. and LME copper prices, which had previously been nearly 30% [2] - Despite a return to fundamentals, the copper market remains sensitive to economic conditions, particularly the growth outlook for the U.S. and China [2] Group 3 - Historical price trends raise concerns, with comparisons made to oil prices before the 2008 financial crisis, suggesting copper could fall to around $3 per pound if a significant correction occurs [3] - The price of copper has fluctuated around $3 for most of the past two decades, indicating potential for a return to this level following recent highs [3] - The phenomenon of sharp corrections after reaching high price points is common in commodity markets, raising questions about the sustainability of current copper prices [3]