As of June 9, 2017, Comex copper had jumped up to $2.65 per pound. Cited causes were winter weather impact on Chilean mines and continued labor unrest at Freeport-McMoRan. Additionally, China increased imports of refined copper by 8.0 percent month to month. Comex copper returned to more familiar price ranges closing the week of June 12th at $2.57 per pound. The strong dollar explains much of this. Continued volatility and inconsistencies is expected to prevail in the copper market going forward. No clear direction today, but global economic and political factors in place could usher increases in the near term.