[tricky777]

reading the post is essential. here is the bit adressing this:

> that may be due to previous hoarding in China coupled with economic slowdown and/or disruptions in their metals markets

[01100011]

If you look at the copper futures chart the current price is below a few peaks but it is still quite high, historically speaking. That is in the face of a real estate crash in China and impending global economic slowdown(a significant portion of which is due to energy malinvestment).

On a related note, the majority of new home construction does not use copper these days(both for cost reasons and performance reasons).