Copper prices and other industrial metals slid on Friday as a new and possibly vaccine-resistant coronavirus variant found in South Africa shook market sentiment. Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) dropped by 3.3% to $9,474 per tonne by noon local time. Copper has long been considered a bellwether of the global economy’s financial health. The metal is a common component in most electrical wiring, power generation, transmission, distribution, and circuitry because of its high conductivity and durability. It is also thought to be key in the transition to a greener economy due to its use in battery ... (full story)