Southern Copper Corp. raised its annual production guidance as ore quality improves and the company resolves water supply issues in Mexico, offering a little relief for a tightening global copper market. The world’s fifth-largest supplier of the wiring metal expects to produce 948,800 metric tons this year, Chief Financial Officer Raul Jacob told analysts on a conference call Friday. That would be 4.1% more than last year’s result and compares with a projection of 935,900 tons a quarter ago. The more optimistic guidance follows back-to-back reductions to its projections and comes as copper prices surge to two-year ... (full story)