1.   Copper producers were down on a drop in copper prices.

2.   The strike had initially sent copper prices soaring on international metal markets.

3.   Also contributing to lower copper prices and rising stockpiles this year has been increased production.

4.   Among copper producers, Phelps Dodge Corp. earnings are expected to track the decline in copper prices.

5.   Aluminum, nickel and copper prices, should rise, boosting shares of Alcan Aluminium Ltd., Inco Ltd. and Falconbridge Ltd., analysts said.

6.   Among the producers being hit hardest by a lower copper price is Broken Hill Proprietary, the second-largest producer.

7.   And copper prices rose following floods in Chile, which halted production in the mines.

8.   Analysts have long believed BHP paid too much for the properties, bought when copper prices were high and BHP wanted into the U.S. market.

9.   And in commodity markets today, copper prices fell to the lowest level in more than five weeks.