Will copper shine in the shadows of COVID-19?

In his latest interview with Jim Goddard on HoweStreet.com, Stewart Muir of the Resource Works Society looks at the future of copper and the role it could play in economic development. He finds that British Columbia produces enough copper each year to equip 5 million electric cars. He also suggests that copper could gain in popularity as a way to offer some protection against pathogens such as the one that causes COVID-19.

Microbiologist Bill Keevil at Southampton University in Britain and his team found that copper surfaces can kill the coronavirus 229E which is related to the pathogen that causes SARS and MERS. Can it do the same for the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19? We probably do not know for sure. However, I doubt people will wait for scientists to spend years debating the question. Instead, I'd bet that people start applying some common sense.

Muir talks copper, climate targets and more in this April 29th interview
 

If Muir is right, interior designers may start looking at copper as a way to make new homes and condos more attractive to virus conscious buyers.

Copper as a trade has held up relatively well during the pandemic. While down over the past three months, it has outperformed an S&P 500 Index fund, the world's go-to mindless investment choice. While copper has given up some ground to the passive darling over the past month, the future is in its early days. Copper and copper miners could shine in the years ahead regardless if we enter into a D or G economy. Active managers should take note.

In terms of potential investment candidates, Canada has a number. Just over the past week we have seen opportunities pop up. Our Wednesday morning report stock is on the hunt for a word-class copper discovery in Quebec, while a major copper producer was a top gainer in this week's INK Edge top mover report which I posted in INK Research Chat Friday for Club members.