The data you present suggests - there's not enough data to prove - that the copper prices are currently subject to a great deal of speculation.
If this is correct, the price has some more climbing to do - until the bubble bursts. Then we'll see a sudden drop, probably back to 2005 levels.
We saw something like this in the late 70's, when the Hunt brothers attempted to 'corner' the silver market. In the end, they were bankrupted by their 'can't fail' scheme. Copper is an even more readily available, more diversely produces, metal than silver ... and is thus more inherently safe from such manipulation.
One mans' disaster is often anothers' fortune. With every penny rise in the price of nearly any mineral, more mines here in Nevada re-open. Our mines are simply screaming for help - including electricians. (Especially Navy veteran 'electrician mates!')
Conversely, a return of prices to, say, 1980 levels would devastate Nevada as thoroughly as a plague epidemic.
