Sprott Inc. has launched a $100 million fund that will buy and hold physical copper.

The miner said it generated lower sales through the ramp-up process in Q4 than previously anticipated, which impacted its financing requirements.

Tom Palmer pointed to artificial intelligence as a surprisingly large new source of copper demand.

About $1.5bn invested in energy transition-related projects are at risk through 2030, research from Bain & Company shows.

The combined company will be managed by the team that discovered and developed the Brucejack mine.

Stockpiles of the metal held in Shanghai Futures Exchange warehouses ended last week well above 300,000 tonnes.

Recent moves by cash-flush energy traders are raising tensions and sparking a scramble for contracts.

The company has already sold zinc assets in Peru, and some of its smaller copper operations.