Metals & mining (diversified) industry

The demand for aluminum is being outpaced by production, but the use of aluminum in automobiles may change this, and there is a negative effect on industry profits in 1999. The environment for the copper industry is still hostile, but Asarco and Cyprus Amax are merging to the probable benefit of both. These stocks are not timely in 1999, but several copper stocks have potential for the next three to five years.