Freeport sees M&A, high copper

March 11 - Reuters - Copper prices should stay high despite a slowing U.S. economy, as China keeps buying the metal and big miners gobble up smaller, capital-hungry rivals, the head of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc said on Monday.

"We're actively looking for exploration projects around the world because we have such a positive outlook for copper," Chief Executive Officer Richard Adkerson told the Reuters Global Mining Summit in New York.

"The industry will continue to consolidate; it's just inevitable because of the lack of investment opportunities," he said, when asked about the credit crunch that is making it difficult for companies to raise capital. Read More.