Examples of these resources include oil, natural gas, precious metals (particularly gold and silver), base metals such as copper and nickel, and other resources such as diamonds, coal, lumber and even water.

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China represents 42% of global demand for the four main base metals: copper, zinc, nickel and aluminum, so its decisions regarding how to direct its state-run economy are paramount to the outlook for these commodities, she said.

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Meanwhile, the profits of publicly traded companies in base metals such as copper, aluminum iron and nickel are up 6%, on average.

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