OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings has published its inaugural copper dashboard exploring the drivers of the recent sell-off in prices and Fitch's views on the copper market and Americas copper producers.

While Fitch believes the long-term fundamentals of the market have not changes, short-term factors including a shift in speculative demand and knock-on stocking activity can have a big influence on this small market.

Fitch believes Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. would have a free cash flow short fall at \$2.50/lb. copper given its 2015 and 2016 guidance but that the company has sufficient levers available to avoid adding to its debt burden.

Southern Copper Corporation's position as one of the lowest-cash-cost producers of copper in the world allows it to generate robust cash flows at \$2.50/lb.