Copper at $5.88 sets up a busy week for basic materials stocks as jobs, CPI loom
The S&P 500 materials sector closed up 1.77% at 645.93 Friday, bringing its 2026 gain to 12.45%. Miners led gains, with Freeport-McMoRan up 2.45% and Newmont up 6.26%. Copper rose 1% to $5.88 per pound. U.S. markets will watch for key Labor Department data next week, including jobs and inflation reports.