Rio Tinto stock slips in early London trade as copper demand outlook clashes with iron ore risks
London, January 8, 2026, 08:42 (GMT) — Regular session Rio Tinto shares eased on Thursday, down 0.9% at 6,204 pence, after setting a 52-week high the previous day. The stock opened at 6,260p and has traded between 6,194p and 6,260p so far. London South East The timing matters because miners are being pulled in two directions: long-term copper demand looks stronger, but the near-term iron ore picture is still fragile. S&P Global said a surge in artificial intelligence and defence spending could lift copper demand 50% by 2040, taking annual demand to 42 million metric tons from 28 million in