Copper Takes Center Stage at Rio Tinto and BHP

Rio Tinto and BHP's latest half-year results show that copper is now doing more of the profit heavy lifting for both companies.

Copper prices have stayed strong, rising 68% since last April, while iron ore prices have remained flat.

This shift in earnings power is evident in Rio Tinto's underlying earnings, which rose 43% to $6.85 billion, with copper and aluminum making up 56% of that figure.

Copper alone accounted for 39% of Rio Tinto's earnings, while iron ore saw a 1% decline.