copper market

Global economic uncertainty can create a volatile metals sector and lead some investors to bail on the industry altogether.

But doing so would mean missing the huge profit opportunities from rising copper prices in 2012.

With uses in both manufacturing and construction, copper remains one of the world's most versatile metals. When economies are doing well, copper prices do well due to increased demand.

Currently, global economic woes are still around us. Greece is still on the fritz, and European uncertainty is weighing on growth - which caused a slip in copper.

Copper prices fell close to $3.00 per pound in September. They've climbed back to around $3.90 per pound, but are still about 18% from where they were a year ago.

The uncertain European outlook has triggered concern for one of its biggest trading partners as well as copper's ultimate buyer: China.

China is the world's biggest producer and consumer of copper, soaking up 40% of the world's supply.

Europe's economic effect on China has led to fear that the Red Dragon is headed for a cool down this year and that the slowed growth will weigh on copper prices.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts Chinese growth to proceed at a rate of 8.2% this year, down a full percentage point from last year's actual growth of 9.2%.

These concerns, however, are overblown - and off the mark. What's actually going on in the Chinese economy and copper market is supporting rising copper prices.

Here's why you, too, should be bullish on copper.