Strong demand for steel, copper, aluminum and...

Strong demand for steel, copper, aluminum and other metals, buoyed by robust manufacturing activity, should continue through the end of the year and into 1989, industry analysts say. But a likely economic slowdown toward the second half of 1989, which would reduce demand, may knock metal company profits below strong current-year levels, they said. One metals analyst said the industry’s outlook depends to a large extent on U.S. monetary policy. If the Federal Reserve continues to tighten credit to try to choke off inflation “things could be pretty bad” for metals, he said.