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LONDON -- Copper fell for a fifth day on the London Metal Exchange, with speculation that lower prices will further increase stockpiles in China.

This should be a welcome relief for the electronics industry that uses copper as a basic building block to enable conductivity. Recently, prices for copper clad laminate in the region have been increasing, based on increases in copper. Lower prices should provide some relief.

On June 17, copper for three-month delivery fell $20, or 0.4%, to $4,940 per metric ton, from a low of $4880 per metric ton, on June 16. Copper for a July delivery lost 0.7% to $2.243 per pound on the New York Mercantile Exchange’s Comex division.

Analyst Max Layton from Macquarie Bank Group Ltd. in London said, “We expect the price will fall 10% to 15% over the next two months.”

WASHINGTON -- Calling innovation "endangered," the Consumer Electronics Association announced a plan to organize widespread Congressional lobbying to advance the interests of new technology.

The so-called Innovation Movement will channel the interests of tech companies and enthusiasts to prod legislators for bills that promote American jobs and spur new technology, CEA said.

"Innovation is vital to the American economy and innovation is the brightest hope for our future. We hope to activate, energize and educate our Innovation Movement members to speak out and speak up on legislation and policies that are not working for America," CEA said. "Joining the movement will allow the participants to support legislation that will grow the tech industry and bring our put our economy back on track."

The CEA formulated six "principles" of the movement in a so-called Innovation Checklist and is urging Congress to use the criteria when evaluating every legislative proposal. The checklist asks:

Does this bill create American jobs?
Does this bill spur new technology?
Does this bill encourage the best and brightest to come to the US?
Does this bill reward innovation and investment?
Does this bill promote exports?
Does this bill foster productivity and energy efficiency?

CEA claims 14,000 people have signed on so far. Members will be provided information on how to make their voices heard on legislation that may impact the CE industry, including special alerts on specific congressional representatives.

CEA is a trade group with some 2,000 member companies.