Freeport backs copper bet with Phelps bid $26 billion deal expands Freeport's copper assets while prices are hot By Laura Mandaro, MarketWatch Last Update: 5:35 PM ET Nov 20, 2006 <A HREF="http://tinyurl.com/yh7gm9" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/yh7gm9</A>