8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 31, 2007

FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	1-9916	74-2480931
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification Number)

One North Central Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona	85004-4414
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (602) 366-8100

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01.  Other Events.

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. announced today that it has completed the sale of its international wire and cable business, operated in the name of Phelps Dodge International Corporation, to General Cable Corporation (NYSE:BGC) for $735 million (see Exhibit 99.1). FCX expects to use the proceeds estimated to approximate $620 million, net of taxes and other transaction costs, to repay debt.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)  Exhibits.

The Exhibit included as part of this Current Report is listed in the attached Exhibit Index.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.

By: /s/ C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.

----------------------------------------

C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.

Vice President and Controller -

Financial Reporting

(authorized signatory and

Principal Accounting Officer)

Date:  October 31, 2007

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

Exhibit Index

Exhibit

Number

99.1 Press release dated October 31, 2007, titled “Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. Completes Sale of International Wire & Cable Business for $735 Million.”

EX-99.1

One North Central Avenue ▪ Phoenix, AZ  85004	Financial Contacts:		Media Contact:
	Kathleen L. Quirk	David P. Joint	William L. Collier
	(602) 366-8016	(504) 582-4203	(504) 582-1750

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. Completes

Sale of International Wire & Cable Business for $735 Million

PHOENIX, AZ, October 31, 2007 – Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (NYSE: FCX) announced today that it has completed the sale of its international wire and cable business, operated in the name of Phelps Dodge International Corporation (PDIC), to General Cable Corporation (NYSE:BGC) for $735 million.  FCX expects to use the proceeds estimated to approximate $620 million, net of taxes and other transaction costs, to repay debt.

General Cable acquired 100 percent of the shares held by FCX and its subsidiaries in the entities comprising the wire and cable business.  PDIC operates factories and distribution centers in 19 countries throughout Latin America, Asia and Africa and is engaged in the manufacturing and distribution of engineered products, principally for the global energy sector.

FCX expects to record charges of up to approximately $20 million ($12 million to net income) for transaction and related costs associated with the disposition.

FCX is a leading international mining company with headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona.  FCX operates large, long-lived, geographically diverse assets with significant proven and probable reserves of copper, gold and molybdenum.  FCX has a dynamic portfolio of operating, expansion and growth projects in the copper industry and is the world’s largest producer of molybdenum.  The company's portfolio of assets includes the Grasberg mining complex, the world's largest copper and gold mine in terms of reserves, significant mining operations in the Americas, including the large scale Morenci/Safford minerals district in North America and the Cerro Verde and El Abra operations in South America, and the potential world-class Tenke Fungurume development project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Additional information about FCX is available on our web site at www.fcx.com.

General Cable is a global leader in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for the energy, industrial, and communications markets. Additional information about General Cable is available on their website at www.generalcable.com.

Cautionary Statement:  This press release contains forward-looking statements in which we discuss factors we believe may affect our performance in the future.  Forward-looking statements are all statements other than historical facts, such as statements regarding the net proceeds from the sale of FCX’s international wire and cable business.  Accuracy of the forward-looking statements depends on assumptions about events that change over time and is thus susceptible to periodic change based on actual experience and new developments.  FCX cautions readers that it assumes no obligation to update or publicly release any revisions to the forward-looking statements in this press release and, except to the extent required by applicable law, does not intend to update or otherwise revise the forward-looking statements more frequently than quarterly.  Important factors that might cause future results to differ from these forward looking statements include the amount of taxes and costs associated with the sale and other factors described in FCX's first quarter 2007 Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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