Russia's Annual June Industrial Production Accelerates to 10.9 Percent

(Bloomberg) -- Russian industrial production grew an
annual 10.9 percent in June, the fastest pace in two-and-a-half
years, led by steam turbines, tractor-trailers and television
sets.

Growth accelerated from 6.7 percent in the previous month,
the Moscow-based Federal Statistics Service said in an e-mailed
statement today. The median forecast of 16 economists was for 6.6
percent. Output grew 12.5 percent in November of 2004.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

BP Carson Refinery in California to Lower Rates for 10 Days, Person Says

(Bloomberg) -- BP Plc's Carson, California, refinery
will run at lower rates for about 10 days to allow Europe's
second-largest oil company to repair a compressor, a person
familiar with the plant's status said.

Output from the refinery will be cut by an estimated 10
percent to 15 percent from previous levels, said the person, who
couldn't provide the amounts in barrels.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

Copper Rises in Shanghai as Contract Workers Strike at Codelco; Zinc Gains

(Bloomberg) -- Copper prices in Shanghai rose for
the first day in five on concern that supply may lag behind
demand as a strike by contract workers at Chile's Codelco, the
world's largest producer, reduced output.

Protesters throwing rocks delayed employees as they went to
work at the company's Andina and El Teniente divisions,
Executive President Jose Pablo Arellano said yesterday. Output
at Codelco's Ventanas smelter was also cut, although the amount
of lost production could not be estimated.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Peru: Latin America Government Bond Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following events and economic
reports may influence trading in Latin American local bonds
today. Bond yields are from the previous session.

Argentina: Industrial production likely expanded 7 percent
in May from the year-ago period, according to the median
estimate of eight economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Output rose
6.8 percent in April. Argentina's national statistics institute
will release the industrial production report at 3 p.m. New York
time.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Eaton Vance's Tooke Turns Around Small-Cap Fund With `Unloved' U.S. Stocks

(Bloomberg) -- Nancy Tooke, the third manager of
Eaton Vance Corp.'s Tax Managed Small Cap Growth Fund since 2003,
is turning the fund around after a six-year slump.

The fund ranks first this year in its class of 235
competitors after rising 17 percent, data compiled by Bloomberg
show. The 60-year-old Tooke revived performance by investing in
what she calls ``unloved, undervalued'' companies such as
seismic-data designer Input/Output Inc. and ball-bearings maker
RBC Bearings Inc. Shares of Input/Output surged 67 percent in the
past year and RBC Bearings advanced 54 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Exclusive News

S.Africa '06 gold output falls to lowest since 1922

Gold output in South Africa, the world's largest producer of the precious metal, slid 7.5 percent last year to 8.845 million ounces (275,119 kg), the lowest since 1922, the Chamber of Mines said on Wednesday.

Fourth quarter output fell 3.1 percent to 2.19 million ounces (68,118 kg) compared to the previous quarter, the chamber added in a statement.

During both the quarter and the year, a slight increase in the amount of ore mined was not enough to offset a fall in grades.

Read more at Reuters South Africa