(Comtex Business Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)TOP STORIES:

Poland's KGHM To Decide On Congo Copper Project In 2006
LONDON, Apr 21, 2006 (Dow Jones Commodities News via Comtex) --Polish copper producer KGHM Polska Miedz S.A. (KGH.WA) is to make a final decision on whether or not to proceed with a copper and cobalt facility in the Democratic Republic of Congo during 2006, the company said Friday.

Intl Copper Assoc Takes Price Concern To LME,UK Regulator
LONDON (Dow Jones)--The International Wrought Copper Council, or IWCC, said Friday it has lodged concerns about inflated copper prices with the London Metal Exchange and the Financial Services Authority.

Inco Sees DOJ Ruling On Falconbridge By End of Month
TORONTO (Dow Jones)--Inco Ltd. (N), seeking approvals for its planned acquisition of rival Falconbridge Ltd. (FAL), said it expects a ruling from the Department of Justice by the end of this month.

Australia's Minara: March Qtr Nickel Output 7,302 Tons SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Australia's Minara Resources Ltd. (MRE.AU) Friday reported nickel output of 7,302 metric tons for the first quarter ended March 31, down from 8,620 tons in the same quarter last year due to ongoing plant problems and weather interruptions.

Southern Copper CEO: Prices, Output To Compensate Strike
LIMA (Dow Jones)--Slightly higher copper production in Peru and higher metals prices are helping compensate for a strike at Southern Copper Corp.'s (PCU) La Caridad mine in Mexico, Chief Executive Oscar Gonzalez Rocha said Thursday.

Inco CEO: Company 'Could Be In For A Big Year'
TORONTO (Dow Jones)--Inco Ltd. (N) "could be in for a big year," said Chairman and Chief Executive Scott Hand, as surging nickel prices drive the company's cash flow.

LME Zinc Trades At Record Contract High Of $3,200/Ton
LONDON (Dow Jones)--London Metal Exchange zinc for three-month delivery hit a record high of $3,200 a metric ton Thursday, boosted by sharply higher nickel prices and bullish technical momentum, traders and analysts said.

LME Nickel Trades At Record Contract High Of $18,950/Ton
LONDON (Dow Jones)--LME three-month nickel is trading at a record contract high of $18,950 a metric ton Thursday after breaking through the previous record $18,750/ton set in January 1989.

Union Workers Back On Job At St Ann Bauxite In Jamaica
NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Union workers at the St. Ann Bauxite mine in Jamaica returned to their jobs following a one-day strike staged to express concerns about productivity incentive payments, part-owners Falconbridge Ltd. (FAL) said Thursday afternoon.

STORIES OF INTEREST:

Russdragmet Sees Zinc Concentrate Exports To China End-07
MOSCOW (Dow Jones)-Russia's Russdragmet, which is developing the Novo-Shirinskoe zinc and lead ore deposit in the Chita region of Russia, plans to begin supplies of zinc and lead concentrate to Chinese clients at the end of 2007, the company said Friday.

KGHM Considers New Global Copper Ore Deposits
LONDON (Dow Jones)--Copper ore deposits in South America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific are being eyed by Polish copper producer KGHM Polska Miedz SA (KGH.WA), the company's annual report says Friday.

LME Base Metals Recover In Early Asian Trade
SINGAPORE (Dow Jones)--Base metals showed signs of a recovery in early Asian trade Friday, as many investors still believed in bargain buying on dips.

Philippines Philex Mining Values Mar Output At PHP631.9M
MANILA (Dow Jones)--Philippine mining concern Philex Mining Corp. (PX.PH) said Friday it estimated the gross value of its March output of gold, copper and silver at PHP631.9 million ($12.3 million).

US Aluminum: Midwest Premium Steady In A 5.75-6.5c Range
NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--The U.S. Midwest prompt aluminum premium over London Metal Exchange cash prices was steady over the last week at around 5.75 to 6.5 cents per pound, traders said Thursday.

IAI: Mar World Aluminum Output 2.024M Tons, +201,000 Tons
LONDON (Dow Jones)--Total world aluminum output in March rose by 201,000 metric tons to 2.024 million tons, from 1.823 million tons in February, according to figures released Thursday by the International Aluminum Institute.

Copper, Aluminum Recover In Asia; Market Cautious
SINGAPORE (Dow Jones)--London Metal Exchange copper and aluminum recovered slightly in Asia Thursday as investors viewed dips as good buying opportunities following overnight losses.

Xstrata Cleared To Maintain Output At Australia Zinc Mine
SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Anglo Swiss miner Xstrata plc (XTA.LN) said Thursday it has received approval from Australia's Northern Territory government for an open cut test pit at its McArthur River underground zinc mine.

China Jiangxi Copper 2005 Net Profit Up 69% To CNY1.87B
HONG KONG (Dow Jones)--Chinese integrated copper producer Jiangxi Copper Co. (0358.HK) said Thursday its 2005 net profit rose 69% from the previous year, driven by strong growth in domestic copper demand.

MARKETS:

LME MIDDAY: Metals Rally On Rebound Buying
1219 GMT [Dow Jones] LME three-month copper stages strong rebound Friday, jumping to fresh highs of $6,630/ton as bargain-hunters snap up material off Thursday's lows, market participants say.

China Copper Futures Settle Sharply Lower; Aluminum Lower
BEIJING (Dow Jones)--Copper futures traded on the Shanghai Futures Exchange settled sharply lower Friday, tracking an overnight correction on the London Metal Exchange, analysts said.

Comex Copper Review: Reverses From Sharp Drop At Close
NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--The sharp sell-off in the precious metals complex spilled over into copper futures on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange on Thursday, but buyers waiting at the lows took them into positive territory by the close.

LME Review: Fund Profit-Taking Sees Deep Correction
LONDON (Dow Jones)--Fund profit-taking pushed London Metal Exchange prices to a deep correction Thursday after sharply lower precious metals prices, a higher dollar and weaker oil prices combined to trigger long liquidation, traders and analysts said.

-By Sumera Dean, Dow Jones Newswires; 4420-7842-9259; sumera.dean@dowjones.com; londonstats@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

04-21-06 0856ET

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