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JOHANNESBURG GOLD SHARES CLOSE MIXED TO FIRMER
Gold share prices closed mixed to slightly firmer in quiet and cautious trading, showing little reaction to a retreat in the bullion price back to below 420 dlrs and a firmer financial rand, dealers said. Heavyweight Vaal Reefs ended eight rand higher at 398 rand but Grootvlei eased 40 cents at 16.60 rand, while mining financials had Gold Fields up a rand at 63 rand despite weaker quarterly results. Other minings were firm but platinums eased. Industrials also closed mixed to firmer, the index once again hitting a new high of 1757 from Friday's 1753 finish. The overall index also hit a new high of 2188 versus 2179 on Friday. REUTER 
FEEDER CATTLE FUTURES SET NEW HIGHS, TURN MIXED
Feeder Cattle futures advanced 0.20 to 0.30 cent at the start and posted new season's highs in April through August and October before slipping to trade 0.10 cent lower to 0.20 higher in latest trade. Futures ran up to new highs at the start on general demand prompted by continued strong cattle fundamentals. Posting of another 10 cent gain in the latest reported average feeder steer price added to support, traders said. However, prices retreated on profit-taking following the lead of other meat pits. Stotler notably sold April on the decline, they said. Reuter 
CBT CORN SPREADS
1000 hrs cdt MONTHS LAST DIFFERENCE Jul/May 3-1/4 over 3-1/2 over Dec/Jul 12-3/4 over 13 over Jul/Sep 4-3/4 under 5 under Sep/May no quote 8-1/4 over Sep/Dec no quote 8-1/4 under Dec/Mar8 no quote no quote May/Dec 16 under 16-1/2 under Reuter 
TEXAS PANHANDLE/W OKLA FEEDLOT ROUNDUP - USDA
Cattle in the panhandle area monday were 0.50 to 1.50 dlr higher. Trading was very active. Feedlots reported very good interest and inquiry from buying sources. Confirmed sales of 22,700 steers and heifers 8,100 head. There were 37,900 head sold for the week to date. Steers - good and mostly choice 2-3, 70-85 pct choice, 1025-1150 lb 69.00-70.00, late mostly 69.50-70.00. Heifers - near 350 head mostly choice 2-3 1000 lb 68.25. Good and mostly choice 2-3 950-100 lb 66.50-68.00, late mostly 67.00-68.00. Reuter 
MIDWEST GRAIN FUTURES 11:00 EDT
MINNEAPOLIS WHEAT MAY7 284 3/4 UP 1 1/4 JUL7 280 1/4 OFF 1/2 SEP7 277 UP 1 DEC7 -- -- MAR8 -- -- 
VOLCKER PUSHES SPENDING CUTS OVER TRADE BILL
Federal Reserve Board Chairman Paul Volcker said reducing the federal budget deficit was a more important goal for Congress than drafting trade legislation. "Reduce the budget deficit," Volcker responded when asked by a member of the Senate Banking Committee about trade legislation priorities. "If you don't deal with the budget deficit, everything else you do is going to be counterproductive," he said. Reuter 
MIDWEST GRAIN FUTURES 11:01 EDT
MINNEAPOLIS WHEAT MAY7 284 3/4 UP 1 1/4 JUL7 280 1/4 OFF 1/2 SEP7 277 UP 1 DEC7 -- -- MAR8 -- -- 
CBT SOYBEAN SPREADS
1000 hrs cdt MONTHS LAST DIFFERENCE May/Jul 1 under 1 under Jul/Aug even even Sep/Nov 1-1/2 under 2-1/2 under May/Nov 2-1/2 over 2-1/4 over Jul/Nov 3-1/2 over 3-1/2 over Nov/Jan 6-3/4 under 6-3/4 under Aug/Sep no quote 5 over Mar/May8 no quote no quote Jan/Mar8 no quote no quote Reuter 
SIOUX FALLS CATTLE UP 0.50 DLR - USDA
slaughter cattle rose 0.50 dlr in active trade, the usda said. stees - choice 2-4 1100-1400 lbs 66.00-67.00. heifers - load choice 3 near 1225 lbs 66.50. choice 2-4 950-1125 lbs 64.00-66.00. Reuter 
CBT SOYBEAN OIL SPREADS
1000 hrs cdt MONTHS LAST DIFFERENCE May/Jul 0.34 under 0.35 under Jul/Aug 0.16 under 0.17 under Jul/Dec 0.78 under 0.77 under Aug/Sep 0.16 under 0.16 under May/Aug no quote 0.52 under May/Dec no quote 1.12 under Dec/Jan no quote no quote Reuter 
FLASH SIOUX FALLS HOGS UP 1.75 DLR - USDA
barrows and gilts rose 1.75 dlr in active trade, the usda said. us 1-3 220-250 lbs 51.75-52.00. Reuter 
CBT SOYBEAN MEAL SPREADS
1000 hrs cdt MONTHS LAST DIFFERENCE May/Jul 0.10 over 0.10 over Jul/Aug no quote even Jul/Dec no quote 1.40 under Oct/Dec no quote 1.40 under Dec/Jan no quote 0.60 under Oct/Jan no quote 2.00 under Reuter 
AMERICAN SPORTS ADVISORS <PIKS> TO LIQUIDATE
American sports Advisors Inc said it has agreed to sell its sports handicapping and publication business to Professor Enterprises for about 1,650,000 dlrs and intends to liquidate after closing. The transaction is subject to shareholder approval. Professor is owned by American Sports president Edward C. Horowitz and Mike Warren, it said. Reuter 
N.Y. COFFEE FUTURES SLIGHTLY HIGHER, THIN EARLY
N.Y. coffee futures were marginally firmer midmorning, trading in ranges of no more than 0.50 cent. May was up 0.16 cent at 102.20 cents at 1052 hrs EST, in a range of 102.00 to 102.50 cents. July was up 0.15 at 104.15 cents in a 35-point range. Traders said reports that the U.S. State Department does not forsee a meeting with Brazil prior to the next International Coffee Organization session in September did not affect the market as the news was expected. Operators are watching the cash market for indications of roaster interest or producer selling. Reuter 
THATCHER FIRM AS PRESSURE MOUNTS FOR ELECTIONS
As pressure mounted on British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to call a June election, she said today that the decision on when to go to the county was hers and hers alone. She was speaking to parliament after senior members of the ruling Conservative Party urged her to call elections due in June 1988 a year early in the wake of two more opinion polls giving her party a commanding lead. Asked by a Conservative back-bencher for an assurance that the decision was hers alone, and did not depend on "media hype, pressure and speculation," she replied: "The date of the next election will be decided by Downing Street, not Fleet Street." Downing Street is the Prime Minister's official residence, Fleet Street the traditional home of the British national press. A Harris poll for the breakfast-time program TV-AM gave the Tories 43 pct of the vote, representing a majority of 132 seats in parliament, their biggest lead since the party's landslide victory in the 1983 elections. In The Times of London, a MORI poll gave the Tories a 92 seat majority. It was the sixth poll to show the ruling party with a big lead over the opposition Labour Party and the fast-improving centrist Alliance. Leading the chorus urging Thatcher to go to the polls in June, Sir Marcus Fox, vice-chairman of the influential 1922 committee of Conservative back-benchers, said: "I have always felt that it would be June, and this reinforces my view. "I always thought June was right. We have got most of our legislation through and to go beyond that I do not think would be in the national interest." Another Tory back-bencher, Anthony Beaumont-Dark, said: "I have always been an October man, but I think it would be good to get it out of the way now." Their comments came as government officials dismissed speculation about a snap election to coincide with local polls in May, timed to reap maximum advantage from the recent popularity surge, Thatcher's successful trip to Moscow and Labour's current popularity slump. Calls for a May poll were also prompted by Tory concern over a steady advance by the Alliance, and the possibility that if it continues it could rob the Conservatives of an overall majority in parliament. Today's MORI poll showed an Alliance gain of eight points over the past month in around 100 key marginal seats where the outcome of the next election is likely to be decided. Reuter 
PORTUGUESE AIRLINE CONFIRMS AIRBUS A310 ORDER
Portugal's "flag carrier" airline TAP has confirmed an order for three Airbus Industrie <AINP.PA> A310-300 passenger aircraft, British Aerospace Plc <BAEL.L> (BAe), one of four shareholders in the international Airbus consortium, said. BAe said in a statement TAP had also taken options on another two Airbus aircraft, either the existing A310-300 medium range craft or the long-range four-engined A340 which Airbus hopes to launch in 1992, depending on the airline's needs. BAe said the firm order confirmed a commitment taken by TAP in January. Details of the value of the contract, delivery dates or which engine would power the aircraft were not available. Reuter 
FLASH ST PAUL HOGS UP 1.00/2.00 DLRS - USDA
barrow and gilt prices rose 1.00 to 2.00 dlrs in very active trade, the usda said. us 1-3 220-260 lbs 51.50-52.00. Reuter 
VOLCKER SAYS RESTRICTIVE MONETARY POLICY WOULD HURT INVESTMENT
WORLD SUGAR FUTURES TUMBLE IN EARLY TRADING
World sugar futures tumbled early when sell stops were triggered at 6.60 and 6.55 cents basis the spot contract, traders said. Spot May dropped 0.27 cent to 6.52 cents a lb. It opened at 6.72 cents. Trade houses worked both sides of the market, analysts said. The decline may have been a continued reaction to the market's inability yesterday to breach resistance around 6.93 cents basis May, which unsettled traders, analysts said. The market should draw support from buying tenders slated for tomorrow and Saturday, they said. Reuter 
GOLD AND SILVER CLOSE OFF HIGHS IN ZURICH
Gold and silver closed off the day's highs on profit-taking, but silver, which continued to set the pace, remained well up on yesterday's close, dealers said. Underlying speculative demand for silver remained strong but profit-taking eroded the gains, taking the metal off indicated highs at around 6.80 dlrs to close at 6.64/66 dlrs an ounce. Yesterday's close was 6.52/54 dlrs. Some investors were noted selling gold and switching into silver. This combined with profit-taking to push gold down to a close of 418.50/419.00 dlrs from its opening 421.80/422.20 and yesterday's 421.50/422.00. Dealers said it was unclear if the silver rally had peaked or if fresh gains could be achieved in New York. "A lot depends on the Dow Jones index," one dealer commented. "Further gains in stock prices would take away a lot of the support for silver and gold." Platinum ended 50 cents higher at 563/567 dlrs. REUTER 
SWEDEN'S ERICSSON WINS U.S. ORDER
Sweden's Telefon AB L.M. Ericsson <ERIC.ST> said it has won its third contract from U.S. West Co Inc <WST> for digital exchange equipment to be supplied in the state of Idaho over the next five years. No financial details were available. The company said the contract provided for the replacement of more than 50 older exchanges run by <Mountain Bell>, one of U.S. West's three operating companies, with Ericsson's AXE system. Reuter 
FLASH OMAHA HOGS UP 1.00 DLR - USDA
barrow and gilt prices rose 1.00 dlr in active trade, the usda said. us 1-3 220-260 lbs 51.00-51.50. Reuter 
CBT WHEAT FUTURES OPEN FIRMER, SET NEW HIGHS
CBT wheat futures opened firmer to again set new contract highs in new crop, then back off those highs to hold gains of 1-1/4 cents per bushel in May, with new crop July unchanged in light early dealings. Steady speculative buying after yesterday's strong close kept the chart picture very bullish and supported initial values, traders said. Rumors that exporters are planning to ship SRW wheat out of Toledo and/or Chicago, further tightening already low deliverable stocks, kept May firm relative to new crop months, they added. However, the rally failed to follow-through due to the lack of confirmed export sales of significant quantities of U.S. wheat so far this week, as some traders expected. Reuter 
DOLLAR CLOSES LITTLE CHANGED IN FRANKFURT
The dollar closed virtually unchanged from yesterday's finish, but near the day's high after another extremely quiet session. With the G-5 meeting in Washington ahead of this week's IMF interim committee, traders remained reluctant to open any large positions. Towards the end of the day the dollar firmed after failing earlier to hold beneath 1.82 marks. Some dealers said Senate testimony from Fed Chairman Paul Volcker also lent support. The dollar closed at 1.8265/75 marks after opening at 1.8200/15 and closing yesterday at 1.8260/70. Volcker said that a further sizeable dollar decline could be counter-productive, and that exchange rate adjustments have been enough to narrow the U.S. Trade deficit. Such remarks in the past might have moved the dollar sharply, today they only pushed it up 20 or 30 basis points when it was already firming for technical reasons. The dollar in any case held in a narrow range today, trading early in the morning just below 1.82 marks and rising to a high of 1.8270. Dealers said they were awaiting comments after the G-5 meeting from U.S. Treasury Secretary James Baker. Looking slightly further ahead, the market is awaiting U.S. February trade data, due on April 14. Another set of disappointing figures could push the dollar below its recent 1.80-85 mark range if there have been no supportive statements from G-5 officials in Washington in the meantime, dealers said. Sterling closed slightly easier at 2.950/954 marks, after opening at 2.951/955 and closing yesterday at 2.954/958. The pound has been buoyed by expectations the ruling Conservatives will win the next U.K. Election. But dealers said sterling now looks high against the mark and room for further gains must be limited. Many dealers believe sterling will enter the EMS joint float after a U.K. Election. In this case, its ceiling could well be at or near 2.95 marks, dealers said. The yen closed at 1.2550/70 marks per 100 after closing yesterday at 1.2490/2510, and the Swiss franc firmed to 120.55/70 marks per 100 from 120.10/50. The French franc ended unchanged at 30.04/07 marks per 100. REUTER 
LIVE HOG FUTURES HIGHER EARLY
Live Hog futures ran up for gains of 0.57 to 0.07 cent in eary trade paced by April and June. Fairly active demand reflected strength in cash hogs and the continued discount of futures to cash. The start of fieldwork limited farmer movement of hogs to market and prompted packers to bid up for hogs. Mostly steady to firm cash pork products added to support, traders said. However, prices slipped from the highs in latest trade as commercial profit-taking developed. Some selling was also attributed to expectations that cash ham prices will be falling soon on a seasonal basis, they said. Thomson and RBH bought while Packers Trading and Refco sold. Stotler spread long June/short April, they added. Reuter 
MIDWEST GRAIN FUTURES 11:10 EDT
MINNEAPOLIS WHEAT MAY7 285 UP 1 1/2 JUL7 280 3/4 UNCH SEP7 277 UP 1 DEC7 -- -- MAR8 -- -- 
HONEYWELL BULL INTRODUCES HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTERS FOR MEDIUM, LARGE FIRMS
PORK BELLY FUTURES START HIGHER, THEN EASE
Pork belly (bacon) futures ran up for gains of 0.55 to 0.30 cent at the start and then eased to trade 0.15 cent lower to 0.15 higher in early dealings. Active local carryover demand and mixed commission house buying lifted futures at the start. Higher cash hog markets on light runs and spillover from other meat pits prompted support, traders said. However, locals turned sellers along with Saul Stone and Paine Webber and prices turned mostly lower. Trimming of gains in other pits and expectations of possibly negative out of town storage report this afternoon weighed on the market. Guesses on the report ranged from in 1.0 to 2.25 mln lbs with most indications on the high side, they noted. Reuter 
MISSOURI DIRECT HOGS UP 1.00-1.50 DLR - USDA
Barrow and gilts in the east and west were 1.00 to 1.50 dlr higher than monday's midsession. Top 50.50 dlrs per cwt. EAST WEST U.S. 1-2 210-250 LB 49.50-50.50 49.50-50.50 U.S. 1-3 210-250 LB 49.50-50.50 49.50-50.50 U.S. 1-2 200-210 LB 48.50-49.50 48.50-49.50 SOWS - steady/up 2.00 dlrs. Top 46.00 dlrs. US 1-3 300-500 lb 42.00-43.00, over 500 lb 43.00-46.00 dlrs. Reuter 
VOLCKER SEES TIGHT POLICY HURTING INVESTMENT
Federal Reserve Board Chairman Paul Volcker said a restrictive monetary policy would be damaging to investment and that a better course would be to restrain spending. "A restrictive monetary policy would hit investment. You don't want to put interest rates up unless you have to," Volcker told the Senate Banking Committee. "That is not a constructive way to proceed," he said. Volcker said that given a choice between squeezing the budget deficit or squeezing investment, he would favor squeezing the budget deficit. In response to a question about banks, Volcker said he would be pleased if Congress decided to give banks a tax writeoff as an incentive for them to take greater reserves against loans to debtor countries. "If you give a tax writeoff for reserving against loans, then we will see more reserving and that would make me happy," Volcker told Committee Chairman Sen William Proxmire (D-Wisc). Reuter 
REUTERS <RtrSY> UNIT COMPLETES TRADING SYSTEM
Rich Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reuters Holdings PLC of London, said it completed installation of a 20 mln dlr trading system for Merrill Lynch and Co Inc <MER> in New York. The company said its Composite Information System was designed and installed for Merrill Lynch in the investment firm's World Financial Center offices in downtown Manhattan. The system, which offers access to financial news, in-house computers, commercial television and other services, includes 479 equity positions, 614 in the debt area and 152 municipal markets positions, the company said. Reuter 
LONDON LIFFE D.MARK CLOSE 1614 - APR 7
5507 Sep --- --- --- 4885 
LONDON LIFFE S.FRANC CLOSE 1616 - APR 7
6627 Sep --- --- --- 6041 
CBT SOYBEAN FUTURES OPEN SLIGHTLY FIRMER
CBT soybean futures opened steady, with new crop slightly firmer, then rallied further to hold gains of one cent to three cents per bushel higher in light early dealings. A firmer Gulf soybean basis this morning, strength in corn futures and delays in the Brazilian soybean harvest supported soybean futures, despite a disappointing drop in the weekly soybean export figure yesterday afternoon, traders said. A local professional house and a local house were the featured buyers of July, with sellers scattered and small-lot, pit brokers said. Reuter 
DOLLAR REMAINS IN NARROW RANGE IN QUIET ZURICH
The dollar remained confined in the same narrow range in quiet trading, benefitting only slightly from comments by Fed Chairman Paul Volcker that further sizeable dollar losses would be counter-productive, dealers said. It finished at 1.5140/50 Swiss francs after opening at 1.5128/38 and closing yesterday at 1.5185/95. "Volcker's remarks produced some buying interest but most people were still waiting to see what comes out of the finance ministers' meetings in Washington," one dealer said. Other currencies lost ground against the Swiss franc. Sterling eased after advancing sharply yesterday on expectations of an early U.K. General election. The pound ended at 2.4469/4501 francs compared with 2.4547/4578 yesterday. The mark slipped to 82.83/93 centimes from 83.11/21 and the French franc dipped to 24.90/94 from 24.98/25.02. REUTER 
ST LOUIS CATTLE STEADY/UP 0.50 DLR - USDA
slaughter steers were firm to 0.50 dlr higher in active trade and heifers fully steady amid limited supply, the usda said. steers - choice 2-4 975-1250 lbs 64.00-65.50, package 2-3 1230 lbs 66.00. heifers - few lots choice 2-4 900-1075 lbs 61.50-63.00. Reuter 
LIFFE, AFTER RECORD VOLUMES, SEES MORE GROWTH
The records in turnover set by the London International Financial Futures Exchange (LIFFE) in March could be surpassed in the coming months, Liffe Chief Executive Michael Jenkins said. Last month, Liffe saw record monthly futures volume at 1.15 mln lots, and record monthly options volume at 97,700. Total Liffe volume in first quarter 1987 rose to 2.8 mln contracts, or 89 pct up on the same 1986 period. Long gilt turnover in first quarter 1987 was 300 pct up on the year-ago period at 1.63 mln lots versus 409,500. But T-bond volume fell by 38 pct to 244,500 in first three months 1987. Jenkins told Reuters the higher volumes for gilts reflected in part the volatility in the U.K. Markets in recent months, while the falloff in T-bonds was an indication of the relative stability of U.S. Credit markets. Jenkins said he saw room for the whole financial futures sector to grow further in the coming months. In particular, FT- SE 100 futures had great scope for expansion, and turnover in them should be much higher by end 1987. FT-SE futures volume was 62,700 in first quarter 1987, an increase of 124 pct over the 28,000 contracts recorded in the same months of 1986. Institutions here had been slow to find out about the use of stock exchange futures, but they would now learn more, Jenkins predicted. Commenting on the difference in popularity between gilts and bonds, Jenkins said Liffe had designed the widest possible variety of contracts so that at any given time, at least one sector would be volatile enough to attract trading. The current situation of U.S. Markets being steady, and U.K. Ones changeable, might alter completely in coming months. A further boost to Liffe's volume and attractiveness should come with the introduction of yen bond futures, he added. REUTER 
NEW BEDFORD INSTITUTION FOR SAVINGS <NBBS> YEAR
Net 12.3 mln vs 6,438,000 NOTE: Company went public in March. Reuter 
HONEYWELL BULL UNVEILS FIVE NEW COMPUTERS
Honeywell Bull, a 1.9 billion dlr computer systems company formed March 27 by Honeywell Inc <HON>, Compagnie des Machines Bull of France and NEC Corp of Japan, said it introduced a line of high-performance computers for medium and large companies. The company also unveiled software for the new systems to facilitate patient care in hospitals and control inventory and production in factories. Honeywell Bull said its new line includes five models in the DPS 7000 family of 32-bit virtual memory systems that support as many as 600 terminals and perform between 9,000 and 52,000 transactions an hour. Prices for the systems will range from 127,000 dlrs to more than 1.0 mln dlrs. It said two integrated, modular software packages introduced are specifically for operation on DPS 7000 computers. Reuter 
OXFORD ENERGY CO <OEN> TO BUILD ENRGY PLANT
The Oxford Energy Co said it received final approval from the Connecticut Department of Public Utiliy Control of a power contract for the company's tire burning energy plant to be located in Sterling, Conn. The Oxford facility has an estimated total cost of approximately 70 mln dlrs, and is expected to start construction during the second half of 1987. Construction of the project is subject to the receipt of various state and local permits, the company said, and the arrangement of financing. Under the terms of the order, issued by the Connecticut Department of Publc Utility Control, Connecticut Light and Power Co will be required to purchase the output of the Sterling facility under a 25-year power purchase aagreemnt at prices fixed by the contract formulas, the company said. Reuter 
POLYDEX <POLXF> ANTI-WRINKLE INGREDIENT PATENTED
Polydex Pharmaceuticals Ltd said a U.S. patent for an anti-wrinkle cream ingredient has been assigned to the company by its chairman, Thomas C. Usher. The company said the pantent was granted to Usher for skin permeable elastin. Reuter 
DIGITAL TRANSMISSION <DTINU> OFFERS UNITS
Digital Transmission Inc is offering 400,000 units at 9.625 dlrs a unit, underwriter Muller and Co Inc said. Net proceeds will be used for sales and marketing, research and development, capital equipment and working capital. The underwriter has been granted an over-allotment option to buy up to 60,000 more units. Each unit consists of four shares of class A common stock and one class A common stock purchase warrant. The stock and the warrants are not detachable or separately tradeable until six months after the offering or an earlier date that may be determined by the underwriter. Reuter 
CBT SOYPRODUCT FUTURES HIGHER IN EARLY TRADE
CBT soyproduct futures traded higher early in sympathy with the unexpected strength in soybeans, with soyoil up 0.13 to 0.16 cent per lb and soymeal 0.40 to 1.00 dlr per ton higher, traders said. A mostly steady tone in overseas vegetable oils and feeds markets underpinned initial values here, they added. A local professional house seen buying July soybeans also bought July soyoil, with Produce Grain a buyer of September, pit brokers said. Continental Grain and E.F. Hutton bought July soymeal, with sellers scattered and small-lot, they said. Reuter 
PRESIDENTIAL AIR <PAIR> IN SALE/LEASEBACK
Presidential Airways Inc saiud it has sold 10 of its 11 Boeing 737's to Ryder System Inc <RDR>, which then leased seven of the planes Boeing Co <BA> made planes back to Presidential on a short-term basis. The company said it ended long-term leases on the planes. The short-term leases will run up to eight months and the aircraft will be returned to Ryder on completion of present charter commitments, coincinding with the expected deliveries of British Aerospace Bae146 jets. In Miami, Ryder said it will sell the three planes that Presidedntial will not lease back to other airlines. Reuter 
MIDWEST GRAIN FUTURES 11:20 EDT
MINNEAPOLIS WHEAT MAY7 285 1/4 UP 1 3/4 JUL7 281 UP 1/4 SEP7 277 UP 1 DEC7 -- -- MAR8 -- -- 
HIGHWOOD <HIWDF> COMMENTS ON SHARE PRICE RISE
Highwood Resources Ltd said it is not aware of any material change in the company's affairs to account for recent trading activity in the company's shares, but said it anticipates being a future producer of minerals used in electronic superconductors. Recent widespread publicity concerning superconductors suggest a greatly increased demand for yttrium and lanthanide minerals, Highwood said. The company said it is developing such deposits at Thor Lake, Northwest Territories in cooperation with Hecla Mining Co, of Idaho. Highwood Resources said the deposits contain beryllium, yttrium, lanthanides, niobium and tantalum. It did not immediately elaborate on estimated reserves on the property. Highwood shares traded earlier on the Toronto Stock Exchange at 6-7/8, up 1/8, after climbing 1-1/8 in yesterday's session. Reuter 
SPOT TIN SLIGHTLY LOWER ON EUROPEAN FREE MARKET
Spot tin on the European free market was indicated in the range 4,200 to 4,230 stg per tonne, for high grade metal in warehouse Rotterdam, down 10 stg from yesterday afternoon. Traders said the market remained quiet with sales reported between 4,230 and 4,210 stg and currency factors still tending to weigh on the price structure. There was still no sign of significant fresh end-user enquiry for second-quarter requirements, dealers said. REUTER 
FHLBB CHANGES SHORT-TERM DISCOUNT NOTE RATES
The Federal Home Loan Bank Board adjusted the rates on its short-term discount notes as follows: MATURITY NEW RATE OLD RATE MATURITY 30-176 days 5.00 pct 5.00 pct 30-176 days 177-195 days 5.85 pct 5.83 pct 177-195 days 196-271 days 5.00 pct 5.00 pct 196-271 days 272-295 days 5.93 pct 5.91 pct 272-295 days 296-341 days 5.00 pct 5.00 pct 296-341 days 342-346 days 5.90 pct 5.90 pct 342-346 days 347-360 days 5.00 pct 5.00 pct 347-360 days Reuter 
GENERAL ELECTRIC<GE>-POWERED HELICOPTER UNVEILED
General Electric Co said that EH Industries, a joint effort between <Westland Helicopter> of England and the <Augusta Group> of Italy, rolled out the first prototype EH 101 helicopter in Yeovil, England. GE said the helicopter is powered by three GE T700 engines. The company added that the multi-mission EH 101 has naval, utility and civil models. The latter two will be powered by 2,000 shaft horsepower CT7-6 engines being co-developed by GE, <Fiat Aviazione> and <Alfa Romeo Avio>, GE said. Reuter 
REUTER UNIT COMPLETES MERRILL LYNCH TRADING SYSTEM
Rich Inc, wholly owned by Reuters Holdings Plc <RtrSY>, said it completed installation of a 20 mln dlr trading system for Merrill Lynch and Co Inc <MER> in New York. The company said its Composite Information System was designed and installed for Merrill Lynch in the investment firm's World Financial Centre offices in downtown Manhattan. The system, which offers access to financial news, in-house computers, commercial television and other services, includes 479 equity positions, 614 in the debt area and 152 municipal markets positions, the company said. REUTER 
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK LOANS ROSE 42 PCT IN 1986
The African Development Bank (ADB) said it increased its lending by 42.1 pct last year to 1.64 billion dlrs from 1.15 billion dlrs in 1985. A bank statement said agriculture, set as the main growth area in a five-year economic recovery program adopted in 1985 by African states, received 607 mln dlrs, 37 pct of the total. The ADB is made up of the bank itself, its financing soft-loan arm, the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund, another soft-loan institution. ADB president Babacar N'Diaye released a 1987 economic report on Africa prepared by the ADB and the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), saying progress was being made toward substantial increases in the bank's capital resources. He said an ad-hoc committee of the ADB board of governors, comprising 18 African and non-African countries, recommended a 200 pct increase in the organisation's capital for 1987-91. He said such an increase would raise capital from around 6.55 billion dlrs to 19.66 billion dlrs, adding he was hopeful the proposal would be adopted at the annual meetings of the bank and fund, due to be held jointly in Cairo in June. He welcomed France's recent proposals to the Paris Club of Western government creditors to extend repayment periods for Third World debts and give better rescheduling terms. "The proposition represents a major step forward. But African countries should not be the ones to ask for large-scale debt write-offs," he said. Africa's total external debt was estimated at 175 billion dlrs at the end of 1986. The ECA-ADB report said prospects would remain bleak for African economies in 1987 but predicted Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth ranging between 2.5 and four pct, compared with 1.2 pct last year. REUTER 
OMAHA CATTLE UP 0.50 DLR - USDA
barrow and gilt prices rose 0.50 dlr in moderately active trade, the usda said. steers - choice 2-4 1100-1400 lbs 66.50-67.50, two loads 68.00-68.50. heifers - choice 2-4 975-1150 lbs 64.50-65.00, two loads 65.75-66.00. Reuter 
MELRIDGE <BULB> UNIT IN REAL ESTATE AGREEMENT
Melridge Inc said its 50 pct owned Conroy's Inc subsidiarey, which franchises flower shops, has entered into an agreement for an affiliate of Public Storage Inc to acquire and develop real estate for the expansion of Conroy's franchise operations. The company said under the agreement, Public Storage will obtain an undisclosed equity interest in Conroy's and Melridge and undisclosed equity interest in the Public Storage affiliate. Reuter 
PHOTRONICS CORP <PHOT> YEAR FEB 28 NET
Shr 64 cts vs 38 cts Net 1,062,000 vs 585,000 Sales 13.6 mln vs 9,262,000 Reuter 
MIDWAY AIRLINES <MDWY> MARCH LOAD FACTOR FALLS
Midway Airlines Inc said its March load factor declined to 59.2 pct from 61.3 pct in the same year-ago period. It said revenue passenger miles increased to 200.9 mln from 167.2 mln, and available seat miles rose to 339.5 mln from 272.9 mln. Year to date, Midway said its load factor declined to 56.1 pct from 57.8 pct. It said revenue passenger miles gained to 534.0 mln from 450.0 mln, and available seat miles went to 952.1 mln from 778.8 mln. Reuter 
OCEAN BIO-CHEM INC <OBCI> YEAR NET
Shr eight cts vs seven cts Net 215,821 vs 196,873 Sales 3,112,571 vs 2,649,003 Reuter 
LOWE'S <LOW> TO SELL DURAKON <DRKN> LINER
Durakon Industries Inc said its All Star Liner will be sold as the exclusive pickup truckbed liner in Lowe's Cos Inc's 300 retail home center outlets in the Southeastern U.S. Reuter 
FEDERAL RESOURCES <FDRC> NAMES NEW PRESIDENT
Federal Resources Corp said it has named John Kotts president and chief operating officer, replacing Paul Hannesson, who remains chairman and chief executive officer. Reuter 
WALKER TELECOMMUNICATIONS <WTEL> GETS CONTRACT
Walker Telecommunications corp said Teledial America has selected the fiber optic system operated by Walker's Mutual Signal Corp subsidiary to carry Teledial's traffic in Michigan and link interstate facilities throughout the country. Reuter 
AIDC ISSUES AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR ZERO COUPON EUROBOND
Australian Industry Development Corp is issuing a zero coupon eurobond with total redemption amount 30 mln Australian dlrs, lead manager Orion Royal Bank Ltd said. The issue matures on May 12, 1992 and is priced at 53-1/2 pct. It is available in denominations of 1,000 and 10,000 Australian dlrs and will be listed in Luxembourg. Payment date is May 12. Credit Suisse First Boston Ltd, Commerzbank AG, Hambros Bank Ltd and Merrill Lynch Capital Markets are co-lead managers. There will be no co-managers. Fees total 1-3/8 pct. REUTER 
TELE-COMMUNICATIONS <TCOMA> SELLS CABLE SYSTEMS
Knight-Ridder Inc <KRI> said its TKR Cable Co joint venture with Tele-communications Inc has signed a letter of intent to acquire cable television systems with 55,000 basic subscribers in Wildwood, N.J., and Ramapo and Warwick, N.Y., from Tele-Communications for undisclosed terms. Reuter 
SWEDISH FINANCE FIRMS SEEN HIT BY DEREGULATION
Up to 70 pct of the 240 finance companies operating in Sweden are likely to be squeezed out over the next few years by the deregulation of financial markets, the Association of Swedish Finance Companies said. Association chairman Arne Ogren told a news conference that a major restructuring of the sector was inevitable. Central Bank governor Bengt Dennis said when announcing the deregulation in November 1985 that one of his main aims was to give commercial banks a chance to compete on equal terms with finance companies and so undermine Sweden's "grey market." Total credit granted by the Swedish finance companies rose to 77 billion crowns in 1986 from 64.7 billion in 1985. This includes leasing and is the equivalent of 19 pct of all outstanding loans by the banking sector at end-1986. Ogren said that if proposals now being discussed by a government-appointed inquiry into the credit market to license finance companies and make them increase their share capital were pushed through, up to 70 pct would disappear. But he said this would in fact have little effect on credit volumes as the 42 biggest finance companies accounted for 70 pct of lending by the entire sector. The explosive growth of Swedish finance companies began in the early 1970s and commercial banks even started their own to get around the tight restrictions then imposed on banking activities and particularly on the growth of lending. Now that they were on an equal footing with their parent companies, many bank-owned finance companies faced an identity crisis, Ogren said. He predicted there would be mergers and individual firms would carve out specialised niches to ensure their survival in a deregulated climate. Ogren said the sector's losses on bad loans were bound to rise steeply in 1989-1990 due to the rush to increase credit. REUTER 
WALL STREET STOCKS HIGHER IN LATE MORNING
Wall Street stocks staged a strong rebound after being hurt by an early round of futures related sell programs and profit taking. The advance was led by automakers and a firm oil sector. Special situation stocks Texaco and UAL were actively traded. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, down more than 10 points in the first minutes of trading, stood at 2415, up 10 late this morning. Advances led declines by only a slight margin on volume of 77 mln shares. GM gained two to 83-1/2 and Ford one to 91-1/8. Chrysler rose 1/4 to 58-1/2. Texaco gained 3/8 to 34 and UAL fell 5/8 to 65-1/8. Reuter 
ENVIRONMENTAL POWER CORP <POWR> YEAR NET
Shr profit 25 cts vs loss 15 cts Net profit 998,000 vs loss 612,000 Revs 8,086,000 vs 365,000 Reuter 
SWEDISH INDUSTRY SEES HIGHER 1987 PRODUCTION
Swedish industry expects a rise in both production and exports during this year, with engineering and forest companies forecasting the largest increases, a survey by the National Institute for Economic Research showed. The government institute said in the survey -- of 2,000 manufacturing companies -- that industry this year planned to reduce both raw material and finished goods inventories. It said domestic demand was expected to be mainly unchanged but that exports should rise significantly. The number of firms operating at full capacity fell slightly, however, in the first quarter, said the report, which gave no figures. REUTER 
U.S. ENERGY FUTURES STEADY BUT QUIET
U.S. energy futures traded consistently above yesterday's closing prices in thin activity this morning with underlying support from April 15-day forward North Sea Brent crude, traders said. April Brent traded as high as 19.40 dlrs a barrel today, or more than 1.00 dlr above May Brent prices, because of a supply squeeze, according to traders. "U.S. energy futures are probably influenced by April Brent more than anything else today," said John O'Connell, assistant vice president at Refco, Inc. May crude was up 18 cts to 18.85 dlrs a barrel. "There is no reason to sell energy futures at these prices because the fundamentals have not changed," said O'Connell, adding that the OPEC pricing/production accord continues to hold. Mixed trade participants dominated crude futures while local traders were featured in products, traders said. They said U.S. energy futures ran into resistance at today's highs. May heating oil was up 0.46 cent at 49.25 cts a gallon after trading within a narrow 0.30-cent range. May unleaded gasoline was up 0.61 cent to 53.55 cts a gallon, at the high end of a 0.35-cent range. Reuter 
GERMAN LONG-TERM CAPITAL INFLOW SLUMPS IN FEBRUARY
The inflow of long-term capital into West Germany slumped to 606 mln marks in February from January's record 11.91 billion, with foreign purchases of German bonds and shares declining sharply, the Bundesbank said. While foreigners bought only four billion marks worth of German bonds in February after 13 billion in January, they sold a net 500 mln marks in shares and promissory notes of public authorities after sales worth 300 mln in January. With German investors' purchases of foreign securities steady around 1.3 billion marks, only 2.2 billion marks were imported through securities transactions, after 11.2 billion. Direct investment abroad led to a capital outflow of 1.60 billion marks in February after 2.83 billion in January. There was a deficit of 8.14 billion marks in the short-term capital account after a surplus of 194 mln in January. Banks alone exported some 8.6 billion marks in funds while domestic companies increased their short-term financial assets abroad by 700 mln. But public authorities received some one billion marks from abroad, the Bundesbank said in a statement. Combining long and short term capital outflows, West Germany recorded a net outflow of 7.53 billion marks in February against a net inflow of 11.91 billion in January. The Bundesbank confirmed the German trade surplus widened to 10.45 billion marks in February from January's 7.20 billion. Taking the two months together the seasonally adjusted surplus was slightly below the figure for the previous two. In terms of current as well as constant prices, the narrowing of the surplus was progressing, the bank said. Germany's current account surplus widened to 6.63 billion marks in February from 4.79 billion in January, but was down on the 7.26 billion figure for February 1986. Seasonally adjusted, the February current account surplus narrowed against January. While exports in February fell a half pct against the same month last year, imports fell 10-1/2 pct largely due to the drop in prices. Exports grew three pct in volume and imports two pct. In the balance of services, a fall in net investment income led to a 300 mln mark deficit in February after a 300 mln mark surplus in January. The deficit in transfer payments widened to 3.70 billion marks from 2.69 billion, largely due to a sharp jump to 2.3 billion marks from 200 mln in payments to the European Community budget. REUTER 
BRITISH TELECOM, NTT SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT
British Telecommunications Plc <BTY.L> said it had signed a collaboration agreement with Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp on the exchange of personnel and information over a three-year period beginning April 7. The company said in a statement the plan is designed to promote increased business activities of both firms. In a separate statement British Telecommunications said that it had signed a two-year, eight mln Canadian dlr, distribution agreement with <Gandalf Technologies Inc> of Canada to distribute its Mezza VoiceStation system in Canada and the U.S. Reuter 
SIOUX CITY CATTLE UP 0.50/1.00 DLR - USDA
slaughter cattle rose 0.50 to 1.00 dlr in active trade, the usda said. steers - choice 2-3 1100-1300 lbs 66.50-68.00. heifers - one load high dressing choice 3 near 1100 lbs 66.75. choice 2-4 975-1100 lbs 65.00-66.00. Reuter 
N.Y. COTTON FUTURES STEADY IN EARLY TRADING
Cotton futures were steady this morning on commission house buying. But trade selling was keeping gains to a minimum, brokers said. There was no news, but brokers said the market is technically weak and in search of a bottom. Recent news of poor export sales remained a damper, brokers said. Cotton for May delivery was up 0.25 cent at 56.05 cents a lb in a 56.30 to 55.80 cent range. December delivery was up 0.40 cent at 55.15 cents. Reuter 
SIOUX CITY HOGS STEADY/UP 1.25 DLR - USDA
barrow and gilt prices were mostly 1.00 dlr higher, instances up 1.25, few early sales steady to up 0.50 dlr, in active trade, the usda said. top 51.50 dlrs per cwt. us 1-3 220-260 lbs near 275 head 51.75. us 1-3 220-260 lbs 51.00-51.50, near 360 head early 50.50-51.00 and 200-220 lbs 50.00-51.00. sows - up 2.00 dlrs. us 1-3 500-650 lbs 47.50-48.00. Reuter 
MIDWEST GRAIN FUTURES 11:31 EDT
MINNEAPOLIS WHEAT MAY7 285 UP 1 1/2 JUL7 281 UP 1/4 SEP7 277 UP 1 DEC7 -- -- MAR8 -- -- 
EC SOURCES SAY UK WHEAT PLAN YET TO BE APPROVED
The European Commission has not taken a decision on applications from the British government for the release of 200,000 tonnes of intervention feed wheat onto the British market in May and June, Commission sources said. They said last week's cereals management committee agreed to release 70,000 tonnes of feed wheat through weekly tenders between April 14 and May 26. It also indicated it planned to allow the release of another 30,000 tonnes from April 23. However, it decided to leave consideration of the release of further wheat until later. The British government had applied for the release of a further 100,000 tonnes in both May and June from British intervention stores to prevent market prices rising. However, the sources said, the Commission wanted to review the market situation nearer the time before giving its approval. The Commission was given new powers last year to control the release of intervention cereals onto the market, the sources noted. Following last week's committee meeting, the U.K. Ministry of Agriculture said the Commission had given an assurance that additional quantities of intervention wheat would be made available in May and June. It also said that it was envisaged that monthly releases would be at least 100,000 tonnes, depending on the state of the market. This lead to the widespread assumption that the Commission had actually approved the release of 300,000 tonnes during the three months of April, May and June at last week's meeting. Reuter 
BROKERAGE FIRM UPS STAKE IN ALLEGHENY <AG>
The New York brokerage firm of Spear, Leeds and Kellogg told the Securities and Exchange Commission it had increased its preferred stock in Allegheny International Inc to 8.6 pct, from 7 pct. It said it may buy additional shares, but had not decided whether to offer its shares in response to a tender offer by Sunter Acquisition Corp, a unit of First Boston Inc. The brokerage firm said it bought the Allegheny shares March 30-April 2 for 86.50-87.25 dlrs each. reuter 
U.K. GRAIN FUTURES CLOSE STEADY TO FIRMER
Barley futures closed 0.15 to 0.05 stg per tonne higher and wheat 0.60 to 0.20 firmer. Barley turnover was light at 47 lots, including 24 cross transactions, while the wheat volume totalled 197 lots, of which 81 were self trades. Traders said wheat futures continued to trade cautiously but old crop values moved higher on short covering interest with gains in physicals influencing sentiment. Barley showed smaller gains in lighter trading. REUTER 
KANSAS CITY SHIPMENTS AND RECEIPTS
in bushels Truck Receipts Wheat 73,684 Corn 17,979 Grain Sorghum 4,391 Soybns 72,180 Truck Shipments Corn 8,000 Barge Shipments - None Reuter 
STONE <STO> FILES FOR SECONDARY OFFERING
Stone Container Corp said it filed a registration statement for a secondary offering of 1,933,453 shares of its common stock. It said the shares and warrants originally were issued to Champion International Corp, a holder of 1,633,453 shares of Stone common stock and warrants to buy an additional 300,000 common shares, in connection with the February, 1986 acquisition by the company of a major portion of Champion's Brown Papers System. Stone said it will receive 9.75 mln dlrs from underwriters as a result of their exercise of the warrants. Reuter 
LME METAL PM 2ND RING VOLUMES/PAIDS - APR 7
Cash easier 3months barely steady 3000 (Total 6250) about half carries tonnes cash 909.50 3months 880.00 79.00 78.50 78.00 77.50 78.00 78.50 79.00 COPPER STANDARD - Quiet 75 tonnes cash 861.00 3months nil LEAD - Steady 2900 (3250) tonnes mainly carries cash 308.00 3months 301.50 ZINC HIGH GRADE - Steady but quiet 750 (2500) tonnes mainly carries cash nil 3months nil SILVER LARGE and SILVER SMALL - Nil ALUMINIUM - Barely steady 4650 (7850) tonnes mainly carries cash nil 3months 805.50 04.00 03.50 NICKEL - quiet nil (216) tonnes mainly carries cash nil 3months nil REUTER 
SPOT LARD, TALLOW, GREASE STEADY
Spot lard, tallow and grease were unchanged in early trading, cash dealers said. Spot Chicago centrifugal process lard in rail cars traded at 14.50 cents a lb, unchanged. Edible tallow traded at 14.00 cents, and inedible bleachable fancy tallow was quoted at 12.50 cents, both unchanged. Choice white grease (all hog) traded at 10.50 cents, unchanged. Reuter 
BOEING PROPOSES WESTLAND DEAL
Boeing Co <BA.N> said its Boeing Vertol helicopter unit proposed that U.K. Helicopter maker <Westland Plc> should build up to a third of all future Chinooks for Britain's airforce. A Boeing statement made here said the work would involve up to 12,500 man-hours per machine, and solve some of Westland's short-term workload problems. It comes amid speculation that Britain may pull out of the European EH-101 project, with the possibility of up to 2,000 Westland job losses. Westland was rescued last year by United Technologies Corp <UTX.N> and Fiat Spa <FIAT.MI>. Reuter 
ENVIRONMENTAL POWER <POWR> GETS CONTRACTS
Environmental Power Corp said it has signed a 50 year contract to sell power from its 12-megawatt Allegheny River Lock and Dam Number Seven Project near Kittanning, Pa., to Allegheny Power System Inc <AYP>. The company said the project is expected to produce an average electrical output of 55 mln kilowatt hours when completed and is contingent on Environmental obtaining a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license. The company said it has also signed a 15-year contract to sell all power to be generated by 2.6 megawatt hydroelectric project at Falls Lake Dame near Raleigh, N.C., to Carolina Power and Light Co <CPL>. The average expected annual electrical output is 11 mln kilowatt hours. Reuter 
LONE STAR <LCE> SEES FLAT U.S. CEMENT DEMAND
Lone Star Industries Inc expects demand for cement om the U.S. to remain in the 85-90 mln ton range through 1992, its annual report said. The company said U.S. cement consumption totaled 90.6 mln tons last year, up four pct from 1985. Lone Star also said it expects consolidation and internationalization of the U.S. cement industry to continue, adding foreign companies now own over 50 pct of U.S. capacity. Since 1974, it added, more than 30 cement plants have closed. "In our opinion, the industry's annual cement capacity today is, in reality, less than 80 mln tons" a year, it added. Lone Star said the gap between supply and demand is being filled by imported cement, which accounted for 18 pct of domestic consumption last year, up from four pct ten years ago. Reuter 
U.S. ALUMINUM STOCKS HIGHER IN DECEMBER - ABMS
Total U.S. aluminum stocks held by integrated and non-integrated producers and smelters including scrap, ingot, metal in process and finished products rose to 2,470,000 short tons in December from 2,451,000 short tons in November, American Bureau Metal Statistics said. Primary production rose to 278,000 tons in December from 263,000 tons in November. Imports for consumption declined to 114,000 tons in December from 150,000 tons in November. Net shipments eased to 605,000 tons in December from 608,000 tons in November. Ingot shipments were 87,000 tons versus 99,000 tons, mill products shipments were 435,000 tons versus 420,000 tons and casting shipments were 83,000 versus 89,000. Reuter 
MALTA TENDERS FOR WHITE SUGAR TODAY - TRADE
Malta is tendering to buy 3,000 tonnes white sugar today for arrival in two equal parts in May and June, traders said. Reuter 
CALTON <CN> OFFERING DECLARED EFFECTIVE
Calton Inc said a registration statement was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission for the public offering of 2,500,000 shares of its common at 12-7/8 dlrs a share. Calton said the public offering began today. The offering is being underwritten by Merrill Lynch Capital Markets. Calton said it will use the net proceeds, about 12.2 mln dlrs, for general corporate purposes. Reuter 
CHILI'S <CHLI> FILES FOR CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES
Chili's Inc said it filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement covering a 35 mln dlr issue of convertible subordinated debentures. Net proceeds will be used primarily to retire outstanding bank debt, Chili's said. The remainder will fund capital expenditures for additional restaurants and for general corporate purposes. The company currently operates 95 restaurants in 16 different states. Chili's named Goldman, Sachs and Co and Alex Brown and Sons Inc as underwriters. Reuter 
GOTTHARD BANK SELLS WARRANTS INTO DAINIPPON INK
Gotthard Bank said it is selling 65,000 covered warrants at 255 Swiss francs each exercisable into shares of Dainippon Ink and Chemicals Inc. Each warrant entitles the holder to buy 100 shares in the company in the period from May 15, 1987 until August 13, 1993 at an exercise price of 505 yen per share. The shares closed today at 700 yen. REUTER 
FED SETS TWO-DAY SYSTEM REPURCHASES, FED SAYS
ALIAS RESEARCH IN CAPITAL JOINT VENTURE
<Alias Research Inc> said it entered into a four mln dlr joint venture capital investment with several firms led by <TA Associates> of Boston. Joining TA Associates are <Greylock Management Corp>, and <Crownx> of Toronto, Alias said. Alias, which develops 3D computer graphics software, said the investment capital will be used to support ongoing research and development and to extend worldwide marketing initiatives. Reuter 
EMERY AIR <EAF> MARCH SHIPMENTS RISE
emery Air Freight Corp said March shipments were up 19 pct to 1,349,000 from 1,134,000 a year earlier and weight was up 27 pct to 61.4 mln pounds from 48.4 mln. Reuter 
CORROON AND BLACK <CBL> COMPLETE ACQUISITION
Corroon and Black Corp said it completed the acuqisition of <Contractors Planning Group Inc> in an exchange of shares. Contractors is headquartered in Garden City, N.Y., and has branch offices in Philadelphia, Boston, and Cheshire, Conn. Reuter 
COLONIAL <CLBGA> TO ACQUIRE PENSACOLA BANK
Colonial BancGroup said it and The Liberty Bank of Pensacola, Fla., signed a letter of intent for Colonial to acquire Liberty. Terms of the acquisition were not dislcosed. Colonial said the acquisition was its first move toward acquiring and out-of-state bank under Alabama's regional interstate banking law. Liberty has total assets of 35 mln dlrs. Reuter 
KANSAS CITY WHEAT MARGINALLY FIRMER AT MIDDAY
Hard wheat futures traded 1/4 cent higher to steady in light midsession trading as firm Chicago wheat futures and hopes for new export sales this week lent support, traders said. May stood 1/4 cent higher at 2.74 dlrs. Trading was light with little fresh direction in the market. Traders awaited results on Jordan's Export Bonus tender for hard wheat and Egypt's tender this week for flour. Staley bought July and the July/December spread traded at 7-1/2 cents, pit brokers said. Reuter 
MIDWEST GRAIN FUTURES 11:40 EDT
MINNEAPOLIS WHEAT MAY7 284 1/2 UP 1 JUL7 281 UP 1/4 SEP7 277 UP 1 DEC7 -- -- MAR8 -- -- 
ST JOSEPH HOGS UP 1.00/1.50 DLR - USDA
barrow and gilt prices rose 1.00 to 1.50 dlr, the usda said. us 1-3 215-260 lbs 51.00-51.50. sows - up 1.00 dlr. us 1-3 500-650 lbs 46.50-47.00. Reuter 
Ia-So Minn direct hogs estimated rcpts 80,000 vs actual week ago 85,000 and actual year ago 72,000.
OHIO DIRECT HOGS UP 1.00 DLR - USDA
Barrow and gilt prices gained 1.00 dlr on moderate to good demand. Top 51.25 dlrs per cwt. COUNTRY AT PLANT U.S. 1-2 210-240 49.25-50.00 50.00-51.25 U.S. 1-3 240-260 48.25-49.00 49.00-50.25 actual receipts yesterday 10,800 estimated receipts today 6,500 actual week ago 8,800 actual year ago 9,100 week to date estimates 17,300 actuals week ago 18,400 actuals year ago 19,100 Reuter 
ONTARIO TREASURY BILL YIELD RISES
This week's Ontario government auction of 50 mln dlrs worth of 91-day treasury bills yielded an average of 6.91 pct, up from 6.87 pct last week, a treasury department spokesman said. Average price was 98.307. Reuter 
UNIVERSITY <UPT> REPORTS MARCH LENS SALE
University Patents Inc said its optical products subsidiary sold 5,652 Alges soft bifocal contact lenses in March, after allowances for exchanges and returns. The lenses were approved for marketing in April 1986 by the Food and Drug Administration. Reuter 
SUPER RITE FOODS INC <SRFI> SETS QTRLY PAYOUT
Qtrly div five cts vs five cts prior Pay April 27 Record April 20