BASE METALS HIGHLIGHTS: Top Stories Of The Day

MOSCOW (Dow Jones)--Aluminum giant UC Rusal, which is seeking to go public in Paris and Hong Kong, had a net loss of $720 million in the first half of 2009, Vedomosti reported, citing a presentation relating to the initial public offering. LONDON (Dow Jones)--Swedish miner and smelter Boliden AB (BOL.SK) Monday said it swung to a profit in the third quarter on strong base metals demand from China and improving demand in Europe. SANTIAGO (Dow Jones)--A labor strike at Chilean copper mine Spence entered its 14th day Monday after talks between the striking union and management broke down late last week, a union leader said. BEIJING (Dow Jones)--Zijin Mining Group Co. (601899.SH) plans to spend up to CNY1 billion, or $146 million, for potential copper and gold mine acquisitions next year, a Zijin executive said Monday. LONDON (Dow Jones)--EMED Mining Public Ltd, an European-based minerals exploration and development company, said Monday it is working with the Spanish authorities to facilitate the start-up of production at the Rio Tinto copper mine by the end of 2010, while in Slovakia the company has commenced preparing permit applications for development of the Biely Vrch Gold Deposit in 2012. LONDON (Dow Jones)--Zinc rose to a 15-month high Monday and copper to a fresh one-year high as short-covering and dollar weakness swept the metals higher on the London Metal Exchange Monday.