101.   The United States has reached a new trade accord with Russia aimed at preventing Russian exports of cheap handguns favored by criminals, US Trade Representative Mickey Kantor announced.

102.   Traders are afraid that stoppages at Norilsk could hit Russian export levels.

103.   On the Rotterdam market, prices rose under the combined effect of strong demand and lower supply, after a fall in Russian sunflower exports.

104.   Platinum and palladium prices wavered this week, as dealers became concerned over the future of Russian exports of the metals to Japan.

105.   President Boris Yeltsin called on the European Union to open up its markets to Russian exports at a summit Monday with EU Commission President Jacques Santer.

106.   Prices on the London Metals Exchange closed lower on Monday, dipping in the wake of aluminium which moved lower on disappointing news about Russian exports, dealers said.

107.   Russian exports amount to just three million barrels a day, compared to six million barrels for Saudi Arabia.

108.   Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin on Wednesday called on the United States to lift barriers restricting Russian exports to the United States, Russian news agencies reported.

109.   Some also said it suggested that Russian exports might rise in the second half of the year.

110.   The continued freeze on Russian exports of these two precious metals to Japan has jangled nerves on the market.