1.   Among the South African companies expressing an interest in investing in Brazil during the visit was mining company Gencor Ltd., Lampreia said.

2.   Babcock came near-bottom on both counts as did the metals and mining company Metallgesellschaft AG and the tiremaker Continental AG.

3.   Breaking it down by industry, mining companies showed the most improvement.

4.   Chilean stocks declined Wednesday on concern that mining company Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA faced increased competition across almost its entire range of products.

5.   First, because the original law imposed no environmental requirements, for many years mining companies could and did sink mines and then abandon them.

6.   Government officials contend that major mining companies, which are more conscious of their international reputations, are easier to monitor than independent miners.

7.   Harnischfeger Industries Inc. lost a Supreme Court bid to restrict the authority of federal mine safety inspectors over independent contractors who provide services to mining companies.

8.   Meanwhile, a free market could mean opportunities for foreign investors, especially mining companies.

9.   Mining companies, banks and Cintra SA, the airline holding company also fell.

10.   Mining companies Grupo Mexico SA, Industrias Penoles SA and builder Grupo Tribasa SA as well as airline holding company Cintra SA were among advancing stocks.