21.   The announcement drove up Bre-X stock prices in Canada and ignited a yearlong struggle by major mining companies for a share of the gold field.

22.   Tokyo stocks prices closed marginally higher.

23.   However, a slump in US stock prices late on Thursday and in early trade Friday proved too much to bear and London stocks tumbled.

24.   They said profit-taking and a weak Wall Street had pushed Frankfurt stock prices down.

25.   Philip Morris share prices dipped after the press conference as did stock prices of other tobacco makers.