31.   The operating costs were viewed as being in the lower part of the cost curve and be able to handle drops in the zinc price.

32.   In the space of just a few hours, zinc prices were driven to the highest level for almost five years.

33.   A number of zinc mines in the United States, Tunisia and Australia actually stopped production because of extremely low zinc prices.

34.   Zinc prices, which for months had varied little, had shot up suddenly during the previous week after a sharp drop in LME market stocks.

35.   Zinc prices were propelled to a more than four-and-half year high, as speculative investors rushed to buy the metal.

36.   Zinc prices fell under the weight of technical trades, dealers said.

37.   Meanwhile, zinc prices rose to a four-year high on the wings of a surprise fall in market reserves.

38.   Stewart said Pasminco would continue to investigate opportunities to expand mine capacity during the current financial year and seek to further reduce its break-even zinc price.

39.   Speculative buying lifted zinc prices to their highest level for four and a half years this week.