71.   Russian production, in particular, was likely to improve, he said, a move that could force other bulk chemical makers to drop their prices.

72.   Shares of exporters such as chemical maker Hoechst AG in Germany and Grand Metropolitan Plc, owner of Burger King restaurants, rose most.

73.   SGL Carbon was spun off from German chemical maker Hoechst AG.

74.   So did chemical makers and retailers, which benefit more than most stocks from accelerated growth.

75.   That helped pull up shares of chemical makers such as Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. and Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha.

76.   That helped pull up shares of other chemical makers, such as Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. and Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha.

77.   Swiss drug and chemical maker Roche Holding AG said it will buy the medicinal feed additives business of U.S. drugmaker American Home Products Corp. for an undisclosed sum.

78.   The commission denied that the latest inquiry is linked to its thwarted previous efforts to fine the chemical makers.

79.   The company is a unit of Hickson International plc, a chemical maker based in West Yorks, England.

80.   The chemical maker will report nine-month earnings tomorrow.