1.   Preliminary data show the Philippine economy contracted in the second quarter of this year because of steep drops in agriculture and manufacturing, a top economics official said Thursday.

2.   A German economics ministry official has been named to a top management job in the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the ministry said Thursday.

3.   A top executive of Ford Motor Co. was in Taiwan recently for talks on establishing a regional auto parts warehousing and distribution center, an economics official said Monday.

4.   Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Robert Cassidy met with Taiwanese economics officials Wednesday during a rare visit here by a U.S. official.

5.   Economics officials will also dispatch large-scale delegations to Denmark, England, Holland, Norway and Sweden this year, the report said.

6.   Economics ministry officials were not immediately available to confirm the report.

7.   Federal economics officials also speak of a slowing, not a downturn.

8.   He will meet top business leaders and economics officials before departing Thursday, television reports said.

9.   Iranian Minister Minister of Mines and Metals Hossein Mahloudji was meeting German Economics Minister Guenther Rexrodt in Bonn on Friday, economics ministry officials said.

10.   The agreement between Slovak government and the EBRD will be signed Friday in London, economics ministry officials said.