1.   Both companies have been caught up in speculation that there will be a bidding war for nickel producer Diamond Fields Resources Ltd.

2.   Falconbridge is the fourth-largest nickel producer in the world.

3.   His survey covers some of the largest Russian companies, such as nickel producer RAO Norilsk Nickel, Moscow power company AO Mosenergo and telecommunications company AO Rostelcom.

4.   Inco Ltd. said its Ontario unionized mine and refinery workers rejected a tentative contract with the nickel producer and a strike is due to start at midnight.

5.   Investor Robert Stovall bought convertible preferred shares of Canadian nickel producer Inco Ltd. in the fourth quarter when it was rumored to be a takeover target.

6.   Norilsk is the second-biggest nickel producer in the world, and the biggest producer of platinum-group metals.

7.   Rival nickel producer Inco Ltd. is expected to make a competing bid soon.

8.   Shares in QNI Ltd., a nickel producer, were suspended pending the release of an announcement by its directors after a board meeting tomorrow.

9.   Stephen Gauthier, a fund manager at Pictet Canada Ltd., said he recently increased his holdings in nickel producer Inco Ltd. and petrochemical producer Nova Corp.

10.   The nickel producer reported a lower-than-expected third-quarter profit, compared with a year earlier loss.