1.   Japanese institutional investors are putting banks and steel companies into their portfolios, said Masao Ariga, general manager of the equity department at Daiwa Securities Co.

2.   State steel company Siderurgica del Orinoco, or Sidor, is expected to be sold in September, and the four state aluminum companies in December, Ynati said.

3.   Steel companies Acindar Industria Argentina de Aceros SA, Siderar Saic and Siderca also slid on lingering concern for the construction industry.

4.   Steel companies Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais, or Usiminas, and its unit Cia Siderurgica Paulista, or Cosipa, led the decline.