International Business News - Basic Materials http://www.ibtimes.com/subsection/industries/basicmaterials.htm All articles are copyrighted by IBTimes.com 400 100 http://www.ibtimes.com/ http://www.ibtimes.com/images/top_logo_ibt2_3.gif Layne Christensen Co., which offers drilling and construction services, on Friday said it bought Wittman Hydro Planning Associates, a water resource and consulting company, for $2.5 million. 117908 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/layne-christensen-acquires-wittman-hydro-planning.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 17:16:11 EDT Shares of U.S-traded industrial metals companies based in Latin America shot higher on Friday after an analyst reiterated top ratings on Brazilian steel makers, predicting steel prices would rise through 2009. 117891 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/adrs-in-focus-latin-american-metals-stocks-jump.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 16:27:54 EDT The United Steelworkers is fighting steelmaker and distributor Esmark Inc.'s plans to accept a $670 million buyout offer from India's Essar Steel Holdings. 117859 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/union-says-it-will-fight-esmark-essar-deal.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 16:27:17 EDT The chairman, president and chief executive of fertilizer maker CF Industries Holdings Inc. exercised options for 30,000 shares of common stock, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Thursday. 117804 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/cf-industries-ceo-exercises-options.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 13:48:24 EDT Celanese Corp. said Friday that its Celanese Acetate business will increase the price of acetate tow in the Asia region for standard grades by 7 percent to 10 percent, depending on the item. 117647 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/celanese-raises-acetate-prices.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 10:45:45 EDT Specialty chemicals company Cabot Corp. said Friday that a subsidiary has signed a joint venture agreement with China National Bluestar Group to build a fumed silica manufacturing facility in China. 117638 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/cabot-china-national-bluestar-form-joint-venture.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 10:30:11 EDT Steel manufacturer Nucor Corp. said Friday it has promoted Rex Query to the new position of president of Nucor Europe, effective June 1. Query will be based at Nucor Europe's offices in Switzerland. 117635 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/nucor-names-rex-query-as-european-president.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 10:23:00 EDT Shares of many agricultural chemical companies rose on Friday, as the price of oil jumped past $127 for the first time. Meanwhile, the Commerce Department released data showing that construction of new homes posted the biggest increase in more than two years in April. 117631 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/opening-glance-agricultural-chemicals-rise.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 10:14:39 EDT Shares of Albemarle Corp. slipped in premarket trading Friday after a JPMorgan Securities analyst downgraded the specialty chemicals maker, citing a sharp rise in share price. 117585 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/ahead-of-the-bell-albemarle-slips-premarket.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 08:21:33 EDT Albemarle Corp. plans to form a joint venture with China's Weigan Sinobrom Import and Export Co. to make bromines, the specialty chemicals company said Friday. 117578 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/albemarle-to-open-bromine-venture-in-china.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 07:33:49 EDT Steel producer Universal Stainless & Alloy Products Inc. said Friday it will raise retail prices by 3 percent to 5 percent on all stainless and high-strength low alloy grade products made at its Bridgeville and Dunkirk facilities. 117563 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/universal-stainless-to-raise-retail-prices.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 07:17:31 EDT Shares of BHP Billiton Ltd. hit an intraday trading record amid continued speculation that a Chinese company is positioning itself to take a major stake in the Australian miner. 117554 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/bhp-shares-rise-on-rumor-of-chinese-deal.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 06:31:32 EDT Steelmaker Nucor Corp. has chosen a tract in southeastern Louisiana as the only possible U.S. site for a $2 billion iron-making plant that would create 500 jobs, the company said Thursday. 117353 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080515/nucor-considering-la-site-for-iron-making-plant.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 17:45:45 EDT Coal producer National Coal Corp. said Thursday its first-quarter loss widened as soaring operating expenses more than offset a jump in sales. The company posted a loss of $10.8 million, or 38 cents per share, compared with $6.2 million, or 35 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter. 117332 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080515/national-coal-1q-loss-widens-on-operating-costs.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 17:35:50 EDT Computer battery component maker Polypore International Inc. said Thursday it has agreed to buy South Korea-based Yurie-Wide Corp. for $23 million. Yurie-Wide also makes computer battery components. 117164 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080515/polypore-to-buy-yurie-wide-for-23-million.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 15:24:17 EDT Chemical company Ashland Inc. said Thursday that its board of directors elected Lamar M. Chambers as the company's new chief financial officer effective June 1. 117162 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080515/ashland-inc-names-new-chief-financial-officer.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 15:23:02 EDT A worker injured in a deadly paper mill explosion May 3 filed a lawsuit Wednesday that seeks $1 million plus an unspecified amount in punitive damages. 117160 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080515/worker-sues-for-1m-over-miss-mill-explosion.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 15:22:37 EDT The collapse of a roof has hampered coal production at one of Foundation Coal Holdings Inc.'s mines, the company said Thursday. The company said "anomalous geological conditions" caused a roof to fall at the Emerald Mine, two miles south of Waynesburg, Pa. The collapsed roof impacted a longwall advance, which Foundation expects to curtail production for 14 to 17 days. 117021 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080515/fallen-roof-cuts-production-at-foundation-mine.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 12:01:45 EDT Steel producer Nucor Corp. said Thursday it has applied for a permit to build an iron-making facility along the Mississippi River that it expects will cost about $3 billion. 117009 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080515/nucor-requests-permit-to-build-3-billion-facility.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 11:37:45 EDT Cambrex Corp., which makes active drug ingredients, on Thursday said Steven M. Klosk is its new president and chief executive. Klosk replaces James A. Mack, president and CEO since 1995 and chairman since 1999. Mack will remain on the board until his retirement June 30. 116907 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080515/cambrex-names-steven-klosk-president-and-ceo.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 08:54:50 EDT