Aluminum Makers Ride Price Increases

The global aluminum market caught a midyear updraft in prices that is expected to continue this year as critical end markets such as transportation and housing improve.

Aluminum prices have increased 38% since July, which has boosted sales levels and likely buoyed the performances of aluminum makers including Alcoa Inc. -- which reports after the market's close Monday, kicking off the fourth-quarter and year-end earnings season -- as well as Rio Tinto and Russia's UC Rusal.

The price increase for aluminum, which is used in a broad array of products and is considered a key indicator of industrial demand, reflects stronger end markets as well as production cutbacks, mainly in China.

New housing starts and automobile and aerospace sales are showing signs of strengthening globally, analysts said, especially in the U.S., the world's second-largest consumer of aluminum. Economists say housing starts are likely to rise 17% this year, compared with a 7.3% increase in 2010. Car sales, which rose 11% last year, are expected to climb 12% in 2011.

Barclays Capital Equity Research expects 2011 aluminum consumption to grow 8.1%, compared with 7.9% in 2010.

'The aluminum market will improve,' said Edward Meir, a metals analyst with MFGlobal.

Aluminum prices are hovering around $2,400 to $2,500 a metric ton. Analysts expect the price to rise to $2,700 a metric ton in 2011. While Alcoa, UC Rusal and Rio Tinto all benefit from increasing aluminum prices, much of the companies' sales are already contracted, and it can take months for the higher prices to be figured into current sales and profits.

The industry's momentum could also be derailed by two factors. Making aluminum requires huge amounts of energy, and rising energy costs could erode aluminum profits.

In addition, if producers boost output to capitalize on rising prices, more aluminum on the market would likely depress prices.

But Leo Larkin, a metals and mining analyst with Standard and Poor's, says the three top aluminum companies account for about 48% of global output, which should help keep supply in line with demand.

'With a greater degree of concentration, we think the restart of idle capacity in response to stronger market conditions should be more rational,' he said.

A wild card is China, the world's largest aluminum consumer, which usually produces about 16 million metric tons yearly. It has shut down some smelters to cut pollution and energy consumption, reducing output by 1.3 million metric tons.

Market observers are unclear how long those aluminum smelters will stay off line. Much of the country's aluminum is produced at small and midsize smelters that are major employers in their regions. If those smelters stay offline for an extended period of time, pressure may mount for them to reopen.

Cameron Diaz ranked most dangerous Web celeb: study

She may be known for her playful giggles and killer looks, but now movie star Cameron Diaz has become the most dangerous celebrity on the Internet.
Diaz, 37, is top of the list of the most dangerous celebrities to search for online, above second-placed Julia Roberts, according to computer security company McAfee, Inc. Last year's most dangerous Web celebrity, Jessica Biel, fell to third.
One in ten websites featuring the "Knight and Day" star contain malicious software intended to infect computers and steal data from users, according to research released on Thursday by McAfee.
Creators of malicious software use celebrities as lures, baiting fans and followers to click on and download seemingly innocuous content containing programs designed to steal passwords and other private information for profit, said Dave Marcus, director of security research at McAfee Labs.
"They know that people want to have screensavers of popular individuals. They follow hot topics on the Web and create their poisonous content accordingly," Marcus said.
"This relates to a larger trend of using social engineering lures. A lot of times a cyber criminal will mine Twitter, or follow Google Trends, to poison those links. It's very clear they will use news trends to lure," he said.
Supermodel Gisele Bundchen came in at fourth, followed by Brad Pitt, one of only two men to be listed in the top ten.
"Brad Pitt is historically one of the most dangerous celebrities to search on," said Marcus. "He's always up there."
Former Victoria's Secret model Adriana Lima came in sixth, followed by Jennifer Love-Hewitt and Nicole Kidman, who tied for seventh. Tom Cruise ranked eighth, and Heidi Klum and Penelope Cruz tied for ninth. Anna Paquin, the star of TV hit "True Blood", rounded out the top ten.
This is the fourth time McAfee published the annual list of dangerous individuals.

Michael Jackson top-earning dead celebrity: report

Michael Jackson's sudden death sparked an outpouring of grief around the world, but fans also opened their wallets to make him this year's top-earning dead celebrity with $275 million, Forbes said on Monday.
Jackson raked in more than the combined total of the other 12 celebrities on the list, Forbes magazine said. He was ranked third on last year's list with $90 million.
Elvis Presley came in second, earning $60 million from admissions to his former home, Graceland, which is now a museum and tourist attraction in Memphis, Tennessee, a Cirque de Soleil show and more than 200 licensing and merchandise deals.
"Jackson's spot atop our top earning dead celebrities list should come as no surprise given the renewed fan interest in music, videos and all things Michael Jackson," said Forbes writer Lacey Rose.
Jackson was 50 when he died in his Los Angeles home on June 25 last year, shortly before a planned series of comeback concerts in London. The singer left behind three children and a debt of $500 million.
But his estate has generated millions since his death, mostly through record sales, the "This Is It" concert movie, licensing rights, deals to release new albums and a Cirque du Soleil stage show in Las Vegas.
"Thanks to a lucrative catalog, hit film and album sales, the late king of pop earned more in the last year than Lady Gaga, Madonna and Jay-Z, combined," said Rose.
"The Lord of the Rings" author J.R.R. Tolkien, whose trilogy of novels was made into films by director Peter Jackson, came in at No. 3 on the Forbes list with earnings of $50 million, while Charles Schulz, the creator of Charlie Brown and Snoopy, came in fourth with $33 million.
Former Beatle John Lennon, who would have turned 70 this year, was ranked No. 5 with an income of $17 million.
A deceased celebrity needed to earn at least $5 million between October 1, 2009 and October 1, 2010 to make this year's list, Forbes said.

10 Killed at Mexican Drug Rehab Center

Mexican police say gunmen have shot and killed at least 10 recovering addicts at a drug rehabilitation center.

The killings happened late Sunday in Tijuana, near the U.S. border.The motive for the attack was not immediately clear.

Mexican security forces have been engaged in a brutal struggle against the country's violent drug cartels since President Felipe Calderon took office in 2006.

Nearly 30,000 people have been killed since the campaign began.

Last week, Mexican security forces seized 105 tons of marijuana in Tijuana, the largest Mexican drug bust in recent years.

Are you an active blogger or user of social media sites like Twitter and Facebook?

In India, some companies are growingly increasingly concerned about privacy and other breaches by employees on sites like these. Lack of awareness by employees can lead to 'unacceptable behavior,' says Rajan Kohli, chief marketing officer of Wipro Technologies, which issued an internal social media policyearlier this year.

Don't fret if your employer doesn't have a similar policy in place yet. Here are some 'Dos' and 'Don'ts' that will keep you from getting into trouble with your company.

1. Identify Yourself

Many companies ask employees to disclose their relationship to their employer on social networking sites, especially if they are planning to discuss anything related to work or their industry, says Gaurav Mishra, digital and social media leader for public relations firm MSL Group in Asia.

Even if you don't mention your company name in your online profiles, nowadays it's easy enough to match executives to their firms through professional web sites like LinkedIn.com.

2. Follow the Face-to-Face Rule

Don't write anything online that you wouldn't say to somebody to their face. No complaining about your boss or company, or gossiping about colleagues. A colleague whom you might have 'friended' on Facebook could read that and pass it along to other colleagues or to your boss, landing you in a soup.

'Facebook is more publicthan most people think it is,' says Mr. Mishra.

3. Don't Share Sensitive Information

Sharing confidential information about your clients, or about an upcoming product launch or about the internal workings of your company is a strict no-no.

'The same 'rules' that apply to sharing information in the physical world apply online,' said Meenu Handa, director, corporate communications, Microsoft Corp. India Pvt. Ltd., in an e-mail message.

4. Avoid Controversial Topics

Politics and religion are two subjects that can cause passions to run high. In general, your employer would probably prefer it if you avoided these topics or were at least diplomatic when expounding on them online. 'Be careful about any racial (or) religious comment,' says Elango R., chief human resources officer at outsourcing firm MphasiS, a unit of Hewlett-Packard's Co.

5. Don't Count on Disclaimers

Sometimes people write disclaimers on their profile that say the views they are expressing are personal or that by posting links they don't intend to endorse those links. 'People disregard that,' says Anup Jain, marketing director, Pizza Hut, part of Yum Restaurants India Pvt. Ltd.

This is especially true if you hold an important post in the company. 'People don't draw a fine line between what you say and what position you occupy,' says Mr. Jain. 'If you have a controversial point of viewâ ¦they will find out about you in a few seconds.'

6. Don't 'Friend' Everyone

'You've got to be careful about whom you accept in your friend circle,' says Mr. Elango.

For instance, a 'friend' or colleague who doesn't respect your privacy may share your personal photos and information with the rest of your colleagues, or worse â ' your boss.

Avoid 'friending' people you don't trust, or someone who has shaky credentials. Remember that other people often form an impression of you based on whom your friends are.

'Sometimes you've got to be able to say no,' says Mr. Elango.

7. Use the Privacy Settings

If you haven't already done so, change your privacy settings on the social media web sites you use. On Facebook, for instance, you can select who is able to see your personal information, your 'Wall' posts, and your photos.

'You may not want everybody to see how you party,' says Pizza Hut's Mr. Jain.

Even on Twitter, you can use a setting that allows you to choose your followers. In that case, your tweets can be read only by your chosen followers.

8. Be Discreet on Fan Pages, Groups

If you have signed up as a 'fan' of your company or are active on any online groups, 'you've got to be extra careful' about what you write there, says Mr. Jain. He suggests using these fan pages and groups to glean information about your company, and to absorb public feedback. You shouldn't use them as a forum where you deride competition, says Mr. Jain.

9. Be a Talking Head

Senior company officials or those who speak to the press on behalf of the company even once in a while should consider looking at their social web pages a professional tool rather than just a personal account. That's a good way to build your company's brand, and your brand within the company.

But be sure to check with your company's top officials that they approve. Some companies, like Intel Corp., ask employees to go through training programs before taking on a role like that, according to Mr. Mishra of MSL Group.

10. Remember It's Forever

Diamonds may or may not be forever, but what you write on the Internet is (or can feel that way). Something that you write online could come back to bite you many years later.

For instance, maybe you blogged about how much you hate your former company, but some years later, that same company might interview you for a managerial post. Somebody could easily find your old blog and that could damage your chances.

Hearing Begins for 5 Suspected 9/11 Co-Conspirators at Guantanamo

Six-and-a-half years after the September 11 terror attacks, the accused mastermind and four other co-conspirators are facing a war-crimes tribunal at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The arraignment of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the four others is the highest-profile test yet of the controversial tribunal system, which is under review by the U.S. Supreme Court. All five men face the death penalty if convicted.

　

The defendants will face a military judge for the first time Thursday to hear the charges against them formally read. They will have the opportunity to enter a plea and may also be allowed to speak to the court about other issues, such as the conditions of their detention and interrogation. Charges against a sixth detainee were withdrawn last month without explanation, but experts note he has claimed some of the evidence against him was obtained through torture.

This will be the first public appearance for the five men, who have been held by the U.S. government for years, first in secret CIA prisons and now at Guantanamo. Reporters, lawyers and human rights activists will be allowed to watch the hearing, but no sound, video or pictures will be made public. In addition, sound from the hearing will be delayed several seconds to enable military officials to turn it off if someone reveals secret information.

The process for trying the men before what are called Military Commissions was created specifically for detainees in the war on terrorism. But the original system was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court, and the court is now considering a case which could invalidate the revised process. Still, the senior military officer responsible for the process, Brigadier General Thomas Hartmann says the defense department is adding dozens of staff members to his team in an effort to move forward with arraignments and trials as quickly as possible.

Speaking to reporters here Wednesday evening, General Hartmann addressed one of the main controversies surrounding the process, the use of secret evidence.

"Every piece of evidence, classified or not that goes to the finder of fact will be subject to review, cross examination, challenge and understanding by the accused and his counsel," he said.

The 'finder of fact' will be a military jury. General Hartman's statement raises the possibility that secret evidence could be revealed to al-Qaida members but not to the public, but that would likely only happen much later in the process. In these commission trials, the defendants are prosecuted, judged and represented by U.S. military lawyers, but private lawyers have volunteered to be part of the defense team.

Activists like Joanne Mariner of Human Rights Watch are not convinced that this process will be fair, as General Hartmann says it will. They say the military process does not sufficiently protect the defendants' rights, particularly regarding evidence obtained through mistreatment. General Hartmann says that decision will be made by the military judge in each instance.

Mariner, who will be an observer at Thursday's hearing, says the relatives of the nearly three thousand victims of the attacks, and the public at large, deserve a more reliable process, like the regular U.S. federal courts.

"A case as important as the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States should be tried fairly in federal court so that the result is some kind of finality in which both the U.S. public and the world can recognize that the result of the trial is reliable and credible," said Mariner.

The Bush administration is opposed to using federal courts to try the terrorism suspects, in part because of the secret evidence.

The best-known of the men going on trial Thursday is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, known as the mastermind of the September 11th attacks. His alleged co-conspirators are Ramzi Binalshibh, Walid Muhammed 'Attash, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali and Mustafa al Hawsawi. Charges against Mohammed al Kahtani were dropped, but officials say they may be reinstated later. He is believed to have planned to be one of the September 11 hijackers.

The arraignment will take place in a specially built building on this U.S. Naval Base, not far from the detention center where 275 detainees are held. Several others have also been charged and their trials are proceeding. Officials expect to charge and try more of the detainees, but some have been approved for release and others may remain in custody without being charged.

These five detainees could face the death penalty if they are convicted, but if any of them is acquitted he could still be kept in custody as an enemy combatant.

　
Both President Bush and Defense Secretary Robert Gates have said they would like to close the Guantanamo detention center, but Secretary Gates acknowledged recently that he has not made much progress toward finding an alternative way to deal with the terrorism suspects held here.

China Moves to Cool Housing Market

China is tightening limits on mortgage lending in hopes of cooling a market that has pushed housing prices beyond the reach of most Chinese.The government said Thursday that a 30-percent down payment will be required on first-home purchases, up from 20 percent. Purchases of second homes will require 50 percent down, up from 40 percent. Loans for purchases of third homes are banned.In addition, the government said it will introduce real estate taxes on a trial basis in some major cities, likely including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Chongqing.


The combined actions are an attempt to curb the run-up in real estate values. Housing prices in 70 major Chinese cities were up by more than 9 percent in August over the year before.That has kept many from buying homes in a country where the annual per capita income is about $4,500.