IN BRIEF (Page 17)

Wheat rises

Chicago wheat futures jumped nearly 2 percent yesterday as lingering concerns over supplies prompted active fund buying, with another jump in Minneapolis spring wheat futures last week adding support.

Bullish wheat prices bolstered other Chicago Board of Trade grains futures in Asian trade, pushing up front-month soybean futures by more than 10 cents a bushel to as high as $12.98 per bushel.

Flat consumption

Japanese personal consumption was flat in the October-December period, government data showed yesterday, suggesting economic growth may have slowed more than expected in the fourth quarter.

The government's consumption index for the last three months of 2007 was flat from the previous quarter, compared with a 0.3 percent rise in July-September, the Cabinet Office said.

Russian purchase

Consumer products company Unilever Plc said yesterday it will acquire leading Russian ice cream company Inmarko for an undisclosed amount.

The deal will strengthen Unilever's position as the world's No 1 ice cream company, as well as its competitive position in Russia, the firm said in a statement.

Agencies

(China Daily 02/05/2008 page17)