Union Miniere better all round.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

Strong demand in most markets that it serves lay behind a more than doubling of operating profit for the Belgian-based metals and speciality materials producer, Union Miniere SA (UM), for the first six months of this year. UM made an operating profit of 78.8 million [European Dollar] for the six months to June 30, 2000, compared with 33.7 million [European Dollar] for the corresponding period last year, yielding net attributable profit of 77.9 million [European Dollar], more than three times higher. Turnover was 17% higher, at 1.87 billion [European Dollar].

All of UM'