TOP STORIES:

Glencore CEO: Debate On Xstrata-Glencore Merger Now Focused On Ratio

ST. GALLEN, Switzerland -(Dow Jones)- The chief executive of Glencore International PLC (GLEN.LN, GLNCY, 0805.HK) said Friday that most shareholders like the proposed merger of equals with Anglo-Swiss miner Xstrata PLC (XTA.LN) but the debate is now on focused on the share-swap ratio.

Glencore CEO: Commodity Inflation A Global Risk Over Next 4 Years

ST. GALLEN, Switzerland (Dow Jones)--Commodity-induced inflation is the biggest risk in the next two to four years as China continues to consume a large amount of commodities amid a scarcity of supply, the chief executive of Glencore International PLC (GLEN.LN) said Friday.

STORIES OF INTEREST:

Brazil's Government Wins Latest Round In Vale Tax Dispute

SAO PAULO (Dow Jones)--Brazil's government has won the latest round in a legal dispute with Brazilian mining giant Vale SA (VALE, VALE5.BR) over the payment of taxes on overseas profits.

Copper Likely To Outperform Other Base Metals This Year -ANZ Strategist

SINGAPORE (Dow Jones)--Copper will likely be the strongest performer in the base metals complex this year, Nick Trevethan, senior commodities strategist at ANZ research, said Friday.

Indonesia To Clarify Export Commodity Taxes Next Week -Minister

ST. GALLEN, Switzerland (Dow Jones)--The Indonesian government is tweaking its plan to impose an export tax on mineral commodities to encourage more investment in downstream activities such as processing and smelting mineral, the country's trade minister said Friday.

Zambia Kansanshi Copper Output Falls But Expansions On Schedule

LUSAKA, Zambia (Dow Jones)--First Quantum Minerals Ltd., (FQVLF) said copper and gold output at Kansanshi Copper Mine, its Zambian unit, fell in the first quarter but expansion projects there were on schedule.

MARKETS:

BASE METALS: Copper Falls On Growth Worry; Down 2.7% In Week

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Copper futures fell on Friday, capping off a weekly decline, as investors bet that the recent set of disappointing global economic data pointed to lower demand for the industrial metal.

-By Matt Day, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-4986; matt.day@dowjones.com