Dow could hit 11,000 this week as investors bet the U.S. labor market.

March 29 (Reuters) -- The Dow and the S&P 500 are at their highest in nearly 18 months and the expected repositioning before Wednesday's end of the quarter could provide further support. With the Dow closing at 10,850.36 on Friday, it would need to rise 1.4 percent -- a tad less than 150 points -- to reach 11,000.

But with benchmark U.S. Treasury yields approaching 4 percent, investors may prefer the relative safety of U.S. debt instead of continuing to throw money at a stock market that has risen steeply for more than a year.

Economists expect data on Friday to show the economy created about 190,000 jobs in March, but stock investors will have to be brave enough to bet on that confirmation ahead of the data, since the market will be closed for the Good Friday holiday.

MRCMRC Reference

Share in the Russian market, 2008:

polyethylene - 2.5% (including LLDPE - 33.1%);

polypropylene - 0.8% (including PP-impact - 1.1%);

polystyrene - 2.6%.

Annual sales growth in Russia, recent 5 years:

polyethylene - 55%;

polypropylene - 28%;

polystyrene - 2%.

Imports by processing technologies:

pipe extrusion;

film extrusion;

sheet extrusion;

foaming.

March 26 (plastemart) -- Taiwan's Formosa Plastics Group is not in talks with China Petroleum Corp (Sinopec Group) on any joint investments in China.

Earlier in the week, Formosa was reported to be planning to collaborate with Sinopec Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Co. in a 50:50 investment. Formosa group is interested in investing in naphtha cracking operations in China to supplement its downstream petrochemical plants there, but prefers majority control. Taiwan's government also currently prohibits Taiwanese companies from investing in naphtha cracking operations in China. Since the Chinese market is the growing market, the group will have to shift, but will wait for an opportunity to further expand investment in China.

MRCMRC Reference

Formosa. The share in the Russian market in 2008:

PVC-S - 3.0%;

PP - 0.4%.

Annual growth sales in Russia :
PVC - 79 % (over the last year) ;

PP - 272 % (over the last 3 years).

Supply by processing technologies:
profile extrusion

film extrusion

March 26 (Dow) -- Effective April 1, 2010, or as contract terms allow, Dow Europe GmbH and its affiliate companies in Europe will increase their prices as follows:

-- for all STYRON and STYRON A-TECH polystyrene grades by 100 Euro per metric ton.
-- for all MAGNUM ABS grades and TYRIL SAN grades by 150 Euro per metric ton.
-- for all CALIBRE polycarbonate resins, compounds and blends by 200 Euro per metric ton in addition to price increase already announced as of March 1, 2010.

These price increases are applicable across the European, Middle Eastern and African regions.

MRCMRC Referenc

Share in the Russian market, 2008:

polyethylene - 2.5% (including LLDPE - 33.1%);

polypropylene - 0.8% (including PP-impact - 1.1%);

polystyrene - 2.6%.

Annual sales growth in Russia, recent 5 years:

polyethylene - 55%;

polypropylene - 28%;

polystyrene - 2%.

Imports by processing technologies:

pipe extrusion;

film extrusion;

sheet extrusion;

foaming.

March 26 (prw) -- Leading European PET producer La Seda de Barcelona has joined forces with two Spanish plastics car parts suppliers to develop the first fully recyclable PET polymer for the automotive sector.
The Spanish PET major, along with national component makers Grupo Ficosa International SA. and Zanini Auto Grup, have come up with prototypes for the first recyclable PET polymer-based rear view mirrors, hub caps and badges.

Through its PETAUTO polymer project, La Seda aims to tap a rich potential PET market of around 300,000 tpa, representing the volume of polyamide (PA) and ABS compounds the European automotive industry currently consumes.

La Seda says its new PET product, under development since 2008 in a joint ┬1.7m project at Barcelona's industrial research, development and innovation Technology Centre Leitat, is 100% recyclable. Its use in place of polyamides and technical plastics could result in cost savings of more than 50%, according to the Spanish polymer producer.

The group, parent of leading bottle preform moulder Artenius PET Packaging Europe, carried out detailed investigations on the most used additives that would provide PET with the necessary characteristics for its use in the automotive sector.

The PET group has applied for an international patent for its new automotive polymer which will be produced at La Seda's El Prat de Llobregat plant in Barcelona.

La Seda, which already produces recyclable food and beverage packaging PET polymers, says its innovative PETAUTO product is a contribution to compliance with EU standards which demand that 85% of vehicle components must be made from recyclable material. This requirement is set to rise to 95% from 2015.

PETAUTO is the first of several La Seda projects designed to tackle new and potential markets such as those in construction, optics, cosmetics, renewable energy, aeronautics and pharmaceuticals, the group said.

La Seda is currently ranked number one in Europe and third globally in the PET packaging sector. Its PETAUTO partners, also based in Barcelona, are both global leaders in automotive component manufacture. Family-run Ficosa, with production in Europe, Asia and North and South America, specialises in producing vehicle rear view mirrors, while Zanini, which makes interior, exterior and wheel trim, has plants in Europe, Mexico, Brazil and the US.

La Seda, which is emerging from a financial crisis, saw major restructuring and significant capacity cutbacks since the group revealed heavy losses for 2008. As part of its revised strategy, it has stressed its commitment to the recycled PET business and to introducing new added-value products to the market.

⌠La Seda's strategy includes the development of recyclable plastics that are environmentally respectful (sic). This project is an example of a sustainable economic change based on the company's increase of production capacity, commented group president Jose Luis Morlanes.

He added that the project was ⌠a competitive and innovative initiative as a solution for the current economic crisis.

Meanwhile, Zanini ceo Joan Miguel Torras declared that as a result of the joint project and resulting prototypes, ⌠we may rapidly adjust to the requirements of European standards in terms of CO2 emission reduction in our manufacturing processes as well as higher recyclability percentages for our products.

MRC

March 26 (BusinessWeek) -- LyondellBasell said Thursday it priced a senior note offering at $2.75 billion to support the chemical company's emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The notes will be issued by LBI Escrow Corp., which will merge into subsidiary Lyondell Chemical Co., as part of the Lyondell Chemical's climb out bankruptcy, which is expected to occur around April 30, if its reorganization plan is approved.

The senior notes are made up of $2.25 billion of 8 percent senior secured notes and 375 million euros of 8 percent senior secured notes, both maturing in 2017. The offering is scheduled to close April 8.

The company plans to use proceeds from the offering, which will be put in escrow until its reorganization plan is approved, to repay debt.

LyondellBasell is the world's third-largest independent chemical company and is controlled by billionaire investor and founder of Access Industries, Len Blavatnik. Its products are used in gasoline, plastics, electronics, autos, paints and many other products.

LyondellBasell was formed in 2008, when Basell International Holdings paid $12.7 billion for Houston-based Lyondell Chemical, taking on debt just as oil prices skyrocketed, squeezing profit margins at chemical makers.

As oil prices fell in the second half of 2008, the recession undercut demand for chemical products, leading several affiliates and subsidiaries of Netherlands-based LyondellBasell to file for bankruptcy protection earlier last year.

MRCMRC Reference

LyondellBasell. The share in the Russian market in 2008:
PE - 1.4% (including HDPE - 2.5%, LDPE - 0.3%);
PP - 4.1% (including block-copolymers - 9.5%).

Annual sales growth in Russia, during the recent 5 years:
PE - 27%;
PP - 88%.

The leader in the following polymers processing technologies:

pipe extrusion;

film extrusion;

injection molding.