PRAGUE, Oct. 24 - Central and Eastern European countries play a negative role in politicizing energy supply negotiations between the European Union and Russia, Artem Malgin, advisor to the Rector of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, told a Prague energy forum Monday.

KIEV, Oct. 23 ??“ The recent big fall in the price of fuel could help ease prices for goods and services, especially in the transport sector, according to Deputy Prime Minister Andriy Kliuyev.

KIEV, Oct. 23 - Mittal Steel Kryviy Rih intends to increase sales in Ukraine by 10% to 1.5 million tons in 2007, Vladimir Shalimov, the steel mill's domestic sales manager, told a metals forum in Kiev.

KIEV, Oct. 23 - Ukraine and the European Union could have a new agreement on trade in selected steel commodities in 2007 ready by the end of 2006, Roelof Plijter, head of the European Commission Directorate-General for Trade, told a metals forum in Kiev.

LONDON, Oct. 24 - Moody's Investors Service announced it has assigned a rating of B2 (positive outlook) to $100 million of loan participation notes due in October 2009 issued by Standard Bank Plc for the sole purpose of financing a loan to Bank Forum (Ukraine).

MOSCOW, Oct. 24 ??“ An arbitration court in New York on Dec. 7 and Dec. 8 will hear an appeal by Norway's Telenor against Strom Ltd. in connection with Storm's alleged violations of a shareholder agreement relating to Ukrainian mobile operator Kyivstar GSM, according to a Telenor press release.

KIEV, Oct. 24 ??“ Ukraine, encouraged by the successful privatization of steel giant Kryvorizhstal, will sell more state assets to foreign investors to speed up restructuring of the economy, President Viktor Yushchenko said Monday.

KIEV, Oct. 24 - Mittal Steel, the world??™s No. 1 steel producer, won the auction to acquire a 93% stake in Kryvorizhstal, Ukraine??™s largest steelmaker, by offering 24.2 bln hryvnias, or $4.79 bln, a government spokesman said Monday.

KIEV, Oct. 24 ??“ Donetsk's mini-metallurgical works ISTIL (Ukraine) is to increase its exports of metallurgical products to European markets after talks with big German metal producers and sellers.

KIEV, Oct. 24 ??“ A U.S. company is seeking damages it said it incurred as a result of today??™s Kryvorizhstal tender.