Also

* China’s annual trade surplus is set to reach $150 billion this year, bursting past last year’s record $109.8 billion as the country’s exports continue to surge, a government report said. The report by the Commerce Ministry said exports were likely to hit $960 billion by the end of 2006, a 26% increase from 2005.

* The International Energy Agency cut its estimates for global oil demand this year and next because of weaker-thanexpected consumption in China. World oil demand this year will average 84.49 million barrels a day, 80,000 barrels a day less than estimated last month, the Paris-based agency said.

* De Beers said its first Canadian mine was on track to start pulling diamonds from the Arctic in 2007, despite the early closure of a temporary ice road that forced the company to fly equipment to the remote site.