- Inco Ltd. has agreed to buy rival mining company, Falconbridge Ltd., for approximately $12.8MM, creating the world’s largest producer of nickel. This will be the biggest mining merger since the creation of BHP Billiton in 2001.

- The Canadian dollar had its highest percent gain (5.3%) since 1992 when it hit an intra-day price of $86.26 (USD) on September 30 to end the day at $85.98 (USD). It ended the month at $84.59 (USD).

- Bombardier Inc., the world’s largest train equipment maker, won an order with Spanish National Railways, valued at $145MM.

- Canada’s largest cheesemaker, Saputo Inc., will shut another of its plants (the second in two weeks) in order to reduce operating costs. Ninety affected employees will have the option to relocate.

- Co-founder of $750MM Portus hedge fund, Boaz Manor, has been accused by the Ontario Securities Commission of destroying documentation, lying and misappropriating investors’ money.

- World’s largest winemaker, New York-based Constellation Brands Inc., has made a hostile bid for Vincor International for approximately $900MM.

- Research-In-Motion will license its technology to Palm Inc. for the upcoming Treo 650, a handheld device which will be available in 2006. RIM’s current legal battle with NTP Inc., which claims it owns patents to Blackberry technology, continues.

- Barrick Gold Corp. made a $9.2B bid for Placer Dome, the largest takeover in the gold-mining industry to date.

- Quebecor World won a $500MM contract with Time Inc. to print and bind 15 of their magazines over a multi-year agreement. – CPI rose to its highest level of 3.4% since 4.6% in 2003.

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