International Business

MEXICAN STOCKS

* Mexican stocks closed slightly higher in light but volatile trading as positive reaction to the government’s treasury bill primary auction battled with arbitrage and profit-taking pressures.

* “People seem pretty comfortable right now with the Bolsa in the 1,900s, and they start making moves whenever it dips below 1,900 or flirts with 2,000,” said one Mexico City trader.

* Troubled loans at Mexico’s commercial banks have increased 45% in the first quarter, to about $11.8 billion from $8.1 billion at the end of last year, said Jose Madariaga, president of Mexico’s Bankers Assn.

Sources: Dow Jones, Bloomberg Business News

SPOTLIGHT: CHINA

Although China has a policy of self-reliance, the government has recognized in recent years that foreign trade and technology play critical roles in modernization, and it has promoted measures to attract investment. U.S.-China relations were eased in February after the countries avoided a potentially disastrous trade war.

Sources: Bank of America, World Information Services