Also. . .

*U.S. industrial production in January shot ahead at the fastest rate in nearly 18 months as a manufacturing revival gathered steam at the beginning of 2000, the Federal Reserve said. The report heightened concerns that Fed policymakers will raise interest rates again next month in a bid to keep a record expansion on track, though the data showed no signs of businesses operating at rates that normally induce inflation. Production at the nation’s mines, factories and utilities jumped 1% last month, more than double December’s 0.4% increase and the strongest for any month since a 1.8% surge in August 1998. Businesses ran at 81.6% of capacity, up moderately from December’s revised 81.1%.