Sept. 5 (Bloomberg) -- The following are the top stories on metals, agriculture and shipping. *T ECONOMIC EVENTS, AGRICULTURE REPORTS: (U.S. government offices are closed for Labor Day holiday.) *T METAL PRICES: ($/ton) Last % Chg RSI Copper 8,990 -0.9 46 Aluminum 2,408 -1.1 46 Zinc 2,184 -0.5 42 Lead 2,444 -0.7 49 Nickel 21,069 -2.0 41 Tin 24,000 -1.0 45 *T *T OTHER MARKETS: Last % Chg % YTD U.S. Dollar Index 75.022 +0.4 -5.1 Crude Oil $84.87 -1.8 -7.1 Gold $1,887.4 +0.2 +33 MSCI World Index 1,157.89 -1.5 -9.5 *T TOP STORY: Copper Reaches One-Week Low as Slowing Economies May Curb Demand Copper fell for a third day in London to the lowest price in more than a week on concern slowing economies may reduce demand. COMMODITY EXCLUSIVES: China Says Turbine Quality Issues Best Handled by Industry (2) China's energy regulator said faults found in turbines at several domestic wind farms last year were "isolated" cases, dropping a possible plan to impose quality standards in world's biggest wind-energy market. Hedge Funds Increase Oil Bets Most Since March: Energy Markets Hedge funds boosted bullish bets on oil by the most since March as Hurricane Irene took aim at the U.S. East Coast, threatening imports, pipelines and refineries. Darwin Effect Cuts Photovoltaic Prices, Abound Solar Says (1) Abound Solar Inc., the photovoltaic-panel maker using technology favored by General Electric Co. and First Solar Inc. of the U.S., said bankruptcies that are culling higher-cost rivals will help cut module prices to $1 a watt. Steelmakers Head West for Cheaper Funds at Units: Russia Credit Russian steelmakers are borrowing more cheaply and for the longest periods ever by using their units in the U.S. and western Europe to tap lenders. Zebra Mussels Battle Biobullets's Toxic Pellets in Water Plants Biobullets Ltd., a British pesticide maker, won a grant to develop a pellet known as a "toxic Malteser" that will control an infestation of zebra mussels clogging water treatment plants in the U.K. INDUSTRIAL METALS: Metorex First-Half Profit Doubles on Copper Prices, Output (1) Metorex Ltd., a miner of copper and cobalt in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, more than doubled first-half profit as prices and output increased. Copper Market May See Shortage for Third Year on China (1) Copper will remain in short supply for a third straight year in 2012 as China-led demand boosts prices, Japan's top producer said. Freeport Grasberg Workers Plan Strike From Sept. 15, Union Says Workers at Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.'s Grasberg mine in Indonesia's Papua province may hold another strike from Sept. 15 should the company fail to make a new offer on wages increases, a labor union official said. MINING: Rio, Anglo to Sell 75% Palabora Stake Valued at $720 Million (1) Rio Tinto Group and Anglo American Plc, which together own about three-quarters of Palabora Mining Co., said they plan to sell their entire holdings in the South African miner as it no longer fits their investment objectives. PRECIOUS METALS: Gold Rises Above $1,900 as Growth, Debt Concerns Boost Demand Gold gained above $1,900 an ounce in London as concern about slowing economic growth and Europe's debt woes spurred demand for a protection of wealth. AGRICULTURE: Palm Oil Drops on Concern Stockpiles May Climb as Exports Ease Palm oil declined on concern that stockpiles in Malaysia, the second-largest grower, may increase as exports slow after the end of the festival season. Cocoa May Rise in London as Dry Weather Curbs Crop; Coffee Falls Cocoa may rise in London on speculation dry weather will curb production in the Ivory Coast, the world's largest grower. Coffee and sugar declined French Farm's Yogurts, Sausages Impress Prime Minister Fillon Gilbert Simoen, the 71-year-old co- founder of French farm collective GAEC de l'Etoile west of Paris, says all he needs from Prime Minister Francois Fillon is to be spared red tape. Rubber Drops to One-Week Low as U.S. Data Raise Demand Concern Rubber declined to the lowest level in more than a week on concern that demand for the commodity may slow amid signs growth is moderating in the U.S. and China, the world's largest economies. White Sugar Falls for Fifth Day, Longest Losing Streak in Month White sugar futures fell in London for the fifth consecutive day, the longest drop in a month. Italy Finds 1.7% of Corn Was Positive for Biotech, Attache Says

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