RUSSIA: Gaz posts a loss

Leading Russian vehicle maker Gaz has posted preliminary pre-tax losses of $US5.3 million for the first 10 months of 2000, Interfax reports. This compares with pretax profits of $US68.6 million for the same period in 1999. Sales increased year-on-year to $US824.3 million, company officials said. Between January and the end of October Gaz produced 199,988 vehicles, up just 0.13% on the corresponding period in 1999.