On October 21, 2004, Abitibi-Consolidated Inc., a large Canadian-based newsprint and groundwood producer, reported net income for its third quarter, 2004, of $182 million. This compares with a net loss for the same quarter of 2003 of $70 million. Sales for the quarter were up, to $1528 million, and earnings excluding low persistence items, was a loss of $27 million. the low - persistence items included a gain of $239 million before tax from foreign exchange conversion. Much of the company's long term debt is denominated in US dollars. The foreign exchange gain arose because of the rising value of the Canadian dollar, relative to the US dollar, during the quarter. Comparable figures for the third quarter of 2003 were as follows: sales of $ 1,340 mil-lion, a loss before low- persistence items of $ 32 million, and foreign exchange conversion gain of $ 13 million. There is no mention of R& D costs in the company’s third quarter report. Its 2003 annual report mentions R& D only in passing, with reference to forest conservation. Presumably, R& D expenditures are relatively low. Abitibi- Consolidated’s share price rose $ 0.59 to $ 7.29 on the Toronto Stock Exchange on October 21, 2004. The S& P/ TSX Composite index gained 59 points to close at 8,847 on the same day. According to media reports, the increases were driven by a "red- hot" materials and energy sect