Mercer International Inc. (NASDAQ:MERC) announced a project to increase production and efficiency through debottlenecking initiatives including the installation of an additional 40 MW steam turbine at its Stendal mill. The debottlenecking which, among other things, requires the new turbine in order to enhance and efficiently utilize steam production, is designed to increase the mill’s annual pulp production capacity by 30,000 ADMTs to approximately 675,000 ADMTs. The new turbine is also expected to initially produce an additional 109,000 MWh of surplus renewable energy for sale at premium pricing.

The shares closed at $7.91, up $0.79, or 11.1%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $441.21 million.

Sonoco Products Company (NYSE:SON) said the shortfall primarily occurred in the last six weeks of the fourth quarter as it experienced unanticipated deterioration in demand in its North American and European Tube and Core/Paper operations. On a same-day basis, year-over-year tube and core volume for the quarter declined 7 percent in North America and in Europe. In response to lower orders, Sonoco took down its North American paperboard mill system for approximately 178 machine operating days in the fourth quarter, compared to 54 down days in the same quarter last year. Nearly 60 percent of the mills?downtime occurred in the last month of the quarter. The Company’s Consumer Packaging segment experienced slightly lower than expected volume in the fourth quarter.

The shares closed at $31.93, down $1.78, or 5.28%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $3.19 billion.

Parker-Hannifin Corp. (NYSE:PH): Sees FY12 Industrial International sales up 1.9%-3.9% vs. FY11, Aerospace sales up 7.1%-9.9%, Climate & Industrial Controls sales down 2.7%-up .3%. Comments from slides that will be presented on the Q2 earnings conference call.

The shares closed at $81.52, down $3.45, or 4.06%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $12.32 billion.

Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE:ABX) said preliminary results met gold operating guidance of 7.6-7.8 Moz of production at total cash costs of $460-$475/oz, which is in-line with its original guidance. The company said met copper production guidance of 450-460 Mlbs at total cash costs slightly above guidance of $1.60-$1.70/lb.

The shares closed at $45.83, down $0.63, or 1.36%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $45.82 billion.

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