Steel cost increase

BAOSHAN Iron & Steel Co, China's biggest steel maker, is raising prices by as much as 6 percent in the quarter starting July for areas unaffected by the Sichuan earthquake to keep pace with global levels. Prices for most products from the Shanghai-based company will rise, said an official who declined to give details. The price of color-coated sheets, used to make temporary homes and other products for quake rebuilding, will be kept unchanged, the official said.