It seems like a Russian metals giant purchases an American metals company almost every week lately, actually with Severstal’s recent purchase of an American plant that makes two this week alone. Russian company’s are using their own strength combined with weakness in selected markets to enlarge their footprint and become true global powerhouses. In another area, there are rumors that the proposed VAT tax decrease may go down to 12-13%, not as much as some might have hoped, but still greater than some might have expected.