Philipp Bros Inc

Cocoa futures prices plummeted Thursday on rumors that the Ivory Coast, the world's largest cocoa producer, had sold up to 100,000 tons of cocoa beans after a two-month absence from the market. On other markets, grains and soybeans finished lower; energy, livestock, meat and stock index futures advanced, and precious metals were mixed.

Bond prices pushed higher Monday, extending last week's big rally, amid growing speculation that the economy is expanding at a moderate pace and that inflation poses no problem. The Treasury's closely watched 30-year issue rose 5/8 point, or $6.25 per $1,000 face amount, on top of Friday's 1 3/4-point gain. Its yield, which falls when prices rise, dropped to 8.57% from 8.66% Friday.