But the Japanese pulled out of the Taiyo fish cannery at Noro, timber exports were hit by the Asian slump, Ross Mining closed its Gold Ridge mine and Guadalcanal's palm-oil plantations have been abandoned.

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The Asian financial crisis walloped the mining industry, cutting demand for GST products.

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Aside from being seasonally apt, the dish perfectly articulated Benu's point of view: With the torchon, he was referencing his past at the French Laundry (there's a signature foie gras au torchon on that institution's menu), and with the Japanese ankimo and cherry blossom, he was mining the legacy of the city's substantial East and Southeast Asian populations.

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Asian markets closed mostly higher as encouraging earnings reports out of Hong Kong and strength in the Australian mining sector provided support.

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