CHINA Metallurgical Import and Export Corporation became the latest mainland company to seek a back-door listing on the stock exchange, paying $140 million for a 39 per cent stake in Chee Shing Holdings. The Bank of China announced it would centralise its interbank market operations and capital market activities. Trade officials announced the United States was going to promote the APEC into a free trade zone with tariff cuts, and would seek to bring non-members (notably Europe) on board to give it global status. Spurred by Chinese Vice-Premier Zhu Rongji's appointment as central bank governor, the renminbi's value gained strongly on the Shanghai swap market, while red chips plunged in Hongkong amid continued economic uncertainty on the mainland. US President Bill Clinton and Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa announced on Tuesday they had made some ''significant progress'' on narrowing trade differences. Turnover on the stock market fell to its lowest levels since Easter. The China Securities Supervision and Administration Committee announced the arrival of a new blueprint for China's stock markets. China Xinxing Corporation (Group) signed seven joint ventures worth nearly $9.4 billion at official rates. Standard Chartered Asia and Wardley Corporate Finance pulled out of all involvement in the underwriting of Shanghai Petrochemical. Stanley Ho Hung-sun announced there was about $1 billion in place for the massive Nam Van Lakes project in Macau which involved the Praia Grande reclamation. Company results GOLDLION Holdings' net profit shot up 63 per cent to $142.4 million for the year. Great Eagle Holdings posted a 53.6 per cent drop in profit to $80.2 million. Chen Hsong Holdings reported a 30 per cent rise in profit to $123.64 million. Miramar Hotel & Investment Co, recorded a consolidated net profit of $61.45 million for the year. The Furama Hotel Enterprises recorded an attributable profit of $72.42 million for the year. Buildmore International profit dipped 37.81 per cent for the year. Tse Sui Luen Jewellery (International) reported a 168 per cent surge in profit to $103.54 million for the year. Wing Hung Kee's profits fell slightly to $3.8 million for the year. Profits for Hongkong Fortune rose 9.68 per cent to $14.52 million. Realty Development Corp announced a 50.7 per cent leap in profits to about $1.1 billion for the year. Hsin Chong Construction Group announced a 5.9 per cent rise in profit to $77.99 million.