Portfolio Update

Merrill Lynch Commodities Income IT 02 November 2006 MERRILL LYNCH COMMODITIES INCOME INVESTMENT TRUST plc All information is at 31 October 2006 and unaudited. Performance at month end with net income reinvested One Three Six Since Month Months Months Launch* Net asset value 8.5% 1.3% -3.9% 10.6% Share price 4.9% -4.1% -13.0% 4.9% *Launched on 13 December 2005. Sources: Datastream, BlackRock Merrill Lynch Investment Managers. At month end Net asset value*: 105.05p Share price: 101.75p Premium to NAV: 3.1% Gearing: 8.1% Revenue per share: 1.69p Total assets: £84.5m Ordinary shares in issue: 75,600,000 Sector Analysis % of Total Assets Country Analysis % of Total Assets Integrated Oil 20.5 Europe 25.3 Diversified 14.9 Australia 21.9 Zinc 10.6 USA 18.0 Nickel 8.6 Canada 16.7 Exploration & Production 7.0 South Africa 8.2 Aluminium 5.1 Latin America 5.7 Iron Ore 5.1 China 3.3 Platinum 4.8 Russia 1.0 Oil sands 3.8 Current liabilities (0.1) Oil Services 3.4 ------ Coal 3.3 Total 100.0 Gold 3.2 ------ Diamonds 2.9 Refining and Marketing 2.5 Distribution 2.0 Tin 1.1 Mineral Sands 0.7 Copper 0.6 Current liabilities (0.1) ------ Total 100.0 ------ Ten Largest Equity Investments Company Region of Risk BHP Billiton Global Canadian Oil Sands Canada China Shenhua Energy China CVRD Latin America Eni Europe Eramet Europe Jubilee Mines Australia Peyto Energy Trust Canada Rio Tinto Global Zinifex Australia Commenting on the markets, Richard Davis, representing the Investment Manager noted: Commodity markets performed well in October. Zinc was the star performer amongst the base metals, rising to a new all-time high of US$1.95/lb. (To put this into context, zinc started the year at US$0.87/lb.) Prices have been supported by a rapid decline in inventories and a strong pick-up in demand from the steel industry. Gold prices made a modest gain to close back above US$600/ oz. In the energy market, OPEC agreed to cut 1.2 million barrels per day of oil production from its current production levels, effective 1st November. This was a bullish outcome given that previous rhetoric from the cartel suggested a 1 million barrels per day cut. The market's reaction has been somewhat muted, however, as traders wait to see whether the cuts will be implemented. Meanwhile, concerns about the outlook for global economic growth pushed prices back below the US$60/Bbl level. Mining and energy shares rose 9.0% and 2.6% respectively on the month. Against this background, the Company's NAV performed well in posting an 8.5% gain. After the close of business on 31st October, the Canadian government surprised the market by announcing changes to the taxation of Canadian-domiciled income trusts. The change will equalise the tax treatment of income trusts and other corporations, thereby eliminating any tax advantage enjoyed by the income trust structure over the corporate structure. The changes take effect in 2011. Not surprisingly, the Canadian stockmarket reacted negatively to the news, with energy income trusts closing down 13%. As at close of business on 1st November, we had 10% of NAV invested in these stocks. Latest information is available by typing www.blackrock.co.uk/its on the internet, 'BLRKINDEX' on Reuters, 'BLRK' on Bloomberg or '8800' on Topic 3 (ICV terminal). 2 November 2006 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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