Russia Norilsk buys own shares for $1.59 billion

MOSCOW, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Russia's metals giant Norilsk Nickel said on Tuesday it has bought its own shares for 46.5 billion roubles ($1.59 billion) by Dec.30 as part of a buyback restarted after a court had lifted a suspension.

Earlier this month Norilsk officials said the process of completing the buyback worth a total of $1.8 billion could take some two months.

(Reporting by Aleksandras Budrys, editing by Gleb Bryanski) ($1=29.23 Rouble) Keywords: NORILSK/BUYBACK ([e-mail]; [phone]; Reuters Messaging: [e-mail]) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.