trade asian exporters fear damage from japan rift mounting trade friction between the and japan has raised fears among many asia exporting nations that the row could inflict far reaching economic damage businessmen and officials said they told reuter correspondents asian capitals move against japan might boost protectionist sentiment the and lead curbs american imports their products but some exporters said that while the conflict would hurt them the long run the short term tokyo loss might their gain the has said will impose mln dlrs tariffs imports japanese electronics goods april retaliation for japan alleged failure stick pact not sell semiconductors world markets below cost unofficial japanese estimates put the impact the tariffs billion dlrs and spokesmen for major electronics firms said they would virtually halt exports products hit the new taxes wouldn able business said spokesman for leading japanese electronics firm matsushita electric industrial ltd the tariffs remain place for any length time beyond few months will mean the complete erosion exports goods subject tariffs the said tom murtha stock analyst the tokyo office broker james capel and taiwan businessmen and officials are also worried are aware the seriousness the threat against japan because serves warning said senior taiwanese trade official who asked not named taiwan had trade trade surplus billion dlrs last year pct with the the surplus helped swell taiwan foreign exchange reserves billion dlrs among the world largest must quickly open our markets remove trade barriers and cut import tariffs allow imports products want defuse problems from possible retaliation said paul sheen chairman textile exporters taiwan safe group senior official south korea trade promotion association said the trade dispute between the and japan might also lead pressure south korea whose chief exports are similar those japan last year south korea had trade surplus billion dlrs with the from billion dlrs malaysia trade officers and businessmen said tough curbs against japan might allow hard hit producers semiconductors third countries expand their sales the hong kong where newspapers have alleged japan has been selling below cost semiconductors some electronics manufacturers share that view but other businessmen said such short term commercial advantage would outweighed further pressure block imports that very short term view said lawrence mills director general the federation hong kong industry the whole purpose prevent imports one day will extended other sources much more serious for hong kong the disadvantage action restraining trade said the last year was hong kong biggest export market accounting for over pct domestically produced exports the australian government awaiting the outcome trade talks between the and japan with interest and concern industry minister john button said canberra last friday this kind deterioration trade relations between two countries which are major trading partners ours very serious matter button said said australia concerns centred coal and beef australia two largest exports japan and also significant exports that country meanwhile japanese diplomatic manoeuvres solve the trade stand off continue japan ruling liberal democratic party yesterday outlined package economic measures boost the japanese economy the measures proposed include large supplementary budget and record public works spending the first half the financial year they also call for stepped spending emergency measure stimulate the economy despite prime minister yasuhiro nakasone avowed fiscal reform program deputy trade representative michael smith and makoto kuroda japan deputy minister international trade and industry miti are due meet washington this week effort end the dispute reuter grain china daily says vermin eat pct grain stocks survey provinces and seven cities showed vermin consume between seven and pct china grain stocks the china daily said also said that each year mln tonnes pct china fruit output are left rot and mln tonnes pct its vegetables the paper blamed the waste inadequate storage and bad preservation methods said the government had launched national programme reduce waste calling for improved technology storage and preservation and greater production additives the paper gave further details reuter ship australian foreign ship ban ends but nsw ports hit tug crews new south wales nsw victoria and western australia yesterday lifted their ban foreign flag ships carrying containers but nsw ports are still being disrupted separate dispute shipping sources said the ban imposed week ago over pay claim had prevented the movement out port nearly vessels they said the pay dispute went before hearing the arbitration commission today meanwhile disruption began today cargo handling the ports sydney newcastle and port kembla they said the industrial action the nsw ports part the week action called the nsw trades and labour council protest changes the state workers compensation laws the shipping sources said the various port unions appear taking turn work for short time the start each shift and then walk off cargo handling the ports has been disrupted with container movements most affected but has not stopped altogether they said they said they could not say how long the disruption will and what effect will have shipping movements reuter gold western mining open new gold mine australia western mining corp holdings ltd wmng wmc said will establish new joint venture gold mine the northern territory cost about mln dlrs the mine known the goodall project will owned pct wmc and pct local grace and gra unit located kms east the adelaide river bundey wmc said statement said the open pit mine with conventional leach treatment plant expected produce about ounces gold its first year production from mid annual ore capacity will about tonnes reuter acq sumitomo bank aims quick recovery from merger sumitomo bank ltd sumi certain lose its status japan most profitable bank result its merger with the heiwa sogo bank financial analysts said osaka based sumitomo with desposits around trillion yen merged with heiwa sogo small struggling bank with estimated billion dlrs unrecoverable loans october but despite the link sumitomo president koh komatsu told reuters confident his bank can quickly regain its position back position first place within three years komatsu said interview said that while the merger will initially reduce sumitomo profitability and efficiency will vastly expand sumitomo branch network the tokyo metropolitan area where has been relatively weak but financial analysts are divided whether and how quickly the gamble will pay off some said sumitomo may have paid too much for heiwa sogo view the smaller bank large debts others argue the merger was more cost effective than creating comparable branch network from scratch the analysts agreed the bank was aggressive has expanded overseas entered the lucrative securities business and geared for domestic competition but they questioned the wisdom some those moves they made bold moves put everything place now largely out their hands said kleinwort benson ltd financial analyst simon smithson among sumitomo problems are limits placed its move enter securities business taking share american investment bank goldman sachs and sumitomo last august agreed pay mln dlrs for pct limited partnership the bank but for the time being least the federal reserve board has forbidden them exchange personnel increase the business they with each other the tie widely looked lame duck because the fed was stricter than sumitomo expected said one analyst but komatsu said the move will pay off time regulations will change the near future and can various things only have wait two three years not until the century komatsu said komatsu also willing patient about possible routes into the securities business home article the securities and exchange act japan version the glass steagall act separates commercial from investment banking but the walls between the two are crumbling and komatsu said hopes further deregulation will create new opportunities need find new business chances komatsu said some cases these will securities related some cases trust bank related that the kind deregulation want until such changes occur sumitomo will focus such domestic securities business profitable government bond dealing and strengthening relations with meiko securities ltd which holds five pct share komatsu said said sumitomo cautiously optimistic about entering the securities business here through its swiss universal bank subsidiary banca del gottardo the finance ministry expected grant licences securities subsidiaries commercial banks soon following similar decision for subsidiaries european universal banks which the parent holds less than pct but komatsu reluctant push hard for similar decision gottardo subsidiary don want make waves expect this will allowed two three years said like other city banks sumitomo also pushing expand lending individuals and small and medium businesses replace disappearing demand from big business added the analysts said sumitomo will have devote lot time digesting its most recent initiatives including the merger with ailing heiwa sogo sumitomo been bold its strategies said kleinwort smithson after that question absorbing and juggling around will the next decade before see the strategy right wrong reuter tin subroto says indonesia supports tin pact extension mines and energy minister subroto confirmed indonesian support for extension the sixth international tin agreement ita but said new pact was not necessary asked reuters clarify his statement monday which said the pact should allowed lapse subroto said indonesia was ready back extension the ita can support extension the sixth agreement said but seventh accord believe unnecessary the sixth ita will expire the end june unless two thirds majority members vote for extension reuter ipi china industrial output rises first quarter china industrial output rose pct the first quarter against the same period the people daily said its overseas edition said the growth rate which compares with target seven pct for the whole was rather high but the base the first quarter was the low side industrial output grew pct the first quarter said china industrial production this year has been normal but product quality and efficiency need further improvement gave further details reuter earn amatil proposes two for five bonus share issue amatil ltd amaa said proposes make two for five bonus issue out its revaluation reserve shareholders registered may shareholders will asked approve the issue and increase authorised capital mln shares from mln general meeting may said statement the new shares will rank for dividends declared after october amatil which industries plc bti holds pct stake said does not expect maintain its latest annual dividend rate cents share the enlarged capital reuter earn bowater pretax profits rise mln stg shr div making turnover billion stg billion pretax profit mln mln tax mln mln company name bowater industries plc bwtr trading profit mln mln trading profit includes packaging and associated products mln mln merchanting and services mln mln tissue and timber products mln mln interest debit mln mln minority interests mln debit mln debit extraordinary items mln credit mln debit reuter acq cra sold forrest gold for mln dlrs whim creek whim creek consolidated said the consortium leading will pay mln dlrs for the acquisition cra ltd craa forrest gold pty ltd unit reported yesterday cra and whim creek did not disclose the price yesterday whim creek will hold pct the consortium while austwhim resources will hold pct and croesus mining pct said statement reported forrest gold owns two mines western australia producing combined ounces gold year also owns undeveloped gold project reuter jobs german industrial employment seen stagnating the number workers employed the west german industrial sector stagnated the last quarter increase overall employment benefited only the services branch the diw economic institute said diw report added the general downturn the economy since last autumn had had negative effect the willingness firms take workers referred marked downturn the number workers taken the capital goods sector new orders for manufacturing industry goods have mostly fallen stagnated recent months but data for february finally showed reversal the trend with pct rise reuter earn bowater industries profit exceed expectations bowater industries plc bwtr pretax profits mln stg exceeded market expectations around mln and pushed the company shares sharply high from last night dealers said the shares later eased back bowater reported mln stg profit the company said statement accompanying the results that the underlying trend showed improvement and intended expand further developing existing businesses and seeking new opportunities added that had appointed david lyon currently managing director redland plc rdld its new chief executive analysts noted that bowater profits mln stg from mln previously had been given boost pension benefits mln stg profit from australia and the far east showed the greatest percentage rise jumping pct mln from mln while the profit from operations rose pct mln and europe pct mln reuter earn citibank norway unit loses six mln crowns citibank cci the norwegian subsidiary the based bank said made net loss just over six mln crowns although foreign bankers said they expect show profits after two lean years citibank oslo treasury head bjoern sejerstad told reuters citibank one seven foreign bank subsidiaries operating norway lost money because restructuring for investment banking away from commercial banking and economic slump norway following last year plunge oil prices foreign banks have been allowed operate susbidiaries norway since foreign banking analysts oslo said access norway second hand securities and equities markets approved later this spring and lower primary reserve requirements would make profit this year citibank lost crowns norway but sejerstad said profit was likely this year because planned liberalisation and better economic performance helped steadier oil price around dlrs barrel earlier this year chase manhattan bank cmb subsidiary decided stop foreign exchange trading after heavy losses and focus instead fee based merchant banking reuter earn vieille montagne says conditions unfavourable sharp fall the dollar price zinc and the depreciation the currency created unfavourable economic conditions for vieille montagne vmnb said statement that the two factors led squeeze refining margins and pct fall sales and services income despite unchanged level activity vieille montagne which actively pursuing restructuring program reported mln franc net loss after mln francs provisions for the closure electrolysis plant compared with mln franc net profit reuter earn vieille montagne reports loss dividend nil year net loss after exceptional charges mln francs profit mln exceptional provisions for closure viviez electrolysis plant mln francs exceptional gain mln sales and services billion francs billion proposed net dividend ordinary shares nil francs company full name vieille montagne vmnb reuter tin mainly for tin extension stand taken european community members the international tin council except britain have said they are prepared back extension the international tin agreement spokesman said said meeting states representatives here yesterday britain undertook communicate its own decision its partners today said was not ready yesterday take stand but did not say why added nine other states backed extension spain and portugal which are not members the international tin council raised objections common stance favour reuter trade japan given little hope avoiding sanctions top official said japan has little chance convincing the drop threatened trade sanctions despite the efforts japanese team that left for washington today michael armacost under secretary state for political affairs was asked press conference whether japan moves boost its domestic economy and open its markets could persuade the not impose tariffs japanese imports said and replied probably too early for the figures demonstrate that the situation has turned around and permit the result you have described armacost said the hopes japan will take steps lift its domestic economy and reduce dependence exports remove barriers imports and settle outstanding trade issues there are obvious problems the moment the trade area but not wish those problems divert attention from important areas cooperation that continue exist security and political issues said the question whether through cooperative actions between our governments can reduce the trade imbalance whether congress takes action reduce through protectionist legislation said reuter zinc thai zinc exports fall march thai zinc ingot exports fell tonnes march from february and march the mineral resources department said spokesman for padaeng industry ltd the country sole exporter attributed the decline the company lower stocks which averaged tonnes the first quarter against tonnes late when began exporting the department said major buyers included china japan the philippines south korea singapore and taiwan thailand exported tonnes zinc ingots during the first quarter down from year ago reuter sugar sugar tender hard predict london trade the outcome today european community white sugar tender extremely difficult predict after last week substantial award tonnes the highest ever rebate european currency units ecus per kilos traders said some said they believed the tonnage would probably smaller around tonnes but declined give view the likely restitution last week the european commission accepted tonnes sugar into intervention operators protesting about low rebates this might determining factor today result they added reuter sugar north yemen calls sugar buying tender trade north yemen has called buying tender for saturday for the purchase tonnes white sugar for arrival june traders said reuter acq anheuser busch joins bid for san miguel anheuser busch companies inc bud has joined several other foreign bidders for sequestered shares the philippines largest food and beverage maker san miguel corp sanm the head government panel which controls the shares told reuters ramon diaz secretary the presidential commission good government pcgg said anheuser busch had told the government was interested buying mln shares san miguel did not disclose the offered price diaz said australian brewer alan bond bond corp holdings ltd had offered pesos per share for the shares diaz said new york investment bank allen and inc had earlier said was interested buying all mln sequestered shares told reuters last month elders ixl ltd elxa the melbourne based brewing company had also bid for the shares the hong kong economic journal last month quoted spokesman australian stock broker jacksons ltd saying that barwon farmlands ltd australian firm owned pct ariadne australia ltd was planning filipino branch order buy the entire block mln shares anheuser busch last year made mln dlr bid buy san miguel brewery ltd hong kong listed company which pct owned neptunia corp ltd san miguel corp subsidiary the talks broke down last june after the two sides said they could not agree the terms the sale reuter earn jardine matheson said sets two for five bonus issue replacing shares acq monier says britain redland may bid for diversified building materials group monier ltd mnra said talks are taking place which may lead britain redland plc rdld making offer for the monier shares does not already hold chairman bill locke said redland already holds about pct monier mln issued shares said brief notice the australian stock exchange locke said shareholders would advised soon the discussions progressed and recommended that they keep their shares monier shares were trading high dlrs today from the previous peak yesterday close and well above the low dlrs monier the largest concrete roof tile manufacturer australia the and new zealand and the world largest marketer fly ash according its annual report for ended june recently reported first half net fell mln dlrs from mln year earlier due the australian housing downturn although foreign earnings rose reuter earn isuzu plans interim dividend isuzu motor ltd isum will pay dividend for the first half year ending april the company expected mark billion yen parent company current loss the first half due slow exports caused the yen appreciation company spokesman said the company has paid dividend since the year ended october when paid five yen had billion yen current profit the first half reuter trade japanese official takes data microchip talks ministry international trade and industry miti vice minister makoto kuroda leaves for washington today with data hopes will refute charges japan has violated pact microchip trade three man japanese trade team already washington laying the groundwork for talks between kuroda and deputy trade representative michael smith aimed persuading the not impose tariffs certain japanese products but kuroda said taking new proposals have nothing briefcase except explanation the current situation kuroda told the daily newspaper asahi shimbun kuroda said the decision was based incorrect data and exaggerated sense miti power control market forces the has excessive expectations stabilise supply demand relations which have been disrupted excess inventories since will take some time said kuroda also laid part the blame for low chip sales japan lack effort american firms here said fails talks tomorrow and friday forestall sanctions will seek further talks with trade representative clayton yeutter officials said this week talks are unlikely delay imposition tariffs reuter acq bell group confirms standard chartered stake the bell group ltd blla said now holds pct the issued capital standard chartered plc stch after acquiring further shares the one sentence statement from bell headquarters confirmed what its brokers warburg securities told reuters london yesterday bell previously held pct standard bell chairman robert holmes court who also director standard was not available for comment his company intentions boosting its holding and other company officials contacted here reuters declined comment reuter acq nippon steel denies china seeking japanese plants nippon steel corp nstc denied local newspaper reports that china has been seeking buy steel plants from japanese firms which plan suspend output under the recently announced rationalisation program the mainichi shimbun quoted nippon steel saying that china state planning commission and some chinese firms have asked japanese makers sell them steel works and rolling mills expand steelmaking cheaply named sources nippon steel spokesman told reuters that china has made such official request and the company was not considering such sales the moment but mainichi quoted nippon steel officials saying prices are reasonable they would export their used mills china the paper said china crude steel output totalled mln tonnes calendar and that plans increase mln japan steel industry rationalisation plan aimed cutting production capacity sharply over the next few years reuter earn jardine matheson replaces share bonus issue jardine matheson holdings ltd jard said will withdraw the previously announced four for one bonus issue shares and replace two for five bonus issue ordinary shares statement said the firm expects pay total dividends for not less than cents share the expanded capital jardine matheson decided withdraw its issue because joint announcement earlier today ronald chairman the stock exchange hong kong and securities commissioner ray astin that the listings new shares would barred the official announcement said this will include the proposal jardine matheson but the jardine statement quoted chairman simon keswick saying continue believe that the issuing shares would benefit shareholders and regret that they will not given the opportunity vote the matter this stage keswick said the share issue will benefit jardine matheson shareholders giving the firm flexibility issue ordinary shares for expansion future without diluting existing shareholders voting rights however added certainly welcome the secretary for monetary affairs david nendick referral this very important matter the standing committee company law reform and are hopeful that the process will lead the development general principles which can embraced all constituents the hong kong market reuter trade japan given little hope avoiding sanctions top official said japan has little chance persuading the drop threatened trade sanctions despite the efforts japanese team that left for washington today michael armacost under secretary state for political affairs was asked press conference whether japan moves boost its domestic economy and open its markets could persuade the not impose tariffs japanese imports said and replied probably too early for the figures demonstrate that the situation has turned around and permit the result you have described armacost said the hopes japan will take steps lift its domestic economy and reduce dependence exports remove barriers imports and settle outstanding trade issues there are obvious problems the moment the trade area but not wish those problems divert attention from important areas cooperation that continue exist security and political issues said the question whether through cooperative actions between our governments can reduce the trade imbalance whether congress takes action reduce through protectionist legislation said reuter cpi indonesian inflation rate pct inflation was pct indonesia during fiscal march compared pct the previous year information minister harmoko said after cabinet session discuss the economic situation reuter acq san miguel deal hit more lawsuits bid san miguel corp smc sanm buy back mln sequestered shares from united coconut planters bank ucpb has been hit two new lawsuits sources the philippine food and brewery company said manila court yesterday issued injunction barring ucpb from selling the shares which represent pct smc outstanding capital stock mln shares until hearings april petition filed eduardo cojuangco former chairman both smc and ucpb cojuangco said the coconut industry investment fund ciif and mln farmers were the rightful owners the shares cojuangco said the shares were held trust ucpb and represented blue chip investment his petition said ucpb plans sell the shares smc were serious breach fiduciary duties the smc sources said the proposed share sale could also held second derivative suit filed before the securities and exchange commission sec eduardo los angeles government nominee the company board los angeles who represents smc minority stockholders asked the sec block the transaction approved last week the company board april the board sanctioned the repurchase the sequestered shares for billion pesos pesos per share los angeles told the sec the company retained earnings billion pesos would wiped out the purchase the shares and would prevent the declaration dividends los angeles said the share purchase would also violate smc agreement with its creditors maintain debt equity ratio quoted smc chief financial director ramon del rosario telling the board that the transaction would boost the ratio petitioning the sec los angeles amended earlier suit two weeks ago which charged smc chairman andres soriano iii and nine other directors violating their duties los angeles earlier complaint related smc assuming last december mln dlr loan contracted smc hong kong subsidiary neptunia corp for down payment the shares the loan assumption was again ratified last week board meeting arbitration panel set president corazon aquino resolve the ownership issue expected submit its report april the amended suit filed eduardo los angeles part continuing attempt certain elements complete disregard the facts and with questionable motives delay early disposition the sequestered shares san miguel corp said statement coming does when san miguel corp and ucpb have reached agreement the price the shares and the method payment this suit direct contravention the government expressed desire reach amicable settlement the controversy april the statement added san miguel spokesman said had comment cojuangco court petition adding any statement coming from might interpreted adversarial meanwhile ramon diaz the head government panel which sequestered the shares last year said soriano was not eligible buy the major portion the shares because was united states citizen the sequestered shares are split into mln shares which can only owned filipinos and mln shares which are available foreign buyers smc sources said soriano personally was not among prospective buyers they said the shares would purchased the soriano group companies smc neptunia and unnamed institutional investors soriano was named one the buyers bid march for mln shares controlled ucpb the sale was aborted when diaz presidential commission good government sequestered the shares suspicion they were owned cojuangco close associate former president ferdinand marcos cojuangco lives self imposed exile the the shares grew mln after pct stock dividend announced last june have objection soriano buying the shares diaz told reuters but everything hold now the smc spokesman said did not know the controversy would resolved before the company annual stockholders meeting scheduled for may san miguel corp reported sales revenue billion pesos pct above its billion peso sales said unaudited net profit was the neighbourhood mln pesos increase about pct over reuter sugar rain boosts central queensland sugar cane crop good rains one four inches the past days have boosted moisture stressed sugar cane crops the mackay burdekin region queensland central coast australian sugar producers association spokesman said previously reported the region has been undergoing severe dry spell partly relieved scattered rainfall since december following the virtual failure the summer wet season mills the area have been reporting that their crops are beginning look healthy and greener and are putting growth since the rains began the spokesman said from brisbane although the mackay burdekin crop outlook much better than was there will some cane losses the spokesman said but too early say what they will and more rain needed restore sub soil moisture elsewhere far north queensland the bundaberg region and southern queensland the cane excellent condition and some mills are forecasting record crops said initial crop estimates will probably compiled towards the end may said the cane crush normally runs from june december reuter sugar french traders forecast sugar tender the european community expected award export licences today weekly tender for above and possibly tonnes white sugar after last week award for tonnes traders here said they expected maximum rebate between and ecus per kilos compared last week earlier traders london said the outcome the tender was very hard predict after last week substantial award and the placing tonnes sugar into intervention they said they believed the tonnage would around but declined give rebate figure reuter earn italy fondiaria report higher profits italian insurer fondiaria spa lfdi said expects report consolidated group profit significantly higher than the billion lire reported the company said statement that parent company net profit last year will rise from the billion lire reported consolidated group premiums totaled billion lire compared with billion the previous year iniziativa meta inzi the financial services unit montedison spa moni controls the largest single stake florence based fondiaria with pct reuter nickel nickel prices unlikely rise much shearson nickel prices are unlikely rise significantly from current levels unless further steps are taken reduce production shearson lehman brothers said its quarterly nickel market report the market had recovered slightly around dlrs yesterday from its four year low dlrs early january due the absence soviet nickel cathode deliveries but shearson sees soviet shipments soon returning last year buoyant levels which should ease current tightness output reductions producers will take effect later this year but are likely offset increases elsewhere shearson said the nickel market will virtually balance during with total non socialist world demand tonnes compared with estimated tonnes production tonnes and imports from socialist countries tonnes forecast prices will edge higher during the year from first quarter average dlrs dlrs the last quarter the year average will around dlrs compared with dlrs using london metal exchange cash metal prices dollar terms and assuming average sterling exchange rate dlrs reuter earn higher profit for dutch chemical firm dsm the fully state owned dutch chemical firm dsm dsmn said its net profit rose mln guilders from mln while turnover fell billion guilders from billion the company said dividend which will paid the dutch state its capacity the firm sole shareholder would raised mln guilders from mln guilders initial comment its results dsm said the drop turnover had been caused mainly losses the company fertilizer division reuter acq cincinnati bell csn starts auxton auxt bid cincinnati bell inc said has started its previously announced dlr per share tender offer for all shares auxton computer enterprises inc newspaper advertisement the company said the tender and withdrawal rights will expire may five unless extended the offer which has been approved the auxton board and followed merger the same price conditioned receipt majority auxton voting stock fully diluted basis reuter earn california biotech cbio sees qtr loss california biotechnology inc said expects report loss dlrs dlrs for the first quarter due increased investment research and manufacturing and scaleup production the company said research spending running pct above year ago tries commercialize its products quickly possible and increased expenditures are expected continue for several more quarters said operating results will fluctuate quarter quarter depending the timing significant payments from commercial partners the first three months the company lost dlrs the company changed its fiscal year calendar year from year ending november for the first quarter last year ended february california biotech earned dlrs reuter earn pall corp pll sets quarterly dividend qtly div cts cts prior pay may one record april reuter acq unilever seeks buyer for stauffer chemical unilever plc and has issued prospectus through investment bankers goldman sachs and seeking buyer for stauffer chemical the which acquired with the recent takeover chesebrough pond inc unilever spokesman said noted unilever has been indicating plans dispose stauffer plus some smaller assets chesebrough since the bid was made december the stauffer sale prospectus has been sent recent weeks number companies expressing interest the unilever spokesman declined say how much the group expected receive for stauffer chesebrough footwear and tennis racket businesses are also likely disposed added immediately available financial information stauffer which wholly owned was limited added nine month sales september were about billion dlrs unilever aquired chesebrough for billion dlrs order benefit from its well known toiletry brands and food products reuter acq conrac corp said has entered talks its acquisition with several parties acq conrac cax merger talks with several conrac corp sait has started negotiations with several interested parties its possible acquisition said there can assurance that any transaction will result from the talks gave further details mark industries inc started tendering for all conrac shares dlrs each march and owned pct conrac before starting the bid conrac producer and marketer computer related information display and communications equipment which also produces special purpose architectural and industrial products owns code phone corp producer telephone answering machines for the company reported profits mln dlrs dlrs share sales mln dlrs has nearly mln shares outstanding reuter earn computer research inc core qtr feb net shr cts nine cts net revs half shr cts cts net revs reuter ship australian foreign ship ban ends tug crews new south wales nsw victoria and western australia yesterday lifted their ban foreign flag ships carrying containers but nsw ports are still being disrupted separate dispute shipping sources said the ban imposed week ago over pay claim had prevented the movement out port nearly vessels they said the pay dispute went before hearing the arbitration commission today meanwhile disruption began today cargo handling the ports sydney newcastle and port kembla they said the industrial action the nsw ports part the week action called the nsw trades and labour council protest changes the state workers compensation laws reuter earn rubbermaid inc qtr shr cts cts ship independent chairman for dutch cargo dispute the two sides the rotterdam port general cargo dispute have agreed appoint independent chairman han lammers preside over future meetings employers spokesman gerard zeebregts said lammers queen commissioner for the province flevoland will not act mediator but will draw agenda and procedures for meetings between the employers and unions work practice agreement and proposed redundancies two months strikes the sector began january protest employers proposals for redundancies from the strong workforce this year the strikes were called off the main port union fnv march following amsterdam court interim injunction against the redundancies procedural grounds the court due make final ruling may but zeebregts said expected the judgment against the employers and they were therefore very likely restart the complicated legal redundancy procedures the near future meanwhile the dispute over new work practice agreement the port grain sector continued with maintenance workers strike although loading was not affected spokesman for graan elevator mij the largest employer the sector said the employers have written the union asking reconsider its position and meeting union members has been called for tomorrow reuter earn electro rent corp elrc qtr feb net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs nine mths shr cts dlrs net revs mln mln avg shrs reuter earn rubbermaid inc rbd qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln sales mln mln reuter earn wtc international inc waf qtr feb net shr profit cts loss cts net profit loss rev mln mln year shr profit cts loss cts net profit loss rev mln mln reuter earn mead corp qtr oper shr dlrs cts earn rubbermaid rbd sees continued improvement rubbermaid inc said its incoming order rates continue strong and expects continue recording favorable year year comparisons each remaining quarter today the company reported first quarter earnings mln dlrs sales mln dlrs from earnings mln dlrs sales mln dlrs reuter earn cayuga savings bank cayb qtr net shr cts cts net avg shrs reuter earn johnstown savings bank fsb jsbk qtr net shr cts not given net note company went public october net includes pretax loan loss provisions dlrs dlrs and gain sale securities dlrs dlrs reuter earn home savings and loan association inc hsld qtr march shr cts not given net half shr dlrs not given net note company recently went public reuter earn geodynamics corp gdyn qtr feb net shr cts cts net revs nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter jobs swedish unemployment steady march swedish unemployment was steady pct the workforce march compared with the previous month the central bureau statistics said march the figure stood pct reuter earn compaq cpq expects higher first quarter net compaq computer corp said expects sales and earnings for the first quarter higher than analysts expectations due strong demand for its products rod canion president and chief executive officer compaq said expects sales over mln dlrs for the period ending march above analysts estimates mln dlrs added that earnings per share would exceed analysts estimates high cts share compaq reported earnings mln dlrs cts share and sales mln dlrs for the first quarter the company said demand for its deskpro portable iii and the new compaq deskpro will contribute the sales increase the initial demand for the recently introduced compaq portable iii and the new models the compaq deskpro exceeds that any other compaq personal computers canion said saw continued demand for our personal computers across the quarter with march being particularly strong month reuter acq international sell insurance units international said reached preliminary agreement sell the hawaiian insurance cos hawaiian electric industries inc terms the transaction were not disclosed the company said the transaction subject the execution definitive agreements certain governmental approvals and approvals the boards directors involved international said hawaiian electric said the planned purchase was part its strategy increase the company investment selected service industries hawaii including financial services reuter earn cxr telcom corp cxrl qtr march net shr nil nil net revs nine mths shr one nil net revs reuter acq proxmire outlines insider trading legislation senate banking committee chairman william proxmire wis said planned introduce legislation shortly require greater public disclosure corporate takeovers and fairer treatment for all shareholders speaking the national association manufacturers proxmire said recent insider trading stock scandals increased the chance that congress will act curb abuses are proposing legislation that would provide for more disclosure would fairer all shareholders and would insure that takeovers are properly financed said among the provisions the bill would reduce the threshold for notifying the securities and exchange commission that investor group has acquired percentage stock company three pct from the current five pct threshold within days proxmire said addition there would pre notificaton requirement that investor intended aquire three pct that would have filed with the sec proxmire said the pre notification requirement was meant prevent arbitragers from having jump the general public knowing about coming takeover attempts proxmire said would call for extending the period that tender offer must kept open under the williams act business days from the current business days his bill would provide for private suits the acquiring company violated the time period the tender offer correct abuses the financing takeovers proxmire said the legislation would aim insuring current margin requirments are properly enforced the federal reserve board has pct margin requirement for purchasing stock but proxmire said not generally enforced hostile takeovers rather the groups individuals leading takeover declare that they can raise the capital for takeover without actually putting any their own money proxmire said said his bill would allow private suits for damages for failure meet the federal reserve pct margin requirements the bill also would require more disclose when several investors form alliance hostile takeover when pickens and icahn get together want people know about proxmire said proxmire said favored the approach used britain towards two tiered tender offers that insures that all shareholders recieve equal treatment said expected amendments the bill also would cover defensive mechanisms such green mail and poison pills proxmire said intended introduce his bill later this month and predicted the senate committee would act this spring said was hopeful congress could pass bill this year reuter earn helen troy corp hele qtr feb net shr cts cts net sales mln avg shrs year oper shr profit dlrs loss cts oper net profit loss sales mln mln avg shrs note latest year net excludes dlr tax credit reuter earn bankers trust puts brazil non accrual bankers trust new york corp said has placed its approximately mln dlrs medium and long term loans brazil non accrual status and that first quarter net income will reduced about seven mln dlrs result brazil suspended interest payments its billion dlrs medium and long term debt february banking regulations not require banks stop accruing interest loans until payments are days overdue but bankers trust said acted now because the high potential continued suspension that would result reaching the day limit the second quarter assuming cash payments current interest rates are received for the rest bankers trust estimated that full year net income would reduced about mln dlrs bankers trust said assumes that debt negotiations between brazil and its commercial bank lenders will lead the resumption interest payments the negotiations resume new york friday when central bank governor francisco gros expected ask banks for day rollover some billion dlrs term debt that matures april reuter earn first mercantile currency fund inc qtr net shr profit cts cts net revs reuter sugar intervention says sold tonnes white sugar rebate ecus money-fx stoltenberg sees moves strengthen paris accord west german finance minister gerhard stoltenberg said today meetings major industrial countries would look ways strengthening the paris accord stabilizing foreign exchange rates stoltenberg told journalists saw fundamental weakness the february agreement the group five countries and canada keep exchange rates near the then current levels but declined say what measures would discussed ahead communique the group seven ministers later today stoltenberg and bundesbank president karl otto poehl said the importance the paris agreement also known the louvre accord had been underestimated stoltenberg said there greater agreement now among major countries than six months ago the time the annual meeting the international monetary fund and world bank marked sharp discord between the united states and its major trading partners there fundamental weakness the paris accord said will looking ways strengthening but not want discuss that here stoltenberg said the louvre agreement was working despite slight firming the yen against the dollar and poehl noted that the dollar mark parity was unchanged since february without the bundesbank having had sell marks support the dollar the louvre agreement has been honored the market said poehl said west germany had lived its side the bargain paris preparing the way for tax cuts accelerated way stimulating growth poehl said however that japan had not yet fulfilled its pledges for economic stimulation and will have see the united states able what they promised paris reducing the budget deficit and get through congress added stoltenberg reiterated west german concern about further fall the dollar noting that the mark was pct against the dollar and nearly pct trade weighted basis you cannot expect that unnoticed economy and not just german problem european problem said reuter sugar intervention board details sugar sales total tonnes current series white sugar received export rebates maximum european currency units ecus per kilos today european community tender the intervention board said out this traders the received tonnes france west germany belgium spain and denmark tonnes added earlier today london traders had declined give projected view the level subsidy although some said total tonnage awards would around tonnes paris traders foresaw between and tonnes being authorised for export ecu subsidy cumulative sales authorisations for the current season now stand tonnes weeks last week saw tonnes whites authorised for export under licences end sep the higest ever rebate european currency units ecus per kilos reuter earn mead mea expects improved earnings this year mead corp said the outlook for its major paper markets looks strong for the second quarter and augurs well for its earnings the generally strong outlook bodes well for significantly improved earnings this year burnell roberts chairman and chief executive officer said earlier the company reported first quarter earnings mln dlrs dlrs share versus mln dlrs cts share last year first quarter the company reported earnings from continuing operations mln dlrs dlrs share mead said its first quarter benefitted from stronger market conditions and improved operations the combination capital improvement programs and more employee involvement has been paying off throughout our paper operations roberts said added that mead pulp and paperboard businesses are operating well prices have improved and strong demand has placed most products sold out position through the middle the year mead said sales its unbleached coated paperboard was particularly strong pct versus the first quarter reuter earn amertek inc atekf qtr net shr profit cts loss three cts net profit loss revs reuter earn alex brown inc absb qtr march net shr primary cts cts shr diluted cts cts qtrly div six cts five cts net revs mln mln note pay date for the qtrly div april for shareholders record april reuter earn town and country jewelry manufacturing tcjc thh qtr feb shr cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs year shr dlrs dlrs net sales mln mln avg shrs note town and country jewelry manufacturing corp reuter acq paxar corp paks makes acquisition paxar corp said has acquired thermo print gmbh lohn west germany distributor paxar products for undisclosed terms reuter earn mark work wearhouse ltd year jan net shr cts cts net sales mln mln reuter acq canadian bashaw erskine resources merge canadian bashaw leduc oil and gas ltd said agreed merge with erskine resources ltd terms were not disclosed ownership the combined company with pct for the current shareholders canadian bashaw and pct the current shareholders erskine the companies said reuter earn entourage entg has first quarter loss entourage international inc said had first quarter loss dlrs after incurring dlrs costs for internal audit report for shareholders and proxy soliciation and dlrs startup expenses for opening london offices the company went public during entourage also said has started marketing solid perfume packaged lipstick tube called amadeus retailing dlrs the company also said has acquired north country media group video productions company reuter earn jax fashions inc year feb net shr cts cts net sales mln mln reuter earn woolworth says hikes dividend cts share from cts earn woolworth hikes dividend qtly div cts cts prior pay june record may reuter sugar dutch sugar beet planting half finished roughly half this year expected hectare dutch sugar beet crop already the ground spokesman for suiker unie the largest sugar processor the netherlands told reuters conditions are generally good and the average sowing date for the crop expected around april against april last year and year average april the spokesman added far too early yet say what kind output can expect when comes harvest september but least the crop off very good start said last year the netherlands planted record hectares sugar beet and produced record mln tonnes white sugar substantially more than the country combined and quota tonnes this year however self imposed quota system has been introduced with the aim cutting plantings hectares and reducing white sugar output around tonnes minimise the amount non quota sugar produced only farmers with record growing suger beet have been allotted quotas this expected prevent the area being boosted dairy cereal farmers moving into sugar reuter earn morgan and inc qtr shr dlrs dlrs sugar commission details sugar tender the commission confirmed granted export licences for tonnes current series white sugar maximum export rebate european currency units ecus per kilos out this traders france received tonnes the west germany belgium spain and denmark tonnes reuter earn volkswagen dividend decision due tomorrow volkswagen vowg due make formal announcement about its dividend tomorrow after saying the level marks per ordinary share would held despite massive losses because suspected foreign currency fraud spokesman said supervisory board will meet tomorrow discuss the payout statement will made afterwards has also said disclosed profits for will reach their level despite provisions possible mln marks linked the currency affair the figure virtually the same the mln mark parent company net profit when first confirmed the currency scandal march said the management board would propose unchanged mark dividend the supervisory board dividend marks would proposed for the company new preference shares share analysts said they saw supervisory board approval the management board proposal virtually formality anything else would more than surprise one said company sources said would have dig into reserves maintain the disclosed profit parent company reserves stood around three billion marks end reuter earn citytrust bancorp inc citr qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net avg shrs reuter acq southmark acquires nursing homes southmark corp said acquired long term care facilities containing for approximately mln dlrs cash said the facilities which contain approximately beds seven western states were bought from don bybee and associates salem ore the acquistion brings health care facilities acquired the last three months the company said reuter earn morgan and inc jpm qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln assets billion billion loans billion billion deposits billion billion return assets pct pct return common equity pct pct note qtr net was reduced mln dlrs because billion dlrs loans brazil were placed non accrual loan loss provision mln dlrs mln year earlier reuter earn firstbanc corp ohio fboh qtr net shr cts cts net reuter earn mayfair super markets inc myfra qtr net qtr ends feb shr class cts cts shr class cts cts net revs six mths shr class dlrs cts shr class dlrs cts net revs note qtr and six mths prior figures reflect two for one stock split august reuter earn hanover insurance hins get split approval hanover insurance said its stockholders approved two for one stock split result the split hanover said increases the number authorized shares capital stock from mln having par value one dlr mln also having par value one dlr the stock split payable april stockholders record april hanover said reuter acq national guardian natg makes acquisitions national guardian corp said has acquired number security services companies recently with aggregate revenues about dlrs for aggregate cost about dlrs said acquired guard service companies security gaurd service paramus from cartel security consultants inc the guard services division security services america wayne capital investigations and protective agency hackensack and meyer detective agency inc national park the company said bought alarm service operations certified security services inc key west fla custom security services myrtle beach security group inc houston and the louisville kent and nashville tenn offices wells fargo alarm services reuter earn universal medical umbiz distribution set qtly distribution cts cts prior excluding cts special pay april record april note full name universal medical buildings reuter acq wedgestone realty wdg acquisition approved wedgestone realty investors trust said shareholkders have approved the acquisition its advisor wedgestone advisory corp for shares said completion expected take place april reuter heat sun sun cuts heating oil barge price sun sun refining and marketing subsidiary said decreasing the price charges contract barge customers for heating oil harbor cent gallon effective today the cent gallon price reduction brings sun heating oil contract barge price cts gallon the company said reuter jobs dutch adjusted unemployment rises march dutch seasonally adjusted unemployment rose the month end march total from end february but was well down from end march social affairs ministry figures show the figure for male jobless rose the month compared with year earlier the figure for women was end march against month earlier and end march unadjusted basis total unemployment fell the month end march march the figure was ministry spokesman said the unadjusted figures showed smaller than usual seasonal decrease for the time year because particularly cold weather delaying work the building industry said this explained the increase the adjusted statistics total vacancies available rose end march year earlier the figure was reuter earn hartmarx corp hmx boosts dividend chicago april qtly div cts cts prior qtr pay may record may money-fx top officials arrive treasury for talks top officials leading industrial nations arrived the treasury main building begin meeting the group five officials seen arriving reuter correspondents included west german finance minister gerhard stoltenberg and bundesbank president karl otto poehl french finance minister edouard balladur and his central banker jacques larosiere also seen arriving were japanese finance minister kiichi miyazawa and japan central bank governor satoshi sumita and british chancellor the exchequer and central bank governor robin leigh pemberton there was immediate sign italian canadian officials monetary sources have said fully blown meeting the group seven expected begin around local time gmt and last least until gmt when communique expected issued italian sources said italian acting finance minister giovanni goria met treasury secretary james baker last night those talks baker apparently convinced goria who declined attend the february meeting the group seven paris that italy would participate fully any meaningful decisions reuter interest fed expected set customer repurchases the federal reserve expected intervene the government securities market supply temporary reserves indirectly via customer repurchase agreements economists said economists expect the fed execute billion dlrs customer repos offset pressures from the end the two week bank reserve maintenance period today some also look for permanent reserve injection offset seasonal pressures via outright purchase bills coupons this afternoon the federal funds rate opened pct and remained that level from yesterday pct average reuter acq reader digest association sells unit the reader digest association inc said sold its subsidiary source telecomputing corp the venture capital firm welsh carson anderson and stowe the purchase price was not disclosed reader digest said said purchased pct stake source and earned unspecified profit mln dlrs revenues reuter earn weis markets inc wmk qtr march net shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln reuter earn continental bank initial distribution approved continental bank canada said shareholders approved capital reorganization allow initial payout the end may common shareholders from last year mln canadian dlr sale most continental assets lloyds bank plc lloyds bank canada the bank said the initial distribution would take the form stock dividend cumulative redeemable retractable class series two preferred shares entitling holders monthly floating rate dividends pct prime and dlrs share retraction continental said the initial payout was subject canadian government approval the bank reiterated that total distributions common shareholders would range from dlrs share dlrs including the initial stock dividend and final distribution late early the payout existing preferred shareholders will completed just before next month initial distribution common shareholders continental added reuter earn atlas consolidated mining and development acmb qtr shr loss cts loss cts net loss mln loss mln revs mln mln year shr cts dlrs net loss mln loss mln revs mln mln note atlas consolidated mining and development corp manila translated from philippine pesos pesos dollar quarter and year reuter acq sci med smls board agrees bristol bmy deal sci med life systems inc said its directors approved previously proposed agreement merger with bristol myers the proposed transaction subject completion due diligence investigation including review bristol myers patent infringement suit served sci med advanced cardiovascular systems inc march bristol myers has the right call off the agreement under certain circumstances said sci med said continues believe the patent suit without merit reuter acq fidelcor ficr completes sale unit fidelcor inc said has completed the sale its industrial valley title insurance subsidiary group investors including the unit management for undisclosed terms industrial valley has assets about mln dlrs and was acquired last year along with ivb financial corp reuter earn data translation inc datx qtr feb net shr cts cts net sales avg shrs reuter earn fidata corp fid qtr loss shr loss two cts profit cts net loss profit revs mln year shr profit dlrs profit cts net profit mln profit revs mln mln note net includes pretax securities sale gain dlrs loss dlrs quarter and gain dlrs loss dlrs year net includes pretax gains sale businesses nil dlrs quarter and mln dlrs dlrs year net includes pretax losses disposition product line nil dlrs quarter and dlrs dlrs year quarter net includes tax credits dlrs dlrs net includes reversal tax loss carryforwards dlrs dlrs quarter and tax loss carryforwards dlrs dlrs year reuter earn marble financial corp mrbl qtr net oper shr cts not given oper net note net excludes dlr gain from termination pension plan company went public august reuter acq dominion textile calls report bid for burlington rumor earn raytheon qtr shr dlrs dlrs earn fleet financial group qtr shr cts cts earn diebold inc dbd declares dividend qtly div cts cts prior pay june record may reuter earn independent bank corp ibcp regular dividend qtly div cts cts previously pay april record april reuter earn raytheon rtn qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs mln mln reuter earn waltham savings bank wlbk initial dividend qtly div eight cts payable may record april reuter earn fleet financial group flt qtr net shr primary cts cts shr diluted cts cts net avg shares note qtr net interest income mln dlrs mln dlrs earnings per share reflects two for one common stock split march reuter acq dominion calls burlington bur report rumor dominion textile inc considers published report that has bought stake burlington industries inc and considering making joint bid for the company rumor company spokesman said far concerned and the company concerned they are rumors and not commenting rumors spokesman michel dufour told reuters response query all the information that has been given out publicly that yes dominion textile interested making acquisition that big probably based that people are starting all sorts rumors said dufour said yes when asked whether the report was only rumor but said the company was not prepared comment further dominion textile president and chairman thomas bell was out town and unavailable for comment dominion textile last year made unsuccesful mln dlr bid for avondale mills and has maintained mln dlr line credit used for american acquisition dufour said the company has been negotiating with many textile companies but would not say whether burlington industries was one them burlington stock rose sharply this morning the report which said dominion textile had joined with investor asher edelman buy stake the company and consider making takeover offer dominion textile which reported operating profit mln canadian dlrs last year sales mln dlrs has repeatedly said will concentrate expanding into the the company has said plans diversify into new product and market areas addition expanding its textile operations reuter interest fed sets overnight system repurchases fed says earn raytheon rtn net rises operations raytheon said pct rise its first quarter net mln dlrs reflected improved operations and lower effective tax rate the company said revenue gains electronics major appliances and other lines were offset decreases energy services and aircraft products revenues the quarter rose pct billion dlrs said the company said backlog stood billion dlrs down from billion dlrs year earlier said five year billion dlr defense contract was awarded shortly after the close the first quarter reuter earn general instrument corp grl qtr loss ended feb shr loss dlrs profit cts net loss mln profit revs mln mln year shr loss dlrs loss dlrs net loss mln loss mln revs mln mln note includes loss mln dlrs loss mln dlrs year and loss mln dlrs current qtr from discontinued operations qtr includes pretax gain five mln dlrs from settlement litigation and tax gain mln dlrs from change estimated effective tax rate reuter cocoa cocoa exporters expected limit sales major cocoa exporters are likely limit sales the weeks ahead effort boost world prices sources close meeting the cocoa producers alliance cpa said the sources said the depressed world market had been one the main topics discussed closed door meeting the member cpa which began monday they said producers agreed that cutting sales would aid the buffer stock manager new international cocoa pact his effort support prices major cocoa producing and consuming nations agreed operation rules for the buffer stock meeting london last month and the stock manager expected enter the market soon prices under the weight three successive cocoa surpluses recently fell the level which the manager has buy cocoa under stock rules the buffer stock aims keep prices within pre set range buying when prices fall and selling when they rise the world cocoa price present just not interesting commented one delegate representing major cpa producer another source said that with much the october september world cocoa crop sold limiting sales the near term concerns essentially next year harvest the sources noted however that the cocoa industry brazil the world number two producer private hands this means limiting sales more difficult than major west african producers where sales are made authorized commodity marketing boards the cpa includes the world top three producers ivory coast brazil and ghana and accounts for pct all output the meeting here due end tomorrow evening reuter interest fed adds reserves via overnight repurchases the federal reserve entered the government securities market arrange overnight system repurchase agreements fed spokesman said dealers said that federal funds were trading pct when the fed began its temporary and direct supply reserves the banking system reuter earn morgan jpm net hurt brazil trading morgan and inc said its first quarter earnings fell pct largely reflecting its previously announced decision place non accrual status its billion dlrs medium and long term loans brazil that decision spurred brazil suspension interest payments february reduced the quarter net income mln dlrs mln dlrs compared with mln the first three months morgan also reported loss mln dlrs from securities underwriting and trading contrast gain mln dlrs the year earlier period the fourth quarter morgan posted other trading losses mln dlrs because setbacks the trading and underwriting euromarket securities conditions some sectors the euromarket remained difficult last quarter with floating rate notes suffering heavy price falls but spokeswoman was unable say whether morgan trading losses were restricted the euromarket the positive side morgan reduced its provision for loan losses mln dlrs from mln year earlier foreign exchange trading income rose mln dlrs from mln and trust income increased mln dlrs from mln morgan said other operating income mainly fees and commissions rose mln dlrs from mln but net investment securities gains dropped mln from mln net interest earnings were mln dlrs the first quarter down from mln year earlier and net yield fell pct from pct brazil had not been placed non accrual which means that interest can recorded income only when payments are actually received net interest earnings would have been mln dlrs and net yield pct brazil does not resume payments net would cut mln dlrs morgan added after the provision for loan losses morgan allowance for credit losses the end march totaled mln dlrs compared with mln end and mln year earlier reported net recoveries six mln dlrs after charge offs eight mln compared with net charge offs mln dlrs after recoveries three mln year earlier excluding brazil non accruing loans quarter end were mln dlrs down from mln end and mln year earlier non interest expenses rose mln dlrs from mln dlrs with more than half the increase related personnel costs morgan said reuter earn atlas consolidated mining acmb qtr shr loss cts cts net loss mln loss mln revs mln mln year shr loss cts loss dlrs net loss mln loss mln revs mln mln reuter earn fleet flt shareholders approve share increase fleet financial group said its shareholders approved increase shares the company authorized common stock shares from shares currently the company said shareholders approved the move the annual meeting providence today when the company reported that its first quarter earnings rose mln dlrs cts share from mln dlrs cts share the first quarter terence murray chairman and president fleet financial said fleet mortgage banking activities particular continued produce signficant income increases the first quarter murray said fleet mortgage servicing portfolio reached billion dlrs march including billion dlrs purchased march reuter earn rowe furniture corp rowe qtr feb shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter earn reuters chairman urges freer information flows exchanges and telecommunications authorities should abolish their restrictions full and free dissemination information the investment and banking communities reuters holdings plc rtrs chairman sir christopher hogg said the annual repoprt said lengthy negotiations had brought agreement with the tokyo and london stock exchanges for fuller but still not complete access market data through reuter services many other markets maintain restrictions added hogg said members some markets appear believe that information restrictions protected their interests other cases exchanges seem limiting the distribution data order provide competitive advantage their own commercial information businesses also noted that despite increasing liberalisation the telecommunications field some countries continue protect their state monopolies the expense other economic sectors reuter dealing services remain excluded from such countries result banking communities serving entire economies are put competitive disadvantage added reuters increased its pre tax profit pct from the previous year mln stg pct rise revenues mln stg earnings per ordinary share were pct the annual shareholder meeting will held london april reuter acq ccl industries purchases stake monobloc ccl industries inc said purchased majority interest monobloc from envases metalurgicos alava spain terms were not disclosed ccl also said agreed exchange present and future technology with envases reuter tin paris group publishing daily franc tin price the association white metals has decided publish daily tin price here french francs per kilos the french federation non ferrous metals said the price quoted for the first time yesterday was introduced the lack tin quotes was causing problems for some french companies spokesman for the non ferrous metals association said today price was set francs per kilos and tuesday the international chamber commerce stopped publishing tin price after the london metal exchange lme stopped tin trading october the association has tested the basis uses calculate french franc price over the last few months ensure was reliable the spokesman said the french franc price pre tax for specified quality minimum pct purity french port border railway station and minimum delivery tonnes the french federation non ferrous metals groups various metal associations including the association white metals reuter earn rhodes inc rhd declares dividend qtly div nine cts nine cts prior pay july record june reuter acq madeira letter intent acquired madeira inc said signed letter intent acquired tradevest inc through stock for stock exchange after completion the transaction tradevest would own pct the issued outstanding stock madeira reuter earn celltronics celt declares one for split celltronics inc said its directors declared one for reverse stock split its common stock said the split will payable april shareholders record april reuter earn montedison agrimont unit earnings montedison spa italy said net consolidated profit for its agrimont group formed june totalled billion lire agrimont spa the holding company for montedison agro industrial businesses had sales billion lire and net profit about billion lire after amortization costs billion lire and billion lire reduction the value inventory due falling market prices montedison said agrimont still wholly owned montedison taking steps traded the milan exchange the company said the company said that was characterized unstable fertlizer market due the weak dollar and the decline international prices for products sold europe and the where agrimont operates through its conserv division pesticides and animal health care products agrimont maintained its previous level revenues and market share montedison said montedison said named ettore dell isola the newly created position president agrimont montedison also said named renato picco managing director eridania spa and gianfranco ceroni managing director italiana olii sifi both whom are members the the ferruzzi group management board argimont board directors ferruzzi owns about pct montedison the company said reuter acq datron datr agrees buyout officers datron corp said agreed merge with ggfh inc florida based company formed the four top officers the company according terms the proposed transaction each share datron common stock excluding those shares owned the four officers will bought for six dlrs share said datron officers hold about pct the total datron common shares outstanding upon completion the proposed transaction the officers datron would own pct the company the merger subject gghf receiving financing for the plan datron said shareholders datron will asked approve the plan their annual meeting held june july and the merger expected completed july said reuter acq trump and interstate properties talks acquire alexanders earn sound warehouse inc swhi qtr feb net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter acq trump and interstate talks for alexanders donald trump and interstate properties said they were holding preliminary discussions regarding possible joint acquisition alexanders inc dlrs per share the possible acquisition subject any applicable real estate gains and transfer taxes the joint statement said trump and interstate which presently own about pct alexander common stock said they intend keep the company retailer they succed their acquisition there can assurances that the parties will reach any agreement regarding acquisition what price might offered the statement said reuter earn telecrafter corp swhi qtr feb net shr profit cts loss cts net profit loss revs mln mln six months shr profit cts loss cts net profit loss revs mln mln note qtr and six months include gains dlrs and dlrs for tax loss carryforward reuter earn colt industries inc cot qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln note net reflects interest expense debt incurred finance recapitalization oct prior year earnings restated reflect recapitalization plan reuter acq yankee ynk unit not sell subsidiary yankee cos inc said its eskey inc esk subsidiary has decided not sell its yale key unit further details were not disclosed reuter earn mayfair super markets inc myfra qtr feb shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln six months shr dlrs cts net mln mln revs mln mln note share adjusted for for stock split reuter earn baton broadcasting inc six mths feb net shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter earn united cable television corp uct qtr net shr loss cts profit seven cts net loss profit revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr loss cts profit cts net loss profit revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln note current year net both periods includes pretax charge seven mln dlrs from increase reserve for investments broadcast television entities and tax credits dlrs quarter and dlrs nine mths reuter acq canada allows publishing takeover harcourt investment canada said has allowed the indirect takeover holt rinehart and winston canada ltd saunders canada ltd and les editions hrw ltd harcourt brace jovanovich canada inc the government agency said however harcourt canada has agreed sell control the firms canadian interests within two years harcourt canada parent harcourt brace jovanovich inc hbj indirectly acquired the canadian book publishing companies when purchased holt rinehart and winston from cbs inc cbs last october reuter acq talking point burlington industries bur the largest textile maker focused its own business its competitors found merger partners but now burlington industries inc may have restructured itself into attractive takeover candidate analysts said the takeover spotlight fell today burlington which rose speculation that investor asher edelman and dominion textiles inc canada bought almost five pct stake published report said edelman and dominion jointly acquired stake burlington and were weighing takeover offer edelman would not comment and spokesman for montreal based dominion called the report just rumors burlington said did not know the report was true wall street professionals said they were not convinced the story that edelman and dominion would the victors burlington actually came into play arbitragers said past comments from dominion however added credence the speculation dominion has said that was looking for takeover the last year dominion unsuccessfully bid for avondale mills and has maintained mln dlr line credit used for acquisition dominion spokesman said canada largest textile producer has been negotiating with many textile companies but would not say whether burlington was among them there have been acquisitions this area not unusual that someone could looking burlington after the housecleaning they done said eileen gormley thomson mckinnon burlington sold its domestic operations which made sheets and other linens stevens and inc for mln dlrs last year also has reorganized management and focused its operations businesses that would less affected foreign competition gormley said they pulled back not commodity marketer said gormley she said moving more heavily into industrial fabrics burlington bought masland which supplies carpets and other fabric the auto industry the past they just spent and never realized the return the outlays they did make she said you look their record over the year and think they poised more profitable than they had been the past gormley said she estimated earnings dlrs per share from dlrs per share some analysts today recommended clients not buy burlington its current levels edward johnson johnson redbook said recommends selling said believes the stock worth only about dlrs takeover basis and about dlrs earnings basis some arbitragers however said takeover values have been placed the company dlrs per share after asher edelman recent history lot people don find him very credible anymore said one arbitrager another however said edelman succeeds forcing managements take steps enhance shareholder values even doesn win the target company edelman was unsuccessful last year offers for lucky stores inc and fruehauf corp did succeed buying ponderosa inc the stocks other textile makers rose along with burlington stevens stn climbed and fieldcrest cannon inc fld the result merger fieldcrest and cannon rose west point pepperell inc wpm rose reuter earn sterivet laboratories ltd stvtf qtr net shr profit cts loss cts net profit loss revs reuter earn sterivet laboratories ltd stvtf year loss shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss revs reuter trade japan last ditch effort avert tariffs senior japanese officials tomorrow open talks with american trade negotiators last ditch effort avert new high tariffs imposed wide variety japanese electronic exports makoto kuroda vice minister japan ministry international trade and industry miti hold two days meetings with the deputy trade representative michael smith and the under secretary commerce bruce smart the new tariffs into effect april are retaliation for japan failure adhere agreement end dumping semiconductors world markets below cost and open its home market semiconductor shipments they are imposed goods which use semiconductors including television and audio equipment and computers both and japanese officials have said there was little likelihood the talks would anything avert the pct duties mln dlrs worth japanese shipments president reagan announced the planned tariffs march after said that close monitoring the july japanese semiconductor pact convinced officials that japan was not honoring the agreement making the annoucement reagan said committed the full enforcement our trade agreements designed provide american industry with free and fair trade trade analysts said his move was aimed much japan semiconductor trade practices which are said have injured the semiconductor industry congress which has complained about presidential timidity trade issues congressional democrats have pledged enact aggressive trade laws counter what they contend has been reagan inaction redress the growing trade deficit which last year reached billion dlrs about one third the deficit was with japan reagan said there were recent signs japan was beginning adhere the pact and that was why was not terminating kuroda said leaving tokyo today had new proposals but did have explanation the semiconductor situation told the daily newspaper ashai shimbun that reagan decision was based inaccurate data and exaggerated sense miti power control japanese traders the united states has excessive expectations said stabilize supply demand relations which have been disrupted excess inventories since will take some time also said that firms had not been aggressive enough trying sell the japanese market reuter acq hoechst celanese sends report new facilities hoechst celanese corp said sent propsective customers confidential report describing its polyester textile fiber facilities north carolina and south carolina the company did not disclose any prices the report describes the facilities darlington county and fayetteville the company said the report also decribes related manufacturing marketing administrative and technical resources that could made avialable buyer hoechst celanese was formed feb the merger celanese corp and american hoechst corp the merger took place after agreement was reached with the federal trade commission that certain domestic polyester textile fiber assets the combined companies would divested said hoechst celanese said has the option divesting either the south carolina facilities the former american hoechst package polyester textile fiber facilities the former celanese reuter earn mellon participating mortgage trust mpmts div qtly div cts cts prior payable may record april reuter acq gec declines comment purchase rumour general electric plc gecl gec declined comment rumours the london stock market that planning another purchase the medical equipment field addition its existing subsidiary picker international inc gec spokesman said that company policy not comment acquisition rumours stock exchange traders said the rumour helped gec share price rise final from yesterday closing price reuter earn preston corp ptrk sees first quarter loss preston corp said expects report loss about dlrs five cts per share for the first quarter compared with profit dlrs cts per share year before the trucking company attributed the loss the continued rate discounted its primary markets flat revenues and increased costs including uninsured claims expense resulting from adverse weather conditions during the last three months said results outside the northeast were strong and expects show improved results for the rest the year reuter trade white house standing firm japanese sanctions presidential spokesman marlin fitzwater said trade sanctions against japan were likely take effect april spite full court press japanese officials avoid them all indications are they will take effect said would say japan applying the full court press they certainly are putting both feet forward terms explaining their position fitzwater told reporters noted high level meetings the trade dispute are underway here but said don think there anything can report and don believe there been any official movement reuter earn dow jones and inc first quarter shr cts cts earn hayes dana inc qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln note pct owned dana corp dcn reuter cocoa cocoa terminal deposits cut pct icch the basic deposit cocoa futures contracts will reduced pct from friday april taking the required deposit for one tonne lot stg from previously spokesman for the international commodity clearing house icch said the deposit for spread contracts will similarly cut stg for one tonne lot from previously said the icch had been looking cocoa market fluctuations over period weeks said adding the market basic stability had warranted cut deposit rates the decision cut deposits was taken the icch after consultation with the london cocoa terminal market the spokesman said the cuts were likely attract more business the market said reuter earn electro rent corp elrc qtr feb net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts dlrs net revs mln mln reuter earn walgreen qtr shr cts cts earn judy inc judy qtr jan loss shr loss two cts profit nine cts net loss profit sales mln mln year shr profit nine cts profit cts net profit profit sales mln mln reuter earn orange inc qtr feb net shr profit dlrs loss cts net profit loss revs mln mln avg shrs half shr profit dlrs loss dlrs net profit mln loss revs mln mln avg shrs note current year net both periods includes gain dlrs from sale orange florida subsidiary american agrnomics corp agr net includes pretax real estate disposition loss dlrs gain dlrs quarter and loss dlrs gain dlrs half prior year net includes tax credits dlrs quarter and dlres half current half net includes dlr pretax gain dlrs from change accounting reuter earn dow jones and inc qtr net shr cts cts net rev mln mln note earnings include after tax gain mln dlrs cts share versus after tax gain mln dlrs cts share for first quarter earnings per share reflects pct stock dividend the form class common stock distribution june reuter earn lord abbett and mutual fund dividends lord abbett bond debenture fund qtly div cts cts prior pay may record april lord abbett government securities fund daily div cts cts prior pay may record may lord abbett tax free income fund national series daily div cts cts prior pay may record may lord abbett tax free income new york series daily div cts cts prior pay may record may lord abbett tax free income texas series daily div cts cts prior pay may record may lord abbett california tax free income daily div cts cts prior pay may record may reuter earn heineken sees higher profits wider penetration dutch brewer heineken said hoped maintain for number years similar earnings growth the pct increase net profit achieved despite continuing investments reorganization program and efforts extend world penetration heineken last month reported net profit mln guilders after mln chairman freddie heineken said the company europe leading beer producer with six pct market share said sales increased pct mln hectoliters the volume increase was due mainly rise the where the brand amstel lite saw great demand and europe where sales accounted for pct the total turnover despite losses guilder terms due weaker foreign currencies rose pct billion guilders further consolidation foreign companies including the increase its stake leading spanish brewery aguila pct new ventures and modernization particularly french and spanish interests eroded profit margins the company still planned invest mln guilders this year restructuring and marketing heineken said heineken spanish activities should start yielding profit next year heineken said adding that its french operations had already turned profit after vast rationalization last year vice chairman gerard van schaik said the decision the european court justice luxembourg allow foreign beer into the closed west german market europe biggest beer market offered interesting possibilities for heineken have the beer but distribution and sales the important point van schaik said adding that since the ruling heineken had been inundated german traders seeking joint ventures the question not want penetrate the german market but how are van schaik said adding that while the widely traveled germans seemed developing taste for foreign beer the internal structure was very regionalized heineken board member hans coebergh responsible for african operations said saw africa one the most important beer growth markets the long term said the company present africa since and with majority stakes six breweries and interests was hampered the lack hard currencies there africa where beer consumption averages only nine liters per head per year and sales are limited import restrictions and currency risks nonetheless accounted for pct total sales site production rendered expensive the high price imports essential ingredients but heineken scientists have been looking other possibilities balance the costs imported malt heinken launched the nigerian market new beer made pct sorghum which had sold successfully coebergh said heineken urging farmers grow the traditional raw materials but coebergh noted that banana and palm beer were popular rwanda this possibility but could not possibly achieve the heineken flavor coebergh said chairman heineken said the company seven year efforts penetrate the soviet market had finally resulted this week contract that relaxed some the restrictions they faced but again lack hard currencies limited heineken market potential heineken now has seven bars moscow that are enjoying good sales but the bars only accept western money reuter earn walgreen wag votes quarterly dividend qtly div cts cts prior qtr pay june record may reuter coffee colombia business asked diversify from coffee colombia government trade official has urged the business community aggressively diversify its activities and stop relying heavily coffee samuel alberto yohai director the foreign trade institute incomex said private businessmen should not become what called mental hostages coffee traditionally colombia major export the national planning department forecast that coffee will account for only one third total exports about billion dlrs with oil and energy products making another third and non traditional exports the remainder reuter crude turkey calls for dialogue solve dispute turkey said today its disputes with greece including rights the continental shelf the aegean sea should solved through negotiations foreign ministry statement said the latest crisis between the two nato members stemmed from the continental shelf dispute and agreement this issue would effect the security economy and other rights both countries the issue basicly political solution can only found bilateral negotiations the statement said greece has repeatedly said the issue was legal and could solved the international court justice the two countries approached armed confrontation last month after greece announced planned oil exploration work the aegean and turkey said would also search for oil face off was averted when turkey confined its research territorrial waters the latest crises created historic opportunity solve the disputes between the two countries the foreign ministry statement said turkey ambassador athens nazmi akiman was due meet prime minister andreas papandreou today for the greek reply message sent last week turkish prime minister turgut ozal the contents the message were not disclosed reuter acq frontier insurance frtr acquisition talks frontier insurance group inc said currently negotiating acquire the business medical quadrangle inc formerly its largest medical malpractice insurance producer and the business its other malpractice producer medical professional liability agency inc gave details reuter earn frontier insurance group inc frtr qtr net oper shr cts six cts oper net revs avg shrs year oper shr cts cts oper net revs mln mln avg shrs note net excludes investment gain four cts shr loss six cts quarter and gain five cts loss six cts year reuter earn southington savings bank ssbb qtr net shr cts not given net note company went public july reuter earn caterpillar inc cat votes quarterly dividend qtly div cts cts prior qtr pay may record april reuter acq corrected datron datr agrees buyout datron corp said agreed merge with gghf inc florida based company formed the four top officers the company according terms the proposed transaction each share datron common stock excluding those shares owned the four officers will converted into six dlrs share said datron officers hold about pct the total datron common shares outstanding said corrects company name gghf first paragraph reuter earn walgreen wag qtr feb net shr cts cts qtly div cts cts prior net mln mln revs billion one billion six mths shr cts cts net mln mln revs billion billion note results include charge four cts shr for latest six mths credit five cts shr for prior six mths from investment tax credit dividend payable june record may reuter earn medtronic mdt sees pct earnings growth medtronic inc said sees pct growth sales and earnings for the year ending april analysts meeting here the company said that for the year ending april will earn about mln dlrs about dlrs share sales about mln dlrs the year ago period the company earned mln dlrs dlrs share sales mln dlrs winston wallin medtronic chairman said the company will improve market share fiscal cardiac pacemakers and expand its cardiovascular therapeutic product line wallin cautioned analysts not quickly change their per share estimates for the company said medtronic will have heavy sales and marketing expenses fiscal said the company intends reinvest its earnings its businesses and not its dividends shareholders are better off grow the business rather than reinvest dividends share repurchases said wallin said sees medtronic share the total worldwide pacemaker market increasing pct fiscal from pct fiscal said the worldwide market for cardiovascualr therapeutic products which includes pacemakers valves catheters and lasers will valued about billion dlrs and will double that wallin said our objective get hold new products and start building market share have beg borrow steal get into new markets the past medtronic pacemakers have been plagued with number problems leading product recalls regulators also have criticized the industry citing quality problems and needless overprescription pacemakers have knowledge any major problems our pacemakers leads wallin said intend establish our company the quality leader the industry glen nelson executive vice president for medtronics said the company intends diversify internally and through acquisitions companies areas medtronic expertise such drug delivery systems wallin said the pct earnings growth for fiscal does not include dilutions from acquisitions hope have some safety provisions that won have any major dilutions from acquisition wallin also said the company will have virtual exclusivity rate responsive pacemakers for all fiscal the company markets activitrax the first single chamber pacemaker that varies heartrate response physical activity siemens west german company also developing rate responsive pacemaker reuter acq spie batignolles could increase comstock holding construction group spie batignolles negotiating increase its holding engineering and electrical installations firm comstock spie batignolles subsidiary schneider schn said statement was negotiating invest mln dlrs comstock the form bonds convertible into shares spie batignolles has held pct stake comstock since february spokesman said spie batignolles converted all the new bonds could open the way for the french company take control comstock but gave other details reuter tin talks continue tin agreement extension discussions the possible extension the sixth international tin agreement ita began the quarterly session the international tin council itc but the council still waiting for decisions from various member states number producer governments particular have not decided their final position whether the ita should extended for two years wound down after expires june according delegate sources earlier today european community members decided back extension with the exception britain which undertook communicate its decision its partners later delegates said could friday before all the member countries declare their positions the possible extension today full council session started shortly before gmt after the scheduled start was delayed coordination meeting the council reconvenes gmt tomorrow although delegates said the morning likely taken with minor technical matters and the main issue will probably not discussed before the afternoon session reuter cotton pakistan cotton crop seen record mln bales pakistan likely produce record mln bales lbs each cotton from the current crop exceeding target mln bales food and agriculture minister mohammad ibrahim baluch said told pakistan central cotton committee meeting here the present was the third consecutive poroduction record setting year and said the momentum would accelerated the future the official app news agency reported baluch said indications were that pakistan attain record cotton production mln bales compared the crop mln bales which also represented the target earlier set authorities for this year production reuter earn tranzonic cos tnz qtr feb net shr cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs year shr two dlrs dlrs net sales mln mln avg shrs reuter earn security pacific expects brazil loan action cut net mln dlrs trade white house says japanese tarriffs likely the white house said high tariffs japanese electronic goods would likely imposed scheduled april despite all out effort japan avoid them presidential spokesman marlin fitzwater made the remark one day before and japanese officials are meet under the emergency provisions july semiconductor pact discuss trade and the punitive tariffs fitzwater said would say japan applying the full court press they certainly are putting both feet forward terms explaining their position but added that all indications are they the tariffs will take effect reuter earn showboat sbo take charge sees qtr loss showboat inc will take charge mln dlrs pretax against results for the third quarter ended march director and assistant the president kell houssels iii told reuters said the charge results from pre operating expenses its recently opened atlantic city showboat hotel casino and bowling center and will cause loss for the third quarter and probably for all fiscal well but houssels said showboat earnings for fiscal should show sharp increase from fiscal levels due the contribution the new atlantic city facility showboat earned dlrs last year third quarter for all fiscal earned dlrs houssels said showboat since the opening the atlantic city hotel casino showboat has had start charging interest expenses connected with debt sold finance the facility directly against income rather than capitalizing the interest had been able previously showboat opened the hotel during its third quarter and gaming began last thursday regular basis after test gaming was completed earlier the week reuter earn security pacific spc loans put non accrual security pacific corp said placing medium and long term loans brazil and ecuador non accrual basis march move that will reduce first quarter earnings mln dlrs nine cts per share after taxes despite the anticipated reduction quarterly earnings security pacific said still expects report first quarter earnings higher than the mln dlrs dlrs per share reported for the first quarter the bank holding company said the action affects mln dlrs loans brazil and mln loans ecuador brazil suspended interest payments its billion dlrs medium and long term debt february ecuador which has foreign debt roughly eight billion dlrs has not paid any interest foreign banks since february march ecuador said would suspend interest payments for the rest the year because earthquake which halted the export oil which accounts for about pct the country export revenues its announcement security pacific said will record interest income only received cash the company also said believes that brazil will reach agreement with its banks and that interest payments will resume later the brazilian negotiations resume friday new york when central bank governor francisco gros expected ask banks for day roll over some billion dlrs term debt that matures april reuter crude iraqi troops reported pushing back iranians iraq said today its troops were pushing iranian forces out positions they had initially occupied when they launched new offensive near the southern port basra early yesterday high command communique said iraqi troops had won significant victory and were continuing advance iraq said had foiled three pronged thrust some six miles from basra but admitted the iranians had occupied ground held the mohammed qassem unit one three divisions attacked the communique said iranian revolutionary guards were under assault from warplanes helicopter gunships heavy artillery and tanks our forces are continuing their advance until they purge the last foothold occupied the iranians said iran said its troops had killed wounded more than iraqis and were stabilising their new positions the baghdad communique said iraqi planes also destroyed oil installations iran southwestern ahvaz field during raid today denied iranian report that iraqi jet was shot down iraq also reported naval battle the northern tip the gulf iraqi naval units and forces defending offshore terminal sank six iranian out iranian boats attempting attack offshore terminal the communique said reuter earn golden enterprises inc gldc qtr feb net shr cts nine cts qtly div six cts six cts prior qtr net revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln note dividend payable april holders record april reuter money-fx group five meeting ends meeting finance ministers and central bankers the group five ended after nearly three and half hours west german finance minister gerhard stoltenberg and british chancellor the exchequer nigel lawson declined comment the meeting they emerged from the treasury european monetary official said the ministers the group seven countries would gather about three local gmt the treasury reuter livestock usda propose foreign meat inspection rule the agriculture department preparing proposal that would require all foreign meat products inspected their point arrival the united states usda official said donald houston administrator usda food safety and inspection service fsis told house agriculture subcommittee usda was developing proposed change regulations that would put end the current practice permitting foreign meat products unloaded one port and inspected another port houston said the requirement would phased over several years avoid disruptions and economic hardship reuter acq ual ual may respond pilots today ual inc may have response this afternoon the pilots union proposal buy its united airlines unit ual spokesman said obviously have lot movement our stock and need get clarification out the spokesman said adding that there was chance statement would released today the pilots earlier this week offered buy the airline for billion dlrs and assume billion dlrs existing debt takeover speculation has driven ual stock for several weeks ual last month said new york real estate developer donald trump held position its stock and that also held discussions with its chairman the developer indicated those talks that took the position investment but revealed other plans today rumors circulated that coniston partners were buying ual stock ual jumped five volume more than mln shares united has got consider this proposal think the pilot proposal realistic don exptect them take but could put some interesting options front ual management said timothy pettee bear stearns and analyst analysts have said ual made itself vulnerable attack when diversified away from its core airline added hertz rental cars westin and hilton international hotels strategy become travel service company the strategy left its stock slump and its pilots union concerned that the company was not focussing enough attention its airline ual has stood firm its strategy emphasizing its new focus changing its name allegis may one but takeover speculation has escalated and wall street has been busy calculating break values well excess dlrs per share traders today described the buying ual widespread indicative them that big institutions believe the stock play market sources have said that although trump attracted attention the stock the pilots proposal acted catalyst kicking off new round speculation and perhaps throwing the company into the hands another buyer the first domino you have investor with considerable stake the second domino the union that type attitude has been precursor airline deals the past said pettee what interesting the values are there there something for everybody said reuter earn hartmarx hmx targets earnings growth hartmarx corp following year restructuring continues target record earnings for fiscal chairman john meinert told the annual meeting meinert reiterated earlier comment that earnings for the remainder the year must double the level meet that goal fiscal ended november hartmarx reported earnings mln dlrs dlrs share down from the prior year mln dlrs dlrs share the year old apparel manufacturer recently posted first quarter earnings cts share from cts year ago meinert told shareholders hartmarx has plans sell any its divisions added have the financial capacity take advantage acquisitions meinert said the company will open five new and redesigned kuppenheimer direct consumer stores atlanta detroit louis washington and san francisco said the company women apparel continues grow and hartmarx has the drawing board briar concept store which will feature ties shirts and some tailored clothing reuter money-supply fed heller sees return slower money supply growth earn general electric qtr shr dlrs dlrs crude ghana buy crude oil from iran ghana will import tonnes crude oil annually from iran under agreement reached tehran today the iranian news agency irna reported the agency received london said the accord was reached between iranian oil minister gholamreza aqazadeh and visiting ghanaian delegation headed foreign minister obed asamoah irna said that under the agreement iran will also provide technical and scientific assistance manpower training and oil exploitation production and refining reuter money-supply fed heller says monetary growth slower robert heller member the federal reserve board said expects more modest levels growth the money supply this year view this would not only logical but also most desireable development said speech prepared for delivery economic forum chapman college orange calif text was released washington said the effect lower inflation and financial deregulation monetary aggregates was now largely finished consequently monetary growth may return more modest levels heller said noted growth the money supply slowed after mid january would not surprised all the monetary aggregates were grow rather slowly during the balance the year well added heller said there was danger renewed price inflation the pricing behavior american producers response price increases their foreign competitors will crucial for our economic future said widespread domestic price rises response rising import prices would generalize the inflationary forces emanating from the foreign trade sector and might not gain more market share for producers return the stagflation the late may well the result such behavior pattern heller warned said the federal reserve will have disciplined our conduct monetary policy heller said said the government should also exercise fiscal discipline and cut the deficit spending restraint rather than new taxes the imposition new taxes would tend rekindle inflation and certainly would not make more competitive international markets heller said said the economy should expand nearly three pct during aided higher exports europe and canada free trade agreement currently being negotiated with canada would exceedingly helpful allowing american producers compete more effectively that country heller said reuter earn general electric qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln sales billion billion note prior year does not include results rca corp reuter earn energy development edp had year loss energy development partners ltd said had operating loss for the year ended december mln dlrs cts per share but said mln dlr non cash writeoff oil and gas properties taken the first quarter resulted net loss mln dlrs dlrs per share energy development partners limited partnership which began operating september full year revenues totaled mln dlrs the company also said said proved reserves december totaled mln barrels oil and mln cubic feet natural gas reuter money-fx industrial nations reconvene for talks financial ministers and central bankers leading industrial nations reconvened here this afternoon canadian finance minister michael wilson said entering the meeting the ministers would review the paris agreement asked was satisfied with west german and japanese stimulus wilson replied they could little more french finance minister edouard balladur meanwhile confirmed there would communique the end the meeting finance ministers and central bankers britain france canada and west germany were seen reuter correspondents returning treasury building japanese officials and bundesbank president karl otto poehl did not appear have left the building the end earlier group five talks which broke around local time gmt there was sign however the italian delegation whose position was thrown into question this morning the resignation the christian democratic wing italy socialist led government european monetary officials said later that the italian delegation was inside the building this meant that full blown meeting the group seven was progress reuter acq chrysler renault delay motors amo pact chrysler corp and regie natiionale des usines renault said they agreed extend two weeks the period for reaching definitive agreement chrysler proposed billion dlr takeover american motors corp the letter intent signed chrysler and renault march nine set april nine the target date for completing negotiations however the letter also allowed room for extension that date april agreement could not reached the two companies said they now plan complete work april chrysler and renault said given the complex nature the deal the need for additional time was expected the march letter intent between the two companies says that chrysler could ask renault extend the agreement date the event that prior april chrysler discovers unforeseen problem the course its due diligence investigation the company referring american motors chrysler spokeswoman would not say whether some problem had cropped the talks she stuck the company statement that more time was needed because the talks are complex that our definition the delay she said under the previous agreement between chrysler and renault their letter intent would terminated april nine when agreement was reached but the letter could amendend written agreement both companies the chrysler spokeswoman said are still working toward definitive agreement said another chrysler official who not part the talks but who would told the deal were trouble there are glitches analysts also downplayed the significance the delay can visualize where they wouldn want done said donaldson lufkin jenrette analyst richard henderson reuter earn rite aid corp rad sets dividend qtly div cts cts pay april record april reuter earn airsensors inc arsn qtr jan loss shr loss five cts loss six cts net loss loss sales nine mths shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss sales reuter earn general electric qtr helped rca general electric corp said its first quarter results were significantly higher due the strong results rca which was acquired last year general electric also attibuted continued strong performances plastics major appliances and the employers reinsurance corp for its strong quarter recorded net earnings for the first quarter mln dlrs dls per shr pct from mln dlrs dlrs per share for the same quarter year ago general electric chairman john welch reiterated the company outlook for which expects double digit earnings growth for the year said the first quarter results are line with those expectations general electric cited the strong results network and station operations the national broadcasting which was not part the first quarter one reason for its strong earnings also noted that aircraft engine operating profit was much higher than year ago caused increase shipments than the quarter which was impacted strike aerospace revenues were sharply higher this year first quarter from year ago mainly because the inclusion rca aerospace and defense business the company said addition consumer products revenues were from last year mainly because including sales rca video products general electric said restructuring provisions mln dlrs before taxes implement various strategic moves were charged against operations the first quarter added that there was one time gain mlns dlrs after taxes from inventory accounting change and technical products revenues and operating profit were ahead last year led strong increases medical systems volume and the inclusion this year rca communications and related services reuter copper teck still talks copper venture teck corp said was continuing talks about joining joint copper venture highland valley british columbia held affiliates cominco ltd clt and lornex mining corp but did not know when negotiations would completed teck vice president administration john guminski said reply query that the talks had been ongoing for long time declined speculate the outcome cominco pct owned consortium led teck optimistic that the talks will soon concluded spokesman don townson told reuters think all partners are hopeful that the situation will resolved cominco townson said optimistic that they will concluded shortly added townson declined specify when the talks might end cominco and teck pct owned lornex agreed january form the joint venture merging their highland valley copper operations cominco and lornex share equally control and management the highland valley operations while cominco has pct share production and lornex receives pct for the six months following july when the venture officially started production highland valley had total ore milled mln short tons grading average pct copper townson said cominco share production was short tons copper contained concentrate short tons molybdenum concentrate ounces silver and ounces gold said consortium pct owned teck and pct each mim canada inc and metallgesellschaft canada ltd acquired its cominco stake last year from canadian pacific ltd reuter earn banponce corp bdep qtr net shr dlrs dlr net reuter earn xebec xebc report qtr loss xebec corp said expects report loss for its second quarter ended april three due principally decline sales international business machines corp ibm the company largest customer xebec also said expects revenues total about mln dlrs the company reported second quarter loss last year mln dlrs cts per share mln revenues xebec said ibm has historically accounted for about pct the company revenues but that total fell pct during the quarter just ended ibm had used xebec hard disk drive controller products the ibm product which ibm phasing out xebec said intends continue streamlining its operations light the loss business the company also said has already consolidated two its plants nevada and now plans sell unused and surplus assets provide additional liquidity reuter earn caterpillar cat reaffirms first quarter outlook caterpillar inc remarks delivered its annual meeting san francisco reiterated its expectation loss the first quarter said results would hurt mln dlr one time charge caterpillar mitsubishi pct owned affiliate the company said expected profit from operations for the full year improve over remarks prepared for delivery shareholders president peter donis said caterpillar targeted five pct cost reduction will difficult achieve because the weaker dollar has limited opportunities obtain lower material costs reuter acq broker boosts zondervan zond stake pct investor group headed minneapolis minn broker jeffrey wendel said raised its stake zondervan corp shares pct the total outstanding from shares pct filing with the securities and exchange commission the wendel group said bought zondervan common shares between march and april prices ranging from dlrs share the wendel group has acted cooperation with another shareholder group headed london investor christopher moran who sought unsuccessfully last year take over zondervan reuter earn kiena two for one share split approved kiena gold mines ltd said shareholders approved previously reported proposed two for one common stock split record date the split will april kiena said reuter earn hanover insurance hins raises dividend hanover insurance said its board declared quarterly dividend nine cts per share payable may holders record april the dividend comes after two for one stock split effective april which was approved shareholders today the company paid dividend cts per share pre split basis reuter acq day int day sell unit day international corp said has entered into letter intent sell its allen industries inc unit group including the unit current management day said the sale could enable day accelerate its earnings for its current fiscal year ending october net earnings for the full year ending october should the ball park some analysts estimates mln dlrs mln dlrs richard jacob day chairman and chief executive officer said day reported earnings mln dlrs cts share fiscal day said the agreement subject the preparation and negotiation definitive agreement and the ability the group obtain financing reuter earn rite aid corp rad sets quarterly dividend qtly div cts cts pay april record april reuter earn vulcan vul sees first quarter operating loss vulcan corp first quarter operating results will show loss chairman lloyd miller told told the annual meeting the company reported profit dlrs cts share for the first quarter last year with one cent share coming from non operating factors spokesman said miller attributed the expected loss completion the purchase transfer and consolidation operating assets the sullivan rubber division saying this was proving more costly and taking more time than originally anticipated vulcan working resolve the problems miller told shareholders adding appears will take most find solutions reuter acq ual ual has comment stock rise ual inc citing company policy told the new york stock exchange would not comment the unusual rise its stock ual parent united airlines closed volume mln shares wall street traders said ual stock soared response the the proposed billion dlr buyout offer united air pilots union and general rise air fares throughout the industry reuter earn strata corp stata year dec loss shr loss dlrs loss dlrs net loss mln loss mln revs mln eight mln reuter earn strata stata earnings report qualified strata corp said its earnings report contained qualified opinion from its independent auditors strata said owed mln dlrs overdue interest its lender the end and the entire mln dlr principle has been classified liability the company which has agreement merge with lomak petroleum inc lost mln dlrs against loss mln dlrs year earlier reuter earn dayton hudson corp votes quarterly payout qtly div cts cts prior qtr pay june record may reuter earn vulcan corp vul regular dividend qtly div cts cts prior qtr payable june record may reuter acq nat distillers says agrees sell spirits unit for mln dlrs american brands grain usda seeks comments grain discount schedule the agriculture department seeking public comments the question adjusting the commodity credit corporation ccc discount and premium schedules improve the quality grain accepts loan collateral under price support programs the premiums and discounts schedule are based quality factors such moisture content and kernel damage the schedule stipulates the premiums and discounts used for valuing grain the ccc accepts purchases during the year the department said possible that producers could encouraged delivery higher quality grain ccc adjusting the premiums and discounts comments are due april and report congress required law may reuter acq cascade importers unit acquires paris company cascade importers inc usa cascade international europa gmbh west germany said tentatively acquired worldwide rights for the products madam gre from the bernard tapie group paris the agreement calls for cascade have the rights for the manufacturing and trading perfumes skin care and treatment products and cosmetics the group said cascade said the agreement also includes the exclusive rights trade through duty free channels worldwide the designer gres accessories addition cascade said was granted option purchase all the assets including the plant and equipment located france the company said the cosmetic product line the market alone could represent mln dlrs revenue reuter earn armel inc aml qtr loss oper shr loss cts loss dlrs oper net loss loss revs mln mln year oper shr loss cts loss dlrs oper net loss loss revs mln mln note excludes charge cts per share the fourth quarter and gain cts per share the year reuter acq national distillers sell spirits unit national distillers and chemical corp said signed definitive agreement sell its spirits division for mln dlrs james beam distilling unit american brands inc amb the sale the spirits division was made under the company previously announced plan sell its spirits and wines businesses said the wine business was sold last month for mln dlrs heublein inc part grand metropolitan plc national distillers said the purchase price will paid cash national distillers spokeswoman said the sale permits national focus its core businesses chemicals and propane marketing proceeds from the sale will used repay debt and for other corporate purposes the company said separate statement american brands said the sale would for mln dlrs plus the assumption liabilities the sale would subject compliance with the hart scott rodino antitrust improvements act and other regulatory approvals the company said national distilled spirits business has sales about mln dlrs american brands said national spirits brands include gilbey gin and vodka dekuyper liqueurs and windsor supreme canadian whisky reuter earn management science msai loss may top cts management science america inc clarifying statements made earlier today said its loss for the first quarter could exceed cts share because non recurring expenses associated with the acquisition several companies including comserv inc earlier today the company told meeting investors here that the first quarter loss would cts share reuter interest wojnilower sees drop interest rates the federal reserve will promote lower interest rates this year sustain world economic growth first boston corp managing director albert wojnilower said much the fed would like take tough line against inflation cannot act slow the growth credit without subverting national economic policy selected occasions when the dollar seems steady and because the trade deficit not responding the united states decided push germany and japan harder meet their commitments economic growth the federal reserve will its part moving rates down wojnilower said report justifiably not anticipating either recession seriously higher interest rates securities market participants have seen little fear wojnilower said said last week hiccup money and currency rates and bond and stock prices was probably caused japanese window dressing for march end fiscal year accounts wojnilower said the probably enjoyed above average economic growth the first quarter however the pick seems reflect unsustainable pace inventory building and the prospect for the full year still for real gross national product growth about pct said reuter acq raytech ray buys west german company raytech corp said acquired raybestos industrie produkte gmbh for mln dlrs raybestos with manufacturing facilities radevormwald west germany produces friction materials for use clutch and braking applications reuter earn intercare care post qtr loss intercare inc said expects report substantial loss for its fourth quarter ended january because writeoff expenses associated with its recently terminated debt and equity offering the company also said the write off includes expenses associated with the acquisition medical enterprises inc and with the restructuring certain partnerships intercare also said increased its reserve against accounts receivable executives the company were not immediately available provide additional details intercare also said has implemented workforce reduction closed two medical centers and considering additional closings means reducing working capital deficit reuter earn united tech utx sees earnings impact united technologies corp said the decision international consortium not develop new engine would have impact earnings international aero engines iae pct owned united technologies pratt and whitney division has decided not launch superfan version its engine told analysts that iae decision not launch full development program the iae superfan for certification will have short term impact earnings united technologies spokesman told reuters short term refers and the spokesman said declined elaborate iae other owners are rolls royce plc japanese aero engines corp fiat spa and mtu west germany analysts are estimating united technologies will earn dlrs dlrs share reported earnings cts share which included two large writeoffs reuter earn stewart and stevenson ssss qtr net shr profit cts profit cts net profit profit revs mln mln year shr nil loss dlrs net profit loss mln revs mln mln note full name stewart and stevenson services inc reuter earn westamerica bancorp wab qtr net shr cts cts net loans mln mln deposits billion mln assets billion billion reuter earn southeast bancorp stb acts brazilian debt following the lead other major banks southeast banking corp told the securities and exchange commission would place mln dlrs medium and long term brazilian debt non accrual cash status based current interest rates estimated filing that the move will reduce net income about dlrs the first quarter and mln dlrs for all the company also said did not believe the brazilian debt situation would have material adverse effect also said would issue common shares connection with its acquisition popular bancshares corp reuter earn williams wmb sees flat pipeline volumes williams cos said expected oil and fertilizer transportation volumes flat but said operating profits from the pipeline unit should improve from mln dlrs earned last year when seven mln dlr special charge was incurred williams pipeline took the charge against earnings for the removal more than miles old pipeline from service and for casualty losses companywide williams had net loss mln dlrs total revenues billion dlrs decline from profits mln dlrs sales billion its annual report williams said its northwest pipeline corp and williams natural gas had natural gas costs that are among the lowest the nation averaging dlrs and dlrs per mcf respectively last year total natural gas reserves for both units declined billion cubic feet from billion cubic feet the previous year the company said its williams natural gas unit which has less take pay exposure than most major pipelines should show improvement its operating results because changes tariff and federal tax rates the company gas marketing business expected have somewhat lower earnings because competition its operating region the annual report said the gas marketing unit earned mln dlrs sales mln dlrs last year williams also said expected substantial decline its debt equity ratio this year because more than mln dlrs received cash from the sale agrico chemical and proceeds from the sale and leaseback williams telecommunications the telecommunications business mile fiber optic system for long distance use will not profitable until late williams said reuter earn super valu stores inc svu qtr feb net shr cts cts net sales billion billion avg shrs year shr dlrs dlrs net sales billion billion avg shrs note period ended february earnings include net loss unconsolidated subsidiary dlrs the quarter and dlrs for the year reuter earn parker drilling pkd qtr feb loss shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss revs mln mln six mths shr loss dlrs loss dlrs net loss loss revs mln mln reuter coffee coffee could drop cts cardenas says international coffee prices could drop between and cents next october agreement reached support the market jorge cardenas manager colombia national coffee growers federation said speaking forum for industrialists said one the reasons was that the market was already saturated and that producers will have excess production and stockpiles mln bags today may futures new york settled cents reuter acq hbo hboc urges shareholders against andover hbo and said sent letter strongly urging shareholders not sign any proxy cards sent andover group march andover group two man general partnership which owns about seven pct hbo stock filed preliminary proxy materials with the securities and exchange commission seeking nominate alternative slate directors the company april annual meeting andover had expressed interest acquire the company september but hbo has never received offer from them said addition hbo said its financial condition improving rapidly the result significant restructuring implemented expects the company report net income about cts per share and very significant increase for the year ended december the company reported loss mln dlrs cts per share reuter earn cfcf inc six mths feb net shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter acq uap makes acquisitions uap inc said has acquired slater auto electric ltd with two ontario stores and united diesel engine parts ltd dartmouth nova scotia for undisclosed terms said the transactions together with acquisitions earlier this year will increase its annual sales about mln dlrs reuter earn hawkeye hwkb annual report qualified hawkeye bancorp annual financial results were qualified its auditors according the annual report there are conditions which may indicate that the company will unable continue going concern auditors deloitte haskins and sells said hawkeye annual report shareholders hawkeye reported loss almost mln dlrs citing increase its loan loss provision mln dlrs and restructuring costs mln dlrs however hawkeye with assets billion dlrs year end said expects have sufficient cash meet its obligations for the next month period last july the bank holding company reached debt restructuring agreement which identifed bank subsidiaries and five non bank operations for disposition the restructuring has improved hawkeye financial condition but does not assure that hawkeye will able survive going concern the report said hawkeye survival will depend its ability comply with provisions the debt restructuring and regulatory agreements and its ability return profitable operations said there can assurance that hawkeye will able meet these requirements however the company believes will able hawkeye said reuter earn washington bancorporation qtr net shr cts cts net mln assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans billion mln note year ago results restated reflect merger with colson inc reuter acq dome dmp plan may force sale encor stake dome petroleum ltd proposal restructure debt more than billion canadian dlrs includes provisions that may force the company sell its pct stake encor energy corp inc dome said securities and exchange commission filing dome said the filing that its debt plan proposes making payments under five year income debenture the lender whose debt secured dome encor shares after the five years are under certain circumstances the shares encor may required disposed the company said dome has pledged its mln encor shares security for part its debt canadian imperial bank commerce estimated last year mln dlrs analysts have said commerce bank was pressing dome sell the stock pay down its debt dome encor shares had market value mln dlrs march the company filing said previously reported dome seeking approval principle for the debt restructuring plan dome said the filing proposed lenders sign letter understanding early april with implementation effective july dome petroleum reiterated the sec filing that its existence going concern dependent continuing the interim debt plan due expire june and winning agreement for its proposed restructuring plan the company believes that the negotiation and implementation the proposed debt restructuring plan realistic and achievable dome said however the final outcome the negotiations cannot predicted this time said reuter trade deficit cuts seen unable cure trade deficit financial analysts say they are pleased with congressional moves trim next year federal budget deficit but believe the actions will little help improve the trade deficit buoy the economy the house representatives expected vote tomorrow approve trillion dollar budget blueprint for the coming fiscal year that reduces the deficit billion dlrs similarly the senate budget committee has approved plan that would cut federal red ink about billion dlrs next year terms the economy billion dlrs infinitesimal cuts this magnitude will have little impact the economy and the trade deficit said stanley collander touche ross federal budget policy analyst best will have small positive effect collander said interview federal reserve board chairman paul volcker has repeatedly told congress that cutting federal red ink would long way help reduce the massive trade deficit and also help ease some the downward pressure the value the dollar the government has attempted remedy the trade imbalance driving down the value the dollar but volcker has warned that further fall the dollar value fraught with danger such decline has said could refuel inflation imported goods become more expensive and chase away foreign capital needed finance the federal budget deficit addition february officials meeting with other major industrialized nations paris agreed that the value the dollar had dropped enough and that world exchange rates should stabilized around current levels part that agreement japan and west germany agreed take steps stimulate their economies and the united states agreed cut its budget deficit the alternative driving down the dollar any further way deal with the trade deficit volcker said recently reduce consumption particularly federal spending you don deal with the budget deficit everything else you going counterproductive volcker said recent testimony before the senate banking committee volcker also said would prefer further tighten the government purse strings than have the fed tighten the credit supply action was needed fight inflationary pressures assure the continued flow foreign capital into the united states analysts say that fed tightening now could choke off the current modest economic expansion and threaten recession kemper financial services economist john silvia stressed that any deficit reduction was better than none but said the size the cuts under consideration were not enough give the federal reserve board the flexibility needs steer the economy keep the value the dollar from plunging further world exchange markets there doubt that some deficit reduction helps but your objective stabilize the dollar and perserve the fed flexibility conduct monetary policy then the answer not enough silvia told reuters the trade deficit has become one the government most vexing and persistent problems the deficit was billion dlrs and there yet little indication that this year figure will any lower though administration officials have predicted will drop about billion dlrs year end the past volcker has joked that never lost sleep worrying whether congress would cut too much fat from the federal budget the other hand also has made clear not attached the gradually declining deficit ceilings set for the period last year gramm rudman balanced budget law while the new law set ceiling billion dlrs for next year federal deficit both the house and senate budget committees have conceded that their budget plans would fall short the deficit reduction goal about billion dlrs for political reasons billion dlrs about the most you going get out congress the present time said touche ross collander something more than that would extraordinary remarkable and very very difficult collander said the real danger for congress was end short the deficit reduction goal set its budget panels extent this has become the minimum acceptable reduction level explained anything less than that will now look like failure wall street the budget plan now under debate the house floor would lower estimated billion dlr deficit for the year beginning october one about billion dlrs cutting defense and domestic programs billion dlrs from their anticipated spending levels for next year the senate budget committee has called for deficit nearly billion dlrs with about billion dlrs new taxes and about the same amount spending cuts reuter earn stewart and stevenson services ssss qtr qtr ended jan shr profit cts profit cts net profit revs mln mln year shr profit nil loss dlrs net profit loss mln revs mln mln reuter earn westamerica bancorporation wsam qtr net shr cts cts net assets billion billion deposits billion mln loans mln mln return avg assets pct pct reuter coffee colombia coffee registrations remain open colombia coffee export registrations remain open and there are plans close them since new marketing policy means unlimited amount can registered gilberto arango president the private exporters association said the philosophy the new policy not close registrations nobody far said may would closed told reuters march colombia opened registrations for april and may for unlimited amount without giving breakdowns arango said private exporters had registered bags this calendar year april roughly bags per month slightly lower than the average recent years estimated the amount bags registered the national coffee growers federation about the same meaning total about bags registered and sold per month colombia the only change that could happen because the volume would told that from such date registrations would for june shipment etc arango said reuter earn gateway bancorp inc gban qtr net shr cts cts net deposits mln mln note per share amounts adjusted reflect for one stock split effective sept reuter acq more american brands amb acquisitions seen american brands inc mln dlrs acquisition national distillers and chemical corp liquor business expected one series acquisitions the tobacco company analysts said they were very frustrated with their inability get chesebrough they said they were looking for acquisition doesn surprise that they came with another one said allan kaplan merrill lynch and american brands failed late last year its billion dlrs bid for chesebrough ponds inc when unilever agreed buy the company but since then wall street has been speculating that american brands would find another candidate help reduce its earnings exposure tobacco this just typical said george thompson prudential bache securities there going more come here american brands had make acquisition because tobacco still significant part earnings their position little less favorable than philip morris and reynolds said cash flow from its low growth tobacco but the tobacco business does require great amounts capital expenditures can therefore use its funds make acquisitions analysts said the national distillers spirits company which makes gilbey gin and vodka old grandad and old crow whiskey not quite the type acquisition they envisioned the distilled spirits business has been steady gradual decline for sometime has the tobacco business said thompson reuter jobs australian unemployment rises march australia seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose pct the estimated workforce march from pct february and pct year earlier the statistics bureau said the number jobless rose from february and year earlier the bureau said unadjusted the number unemployed rose from february but the rate eased pct from reflecting slight increase the estimated workforce march persons pct the workforce were out work reuter acq csr says retaining non delhi gas oil stakes csr ltd csra said its sale delhi petroleum pty ltd will not affect the other oil and gas interests manages operates csr sold delhi which holds average pct the santos ltd stos led cooper eromanga basin onshore gas and liquids joint ventures exxon corp xon unit for mln dlrs april statement clarify the position csr said will retain its roma gas unit the associated roma brisbane gas pipeline and the bula oilfield seram indonesia plus exploration interests queensland and hainan island china reuter alum showa denko exports aluminium casting equipment showa denko ltd said exporting aluminium billet casting equipment and technology countries that have recently begun aluminium smelting company official said won mln yen order deliver sets casting equipment venezuela venalum end said received order for one set from aluminium bahrain last year and expects further orders from the bahrain smelter showa denko withdrew from smelting last year but expects increase its sales equipment and technology said reuter earn rio tinto zinc corp plc pretax profit mln stg mln earn rio tinto zinc net attributable profit lower year december shr div making pretax profit mln stg mln net attributable profit mln stg mln turnover billion stg billion note accounts have been restated full name company rio tinto zinc corp plc rtzl group operating profit mln stg mln operating costs billion stg billion share profit less losses related companies mln stg mln interest receivable other income mln stg mln interest payable mln stg mln tax mln stg mln leaving mln stg mln rtz investment australian associate cra has been equity accounted for and figures restated the same basis after the reduction rtz interest pct october reuter earn burmah oil pre tax profit mln stg mln interest german bankers remarks revive talk rate cut remarks two leading central bankers sparked renewed speculation financial markets that cut the west german three pct discount rate may under discussion currency dealers said bundesbank board member claus koehler said speech that monetary growth resulting from speculative capital inflows required cuts interest rates separately west berlin state central bank president dieter hiss told journalists that the discount rate could fall below its lowest ever point pct made clear that was not making forecast interest rates however currency dealers here and the far east said the dollar gained slight background support from the speculation but german dealers noted that the bundesbank kept the pct rate unchanged which offered liquidity the money market this week dashing some expectations that may either offer lower fixed rate money offer reduced minimum rate and let the strength banks demands set the allocation rate allocated billion marks new liquidity much less than the billion leaving the market prior pact expired this further weakened sentiment the bundesbank could move more accommodative monetary stance dealers said koehler said speech surrey england speculative capital inflows may cause monetary growth regardless whether central banks intervened exchange rates fell other words the monetary policy measures required are different from and sometimes diametrically opposed those needed when the money stock increasing result mounting economic activity though koehler was known the most liberal the generally monetarist bundesbank board his comments marked the first time cuts rates had been concretely suggested counterpoint overly strong monetary growth dealers said reuter trade soviet trade deficit with west soars the soviet trade deficit with the west almost quadrupled last year reaching billion roubles compared with mln official figures showed statistics published the monthly journal foreign trade showed soviet trade turnover for fell billion roubles from billion the previous year drop pct moscow trade surplus with east bloc countries continued grow western analysts attributed the deficit rise with the west the world oil price slump which hit moscow main export and cut hard currency earnings needed for purchases the west reuter earn burmah oil profit climbs mln stg year shr final div making pre tax profit mln stg mln net profit before minorities mln mln turnover net duties billion stg billion minorities stg same extraordinary debit mln mln note company full name the burmah oil plc burm reuter earn rtz sees rising output aiding results rio tinto zinc corp plc rtzl rtz said the predicted rise industrial production the and europe should boost its performance consumption some base metals and their dlr prices are showing signs improvement although iron ore markets have weakened the oil price dlrs above the average and sustained should improve energy earnings the company was commenting statement its results which restated basis showed net attributable profits lower mln stg after mln the previous year pretax profits also dipped mln stg after mln rtz said the excellent performance its expanding range industrial businesses was offset the collapse oil prices industrial businesses contributed mln stg net profit pct increase from mln and pct the total trading performance improved wholly owned subsidiaries rtz borax ltd rtz cement ltd rtz chemicals ltd and rtz pillar ltd first time contributions from recent investment and acquisitions mainly speciality chemicals and minerals also aided performance metals activities contributed mln stg net profit earn bridgestone corp brit year december group shr yen net billion billion current billion billion operating billion billion sales billion billion note company forecast for current year group shr yen net billion current billion and sales billion reuter sugar sugar tender seen marking change policy the maximum export rebate granted yesterday sugar tender marked change policy over producer complaints that they are not obtaining the intervention price exporting sugar outside the community commission sources said the maximum rebate was ecus per kilos for tonnes sugar down from ecus the previous week but the change explained world market conditions producers claim the rebate was short the level needed obtain price equivalent the intervention price over one ecu per kilos and was ecu short the previous week the sources said they said this was despite the fact that the commission had accept tonnes sugar into intervention from operators protesting that rebates are too low operators have now until early may withdraw this sugar but they have not given any sign planned withdrawals unless the commission reviews its export policy they said reuter earn burmah oil prospects remain favourable the current year has opened well with trading prospects remaining favourable burmah oil plc burm said statement with its results the company plans maintain steady rate investment its marketing operations and obtain improved profit margins its liquified natural gas lng project burmah has the financial capacity continue making acquisitions within its business sectors added the rationalisation programme including sale the bahamas oil terminal and all peripheral activities now complete pre tax profit for rose mln stg from mln reuter earn gebrueder sulzer profit almost pct year consolidated net profit mln swiss francs mln dividend francs per registered share francs and francs per participation certificate eight consolidated turnover billion francs billion parent company net profit mln francs mln parent company turnover billion francs billion note company full name gebrueder sulzer sulz reuter acq pergamon holdings reduces bpcc and hollis stakes pergamon holdings ltd and its associate companies said that they had sold mln ordinary shares the british printing and communication corp plc bpcl and mln hollis plc together with other securities total price was given but the company said the proceeds the sales would used fund pergamon expansion programme and worldwide acquisition stategy the company said that following these sales pergamon ordinary shareholdings both bpcc and hollis remained above pct said had intention further reducing its holdings either company reuter earn nationale nederlanden profits sales steady year net profit mln guilders mln revenues billion guilders billion net profit per nominal guilder share guilders corrected for capital increase uncorrected figure dividend guilders corrected uncorrected note full name nationale nederlanden ntnn reuter rubber shanghai tyreb factory raise mln dlrs chung hua rubber factory shanghai will raise mln dlr loan expand and modernise its plant arranger ccic finance ltd said the loan lead managed the bank china expected mature eight nine years but terms have not been finalized the money will used import manufacturing equipment including technology transfer for the production truck radial tyres part the output will exported the expansion program expected cost total mln dlrs the shortfall will financed domestically reuter interest saudi rates rise bahrain banks caught short saudi riyal interest rates rose bahrain based banks scrambled cover short positions dealers said several bahrain banks had been lending the fixed periods and borrowing the short dates but today they found the day day money short supply dealers said everybody stuck the spot next one trader said spot next rose high six pct from five pct yesterday and the borrowing interest spilled over into the periods with one month rising around pct from pct yesterday three months edged around pct from pct while six months was quoted touch firmer some banks seven pct commercial banks quoted the spot riyal the dollar after yesterday reuter gold belgium issue gold warrants sources say belgium plans issue swiss franc warrants buy gold with credit suisse lead manager market sources said confirmation further details were immediately available reuter earn philippine telephone firm plans stock split the philippine long distance telephone pldt planning two for one stock split and pct stock dividend later this year reduce excess market buoyancy vice president sennen lazo told reuters lazo said the stock split would reduce the par value the company common stock from five pesos said the stock split would apply holders about mln common shares stock the record date september the exercise should make our stock more marketable lazo said now beyond the reach many small investors pldt common stock surged from low pesos february close trading yesterday the manila stock exchange lazo said the pct stock dividend payable october would also apply stockholders record september pldt reported net income billion pesos pct from mln pesos operating revenues six billion pesos from billion pesos end december the company had stockholders pldt spokesman said the company profits are likely substantial since the government raised its franchise tax three pct from two and impose pct corporate income tax from which was previously exempt the government has not far ordered the implementation the tax decision pldt the largest telephone companies the philippines december the company had telephones operation representing pct all instruments the country manila item philippine telephone firm plans stock split please read page first para the company profits are likely substantially cut inserting dropped word this replaces the company profits are likely substantial sugar cargill confirms white sugar sale india london based trader cargill ltd confirmed sold one cargo white sugar india for shipment april may yesterday tender price details were not immediately available but some traders suggested business had been done around dlrs tonne cif india tendered for one two cargoes white sugar there was specific requirement shipping period reuter nat-gas malaysia seeks billion yen pipeline loan malaysia has asked japan for billion yen year loan finance the construction gas pipelines from eastern trengganu southern johor the overseas economic cooperation fund oecf said oecf chief representative takashi matsuya told reporters the japanese government appraising the loan another oecf official told reuters japan likely approve the loan because technically and economically viable approved the loan would carry coupon rate four pct grace period seven years matsuya said would disbursed over three years added the pipeline contruction the second phase the peninsular gas utilisation project petronas malaysia national oil company the first phase was the supply gas households and around the eastern oil town kertih reuter earn ccf reports pct profit boost share split seen credit commercial france ccfp reported parent company net profit pct mln francs from mln francs few weeks before its denationalisation around the end this month official sources said the bank france sixth largest terms its deposits and seventh terms its assets planned share split increase the number shares offer ahead the sale pct its ordinary share capital the public pct staff and pct abroad previously one france biggest private banks was nationalised the socialists the sources said was too early give details the planned split the share price but cited april likely date for the flotation launch far pct the group capital currently mln shares francs nominal has been offered for sale large private investors constitute solid core eight ten shareholders before the flotation the private tender offer closes april while mln franc advertising campaign for the flotation begins sunday the privatisation will way attracting extra clients ccf deputy director general rene serre told reuters market sources put the total value ccf privatisation between four and five billion francs serre said the bank was likely attract least the same number investors sogenal another recently privatised bank which people bought shares the government sweeping privatisation programme has also included the sale saint gobain sgep and cie financiere paribas pari the sale banque batiment des travaux publics and banque industrielle mobiliere privee should completed this month while third largest french bank societe generale sgen will privatised later this year reuter acq lex service buys sears motor group lex service plc lexl said had acquired sears motor group ltd the retail motor distribution arm sears plc sehl and mln stg loan note payable sears motor for mln stg the purchase will through mln stg cash and the issue sears plc mln new lex ordinary shares the company said statement that immediately following the acquisition the motor group its car and commercial vehicle contract hire fleet some vehicles was sold lex vehicle leasing ltd for mln stg cash sum equal the net book value the vehicles transferred lex vehicle owned equally lex services and lombard north central plc lex said the shares involved the transaction were today being placed for sears plc with institutions these shares will not qualify for the final lex dividend april lex said statement that its acquisition sears motor group represents major development for its automotive activities the enlarged retailing operations the lex automotive group now have turnover mln stg lex existing automotive interests include volvo concessionaires the sole importer volvo cars and parts into the lex said the turnover for sears motor group the year december was mln stg and that the date the acquisition the group had about mln stg external borrowings lex shares fell the announcement trade around from close yesterday reuter rubber major rubber producers meet singapore officials from indonesia malaysia singapore and perhaps thailand will meet here tomorrow discuss increased regional cooperation rubber marketing and ways raise rubber prices industry sources said the officials will discuss linking rubber markets the four countries improve price transparency the sources said this the first time indonesia attending such meeting they said but representatives from thailand may not able attend because their tight schedule malaysia indonesia and thailand account for pct world rubber exports and singapore major regional rubber trading centre the malaysian rubber futures market freighting and contracts for rubber are among other issues expected discussed last month rubber importing and exporting countries adopted new international natural rubber agreement geneva the new pact more responsive market trends than its predecessor the sources said and earlier provisions allowing the buffer stock borrow from banks have been eliminated reuter acq mepc extends offer for oldham mepc plc mepc said that its offer for oldham estates ltd would remain open until further notice february mepc made agreed bid for oldham based formula reflecting its asset value september year earlier oldham net asset value was put mln stg april the valuation used under the formula had still agreed oldham had yet give firm recommendation its shareholders regarding the value the the offer reuter earn george wimpey profits pct mln stg year december shr div making pretax profit mln stg mln tax mln stg mln net profit mln stg mln turnover billion stg billion note full name company george wimpey plc wmpy operating profit before exceptional items mln stg mln exceptional debits mln stg mln operating profit mln stg mln share profits less losses associated companies mln stg mln loss interest net payable mln stg mln attributable minority profits debits mln stg mln extraordinary items debit mln stg mln credit net borrowings mln stg mln reuter trade canada february trade surplus billion dlrs after january mln dlrs surplus earn aegon net profit rises pct net profit mln guilders total revenue billion guilders billion net profit per five guilder nominal share guilder corrected for capital increase final dividend guilders and pct stock guilders and pct stock interim dividend already paid was guilders note full name company aegon aegn reuter trade canada february trade surplus billion dlrs canada had trade surplus billion dlrs february compared with upward revised mln dlrs surplus january statistics canada said the january surplus originally was reported mln dlrs the february surplus last year was mln dlrs february exports seasonally adjusted were billion dlrs against billion january and billion february february imports were billion dlrs against billion january and billion february reuter earn natned forecasts results line with the netherlands largest insurer nationale nederlanden nttn natned said expected least unchanged results after reporting net profits pct mln guilders from mln revenues increased pct billion guilders after billion the previous year and the dividend was raised guilders per share from guilders corrected capital increase the company said guilder revenue and profit were pressured falls exchange rates particularly the and australian dollar and sterling without these currency fluctuations net profit would have been mln guilders higher and revenue billion higher natned said the international share turnover was pct compared with pct the company life insurance result fell mln guilders after mln due currency influences tighter interest margins and increased investment claim payouts fell mln guilders after mln the previous year the company total assets reached billion guilders against billion the year before assets per share equalled guilders against without these currency fluctuations net profit would have been mln guilders higher and revenue billion higher natned said the international share turnover was pct compared with pct the company life insurance result fell mln guilders aft interrupted reserves bank france return apr week end apr mln francs gold reserves unch convertible currency reserves ecus special operations advances exchanges stabilisation fund nil nil special drawing rights unch notes circulation foreign liabilities sugar thailand renew long term sugar contracts trade thailand negotiate tomorrow with selected trade houses for renewal long term raw sugar sales contracts cover the next five years rate tonnes annually traders said they also reported vague talk algeria may seeking tonnes raws tomorrow but details are unclear reuter trade launches anti dumping probe japanese chips the european community launched investigation into allegations dumping japanese semiconductor makers move which diplomats said could mark intensification world trade strains tokyo already faces deadline april from washington for the imposition mln dlrs worth tariffs chips imports into the the executive commission said today the european electrical component manufacturers association complained that japanese firms were selling high capacity eprom type erasable programmable read only memory chips unfairly low prices japan last year took pct the mln dlr eprom market from pct the firms said they had been forced offer their products discount pct order compete with the japanese the commission said believed the association had given sufficient elements proof for dumping warrant investigation which could lead impose duties found the complaints were justified the commission claims last year accord between the and japan microchip pricing gives firms privileged access the japanese market reuter money-fx swiss launch new series money market paper the swiss federal government will launch new series three month money market certificates totalling around mln swiss francs the national bank said subscriptions close april and payment date april the last series three month paper issued march raised mln francs issue price pct giving average annual yield pct reuter money-fx finance ministers agree need for stability finance ministers from seven major industrialized nations agreed the need stabilize currencies current levels but said more action was needed reduce trade imbalances and sustain economic growth communique issued after four hour meeting the treasury that ended last night the ministers said the value the dollar and other currencies was basically correct now and they welcomed new measures planned the japanese boost their economy west german finance minister gerhard stoltenberg called good meeting and brief remarks exchanged with reporters other ministers seemed pleased with its outcome shortly after the communique was issued and just foreign exchange trading opened tokyo the bank japan intervened again prevent the yen rising too quickly the communique said the ministers and governors reaffirmed the commitment the cooperative approach agreed the recent paris meeting they agreed however that further actions will essential resist rising protectionist pressures sustain global economic expansion and reduce trade imbalances welcomed the plans set this week the japan ruling liberal democratic party stimulate its economy with what the communique termed extraordinary and urgent measures including unprecedented front end loading public works expenditures the meeting the called group seven brought together ministers and central bank governors the seven major industrial democracies the united states japan west germany france britain italy and canada the communique said the ministers reaffirmed the commitment cooperation reached meeting february paris when they had agreed stabilize foreign exchange rates the then current levels the weeks that followed the dollar continued fall against the japanese yen despite massive dollar purchases the bank japan and other central banks and now trading around postwar lows japan has come under growing criticism from both the united states and european countries for its only modest efforts open its markets outside competition and reduce its exports the communique said japan affirmed its intention open domestic markets foreign goods and services but did not elaborate said the officials reaffirmed the view that around current levels their currencies are within ranges broadly consistent with economic fundamentals and the basic policy intentions outlined the louvre meeting reuter earn aegon expects moderate rise profits dutch insurer aegon aegn reported pct increase net profits mln guilders and said expected moderate increase profits for total revenue was eight pct lower billion guilders billion guilders the company said its revenues were down due lower foreign exchange rates and change accounting practice added that revenues would have risen about seven pct had those changes not occurred revenue from dutch operations rose five pct mainly due its life insurance business health insurance revenues the netherlands also rose despite notable shift insurances with lower premiums and higher personal risks damage insurances made losses mainly due car damage insurances aegon did not specify the loss the united states revenue guilders from health and life insurance was lower aegon said this was due change accounting for annuities aegon said annuities are subject such strong personal investment influences that should accounted differently from the more traditional insurances this change accounting practice and another change account for profits made fixed interest investments resulted incidental rise net profits mln guilders aegon said incidental negative influences net profits were slightly higher being the lower dollar rate high initial costs for new products and the cost new headquarters the hague large number new insurance products emerged the netherlands and the aegon said large initial costs for these products have depressed net profits somewhat monumental corp insurer which merged with aegon may saw its profits almost completely eroded these costs and made only small contribution the group profits aegon said has written off mln guilders goodwill for monumental corp aegon net equity was billion guilders december against billion the year before reuter money-fx wants show markets its resolve miyazawa japanese finance minister kiichi miyazawa said the group seven countries reaffirmed their paris accord stabilising currencies convince the market their resolve news conference after today meeting miyazawa said the ministers and central bank governors did not believe totally new statement was needed the speculative selling did not reflect economic fundamentals and since the fundamentals had not changed only reaffirmation the goals the paris accord was needed said also noted that this test the nations resolve had concentrated the yen while other currencies especially the mark had remained stable miyazawa said any change economic conditions since the paris accord was not worth being called fundamental said time louvre agreement the expression current level rather vague idea said the yen movement the past several weeks within the range agreed paris febraury said was better give vague expression than pin pointing level which could have adverse impact the market miyazawa said asked why only japan was committed fresh measures the statement said japan was exceptional among the seven because the yen appreciated against the dollar while other major currencies largely have been stable also said japan ruling liberal democratic party has justed adoped package reflate the economy while other nations are not supposed produce new measures short period since the paris agreement miyazawa also said the sanctions against japanese semiconductor products was not discussed through the meeting and did not affect the currency talks the seven nations discussed the debt problems developing countries and ways proceed line with the debt initiative outlined treasury secretary james baker months ago reuter earn unifirst corp unf sets quarterly qtly div five cts five cts prior pay july one record june reuter earn trump plaza qtr net net profit loss revs mln mln year net profit mln profit revs mln mln note company became wholly owned and operated donald trump may when acquired pct interest that had been owned former operator holiday corp hia reuter sugar west german beet plantings delayed three weeks unseasonal cold weather has delayed sugar beet plantings west germany three weeks the agriculture ministry said ministry spokesman said some central areas especially the rhineland farmers have taken advantage warmer weather and started plantings the past two days west german planting intentions this year are put hectares down from last year said adding that the average was reuter acq step saver coda says warrant exercised step saver data systems inc said bergen richards corp has exercised warrant buy step saver shares two dlrs each said warrants issued the underwriter its initial public offering were exercised march for aggregate dlrs reuter acq coast savings csa talks buying bank coast savings and loan association said talks with the federal savings and loan insurance corp the acquisition central savings and loan association san diego central which operates branches has been under management guidance the fslic since may coast said the acquisition would give entry into the san joaquin valley market besides strengthening its presence the san diego los angeles and orange counties areas reuter acq bramall acquire gelco for mln dlrs bramall plc said statement accompanying its annual results that proposed acquire gelco for some mln dlrs part the cost will met the issue mln new ordinary bramall shares which are being placed each the acquisition will satisfied initial payment some mln dlrs cash with further payments dlrs maximum mln dlrs these further payments will only made profits achieved gelco for the year ending july reach certain level bramall shares were trading lower reuter gold belgium launches bonds with gold warrants the kingdom belgium launching mln swiss francs seven year notes with warrants attached buy gold lead mananger credit suisse said the notes themselves have pct coupon and are priced par payment due april and final maturity april each franc note carries warrants two warrants are required allow the holder buy grammes gold price francs during the entire life the bond the latest gold price zurich was francs per grammes reuter earn and bancshares inc cbtb qtr net shr cts cts net avg shrs mln mln note results reflected pooled acquisition first community bancshares inc march and include camden bancorp from january purchase reuter earn xicor inc xico qtr march net shr profit five cts loss cts net profit loss revs mln note net includes dlr tax credit reuter earn george wimpey says benefits restructuring seen george wimpey plc wmpy said the outlook for looked encouraging the company realised the continuing benefits restructuring said its overall financial position showed further improvement and the reshaping its business into clearly defined and activity related divisions had been successfully achieved wimpey was commenting statement its results which showed pretax profits pct mln stg the group had good overall year north america the company said statement reuter acq cmco makes acquisition said has acquired the principal assets national tech industries inc and telkom corp which are engaged the sale and telemarketing consumer electronic merchandise and business house imports and industries respectively the company said paid total dlrs including the assumption liabilities national tech had sales about mln dlrs for said reuter gold belgium launches bonds with gold warrants the kingdom belgium launching mln swiss francs seven year notes with warrants attached buy gold lead manager credit suisse said the notes themselves have pct coupon and are priced par payment due april and final maturity april each franc note carries warrants two warrants are required allow the holder buy grammes gold price francs during the entire life the bond the latest gold price zurich was francs per grammes reuter earn datatrak inc dtrk qtr feb net shr profit nil profit nil net profit profit sales nine mths shr loss one loss two cts net loss loss sales reuter ship todd shipyards tod struck west coast todd shipyards corp said production workers represented the multi union pacific coast metal trades district council its san francisco division struck april six said negotiations are expected resume the end this month todd also said the collective bargaining division effect its galveston division expires april and negotiations with the galveston metal trades council are continuing the company said results balloting new collective bargaining agreement proposal its seattle division are expected tabulated the close business tomorrow the pacific coast council has recommended acceptance that proposal membership todd said reuter jobs first time jobless claims fell week new applications for unemployment insurance benefits fell seasonally adjusted the week ended march from the prior week the labor department said the number people actually receiving benefits under regular state programs totaled the week ended march the latest period for which that figure was available that was down from the previous week reuter acq clevite industries says industries offered dlrs share buy company earn suntrust banks inc sti qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln note share adjusted for two for one split july results restated for pooled acquisition third national corp december net chargeoffs mln dlrs mln dlrs assets billion dlrs pct from year earlier deposits billion pct and loans billion dlrs pct reuter earn international thomson report funds international thomson organisation ltd said will report financial results funds rather than sterling beginning from jan said the change will not applied retroactively prior financial periods the company said result recent investments most its assets now are located the united states reuter earn philip crosby associates inc pcro qtr net shr three cts cts net revs mln year shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter earn colonial american bankshares corp cabk qtr shr cts cts qtly div cts cts prior net note share adjusted for pct stock dividend november dividend pay may one record april reuter acq clevite clev gets dlr shr offer clevite industries inc said received written proposal from industries inc jpi seeking buy all its outstanding shares for dlrs share clevite stock was trading nasdaq industries recently completed the acquisition clevite engine parts division industries said its proposed transaction would financed through borrowings under its available bank lines and bridge financing facility which donaldson lufkin and jenrette securities corp agreed arrange expedite the transaction industries said would willing start cash tender for clevite shares within five days after agreeing upon definitive merger and confirmation clevite financial results and condition reuter livestock argentine cattle market report about head cattle were auctioned liniers cattle market against wednesday and last thursday trade sources said maximun prices australes per kilo with dollar equivalent brackets included today wednesday steers over kilos steers kilos cows for canning reuter money-fx money market deficit revised downward the bank england said has revised its estimate today shortfall mln stg from mln before taking account mln stg morning assistance reuter earn physio technology phyt sees loss default physio technology inc said expects have third quarter ended march loss about dlrs and default its bank loan because the resignation chairman and chief executive officer the company said the loss followed four quarters modest profits the year ago quarter earned dlrs one cent share for the first half fiscal reported profit dlrs two cts share compared year earlier loss dlrs cts share said president michael hall will assume the duties chief executive officer physio technology said the resignation chairman james lane can constitute non compliance with its series convertible subordinated debentures due and default under its agreement with the merchants bank kansas city explained declaration non compliance under the debentures would create default under the loan agreements requiring immediate payment mln dlrs debentures and about dlrs outstanding under the bank credit line the company said the debenture holders intend waive the non compliance but reserve the right withdraw the waiver the end any day period physio technology said changing its field sales force independent representatives and dealers from employees significantly reduce its fixed overhead its statement did not indicate how many employees would affected the move the company said lane will become independent dealter for the company certain midwestern states will continue serve director added reuter earn washington federal savings wfsl qtr net qtr ends march shr one dlr cts net mln six mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln note full name bank washington federal savings and loan association reuter earn ponce federal bank pfbs qtr net shr cts cts net avg shrs note net for both qtrs reflects gains sales securities pct net and pct net reuter money-fx money market deficit removed the bank england said has satisfied its revised estimate today shortfall the money market providing mln stg assistance afternoon operations the bank bought band one mln stg bank bills pct and band two mln stg bank bills and one mln stg treasury bills pct this brings the total help far today mln stg compared with its deficit estimate mln stg reuter money-fx lebanese pound falls sharply against dollar the lebanese pound fell sharply against the dollar again today with dealers attributing the decline continued political uncertainty the pound closed against the dollar compared yesterday close political deadlock reflected the pound position there was more demand and less offer the market one dealer told reuters the pound which was the dollar january has lost more than pct its international value over the past three months reuter earn brown boveri und cie lifts dividend dividend business marks per share seven marks company subsidiary switzerland bbc brown boveri und cie bbcz reuter earn whirlpool corp qtr shr cts cts coffee brazilian coffee rainfall the following rainfall was recorded the areas over the past hours parana state umuarama nil paranavai nil londrina nil maringa nil sao paulo state presidente prudente nil votuporanga nil franca nil catanduva nil sao carlos nil sao simao nil minas gerais state guaxupe nil tres pontas nil reuter acq hutton lbo inc said tender offer acquisittion for purolator courier expired bop world bank support sri lanka deficits cut the world bank will support sri lanka development program provided the country reduces its budget and current account deficits the ministry finance said said bank president barber conable meeting with sri lanka finance minister ronnie mel washington also emphasised the need for structural adjustment and reform the economy battered five years separatist disturbances officials said sri lanka budget deficit this year expected surpass the projected billion rupees while defence spending already two billion rupees from targetted billion also likely grow the ministry said mel asked the world bank give sri lanka billion rupees balance payments support reuter acq hutton lbo inc says unit terminates merger agreement with purolator courier acq gemina has comment ambrosiano report holding company gemina spa said had comment italian press report today that has acquired pct stake nuovo banco ambrosiano spa italian daily repubblica said that gemina paid billion lire for the shareholding from several italian banks gemina spokeswoman told reuters have nothing say about the report spokeswoman for milan based ambrosiano said have information this time february ambrosiano chairman giovanni bazoli said foreign and domestic firms have expressed interest buying stakes the bank reuter earn volkswagen dividend unchanged dividend business unchanged marks per ordinary share company also set dividend marks for new preference shares which were issued last year note company has said profit will match level despite provisions mln marks connected with alleged currency fraud group net profit was mln marks parent company net was mln marks company full name volkswagen vowg reuter earn whirlpool corp whr qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs reuter interest bank france leaves intervention rate unchanged the bank france said left its intervention rate unchanged pct when injected funds the market against first category paper today money market intervention tender money market dealers had earlier expressed mixed views the possibility quarter point cut the rate was last adjusted march when was cut pct from the eight pct rate set january reuter gnp global economic slowdown raises new debt fears the global economy expected weaken this year adding new worries already serious poverty outlook economic analysts said for finance ministers and central bankers attending this week semi annual meetings the international monetary fund and world bank the new figures released the imf add additional concern the fund estimated world output would only grow pct this year versus pct last year and pct the industrial countries gross national product measure all goods and services was expected decline pct this year compared with pct the imf said for the developing countries the gross domestic product another measure economic growth was expected fall pct from pct last year the new figures are considered major disappointment the poorest countries they had hoped that new vitality the industrial countries brought sharp decline oil prices would assist their economic recovery and help them cope with growing mounds debt imf officials discussing their outlook said they believed the industrial country economies would move annual growth rate three pct the end the decade economic analysts and the imf have been saying for some time that the ability keep the debt crisis from turning into economic rout rests sustained economic growth since the debtor countries must look the wealthier states for markets for their products well financial assistance economic weakness the developed nations economies poses fundamental worries debtor countries including the very poorest states have only few avenues open them for earning foreign exchange including the key one exports the economy which its fifth year expansion has served mainstay for developing country exports but too seen being rather feeble this year growing only pct according the imf for this reason and because high trade deficit the united states has been pressuring japan and west germany ignite their economies but with little apparent success the imf study also examines the course the dollar and the curious lack impact has had the trade deficit reagan administration officials have been saying that the impact now beginning show although has been much slower than expected the imf observed its world economic outlook that has recognized that exchange rate adjustments take time work through payments flows probably least three years get resonably complete effect the report added however the adjustments may take even more time this occasion reuter earn showboat sbo declares stock split showboat inc said its board declared two for one stock split payable shareholders record may reuter lead lead prices rise finely balanced physicals lead prices have risen this week against background finely balanced physical sector traders said further gains are possible the ussr steps its buying labour problems develop north america they added london metal exchange lme prices are unusually buoyant time year when seasonal demand normally slackening and prices tending drift lower this buoyancy generally attributed traders the low level lme stocks and steady unspectacular physical demand the northern hemisphere finding supplies curtailed the supply problems are not new but are beginning felt market which peak winter demand tails off stocks usually build fast and availability increases traders said the lower supply levels result from number different factors around the globe delayed shipments from peru mediterranean countries because production and transport problems lack spanish exports since the closure last year cia cruz smelter linares and lower output morocco and greece have all meant additional demand being directed merchants who turn have been drawing lme stocks addition broken hill associated smelters port pirie south australia smelter halting production for five weeks for maintenance although the company said would meet commitments this will put further pressure stocks and the company doe run has kept its tonnes per year boss montana smelter closed this cut producer stocks and contributed closer supply demand balance within the market for many years depressed surplus production and regular supplier the world market mexican supplies which have sometimes swelled lme stocks have been normal but are finding ready buyers traders said the demand side winter battery manufacture has held quite well and some buying lead sheet has been reported the soviet lead buying notably absent europe the first two months the year was resumed when large buying order was filled merchants march merchant demand has fuelled the rise lme lead prices this week and has seen cash metal move above stg and establish premium around stg over three months delivery specific demand has been directed towards metal gothenburg and trieste warehouses gothenburg material often target for merchants shipping the ussr traders said stocks the popular lme continental warehouses antwerp and rotterdam have little more than tonnes lead each and this believed strong hands out total tonnes lme stocks the lowest level since june just over half warehouses which are not popular with merchants putting together shipments but even stocks have dropped around tonnes since the start the year traders said this partly due secondary smelters buying ingots supplement feed supplies affected environmental controls which put restrictions the transport used batteries labour negotiations north america will play important part determining the direction prices with contracts expiring end april cominco trail and kimberley mine smelter and doe run herculaneum smelter noranda new brunswick mine smelter also has contract expiry july which may cause some nervousness view strikes its zinc and copper workers over recent months traders said lme three months delivery already attracting speculative buying could rise stg current firmness while nearby tightness could widen the cash premium from four three months was quoted stg midsession reuter earn rexham corp rxh qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln note net includes pretax gain dlrs from change pension accounting results include production graphics corp and systems technology and weapons system test divisions new technology inc acquired december reuter earn first eastern corp febc qtr net shr cts cts net note share adjusted for two for one stock split january reuter interest fhlbb changes short term discount note rates the federal home loan bank board adjusted the rates its short term discount notes follows maturity new rate old rate maturity days pct pct days days pct pct days days pct pct days days pct pct days days pct pct days reuter acq anchor financial afcx make acquisition anchor financial corp said has agreed acquire waccamaw state bank surfside beach exchange anchor shares for each waccamaw share subject regulatory and shareholder approvals waccamaw had assets mln dlrs march reuter dlr stoltenberg not surprised dollar reaction west german finance minister gerhard stoltenberg said was not surprised the overnight decline the dollar foreign exchange markets speaking briefly with reporters before entering meeting the international monetary fund said these minor movements don really affect the dollar declined the initial reaction statement the group seven industrial countries reaffirming their paris agreement february maintain their currencies around current levels reuter lead asarco ups lead price cts asarco inc said increasing its base spot sales price for refined lead one half cent cents fob delivered carload lots effective immediately reuter acq hutton efh unit purolator offer expires hutton lbo inc said the tender offer its wholly owned unit acquisition inc for purolator courier corp pcc expired edt yesterday without the purchase any purolator common stock hutton added that acquisition also terminated its merger agreement with purolator hutton said the offer which had been conditioned upon the tender least purolator shares about two thirds the outstanding shares was terminated because the minimum number shares was not tendered purolator had entered into definitive agreement with acquisition part owned hutton lbo inc unit hutton and some officers purolator courier division which offered purchase purolator common stock shares for dlrs share following that move acquisition planned merge subsidiary into purolator converting all outstanding purolator common did not own into aggregate mln dlrs principal amount pct guaranteed debentures due and warrants purchase pct purolator unit comprised purolator courier operations hutton said edt yesterday about shares purolator common stock about pct the outstanding shares had been validly tendered and not withdrawn acquisition has instructed its depository for the offer return promptly the purolator stock deposited behalf tendering shareholders hutton said reuter earn abbott laboratories qtr net shr cts cts cotton certificated cotton stocks certificated cotton stocks deliverable the new york cotton exchange cotton futures contract april were reported bales down bales from the previous day figure there were bales awaiting review and bales awaiting decertification reuter earn reichhold chemical rci sets anti takeover plan reichhold chemical inc said its board adopted warrant dividend plan which one preferred stock purchase right will distributed dividend each common share outstanding the company said its warrant dividend plan designed protect its shareholders against unsolicted coercive attempts aquire control without making adequate offer for all shares reichhold said the adoption not response any specific takeover attempt reichhold said each right will entitle shareholders buy one one hundreth share newly created series preferred stock initial exercise price dlrs with dividend and voting rights approximately equal those one share the company common stock the rights will exercisable only without reichhold prior consent person group acquires pct more the voting power announces tender offer which would result pct ownership the company said reichhold said entitled redeem the rights five cts apiece before pct position has been acquired before existing pct shareholder buys additional two pct more the voting power the company connection with certain transactions afterward the tax free distribution will become effective may and will expire years later the company said details the plan are outlined letter mailed stockholders reuter earn abbott laboratories inc abt qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln sales billion mln reuter acq hanson han buy int protein pro stock international proteins corp said has agreed sell private placement common shares dlrs share subsidiary hanson trust plc addition david clarke the president another hanson trust subsidiary hanson industries will named chairman international proteins executive committee upon his election the board the annual meeting international proteins recently acquired clarke family business great south beach sales for restricted common shares which have been issued date international proteins said its agreement with hanson trust subject stockholder approval the annual meeting which expected held june the company said hanson trust purchasing the stock for investment purposes adding the agreement includes restrictions purchase sale the company hanson for the next five years international proteins said will use the proceeds expand domestic operations the company has about mln shares outstanding reuter bop spain has mln dlr current surplus february spain had mln dlr current account surplus february compared with mln dlr surplus january and mln dlr surplus february last year bank spain figures show spain trade deficit narrowed mln dlrs compared with mln dlrs january but the large increase non oil imports contributed the substantial increase over the mln dlr deficit registered february exports billion dlrs were pct compared with february last year but imports were pct higher than last february totalling billion dlrs non oil imports totalled billion dlrs compared with billion february last year reflecting the large ammount investment goods entering the country with the recovery the spanish economy the bank spain said spain tourism earnings continued grow and totalled mln dlrs february compared with mln dlrs january and mln dlrs february last year reuter acq exxon xon south african unit acquired zenex zenex oil pty ltd said acquired the interests esso south africa the local subsidiary exxon corp xon and will use mln rand profits finance educational and social programs the profit scheme will begin after zenex has paid exxon undisclosed purchase price for esso zenex chairman john truscott said statement the acquisition follows the exxon withdrawal from south africa announced last december reuter interest sallie mae adjusts short term discount note rates the student loan marketing association said its rates short term discount notes were follows maturity new rate old rate maturity days pct pct days days pct pct days pct days pct days pct days pct days reuter interest freddie mac adjusts short term discount rates the federal home loan mortgage corp adjusted the rates its short term discount notes follows maturity rate old rate maturity days pct pct days reuter grain argentine grain belt weather report argentine grain belt temperatures centigrade and rain the hours gmt were max temp min temp rainfall buenos aires bahia blanca tres arroyos tandil junin santa rosa cordoba santa reuter earn says mln marks maximum for currency losses losses for volkswagen vowg linked alleged foreign currency fraud will not exceed the mln marks provision already made spokesman said the spokesman was commenting after had confirmed would pay unchanged mark dividend for ordinary shares business despite the provision one west german newspaper today quoted foreign currency dealers frankfurt speculating that the total losses from the currency affair could high billion marks but the spokesman described mln marks upper limit said statement following today supervisory board meeting that had discussed the foreign currency scandal detail and was setting new probe into its foreign currency activities carried out unnamed auditing company has said computer programs were erased and documents were faked the alleged fraud which believes transactions intended protect against possible foreign currency losses were not completed former foreign currency chief burkhard junger was arrested monday suspicion embezzlement and having evaded justice earlier had said that its results would match profits group net profit was mln marks and parent company net was mln marks also said recommend unchanged dividend the supervisory board the company has also set dividend marks for new preference shares which were issued last year analysts have described the held dividend move reassure worried shareholders increased nominal capital marks last year billion marks with the result that its total dividend payment will mln marks compared with mln since the new capital was preference shares the share analysts say will have dig into reserves order maintain the disclosed profit levels the end had parent company reserves slightly less than three billion marks reuter earn federated department stores march sales pct coffee prices generally lower nairobi coffee auction prices were lower this week coffee auction for all grades and qualities except better quality grades which held steady the coffee board kenya said the board said offered bags and sold far this coffee year kenya has sold bags all markets which are for the pool with overall average price shillings tonne added the board will offer bags its next auction april bags price per offered sold average misc total average for sale reuter earn alex brown absb sets split offer shares alex brown inc said has declared three for two stock split payable may record may the company also said has filed offer common shares including sold shareholder with company proceeds used for working capital and general corporate purposes its alex brown and sons inc subsidiary lead underwriter the offering expected made before the record date the split the company said reuter earn highland superstores inc high qtr net period ended jan shr cts cts net revs mln mln year shr dlrs dlrs net revs mln mln avg shrs reuter acq lvi group lvi make acquisition lvi group inc said has agreed principle purchase all outstanding shares spectrum holding corp for proposed mln dlrs cash lvi said additional mln dlrs common stock and seven mln dlrs notes will become payable spectrum has certain minimum future earnings lvi interior construction firm said the acquisition subject execution definitive agreement and completion due diligence lvi and spectrum asbestos abatement concern expect close the deal june lvi said reuter earn texas american tae omits preferred payout texas american energy corp said its board has decided again omit the quarterly dividend its dlr cumulative convertible exchangeable preferred stock the dividend would have been payable may one the company last paid cts share the issue august reuter earn vornado inc vno qtr jan net shr dlrs dlrs net revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln year shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln reuter acq brenda mines selling kerr addison shares brenda mines ltd said sold kerr addison mines ltd shares group underwriters led wood gundy inc and brown baldwin nisker ltd for redistribution financial terms were undisclosed reuter acq phoenix financial phfc buys data access stake data access systems inc said chairman david cohen has sold common shares phoenix financial corp for undisclosed terms and resigned chairman and chief executive officer the company said phoenix financial now has pct interest data access and effective control data access said phoenix chairman martin ackerman has been named chairman data access well and two other phoenix representatives have been named the data access board said four directors other than cohen have resigned from the board reuter earn health and rehabilitation hrp initial payout health and rehabilitation properties trust said declared intitial dividend cts per share for the period ending march the dividend will payed may shareholders record april the company said the company said organized late and closed its intitial public offering shares dec the initital dividend includes five cts attributable the period between dec and and cts attributable the first qtr ending march reuter earn rowe price trow sees higher first quarter rowe price associates said its first quarter earnings rose about pct from the year ago dlrs and revenues about pct from the year ago mln dlrs said expects very good earnings and revenue growth this year earned mln dlrs revenues mln dlrs reuter acq general partners cuts stake gencorp general partners told the securities and exchange commission has reduced its stake gencorp inc pct from pct selling shares price equal dlrs per share general partners which includes holdings inc and general acquisitions inc said yesterday was dropping its dlr share hostile takeover bid for gencorp because gencorp move buy back its shares for dlrs each reuter earn heritage financial services hers qtr net shr cts cts net avg shrs note company had its initial public offering shares october reuter earn national computer nlcs sees earnings growth national computer systems inc expects fiscal year earnings improve about pct the company told analysts although said the april first quarter should show down earnings and virtually flat revenues chairman charles oswald said national computer has taken steps improve margins said revenues are expected increase modestly because the company decision downsize its leasing business nonrecurring revenueslast year from one time texas teacher assessment project and the impact the discontinuance products last year oswald said national computer first quarter results will down result major financial systems sales last year higher effective tax rate and the increased number shares outstanding the company said the next three consecutive quarters should demonstrate excellent earnings growth reuter interest chancellor lawson says there may need cut interest rates some countries acq rexham rxh repurchases stake from nortek ntk rexham corp said has repurchased its shares pct from nortek inc for dlrs each and nortek has withdrawn its proposal acquire rexham for dlrs per share rexham said nortek has also agreed not buy rexham shares take other actions under year standstill agreement the rexham board had rejected the nortek bid inadequate the company also said its board has authorized the repurchase the open market privately from time time additional five pct its own shares and the establishment employee stock ownership plan the plan expected purchase from rexham new convertible preferred stock with pct rexham voting power with proceeds pension plan overfunding and borrowings reuter heat exxon xon cuts heating oil price traders said oil traders the new york area said exxon corp exxon unit reduced the price charges contract barge customers for heating oil new york harbor cent gallon effective today they said the reduction brings exxon contract barge price the price decrease follows sharp declines heating oil prices the spot and futures markets traders said reuter interest fhlbb changes short term discount note rates the federal home loan bank board adjusted the rates its short term discount notes follows maturity new rate old rate maturity days pct pct days days pct pct days days pct pct days days pct pct days days pct pct days reuter earn strathfield oil and gas ltd year net shr cts cts net revs reuter acq diamond crystal dslt might sell salt unit diamond crystal salt said might sell its salt division the company said retained first boston corp assist with the possible sale the division assuming fair price and reasonable terms can obtained diamond crystal said sale the unit was the best long term interests its shareholders the company also said incorporated its packet products division april one the unit will indirect wholly owned subsidiary called diamond crystal specialty foods inc current management the division will remain reuter interest lawson says some countries could cut rates nigel lawson britain chancellor the exchequer said some countries may need cut interest rates with the aim maintaining exchange rate stability speaking journalists one day after the group seven countries reaffirmed goals set paris six weeks ago said central banks would continue intervene and when necessary said the countries were concerned that japan more stimulate domestic demand and welcomed measures outlined japanese finance minister kiichi miyazawa yesterday lawson said was still worried about the risk simultaneous recession the united states japan and west germany though less than when gave his march budget speech the british parliament anything little bit less concerned but there still risk said asked the united states should consider increasing interest rates support the dollar said there need for changes relative interest rates doesn need rise interest rates the united states lawson said there was some concern expressed yesterday meetings the slow progress the united states had made reducing its budget deficit believe there will some worthwhile progress reducing the deficit this year the important thing that continue year after year lawson said the february louvre accord called for efforts stabilize currencies then current exchange rates the six weeks that followed the japanese yen continued rise against the dollar despite massive central bank intervention asked whether this intervention was sign weakness the louvre accord said don think there had been intervention you would have called that sign weakness although intervention could cause inflation lawson said the world does not appear inflationary mode but one has vigilant said yesterday statement which affirmed that current levels exchange rates were appropriate had been carefully worded know what mean and all mean the same thing said lawson said financial markets seem believe that japanese measures outlined the louvre accord were the source weakness for that agreement therefore the countries welcomed miyazawa presentation plans for supplemental budget stimulate domestic demand they particularly welcomed the goal immediate increase public works spending but lawson said the package also involved second stage increase expenditures during the second half this year reuter potato potato futures trading not suspended trading the london potato futures market will not suspended richard harris chairman the london potato futures association lpfa said statement floor members was response strong representations the potato marketing board pmb complaining gross distortion price which they say will result large deliveries into the physical market when the april futures position expires the pmb had sought immediate suspension futures trading and asked the lpfa take action restore the relationship between futures and physicals farmers and merchants have alleged squeeze and cornering the market but harris pointed out that recent investigations the association futures brokers and dealers afbd the international commodities clearing house icch and other parties found evidence substantiate this the main complaint from some sections the physical market what they say unrealistic futures premium over the pmb average farm price april futures traded this morning between and stg per tonne compared with pmb average price stg bill englebright joint secretary the lpfa said there two tier market for physical potatoes said quality potatoes are short supply and prepackers have been paying between and stg per tonne for best samples but lesser quality grades have traded below stg some merchants fear that large tonnage will delivered against the april futures contract between now and the end the month and possibly disrupt the physical market harris said the lpfa rule book allows the management committee take steps necessary correct any malpractice and assured the committee monitoring the situation reuter money-fx group welcomes latest agreement the group developed nations issued communique welcoming the reaffirmation the paris accord currency stability the group seven leading industrial democracies yesterday the communique issued this morning the said prospects member countries economies would improved stability the exchange rates their currencies the includes the group seven the united states canada britain japan italy west germany and france plus belgium the netherlands sweden and also switzerland sources who attended the conference this morning said the reference the latest agreement was especially added the brief communique because currency stability will benefit all the members the met briefly before the international monetary fund interim committee meeting scheduled for today reuter iron-steel canam manac wins mln dlr contract the canam manac group inc said its canam steel works unit received contract valued mln dlrs supply steel trusses canron inc for new car plant ingersoll ontario canam manac said will produce the trusses its quebec and ontario plants and delivery will completed august reuter tin spot tin easier european free market spot tin the european free market was indicated the easier range stg per tonne for high grade metal warehouse rotterdam down stg from yesterday afternoon kerb close stability sterling versus the dollar continued apply pressure market which coming close testing psychological chart support base stg traders said dealers said major consumers still need cover their may and june requirements but are holding out for even lower offers reported high grade tin business london was confined end april metal stg small scale spot business was reported west german operators and marks per kilo although the market was still being undercut chinese material which traded one stage down marks per kilo traders said reuter earn consolidated papers inc cper qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net sales mln mln reuter acq humana hum sell medical offices humana inc said has agreed principle sell medfirst primary medical care facilities primedical corp for undisclosed terms with transfers taking place over the next four months said retains medfirst offices mostly the chicago area the transaction not expected have any impact earnings humana said reuter earn met coil systems corp mets qtr feb net shr seven cts nine cts net sales mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net sales mln mln qtly div three cts three cts prior pay april record april reuter earn ford raises qtly payout cts shr cts money-fx lawson sees change monetary policy british chancellor the exchequer nigel lawson said saw immediate implications for british monetary policy arising from the group seven meeting yesterday exchange rate stability the interest told journalists asked what meant for monetary policy said not think there are any immediate implications reuter earn ford motor raises qtly payout qtly div cts cts prior pay june one record may one reuter iron-steel talking point steel companies steel stocks which have had healthy runup recently still present some short term investment opportunities according some steel analysts but others say the upturn based strong orders and firm prices this spring has been strictly seasonal and will end soon they recommend taking profits that time year this strictly seasonal said charles bradford merrill lynch and orders will strong for about two months and there are signs that some order rates are starting dive already but dean witter reynolds inc analyst clarence morrison sees some short term potential the group which includes usx corp bethlehem steel corp armco inc and inland steel industries inc iad there still some attractiveness steels over the short intermediate term based improved order rates and rising prices morrison said only recommends one stock however inland which modernizing steelmaking operations make them more efficient despite his bearishness merrill bradford continues recommend armco which sees major turnaround armco steelmaking operations are profitable the balance sheet has been improved and its oilfield equipment business has been slimmed and put joint venture with usx bradford noted not high quality investment situation yet but they come long way said think the stock will moderately better than the market said armco shares trading off today could and possibly high said bradford sees armco earning cts share before special gains from recouped investment tax credits against losses last year armco earnings could significantly higher said bradford recommending sale usx shares had buy below but when gets let somebody else have said the steel and energy concern will earn about one dlr share about half that coming from asset sales and from two dlrs dlrs bradford said but lot depends oil prices added about pct usx sales come from oil and natural gas other analysts including michelle galanter applebaum salomon brothers inc recommend usx the company done lot restructuring more than the market given them credit for she said she sees the stock going the mid higher usx was trading she predicts usx will earn cts share this year and dlrs next year against large losses applebaum who also positive armco and inland has been recommending the stocks since last november peter marcus painewebber inc neutral the group although said the earnings outlook improved through the third quarter but sees potential trouble beyond then think steel prices bookings basis will start drop the summer said applebaum salomon brothers also sees some seasonal dropoff later the year but there are more positives than negatives she said citing reduced capacity the domestic industry better prices and weaker dollar which should cause steel imports drop off slightly from last year reuter earn dekalb corp dklbb qtr feb net shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln six mths sdhr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln reuter earn abbott abt sees gains from weaker dollar abbott laboratories inc said its first quarter record results reflected continued productivity improvement higher volume better product mix and weaker dollar abbott reported first quarter earnings rose record mln dlrs cts share record sales one billion dlrs research and development expenses most which was applied diagnostic and pharmaceutical products increased pct mln dlrs said sales pharmaceutical and nutritional products were mln dlrs the first quarter pct over year ago abbott said hospital and laboratory product sales the first quarter rose pct mln dlrs said first quarter sales domestic markets advanced pct mln dlrs while international sales jumped pct mln dlrs abbott said reuter cotton brazil cotton crop lower usda report brazil cotton crop estimate has been reduced from tonnes lint basis the agriculture department officer sao paulo said field report the report dated april said the reduction based expected smaller harvest the center south region the center south crop now estimated tonnes tonnes below the previous estimate hot dry weather during part january and excessive rains some areas february reduced yield prospects and may have affected quality the report said nearly pct the crop has been harvested parana and slightly less sao paulo said cotton entering gins fairly good quality according trade sources said reuter earn rjr nabisco first quarter net include mln dlr gain mln dlr charge cocoa brazil cocoa exporters unlikely limit sales brazilian cocoa exporters are not likely follow the example cocoa producers alliance cpa members who may limit sales the product effort boost world prices trade sources said they said similar procedure was taken the past brazil and that did not work out according plans the cocoa market completely free unlike coffee which controlled through export registrations cocoa exporters brazil operate their own free will trade source said the traders were responding questions whether they would follow the example cpa members meeting yaounde the sources said the banco brasil foreign trade department cacex never interferes the cocoa market rejecting sales that not meet certain price shipment criteria the position local producers always negotiate they please they buy for ten and sell for eleven and think good deal they are free ahead one source added reuter earn health rehabilitation hrp sets first payout health and rehabilitation properties trust said its board declared initial dividend cts including cts for the first quarter just ended and five cts from its initial operating period that began december the dividend payable may record april reuter money-fx treasury baker says rate shifts orderly treasury secretary james baker said that changes exchange rates have generally been orderly and have improved the prospects for reduction external imbalances more sustainable levels remarks before the imf policy making interim committee baker reiterated group seven statement last night that the substantial exchange rate changes since the plaza agreement months ago have now brought currencies within ranges broadly consistent with economic fundamentals baker said these exchange rate shifts have generally been orderly and have improved prospects for the reduction external imbalances more sustainable levels they are today the trade and current account imbalances simply are not sustainable baker told the ministers said that the reagan administration was resisting strong domestic pressure for trade protection and was working closely with the congress crafting trade bill while cannot yet sure the outcome are doing what can ensure that the bill not protectionist said baker also urged the international monetary fund executive board review possible modifications the fund compensatory financing facility before the annual meeting this fall should pay particular attention the lack continuing conditionality associated with the use the cff and whether shortfalls export earnings are indeed temporary said reuter acq time sell part unit time inc said its time life video inc subsidiary has agreed principle sell its institutional training business time life video president william ambrose for undisclosed terms said the business will operate ambrose video publishing reuter trade sprinkel says tax hike would not reduce deficit council economic advisers chairman beryl sprinkel said the reagan administration remains strongly opposed tax increase including billion dlrs new revenues the budget plan congressional democrats believe that significant increases taxes would not reduce deficits and could have adverse effects growth sprinkel told the house rules committee said the administration wanted continue its policy gradually reducing deficits through restraining government spending and promoting economic growth sprinkel said cutting the budget deficit was the best way lower the trade deficit reuter earn royal business group inc roy qtr march one shr cts five cts shr diluted cts five cts net revs not given half shr cts one shr diluted cts one net revs not given note current year net both periods includes gain dlrs from repurchase securities results exclude business forms division which sold reuter earn mse cable systems inc qtr net shr nil nil net vcs revs avg shrs year shr nil nil net revs avg shrs note share adjusted for one for reverse split reuter earn rule industries inc rule qtr feb net shr cts cts net revs half shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter acq new jersey investor buys pct kinark kin new jersey investor joseph falkenstein told the securities and exchange commission holds pct the shares kinark corp said has plans change the company and that bought the shares because believed the stock was undervalued and would rise the next six months reuter earn national distillers sees second qtr gain national distillers and chemical corp expects realize second quarter after tax gain four dlrs per share from the mln dlr sale its spirits business american brands inc amb national distillers stock rose after opening delay the new york stock exchange for imbalance orders think the sales price was higher than most people expected said john henry hutton group company spokeswoman said the four dlr per share gain will included second quarter net which compares with cts per share last year including the spirits and wine business they netted over mln dlrs for spirits and wine that will ease their interest cost burden said henry national distillers sold its wine business last month grand metropolitan plc heublein inc for mln dlrs henry said had anticipated national distillers would net only mln dlrs the most from the sale the two liquor businesses henry said the company recovered from the sales the cost buying enron chemicals the fourth quarter last year national distillers paid mln dlrs cash for enron and assumed mln dlrs debt national distillers said the time bought enron would sell the spirits and wine businesses moving more into the chemical area for two thirds income were from chemicals and propane national distillers earned excluding the liquor businesses dlrs per share for income from discontinued operations including the liquor businesses was cts per share reuter orange weather hurts italian oranges usda report unfavorable weather conditions during the second week march caused damage oranges the calabria region southern italy the agriculture department officer rome said field report the report dated april said the region accounts for about hectares the italian orange crop about pct total production however orange production the region for marketing year forecast tonnes pct the total italian orange crop said the report said trade contacts agree that about pct the orange output calabria was damaged frost reuter earn waste recovery inc wrii qtr net shr loss eight cts loss nine cts net loss loss revs avg shrs year shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss revs avg shrs reuter earn branch corp bnch qtr net shr primary cxts shr diluted cts cts net assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans billion billion reuter acq kurz kasch ups stake component tech ctec kurz kasch inc dayton thermoset molding maker told the securities and exchange commission had increased its holdings component technology corp two pct pct said bought the shares stock dlrs share for investment purposes reuter earn zayre corp raises quarterly qtly div cts eight cts prior pay june four record may reuter earn rjr nabisco rjr has offsetting gains charges rjr nabisco inc said its first quarter results will include after tax gain mln dlrs from the sale heublein inc and offsetting charges the company said its operations are performing well and line with expectations rjr nabisco said the charges reflect reserves established cover certain expenses rjr nabisco said the expenses covered after tax basis include mln dlrs for the write down redundant equipment and facilities resulting from modernization its tobacco operations mln dlrs for continuing restruction its food subsidiaries and mln dlrs connection with the early retirement high coupon debt reuter earn baybanks inc bbnk qtr net oper shr dlrs cts oper shr diluted dlrs cts oper net mln mln avg shrs mln mln avg shrs mln mln note net excludes gain dlrs from cumulative effect change calculating depreciation expense reuter money-fx france balladur says target zone notion nearer french finance minister edouard balladur said that the financial community closer arriving system target zones for currencies despite the fact that little being said about them speaking with reporters the semiannual meetings the international monetary fund balladur said are not very far from the notion target zones even don say told reporters that our ideas are progressing adding that the finance ministers have been talking about more cooperation economic policies and levels around which currencies should stabilize reuter earn student loan marketing association slm qtr shr cts cts net mln mln assets billion billion reuter acq industries jpi confirms proposal industries inc confirmed the announcement clevite industries inc clev that industries has submitted proposal clevite for the acquisition the company dlrs per share cash john psarouthakis chairman and president industries said that the company hopes promptly negotiate agreement with the special committee clevite board february industries said purchased clevite engine parts division industries said not aware any other reason for activity its stock reuter earn meditrust mtrus raises quarterly qtly div cts cts prior pay may record april reuter earn monsanto mtc unit sees operating loss monsanto corp searle and unit said will report operating loss for mainly due expenses for research and development searle chairman sheldon gilgore said searle operating loss will less than the mln dlr operating loss said searle first quarter sales will pct mln dlrs from mln dlrs the year ago quarter searle sales were mln dlrs gilgore said the company intends have sales three billion dlrs the mid said the company anticipates approval japan the italy spain and the for its ulcer treatment drug cytotech also said that paper not yet published the drug was shown prevent flare ulcers for longer period time than tagamet made smithkline beckman corp skb other drugs searle pipeline include tissue plasminogen activator tpa made different process than genentech gene tpa expected approved for marketing this year reuter earn status game corp stgm qtr feb net oper shr six cts one oper net revs avg shrs nine mths oper shr cts five cts oper net revs avg shrs note share adjusted for pct stock dividend december prior year net excludes tax credits dlrs quarter and dlrs nine mths net excludes discontinued amusement game operations gains dlrs dlrs quarter and loss dlrs gain dlrs nine mths reuter earn universal foods corp ufc votes dividend qtly div cts cts prior qtr pay may record april reuter earn betz laboratories inc betz sets quarterly qtly div cts cts prior pay may record april reuter earn northwestern national life nwnl ups payout qtly div cts cts prior pay may record april note northwestern national life insurance reuter acq foothill fgi sierrita standstill accord foothill group inc said reached standstill agreement with santa cruz resources inc and its parent sierrita resources inc that bars the companies from acquiring more than pct interest foothill except through business combination approved foothill board the company also said santa cruz has advised that owns pct foothill outstanding common stock addition santa cruz and sierrita have agreed vote their shares accordance with instructions from the foothill board connection with certain business combinations and certain anti takeover matters foothill said foothill said the arrangement also bars santa cruz and sierrita fron tendering any foothill securities owned them into any tender offer unless certain unspecified conditions are met reuter earn first federal michigan ffom qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net avg shrs mln mln reuter acq colonial bancgroup clbga makes acquisition colonial bancgroup said has signed letter intent acquire community bank and trust hartselle ala with assets mln dlrs for undisclosed terms subject approval regulatory authorities and community bank shareholders completion expected within the next year said reuter earn fab industries inc fit qtr feb net shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter earn northern trust corp ntrs qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln assets billion billion loans billion billion deposits billion billion reuter earn home savings bank hmsb qtr net shr cts not given net note company went public november net includes loan loss provisions dlrs dlrs and gains sale securities dlrs dlrs pretax net includes tax credit dlrs net includes dlr gain from tax credit resulting reduction goodwill reuter earn amoskeag bank shares inc amkg qtr net shr cts cts net note net includes pretax securities sales gains dlrs dlrs reuter earn msr exploration ltd msr year loss shr loss five cts profit cts net loss profit revs note canadian dollars proved oil reserves year end mln barrels pct from year earlier and natural gas reserves billion cubic feet off nine pct reuter earn southmark offer special dividend southmark corp said will issue its shareholders special dividend right acquire shares american realty trust arb for each shares southmark they own each right entitles the holder buy one share beneficial interest american realty trust price dlrs per share southmark said southmark said the offer record date may with dividend date april adding that the will issue the rights shareholders may and the offer will expire may southmark said received the rights april the holder about pct american realty trust outstanding shares holders fewer than southmark shares who would receive rights acquire fewer than american realty shares will paid cash lieu the rights distribution the company said southmark said will compute the cash price paid based the average closing market price the rights the american stock exchange for the first ten days the rights are traded beginning april order get the dividend for these rights southmark shareholder must own common stock the dividend date april the company said after that southmark said its common stock will traded rights basis reuter acq taft broadcasting tfb completes station sale tvx broadcast group inc tvxg said has completed the previously announced purchase five taft television stations last week tvx said the sale which was scheduled close then had been delayed taft said the purchase price was mln dlrs previously announced the price subject final adjustments taft said taft did not indicate the size the gain any would post the sale said the stations are wtaf philadelphia wdca washington wcix miami ktxa dallas and ktxh houston reuter retail march retail sales cut late easter retailers lackluster march sales were due late easter according analysts who expect recovery april sales look soft because the easter shift but underlying business better than the numbers indicate said bear stearns analyst monroe greenstein analysts generally average the sales results march and april account for the variation easter occurance this year easter being observed april which three weeks later than last year analyst edward johnson johnson redbook associates said sales for march rose unadjusted pct and seasonally adjusted pct six pct compared adjusted pct last year the obvious question whether these numbers indicate that the consumer activity slowing but does not appear because liquidity and employment are rising said analyst jeff edelman analyst drexel lambert and burnham overall analysts said first half sales are coming according expectations sales for all are expected rise about pct six pct bit from rise march sales housewares furniture and big ticket items were stronger than apparel sales signaling many analysts that apparel sales will strong april the holiday nears sales gains home appliances and home fashions reflect continuing strength the housing market said edward brennan chairman sears roebuck and which reported overall sales gain pct brennan said sales women sportswear were also excellent sears total apparel sales was only modestly but even modest improvement apparel very good accomplishment due the fact that most people will buy apparel april said lawrence analysts harry mortner penney inc jcp and dayton hudson corp were among the weaker performers with comparable stores sales declining pct and pct respectively penney store and catalog sales declined pct overall and dayton hudson overall sales rose pct penney chairman william howell said sales continued strong for catalog operations and geographically ranged from very active the east weak the economically depressed southwest penney been shifting away from leisure time activity wear other apparel lines which yield higher profit margins but are currently hurting sales said greenstein bear stearns hudson chairman kenneth mackes cited the late easter for the decline edelman drexel said that hudson had tougher comparison because had exceptionally good most analysts agreed that promotions are slightly lower than last year retailers are not planning for much inventories are being kept lean markdowns are lower than last year but sales are coming through anyway said analyst harry mortner mortner said expects profits the first quarter better than had originally expected the beginning the year most retailers report their first quarter the middle may march retail sales for major retailers store pct sears bil bil mart bil bil penney bil bil wal mart bil mln federated mln mln may mln mln dayton mln mln woolworth mln mln zayre mln mln reuter earn first interstate expects brazil ecuador loan actions cut net mln dlrs earn midlantic corp midl qtr net shr diluted dlrs dlrs net mln mln assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans billion billion note results restated for merger midlantic banks inc and continental bancorp inc january reuter earn community bank system inc cbsi qtr net shr cts cts net note share adjusted for two for one stock split may reuter earn fitchburg gas fge raises quarterly qtly div cts cts prior pay may record may one reuter earn northern trust ntrs net hurt brazil loans northern trust corp said its first quarter earnings were reduced dlrs placing mln dlrs loans brazil and six mln dlrs loans ecuador cash basis should these loans remain nonperforming basis for the rest net income for year will cut about mln dlrs the bank said earlier posted net income for the period mln dlrs cts share from mln dlrs cts share total nonperforming assets were mln dlrs march from mln dlrs december and mln dlrs march the bank said the provision for loan losses for the first quarter was eight mln dlrs compared mln year ago net loan charge offs were six mln dlrs down from mln dlrs year ago the reserve for loan losses was mln dlrs two pct outstanding loans higher than the mln dlrs pct loans outstanding march reuter lead doe run raises lead price cts doe run company said increasing the price its corroding grade lead one half cent cents effective immediately the price quoted fob herculaneum and fob boss with freight allowed for carload quantities reuter reserves spain foreign reserves rise february spain foreign reserves rose mln dlrs february total billion dlrs compared with billion dlrs february bank spain figures show under new accounting system introduced this month spain foreign reserves now exclude foreign currency held financial institutions under the previous system spain foreign reserves would have risen mln dlrs february taking into account fall mln dlrs financial institutions foreign currency position january this year the central bank foreign reserves rose mln dlrs while financial institutions foreign currency position fell mln dlrs reuter earn sulpetro ltd qtr jan loss shr not given net loss loss revs mln mln note previous loss restated reuter earn western federal savings bank wfpr qtr net shr cts cts net note share adjusted for pct stock dividend july company based mayaguez puerto rico reuter earn final test inc fnlt qtr loss shr loss six cts loss cts net loss loss revs year shr profit six cts loss dlrs net profit loss revs reuter acq protective life prot acquisition protective life corp said has signed letter intent assume liberty life insurance group insurance july subject regulatory approvals terms were not disclosed reuter earn smith corp smc sets quarterlies qtly divs class and cts cts pay may record april reuter earn central bancorp inc cban qtr net shr dlrs cts net mln mln note net includes gain dlrs from termination pension plan results restated for pooled acquisitions and share adjusted for stock dividends reuter acq emcor completes sale stock investors emcore said completed the sale mln dlrs stock citicorp venture capital ltd concord ventures dillon read and and private investors reuter earn vlsi technology inc vlsi qtr net shr seven cts six cts net revs mln mln avg shrs reuter bop belgian current account surplus widens belgium current account surplus measured cash basis widened sharply billion francs last year from billion the finance ministry said the increase was due almost entirely sharp rise the goods trade surplus billion francs from billion the services trade surpluses increased billion francs from billion while the deficit transfers rose slightly billion from billion private sector capital operations showed steeply higher deficit billion francs after billion reuter earn silicon systems inc slcn qtr march shr profit five cts profit two cts net profit profit revs mln mln six mths shr profit nine cts loss cts net profit loss revs mln mln reuter earn shawmut corp shas qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln avg shrs mln mln assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans billion pct note results restated for pooled acquisitions shawmut home bank and fidelity trust and include first gibraltar mortgage corp from december purchase loan loss provision dlrs dlrs reuter earn minntech mntx sees first quarter loss minntech corp said expects report loss for its fiscal first quarter end june due start costs related new membrane oxygenator and water filtration products however revenues and earnings should consistently increase throughout the remainder the year president louis cosentino told analysts reuter gold gordex minerals locates gold deposits gordex mineral ltd said geologists located more than one mln tons gold bearing deposits ounces per ton cape spencer the company said plans invest mln canadian dlrs expand site treatment facilities process tons gold bearing deposits this year and tons prior the completion the recent exploration program gordex estimated the cape spencer deposit had tons gordex said the expansion the cape spencer facilities intented enable operate hours day throughout the year reuter sugar congressman introduces reagan sugar bill rep john porter ill introduced the house representatives legislation proposed the reagan administration slash the sugar price support spokesman for porter said the spokesman said the bill was introduced without any changes from the administration proposal sent congress last month that plan calls for cut the sugar loan rate cents per pound from cents now sugar growers would compensated for the price cut with targeted direct payments gradually phased out through the payments growers would cost estimated billion dlrs representatives sugar growers have rejected the proposal saying would ruin the domestic sugar industry reuter interest canada day bills average pct making bank rate pct earn republic savings and loan rsla qtr net shr cts not available net nine mths net note company converted stock ownership effective august periods end march and respectively reuter earn southmark issue american realty rights southmark corp said shareholders will issued special dividend rights acquire shares american realty trust arb for each shares southmark owned the record date for southmark shareholders receive these rights will may one with dividend date april southmark received these rights april six the holder about pct american realty trust outstanding shares reuter acq wall street stocks ual inc ual takeover speculation continues fuel heavy trading ual inc traders said ual rose volume more than two mln shares after trading with little upward movement earlier the session traders said rumors which began yesterday added speculation that the company would the target takeover they said was believed coniston partners and the pritzker family chicago were buying the stock coniston declined comment and the pritzkers had comment traders said there was speculation bidder might appear and also that real estate developer donald trump who holds stake ual might participate takeover bid ual pilots said they would willing pay billion dlrs which includes debt for the company united airlines unit reuter gold gordex minerals locates canada gold deposits gordex mineral ltd said geologists located more than one mln short tons gold bearing deposits ounces per ton cape spencer the company said plans invest mln canadian dlrs expand site treatment facilities process tons gold bearing deposits this year and tons prior the completion the recent exploration program gordex estimated the cape spencer deposit had tons gordex said the expansion the cape spencer facilities intended enable operation hours day throughout the year reuter interest canadian bank rate rises week canada key bank rate rose pct from pct the week before bank canada said bank rate set percentage point above the average yield the weekly issue day treasury bills this week yield was pct compared with the previous week pct tenders were accepted for billion dlrs day bills average price dlrs against dlrs last week the billion dlrs day bills were priced average dlrs against dlrs last week yield average pct versus pct last week the mln dlrs day bills were priced average dlrs against dlrs last week yield average pct versus pct last week tenders will received next week for billion dlrs day bills billion dlrs day bills and mln dlrs day bills reuter tin consensus seen tin pact extension the quarterly session the international tin council itc continued without formal agreement extension the sixth international tin agreement ita but delegates said was apparent there was general consensus the agreement should prolonged some delegations are still awaiting formal instructions from capitals but informally most have indicated they favour extension delegates said this afternoon session was used delegates seek further clarification some the issues involved and discuss internal matters some sources were optimistic resolution extension could passed tomorrow but others suggested special session would convened adopt the resolution after the association tin producing countries meeting april the full council session resumes tomorrow gmt after european community coordination meeting reuter earn slater electric inc slat qtr feb net shr four cts cts net sales mln reuter earn south jersey industries inc sji qtr net oper shr dlrs dlrs oper net revs not given mths oper shr dlrs dlrs oper net mln note net income including discontinued operation and both periods dlr gain from change accounting for which results restated dlrs dlrs quarter and mln dlrs mln dlrs reuter earn city national corp ctyn qtr net shr cts cts net loans billion billion deposits billion billion assets billion billion reuter earn allied bankshares inc abga qtr net shr cts cts net note qtr includes tax gain dlrs cts per share reuter heat royal dutch unit cut heating oil price royal dutch shell scallop petroleum subsidiary said will reduce the price charges contract barge customers new york harbor for heating oil cts gallon effective tomorrow the company said the price cut will bring the contract barge price for heating oil cts gallon reuter copper magma raises copper price cts magma copper subsidiary newmont mining corp said raising its copper cathode price cent cents effective immediately reuter earn first bank system inc fbs qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln assets billion billion loans billion billion reuter earn centerre bancorp ctbc qtr net shr cts dlrs net loans billion billion deposits billion billion assets billion billion reuter earn sea galley stores inc seag qtr net oper shr four cts one oper net revs mln mln note current qtr figures exclude operating loss carryforward gain dlrs two cts per share gain dlrs one per share reuter strategic-metal house panel wants pentagon manage stockpile the house armed services committee has voted for transfer the management stockpiled materials for national defense the defense secretary the committee also voted for legally binding quantity and quality requirements the materials mostly metals the measures are part the defense authorization bill which will voted the house next month the purpose the measures passed the committee yesterday improve stockpile management and discourage sell offs materials that could jeopardize strategic needs staff member the committee told reuters they the stockpiles stand gain the most being managed properly said the staffer management the stockpile over the last years has been atrocious responsibility for stockpile management now belongs white house agency the federal emergency management agency the staffer said under the measures passed the committee the secretary defense would have more influence over decisions keep sell strategic stockpile materials the administration has proposed goal million dlrs worth strategic materials held the stockpile the stockpile now contains around billion dlrs materials said several agencies currently helped fema manage the stockpile and decide how much sell help the deficit these agencies included the office management and budget and the departments interior and commerce said the committee believed the shared involvement stockpile management was counter productive said reuter trade canada trade rise seen start recovery canada trade picture has brightened considerably underscoring economists predictions the sector would post long awaited recovery this year the federal government reported today that the monthly surplus soared billion canadian dlrs february double january mln dlrs surplus and sharply higher than february mln dlr tally hopefully the beginning trend said richardson greenshields canada ltd economist susan clark toronto economists generally don expect such large gains over the next months but are looking for upward trend throughout the year thought the trade balance would improve over the year and certainly looks this morning figure indicative that commented economist james donegan the toronto securities firm midland doherty ltd statistics canada reported the surplus was driven pct gain automobile product exports record billion dls the month recovery the automotive sector helped push the value exports pct february the agency said its monthly report total exports expanded billion dlrs from billion dlrs february while imports slipped billion dlrs from billion dlrs economists have predicted the trade surplus would end three five billion dlrs higher than last year dismal billion dlr total the surplus was billion dlrs money market analysts said the positive trade news touched off modest rally the canadian dollar which rose cts north american markets early this morning after closing cts wednesday the currency was hovering around cts early afternoon trading economists have been banking improved trade performance this year stimulate otherwise sluggish canadian economy money market analysts said the positive trade news touched off modest rally the canadian dollar which rose cts north american markets early this morning after closing cts wednesday the currency was hovering around cts early afternoon trading economists have been banking improved trade performance this year stimulate otherwise sluggish canadian economy they say the country consumers who have been spending torrid pace recent years will sharply curtail outlays this year and this should help curtail the flow imports into the country meanwhile demand for canadian exports the united states far the country largest market expected strong result projected rise american consumer spending and the relatively low value the canadian currency maintain what going drive canada export performance income growth the said midland donegan but the bank nova scotia deputy chief economist warren jestin was less optimistic about the outlook and said could mistake read too much into february trade upturn jestin said given the fact the economy showing signs weakening particularly car sales would indicate that part the strength canada trade figures probably transitory reuter earn first bank fbs sees loss brazilian loans first bank systems inc reporting higher first quarter net said that interest not paid the mln dlrs brazilian loans and nine mln dlrs ecuadorian loans for the rest its profits for the entire year will cut mln dlrs the banking firm said the non performing status these loans cut first quarter net mln dlrs earlier reported first quarter profits mln dlrs cts share from mln dlrs cts share the year ago period nonaccrual loans restructured loans and other real estate were mln dlrs pct total assets compared mln dlrs pct assets the end and mln pct assets march the provision for loan losses the quarter was mln dlrs compared mln the first quarter when there was special addition the reserve mln dlrs net charge offs were mln compared mln dlrs year earlier reuter grain usda estimates ussr grain imports mln tonnes march year ago grain usda estimates soviet grain crop mln tonnes march year ago orange usda orange crop boxes florida crop boxes orange usda estimates orange juice yield gals per box from florida crop earn vornado inc vno qtr jan net oper shr dlrs cts oper net revs mln mln avg shrs year oper shr dlrs dlrs oper net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs note operating net excludes gains nothing dlrs cts share quarter and dlrs cts share dlrs dlrs share year from tax loss carryforwards reuter earn first union corp first qtr shr cts cts orange citrus crop estimate usda the agriculture department estimated citrus production follows boxes total orange crop excluding florida temples boxes boxes last month and boxes the crop florida oranges excluding temples boxes last month and boxes florida temples boxes last month and boxes the department estimates are based april crop conditions reuter orange usda orange juice yield estimate the agriculture department projected average yield gallons frozen concentrated orange juice per box degree brix equivalent from florida crop that compares with gallons per box previously and gallons per box from the crop the crop reporting board said the estimates for the season are based maturity and yields tests april reuter potato usda spring potato estimates the agriculture department estimated spring potato production based april conditions cwts lbs cwts indicated last year the department estimated spring potato area for harvest acres acres estimated last month and acres harvested last year spring potato yield per harvested acre forecast cwt per acre cwt per acre year ago usda said reuter potato usda revises summer potatoes the agriculture department made the following revisions for crop summer potatoes production cwt lbs cwt estimated previously acreage for harvest acres acres estimated previously yield per harvested acre cwt per acre cwt per acre previously estimated the department said reuter acq clevite clev amends rights plan clevite industries inc which earlier received mln dlr takeover offer from industries inc jpi said amended its shareholder rights plan that certain provisions the plan cannot occur until the board determines that the best interests the company and stockholders the plan adopted december permits clevite issue shares half price existing stockholders and allows stockholders buy shares unfriendly bidder half price clevite said the amendments its board effectively mean that the called flip and flip over provisions its rights plan can only triggered affirmative board approval the company said acted inview the proposed acquisition and because certain debt restrictions could block its ability redeem the rights reuter earn stop and shop cos for split hikes dividend strategic-metal house panel wants pentagon manage stockpile the house armed services committee has voted for transfer the management stockpiled materials for national defense the defense secretary the committee also voted for legally binding quantity and quality requirements the materials mostly metals the measures are part the defense authorization bill which will voted the house next month the purpose the measures passed the committee yesterday improve stockpile management and discourage sell offs materials that could jeopardize strategic needs staff member the committee told reuters they the stockpiles stand gain the most being managed properly said the staffer management the stockpile over the last years has been atrocious responsibility for stockpile management now belongs white house agency the federal emergency management agency the staffer said that under the measures passed the committee the secretary defense would have more influence over decisions keep sell strategic stockpile materials the administration has proposed goal million dlrs worth strategic materials held the stockpile the stockpile now contains around billion dlrs materials said several agencies currently helped fema manage the stockpile and decide how much sell help the deficit these agencies included the office management and budget and the departments interior and commerce said the committee believed the shared involvement stockpile management was counter productive said reuter cotton usda estimates ussr cotton crop the agriculture department forecast the soviet cotton crop mln bales lbs net mln bales forecast last month the department also estimated the soviet cotton crop mln bales mln bales last month reuter earn stop and shop cos shp two for one split the stop and shop cos inc said its board voted two for one stock split payable july one stockholders record may also said was raising its quarterly cash dividend pct cts per share from cts per share prior result the split the number outstanding shares will increase mln from mln the company said the dividend payable july one shareholders record may said reuter acq national beverage acquire faygo beverages national beverage corp said agreed acquire faygo beverages inc for undisclosed amount cash faygo has revenues excess mln dlrs national beverage said reuter earn audio video affiliates ava qtr jan net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln note full name company audio video affiliates inc reuter acq fluorocarbon fcbn buys eaton etn division fluorocarbon said signed definitive agreement acquire eaton corp industrial polymer division for undisclosed price the polymer division based aurora ohio had sales mln dlrs fluorocarbon also said reuter earn first union corp func qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln note current qtr includes gain seven cts shr from sale securities year ago restated reuter earn financial news network inc fnni qtr net qtr ended february shr six cts three cts net rev mln mln avg shares six months shr cts five cts net rev mln mln avg shares reuter earn first colonial bankshares corp fcola qtr shr cts cts net avg shrs reuter acq hawaiian electric buy hawaiian insurance hawaiian electric industries said has entered letter intent buy the hawaiian insurance companies the transaction subject definitive agreement and government and board approvals the hawaiian insurance companies assets the end mln dlrs and earned premiums mln dlrs hawaiian electric said plans operate the comapny which has employees with current management reuter acq disney family makes bid for holly sugar hly the roy disney family disclosed filing with the securities and exchange commission that made bid acquire holly sugar corp for package cash and securities shamrock holdings california inc disney family company said submitted the bid april salomon brothers inc holly sugar investment banker the offer was for dlrs cash securities with face value dlrs and contingent payment certificate that would pay out much dlrs over year period for each share holly sugar outstanding the disney family already holds holly sugar shares pct the total outstanding following purchases shares march april shamrock told the sec shamrock said had asked for certain information about holly sugar financial condition but had been turned down said its offer was therefore subject further discussions once have had opportunity complete our due diligence evaluation the company including inspections certain facilities and meetings with key management personnel would prepared negotiate all aspects our proposal including price said its april letter reuter earn universal health realty uht qtr net shr cts nil net nil rev mln nil note company full name universal health realty income trust quarter company first full quarter earnings reuter earn frost and sullivan inc frsl increases payout semi annual div seven cts six cts prior pay june one record may one reuter acq cmco makes acquisition said acquired for mln dlrs the principal assets national tech industries inc and telkon corp the companies are engaged servicing sales and telemarketing consumer electronic merchandise reuter earn rai research corp rac qtr feb shr one cts cts net revs mln mln nine months shr cts cts net revs mln mln note net includes loss nine months from discontinued and gain dlrs qtr reuter acq centel cnt completes acquisition centel corp said completed the acquisition welbac cable television corp which serves more than cable television subscribers east central michigan terms were not disclosed with the addition welbac customers centel cable television michigan serves more than customers overall centel has nearly customers seven states reuter earn james river corp sets regular payout qtrly div cts cts prior pay april record april reuter earn three departments inc tdd sets payout class qtly div cts cts prior class qtly div cts cts prior pay may record april reuter earn adams express adx march assets shr dlrs dlrs assets mln mln shrs out mln mln note lastest assets after capital gain distributions cts share february and dlrs share december reuter earn petroleum and resources corp peo march shr dlrs dlrs assets mln mln shrs out note latest assets after capital gain distributions cts share february and cts share december and with stated value dlr convertible preferred stock outstanding reuter acq international american home acquire cos international american homes inc said entered into conditional contract acquire the maione hirschberg cos inc and affiliated entitles for mln dlrs international american whose stock was halted nasdaq earlier said the purchase price payable mln dlrs cash and the balance its own common shares selling shareholders may earn additional amount maximum eight mln dlrs payable cash based the future performance the companies acquired during the three years ending march international said the acquisition subject certain conditions such satisfactory results due diligence investigations the company said reuter earn sony chairman forecasts lower profits this year sony corp sne chairman akio morita said sony profits would sharply down result the dollar decline sony corp posted net consolidated income billion yen million dollars pct down billion yen million dollars but morita added that japan would benefit from the strong yen saving its energy import bill and expected profits recover from onwards was speaking reporters sony factory opening here reuter grain coarse grain supply demand country usda the agriculture department detailed world supply demand data for major importers and exporters coarse grains country follows mln tonnes ussr coarse grain start stcks production imports domes use exports nil nil nil nil end stocks not available coarse grain mln tonnes start stcks production imports dom use exports end stocks eastern europe coarse grain mln tonnes start stcks production imports dom use exports end stocks japan coarse grain mln tonnes start stcks production imports dom use exports nil nil nil nil end stocks argentina coarse grain mln tonnes start stcks production imports nil nil nil domes use exports end stocks canada coarse grain mln tonnes start stcks production imports dom use exports end stocks thailand coarse grains mln tonnes start stcks production imports nil nil nil nil domes use exports end stocks reuter acq winn enterprises wnn unit sells dairy winn enterprises knudsen foods inc said entered agreement sell its hawaiian dairy operations foremost foods inc for mln dlrs cash the company said the purchase price subject adjustment and the entire transaction subject approval the bankruptcy court for the central district california reuter acq national beverage acquire faygo national beverage corp said agreed acquire privately held faygo beverages inc for undisclosed amount cash the company said detroit based faygo soft drink maker has annual revenues more than mln dlrs national beverage which also privately held owns and bottles shasta beverages spree all natural beverages and private label brands its bottling facilities the united states reuter fuel royal dutch unit raise heavy fuel prices scallop petroleum corp subsidiary royal dutch shell group said will raise contract prices for heavy fuel cts one dlr barrel effective tomorrow the increase brings the price for pct sulphur fuel dlrs cts pct sulphur dlrs cts pct sulphur dlrs cts one pct sulphur dlrs cts two pct sulphur dlrs one dlr pct sulphur dlrs one dlr pct sulphur dlrs one dlr the company said price for pct sulphur was unchanged dlrs said reuter cotton cotton supply demand country usda the agriculture department detailed world supply demand data for major importers and exporters cotton country follows mln bales china cotton start stcks production imports domes use exports end stocks less than bales pakistan cotton mln bales start stocks production imports domestic use exports end stocks less than bales ussr cotton mln lbs bales start stocks production imports domestic use exports end stocks japan cotton mln lbs bales start stocks production nil nil nil nil imports domestic use exports nil nil nil nil end stocks reuter orange usda florida orange report considered bearish the agriculture department latest estimates florida orange production and orange juice yield are bearish for the frozen concentrated orange juice futures market because the yield increase was greater than expected fcoj traders and analysts said the usda projected average yield gallons fcoj per box versus last month estimate gallons the government estimated florida orange production excluding temples mln boxes versus mln last month temples were unchanged mln boxes traders and analysts said the unexpectedly large yield increase outweighed the anticipated drop box count reuter earn james river corp sets regular dividend qtly div cts cts prior pay april record april reuter copper noranda begins salvage operations murdochville noranda inc said began salvage operations its murdochville quebec mine where fire last week killed one miner and caused mln dlrs damage another miners were trapped underground for long hours before they were brought safety noranda said the cause and full extent the damage still unknown but said does know that the fire destroyed feet conveyor belt noranda said work crews have begun securing the ramp leading into the zone where the fire was located the company said extreme heat from the fire caused severe rock degradation along several ramps and drifts the mine noranda estimated that the securing operation for the zone will not completed before the end april noranda said the quebec health and safety commission the quebec provincial police and noranda itself are each conducting investigation into the fire production the mine has been suspended until the investigations are complete the copper mine and smelter produced tons copper anodes and employs people the smelter continues operate with available concentrate from stockpiled supplies noranda said reuter reuter earn newhall investment properties nip payout shr cts cts prior qtr pay june one record april reuter earn newhall resources qtly distribution shr cts cts prior qtr pay june one record april reuter earn westinghouse electric corp qtr shr dlrs cts crude oil dependency seen rising record level the united states dependency foreign oil sources may reach record levels the mid according john lichtblau president petroleum industry research associates lichtblau speaking alternative energy conference here said the may depend foreign suppliers for much pct its oil surpasssing the previous high level pct the long term growth dependency foreign oil inevitable lichtblau said much pct oil imports could come from opec nations said lichtblau said the depended foreign suppliers for pct its oil and predicted that would increase pct however the rate this growth can affected positively negatively through government action inaction lichtblau said said that one the government negative actions the maintenance the windfall profits tax which acts disincentive developing existing fields and reduces cash flow for oil exploration lichtblau called for the adoption international floor price for crude oil help stabilize world oil prices international floor price adopted all most industrial countries would clearly much more effective measure and would much less distortive for the than imposed alone lichtblau said development alternate energy sources such synthetic fuels well increased development alaska could lessen dependency foreign oil lichtblau said potential for alternative supplies could limit the willingness opec nations raise oil prices said lichtblau also called for the federal government offer tax abatements for oil drilling fill the strategic petroleum reserve faster rate and develop pilot plans for alternative energy reuter earn westinghouse electric corp qtr net shr primary dlrs cts shr dilulted dlrs cts net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs mln mln reuter livestock ccc guarantees iraq switched usda the commodity credit corporation ccc has transferred mln dlrs credit guarantees previously earmarked for sales hatching eggs and mln dlrs guarantees for breeder livestock increase coverage sales protein concentrates iraq the agriculture department said the action was taken the request iraq state trade organization for grains and foodstuffs and reduces the line for hatching eggs zero and the line for breeder livestock from mln dlrs mln dlrs the department said the guarantee line for sales protein concentrates has been increased from mln dlrs mln dlrs said reuter money-supply new york business loans fall billion dlrs commercial and industrial loans the books the major new york banks excluding acceptances fell billion dlrs billion the week ended april the federal reserve bank new york said including acceptances loans dropped billion dlrs billion commercial paper outstanding nationally fell billion dlrs billion national business loan data are scheduled released friday reuter money-supply bank discount borrowings mln dlrs the eight major new york city banks had daily average borrowings mln dlrs from the federal reserve the week ended april fed spokesman said fed spokesman said that all the borrowings were made yesterday fewer than half the banks was the second half the two week bank statement period that ended wednesday average borrowings these banks were mln dlrs the first week the period reuter acq fundamental brokers buys part mki brokers fundamental brokers institutional associates leading inter dealer broker government securities said has agreed acquire certain assets mki government brokers inc for undisclosed terms acquisition documents have been signed and are being held escrow pending the receipt certain consents said conjunction with the sale assets mki has ceased brokering treasury bills notes and bonds fundamental said industry sources told reuters yesterday that fundamental was close acquiring the government securities brokerage division mki major broker corporate bonds fundamental said intends use the facilities formerly used mki provide new block brokering service the most active treasury issues separating the execution wholesale trades from the heavy volume smaller lots large scale transactions will facilitated the company said the new system expected substantially enhance the liquidity and effiency markets fundamental said the wholesale brokering service will begin around april reuter earn newhall investment nip sets special payout newhall investment properties said declared special distribution cts per share payable june one unitholders record april reuter orange fcoj movement gallons last week florida citrus processors association said frozen concentrated orange juice movement into trade channels the week ended april totalled gallons versus gallons the week ended march and gallons the corresponding year ago period there were gallons foreign imports last week versus gallons the week before domestic imports last week were retail movement was versus year ago bulk movement was against year earlier current season cumulative movement was gallons versus last year cumulative net pack for the season was versus year ago inventory was versus year ago reuter acq national heritage nher buys management firm national heritage inc said acquired the assets chartham management corp salem ore terms were not disclosed the assets acquired will used form new divisional office serving the northwest the nursing home operator said the newly acquired salem operation has management responsibility for about beds nursing homes seven states southmark corp which owns pct national heritage recently agreed acquire the facilities national the manager nursing home properties owned southmark reuter acq ohio mattress omt buys sealy michigan ohio mattress said that its ohio sealy mattress manufacturing unit completed its previously announced acquisition sealy mattress michigan inc addition the company said sealy inc which its owns pct redeemed the outstanding sealy stock held michigan sealy thus increasing the company stake sealy pct reuter crude land llx pont get exploration tracts louisiana land and exploration said pont conoco inc subsidiary and oranje nassau energie have been offered four exploration blocks offshore the netherlands louisiana land said blocks and were offered the group which conoco has pct interest louisiana land pct and orange nassau pct while this group along with consortium headed pennzoil pzl were offered block the offers were the result applications submitted the ministry economic affairs for the netherlands sixth offshore licensing round louisiana land said the conoco group intends provide formal acceptance the blocks with plans start exploration this year the company also said the two blocks immediately offset other offshore blocks which hydrocarbons have been found commercial quantities reuter earn patient pti considering debt restructuring patient technology inc said retained investment banking firm consider alternatives restructuring its long term debt including possible exchange offer for mln dlrs outstanding convertible debentures april one began consolidating sales marketing and manufacturing operations the consolidation expected complete june one and the company said now focusing restructuring its balance sheet the company said the first quarter will adversely affected the consolidation effort for the year ago first quarter the company reported profit dlrs mln dlrs the company further said that the second quarter will transitional period and that earnings growth will resume the second half for the year ended december patient reported net loss mln dlrs sales mln dlrs due write offs from discontinued operations and temporary backlog orders reuter acq napco npco management cannot raise funding napco international inc said has suspended its plan sell its international business group that business top managers because the group has failed obtain satisfactory financing the company also said still intends pursue new corporate direction and exploring acquisition alternatives reuter earn banks mid america inc boma qtr net shr loss cts loss cts net profit loss assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans billion billion note shr data after payment preferred dividends reuter acq mcdonnell douglas buys computer firm mcdonnell douglas corp said acquired frampton computer services ltd british software company that also known isis terms the acquisition were not disclosed based bristol england isis employs workers and has annual revenues about five mln dlrs mcdonnell douglas said the company added that isis will operate part mcdonnell douglas information systems international reuter cotton world market price for upland cotton usda the agriculture department announced the prevailing world market price adjusted quality and location for strict low middling inch upland cotton cts per effect through midnight april the adjusted world price average producing locations near lubbock texas and will further adjusted for other qualities and locations the price will used determining first handler cotton certificate payment rates the department said since the adjusted world price above the loan repayment rate cts per for the base quality first handler cotton certificates will issued during the period based data for the week ended april the adjusted world price for upland cotton determined follows cts per northern european price adjustments average spot mkt location slm inch cotton average location sum adjustments adjusted world price reuter money-supply money supply falls two billion dlrs march week fed says money-supply fed says discount window borrowings mln dlrs april week money-supply bank net free reserves mln dlrs two weeks april earn westinghouse electric optimistic for year westinghouse electric corp chairman douglas danforth said was encouraged first quarter results for fiscal and said the company was positioned capitalize the economy modest growth for the rest the year encouraged the continuing improvement earnings danworth said the first quarter met our expectations westinghouse recorded net income for the first quarter mln dlrs dlrs per share revenues billion dlrs danworth attributed the results increase the operating profit the energy and advanced technology industries and commerical segments reuter earn bsd bancorp bsd qtr net shr seven cts five cts net loans mln mln deposits mln mln assets mln mln reuter earn gateway communications inc gway qtr net shr cts six cts net revs reuter earn baker communications inc bakr year loss shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss revs reuter earn eastover corp easts qtr net shr cts cts net revs year shr dlrs dlrs net rev note net includes state tax credit for qtr and year net also includes gains from sale real estate for qtr and for year reuter money-supply bank discount borrowings mln dlrs bank discount window borrowings less extended credits averaged mln dlrs day the week wednesday april the federal reserve said total daily borrowings the week fell mln dlrs mln dlrs with extended credits down mln dlrs mln dlrs the week was the second half the two week statement period that ended wednesday net borrowings averaged mln dlrs the first week the period commenting the two week statement period that ended april the fed said banks had average net free reserves mln dlrs fed spokesman told press conference that there were large one day net misses the fed estimates reserves the week ended wednesday the week borrowings money center banks accounted for pct and small banks for almost pct wednesday when net borrowings were billion dlrs and fed funds averaged high pct money center banks accounted for more than pct the borrowing borrowings the latest two weeks averaged mln dlrs day the highest since the statement period ended january float ranged from about mln dlrs thursday between one and billion dlrs monday and tuesday the spokesman said monday float included mln dlrs holdover float one fed branch due mechanical problems about mln dlrs tuesday float reflected non weather related transportation float one eastern reserve bank adjustments ranged from minus mln dlrs monday when cash letter errors two eastern reserve banks were corrected plus mln dlrs thursday when correction was made unposted funds single bank the first half the statement period ended wednesday banks held excess reserves the first four days the week but ran deficit wednesday the second week they ran deficit thursday friday and monday but held excess reserves the final two days reuter copper noranda begins murdochville mine salvage noranda inc said began salvage operations its murdochville quebec mine where fire last week killed one miner and caused mln dlrs damage noranda said the cause and full extent the damage still unknown but the fire destroyed feet conveyor belt the company said extreme heat from the fire caused severe rock degradation along several ramps and drifts the mine production the mine has been suspended until investigations are complete the copper mine and smelter produced tons copper anodes the smelter continues operate with available concentrate from stockpiled supplies noranda said reuter money-supply money supply falls two billion dlrs money supply fell two billion dlrs seasonally adjusted billion dlrs the march week the federal reserve said the previous week level was revised billion dlrs from billion while the four week moving average rose billion dlrs from billion economists polled reuters said that would anywhere from down two billion dlrs billion reuter acq bevis bevi receives takeover inquiries bevis industries inc which has been seeking acquired said recently received inquiries concerning the purchase the company the company did not identify the parties that made the inquiries but said they had been referred its investment bankers tucker anthony and day inc for study march the company said engaged tucker anthony seek purchasers its operating units greenville tube corp and pneumatics inc reuter acq jacor jcor buy two denver radio stations jacor communications inc said agreed buy two denver radio stations from belo corp blc for mln dlrs cash and notes jacor said the two stations are koa and koaq the acquisitions must approved the federal communications commission jacor added reuter money-supply assets money funds rose week assets money market mutual funds increased billion dlrs the week ended yesterday billion dlrs the investment company institute said assets institutional funds were mln dlrs billion dlrs broker dealer funds rose mln dlrs billion dlrs and general purpose funds gained mln dlrs billion dlrs reuter acq polycast ptcc reduces spartech sptn stake polycast technology corp told the securities and exchange commission sold off its spartech corp common shares reducing its stake spartech shares pct the total outstanding polycast said made the sales april the over the counter market gave reason for the sales reuter acq hospital corp says received dlr share offer from investor group earn beverly enterprises bev sets regular dividend qtly div five cts five cts prior pay july record june reuter money-fx treasury baker says floating exchange rate system needs greater stability crude crude oil netbacks sharply europe crude oil netback values complex refineries rose sharply europe and firmed the last friday from the previous week but fell sharply singapore according calculations reuters pipeline the firmer tone refining margins europe and the relected higher prices for petroleum products particularly gasoline and support from crude oil prices netback values for crude oil refined northern europe rose substantially following strong gains gasoline prices there brent valued dlrs cts barrel three pct from the previous week the gulf sweet crudes rose value cts dlrs for west texas intermediate about pct sour grades the gulf showed increase cts barrel for alaska north slope pct but netbacks for crude oil refined singapore fell sharply down cts much cts barrel ample distillate supplies weighed petroleum product prices attaka singapore valued dlrs decline cts barrel pct from the previous week for refineries the mediterranean netback values were mostly lower with declines seven cts the value kuwait crude fell cts dlrs while iranian light fell cts dlrs the west coast netback values for ans cif also jumped sharply cts barrel pct dlrs higher gasoline prices reuter money-fx treasury baker says system needs stability treasury secretary james baker said the floating exchange rate system has not been effective had been hoped promoting stability and preventing imbalances from emerging the global economy remarks before the afternoon session the international monetary fund interim committee baker said was not suggesting that the system should abandoned but suggest said that need something give more stability and keep headed the right direction when the wind shifts said that indicators can serve kind compass but added that structural indicators can help focus attention some policies baker however said the imf needs move beyond macroeconomic indicators and find structural indicators that can help focus attention some the policies specific relevance the imbalances face today the treasury secretary said that indicators should given more prominent role the annual economic reviews article consultations that the fund performs baker also told the policy making group that was time for the imf adopt earlier recommendations making imf surveillance more relevant national policymakers and the public particular urge increased publicity for imf appraisals developed article consultations the use follow reports country actions implement imf recommendations and greater use special consultation procedures said baker emphasized that indicators were device for moving beyond rhetoric action said they provide more structure the system and induce more discipline and peer pressure into the process policy coordination said the fund procedures for surveillance need reviewed and updated reflect the use indicators this should matter priority for the executive board said baker also urged the fund develop alternative medium term economic scenarios for countries that can help focus even more clearly the most important imbalances identifying options for addressing them and analyzing the implications these options said also that further work should done finding paths that lead toward possible medium term objectives are take effective remedial action when there are significant deviations from intended course then must have more definitive ways indentifying the right course for key variables said reuter earn trustcorp inc ttco qtr net shr cts cts net assets billion four billion note shr and net data are before accounting change announced which added cts share year ago qtr results reuter earn napa valley bancorp nvbc qtr net shr cts cts net reuter earn international power machines pwr qtr loss shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss revs year shr loss cts loss dlrs net loss loss revs mln mln note net includes adjustment inventory valuations and cost reduction expenses full name international power machines corp reuter acq great american mgmt gami has atcor atco stake great american management and investment inc told the securities and exchange commission acquired pct stake atcor inc great american said bought the stake for investment added that has also considered but not yet decided buy additional atcor shares either the open market private transactions through tender offer otherwise great american said paid about mln dlrs for its atcor shares said its most recent purchases included shares bought march april reuter earn rai research corp rac qtr feb net oper shr one cts oper net revs nine mths oper shr cts cts oper net revs note oper excludes gain from discontinued operations for year ago qtr and loss from discontinued operations for year ago nine mths reuter earn moore mcl sees substantial profit gain moore corp ltd expects profits from continuing operations will exceed results and recover levels when the company earned mln dlrs dlrs share president keith goodrich said have substantial increase earnings from continuing operations told reporters after the annual meeting said expected profits would recover last year lost ground and reach results profits from continuing operations slumped mln dlrs dlrs share the total excluded losses mln dlrs discontinued operations goodrich said moore still actively looking for acquisitions related its core areas business forms manufacturing handling could large acquisition said when asked the company could raise much one billion dlrs for this purpose chairman judson sinclair answering shareholder question told the annual meeting that special resolution passed shareholders create new class preferred shares would allow moore move quickly decided pursue acquisition were make major acquisition means can move with certain expediency sinclair said asked the resolution was designed give moore protection from possible hostile takeover sinclair said only know threat the corporation this time reuter acq firm has pct decision capital fund dcf gabelli group inc said and two subsidiaries held total decision capital fund inc shares pct the total outstanding said the shares were held behalf investment clients and said had intention seeking control the fund gabelli said its most recent purchases decision capital fund stock included shares bought april the philadelphia stock exchange gabelli investment firm headquartered new york city its gabelli and subsidiary brokerage firm reuter acq partnership buys ipco ihs stake pct new york investment partnership told the securities and exchange commission bought pct stake ipco corp common stock the partnership said acquired ipco shares paying mln dlrs because believed the securities attractive investment opportunity said planned regularly review its investment and may the future recommend business strategies extraordinary corporate transaction such merger reorganization liquidation asset sale the partnership controlled marcus schloss and inc new york brokerage firm and prime medical products inc greenwood medical supplies firm reuter earn delmed inc dmd year loss oper shr loss cts loss dlrs oper net loss loss mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln note oper excludes loss provision for discontinued operations mln and loss from conversion debt gain oper excludes loss from pension plan liquidation and loss from discontinued operations reuter acq cadillac fairview says has received some acquisition proposals acq cadillac fairview says received takeover bids cadillac fairview corp ltd said received proposals acquire the company following its announcement last august that had retained investment dealers solicit offers for all outstanding common shares cadillac fairview said the offers are subject clarification and negotiation and offered further details reuter acq winterhalter wntlc holders okay takeover winterhalter inc said its shareholders approved the dlr acquisition winterhalter interface systems inc intf the acquisition would for cts per winterhalter share reuter earn american eagle petroleums ltd year loss shr loss cts profit cts net loss profit revs mln mln reuter trade chilean trade surplus narrows slightly february chile trade surplus narrowed mln dlrs february from mln dlrs the same month last year but was above the mln dlr surplus recorded january the central bank said exports february totalled mln dlrs pct above the january figure imports fell pct from the previous month mln dlrs the figures for the same month last year were mln and mln dlrs respectively the accumulated trade surplus over the first two months stands mln dlrs against mln dlrs the previous year reuter earn valex petroleum inc valp year dec shr loss six cts loss cts net loss loss mln revs mln mln note net includes mln dlrs writedowns and tax benefit reuter money-supply trading bank deposit growth eases slightly new zealand trading bank seasonally adjusted deposit growth rose pct february compared with pct rise january the reserve bank said year year total deposits rose pct compared with pct rise january and pct rise february year ago period the bank said its weekly statistical release total deposits rose billion dlrs february compared with billion january and billion february reuter interest average yen rates fall latest week average interest rates yen certificates deposit fell pct the week ended april from pct the previous week the bank japan said new rates previous brackets average rates all banks pct money market certificate mmc ceiling rates for week starting from april pct average rates city trust and long term banks less than days pct days pct average rates city trust and long term banks days pct days pct days unquoted days pct over days pct unqtd average yen bankers acceptance rates city trust and long term banks less than days pct days pct days unquoted unqtd reuter interest japan has plans cut discount rate bank japan sources said the bank has plans cut its discount rate they told reporters that there was pressure japan during the group seven meeting here yesterday lower its discount rate they added that they themselves not feel any need for cut all chancellor the exchequer nigel lawson told reporters earlier today that some countries those with strong currencies might have cut interest rates the bank japan sources also said that was too soon call the pact failure the central bank sources were commenting the dollar renewed tumble new york and tokyo which was sparked remarks treasury secretary james baker that the dollar fall had been orderly they said the market must have misinterpreted baker comments because was referring the dollar fall since the plaza agreement september over long time span not the currency recent movements they added that the foreign exchange markest seem seize anything use excuse drive the dollar one way the other the bank japan sources said the putting more weight the dollar yen rate terms judging market stability than other currencies throughout the meeting japan pointed the dangers that would arise from further dollar fall because would reduce the flow japanese capital the hurting the and world economies they said february and march this year japanese investors reduced their purchases treasury bonds the sources said each country the britain canada france italy japan the and west germany has different view about currency stability the bank japan sources said this because the overall foreign exchange market triangle dollar yen european currencies yen and dollar european currencies the time the louvre agreement european countries did not want the yen weaken against their currencies they did not object the yen strengthening they said reuter ship australian unions and nsw government reach deal union and new south wales government officials have reached compromise dispute over workers compensation averting increased industrial action the state union sources said but some unions including those building and mining workers said they were dissatisfied with the deal and would continue their strikes for few more days state officials said the government had agreed revise its proposals cut compensation and would allow slightly higher cash benefits for injured workers under the original proposal which sparked strikes and other industrial action the state april workers compensation would have been cut one third full details the compromise package are not yet known the labour council affiliated the australian council trade unions actu had threatened paralyse new south wales unless the government modified its pending legislation the issue state officials said the only sectors affected the past three days were some government building projects railway freight movement and cargo handling sydney ports reuter crude ecuador crude oil output resume next month ecuador due resume limited crude oil output may when new pipeline neighbouring colombia should finished energy ministry spokesman said oil output was halted march earthquake which damaged the main pipeline linking jungle oilfields lago agrio the ecuadorean port balao the pacific about the new link capable carrying some barrels per day bpd has been built said ecuador pumped bpd before the earthquake the new link will connect lago agrio puerto colon colombia the starting point columbia pipeline the pacific ocean port temuco the government estimates will take about four more months repair the lago agrio balao pipeline and return output normal levels the spokesman said reuter earn mobil australia reports mln dlr loss wholly owned mobil corp mob unit mobil oil australia ltd reported mln dlr net loss turnaround from its mln profit the loss reflected combination strikes plus scheduled and unscheduled refinery shutdowns for maintenance and inventory losses caused government controls both crude and product prices mobil said statement however equity accounting associates profits reduced the loss mln dlrs against mln profit mobil said was confident would see return profit built further its company restructuring reuter trade japan warns may retaliate trade dispute japan warned the united states may take retaliatory measures the united states imposes its planned trade sanctions april senior government official said shinji fukukawa vice minister the international trade and industry ministry said statement japan would consider measures under the general agreement tariffs and trade and other actions the united states imposes pct tariffs some japanese exports planned next week however fukukawa said japan was ready continue trade talks with the united states despite its failure convince america call off the threatened tariffs during two days emergency talks which ended washington yesterday last month president reagan announced the sanctions retaliation for what called japan failure honour july agreement stop dumping computer microchips markets outside the united states and open its home market american goods fukukawa said the united states had regrettably not listened japan explanation its efforts live the pact and said washington had not given any detailed explanation why planned impose the tariffs reuter acq kuwait increases stake sime darby the kuwait investment office kio has increased its stake sime darby bhd mln shares representing pct sime darby paid capital from mln shares malayan banking bhd mbkm said since last november kio has been aggressively the open market buying shares sime darby major corporation with interests insurance property development plantations and manufacturing the shares will registered the name malayan banking subsidiary mayban nominees sdn bhd with kio the beneficial owner reuter sugar smuggling blamed for closure haitian sugar firm sugar mill which was this nation second largest employer closed its doors yesterday saying had been run out business sugar smuggled from miami and the neighbouring dominican republic the closure the haitian american sugar company hasco will idle employees and affect many small sugar cane planters regions around the capital the company said because unprecedented and ever growing smuggling hasco regrets cannot continue accept delivery sugar cane after april the mill warned planters earlier this week since president jean claude duvalier fled haiti fourteen months ago widescale smuggling basic goods such cooking oil flour rice sugar and canned milk has lowered consumer prices but bankrupted several local manufacturers throwing hundreds thousands haitians out work the hasco compound where grim faced workers lined receive their last pay spokesman georges rigaud showed warehouse stocked with estimated unsold pound bags sugar are closing because our huge stock unsold sugar have money left continue operations rigaud said said the company owed mln dlrs and had borrowed additional mln dlrs order pay off workers rigaud blamed the mill problems order duvalier two years ago forbidding hasco from refining sugar said the government then began importing refined sugar world market prices and reselling huge profit and the provisional military civilian government that replaced duvalier last year continued the policy but now with all the smuggling even the state can compete with smuggled dominican refined sugar rigaud said hasco workers earned dlrs daily considerably above the usual minimum wage three dlrs generally estimated that every employed haitian supports least six people rigaud said hasco closing minimum would affect people laid off workers were bitter about the closure dead and the government that causing die declared lucien felix who has five dependents reuter trade taiwan announces new round import tariff cuts taiwan announced plans for another round import tariff cuts foreign goods shortly before trade talks with washington which officials described move help balance trade with the united states wang der hwa deputy director the finance ministry customs administration department told reporters the list products included items asked washington the move part our government efforts encourage imports from our trading partners particularly from the united states said said the ministry sent proposal today the cabinet that the tariffs such products cosmetics bicycles apples radios garments soybeans and television sets cut between five and pct the cabinet was expected give its approval next thursday and the new tariff cuts would implemented possibly starting april added taiwan introduced sweeping tariff cut some foreign products last january aimed helping reduce its growing trade surplus with the united states the island largest trading partner washington however was not satisfied with the cuts and pressed for more reductions way cutting its huge trade deficit with taipei washington deficit with taipei rose record billion dlrs last year from billion widened billion the first quarter from billion year earlier taiwan official figures show today announcement came before departure later today member taiwan delegation for washington for series trade talks with officials the delegation leader vincent siew told reporters last night was leaving with heavy heart meaning that would face tough talks washington because rising protectionist sentiments the congress taiwan trade surplus with washington was the third largest after japan and canada siew said the talks starting april would cover calls for taiwan open its market american products purchases major machinery and power plant equipment import tariff cuts and protection intellectual property afraid this time have give more than take from our talks with the said without elaborating reuter trade british minister says warned tokyo sanctions british minister said had given the japanese government clear warning sanctions against japanese companies tokyo did not allow more access its internal markets and was clearly understood corporate affairs minister michael howard said his return from visit japan thought the japanese were beginning appreciate the need fair and open about access their own markets airport news conference howard denied opposition charges that his trip had been failure because had returned empty handed did what set out was sent deliver clear message the japanese government and delivered very clearly and has been clearly understood howard said that under the financial services act the govenment had considerable flexibility taking sanctions against japanese companies and finance houses operating britain not simply question withdrawing refusing operating licences can ban firms from certain countries from carrying out certain kinds business while allowing them carry out other kinds hope don have use these powers but made clear japan that our timetable isn met shall use them said would unfortunate britain and japan became involved tit for tat exchange adding that japan gained more than anyone else from open trading relationship think they are beginning appreciate that this relationship continue very important for them fair and open about access their own markets the question the british firm cable and wireless plc cawl which trying win significant share telecommunications contracts japan howard said had told the japanese this was being widely regarded test case said there were signs movement the case cable and wireless was due take part talks japan next tuesday said earlier this week british prime minister margaret thatcher said britain could not alone sanctions against japan but would have coordinate action with its european community partners community sources said after meeting trade officials yesterday that the group might impose steep new tariffs range japanese goods prevent diversion from united states markets washington imposes trade sanctions against tokyo has threatened reuter interest yield rises day sama deposits the yield day bankers security deposit accounts issued this week the saudi arabian monetary agency sama rose more than point pct from week ago bankers said sama decreased the offer price the mln riyal issue from last saturday like dated interbank deposits were quoted today pct point higher than last saturday sama offers total billion riyals and day paper banks the kingdom each week reuter coffee uganda pulls out coffee market trade sources uganda coffee marketing board cmb has stopped offering coffee the international market because unhappy with current prices coffee trade sources said the board suspended offerings last week but because its urgent need for cash was not immediately clear how long could sustain the sources added hundreds ugandan coffee farmers and processors have been waiting several months for payment from the cmb which has had trouble finding enough railway wagons move the coffee the kenyan port mombasa foreign banks have contributed the cash crisis holding remittance uganda hard currency earnings from coffee exports the government newspaper new vision said the banks are holding seven mln dlrs coffee money and president yoweri museveni thinking imposing penalty for such delays added banking sources said third factor the crisis was that commercial banks have lent the board only billion shillings the equivalent mln dlrs for crop finance the current coffee year while the government had asked for billion the cmb has bags coffee about pct annual production stockpiled kampala awaiting shipment the crop accounts for over pct uganda export earnings and the recent slide prices four year lows likely more than offset expected increase production cmb officials have forecast that because the government has restored law and order important growing areas uganda will produce over three mln bags coffee the year ending september about pct more than reuter cocoa german cocoa grind pct first quarter the west german cocoa grind rose pct tonnes the first quarter from tonnes the same quarter the bonn based confectionery industry association said statement reuter taw jobs spanish unemployment falls slightly march spain registered unemployment fell people mln pct the workforce march labour ministry figures show registered unemployment february was mln people pct the workforce the figures were nonetheless higher than those for march mln people and pct the workforce reuter cpi hungary raises prices effort curb deficit hungary has announced sharp price increases for range food and consumer products part its efforts curb soaring budget deficit the official mti news agency said the government decided consumer price subsidies had cut reduce state spending from today the price meat will rise average pct and that beer and spirits pct mti said mti said consumer goods will also become more expensive with the price refrigerators rising some five pct also announced number measures ease hardship including higher pensions and family allowances statistics indicate the budget deficit tripled billion forints central banker janos fekete has said the finance ministry trying cut the shortfall between and billion from planned billion major tax reform including the introduction western style valued added tax planned for january effort cure problems state spending but diplomats said the latest announcement shows the authorities were forced act quickly keep this year deficit under control the measures are also aimed cooling overheated economy and could help dampen hungarians appetite for imported western goods which consume increasingly expensive hard currency the diplomats said the diplomats also said however that they did not expect the kind social unrest that followed sharp price rises other east bloc states notably poland reuter cotton china wants buy tonnes pakistani cotton china negotiating with pakistan buy tonnes cotton this year after importing the same amount last year under barter agreement chinese consulate sources said chinese ambassador tian ding told meeting pakistani industrialists thursday that china intended increase imports from pakistan reduce trade imbalance pakistani officials estimate the country cotton output from the current crop record mln bales pounds each last year output totalled mln bales and domestic consumption was just below three mln bales they said reuter copper electrolytic refining lowers copper price the electrolytic refining and smelting australia pty ltd said lowered its works port kembla refinery copper price dlrs dlrs tonne effective today reuter earn texaco sees business little hit bankruptcy move texaco inc said its decision file for protection under chapter the bankruptcy code will not affect the majority its businesses said its subsidiaries which account for pct its billion dlrs revenues and pct its net property plant and equipment were free the action only parent holding company texaco inc and operating subsidiaries texaco capital inc and texaco capital are affected said but the company said was likely suspend its cents per share quarterly common stock dividend and halt repayments debts some billion dlrs texaco said filed for chaper because suppliers were demanding cash payments and banks were withholding loans result legal dispute with pennzoil pzl texaco fighting texas law requiring post bond more than billion dlrs before can appeal judgment that ruled illegally interfered with pennzoil acquisition getty petroleum corp gty the bond almost matches the damages awarded against texaco should texaco fail place the bond pennzoil could begin attach its assets secure the judgment last monday the supreme court overturned decision cut texaco bond one billion dlrs and sent the issue back the texas courts analysts said the bankruptcy filing effectively froze all texaco obligations while continued appeal the merits the pennzoil lawsuit attempts last week win compromise both the bond issue and the larger dispute failed james kinnear texaco president and chief executive officer told reporters kinnear said pennzoil disclosure court papers friday that wanted extend the bond issue hearing until the end april pushed texaco further towards chapter pennzoil had asked texaco post billion dlr cash bond and reduce its dividend not more than pct earnings pennzoil also wanted assurances that texaco would not sell any assets kinnear said texaco offered put one billion dlrs letter credit and agreed not let the value its assets fall under billion dlrs added joseph jamail houston attorney for pennzoil said the company had made its latest settlement offer texaco saturday and was taken surprise when texaco filed for bankruptcy declined reveal the amount the proposal citing confidentiality agreement between the two companies texaco told they would get back but instead they chose bankruptcy court jamail said attorneys for pennzoil said they believed the company would prevail court appeals adding that texaco assets were ample ultimately pay the pennzoil judgment full reuter coffee paton reports green coffee roastings higher roastings green coffee the week ended april were about kilo bags including that used for soluble production compared with bags the corresponding week last year and about bags the week ended march george gordon paton and inc reported said cumulative roastings for calendar now total bags compared with bags this time last year reuter acq western mining sells acm stake western mining corp holdings ltd wmng wmc said sold its entire holding mln shares the gold mining company australian consolidated minerals ltd acm wmc gave details but stockbrokers said the sale was made eight dlrs share friday number european and australian investors through wmc usual brokers the company purchased the pct parcel early march from amax inc amx dlrs share ahead one for three bonus issue when amax sold its entire pct stake acm number local companies reuter earn anz bank sets one for two bonus issue australia and new zealand banking group ltd anza said will make one for two bonus issue from its asset revaluation reserve shareholders registered june the proposed bonus and increase authorised capital one billion one dlr par shares from mln will put shareholders for approval extraordinary general meeting may the anz said statement the issue will absorb about mln dlrs the mln standing the asset revaluation reserve said the bank said that lowering the dividend rate expects maintain the value dividend payout the enlarged capital about the level its last full year ended september the group paid cents share and mln dlrs all for that year shareholders will also asked approve changes the bank articles association allow offer shares lieu the interim dividend discount five pct the market price the group the latest announce tax free bonus issue ahead dividend imputation effective july reuter interest uae central bank yields rise yields certificates deposit offered the united arab emirates central bank were higher than last monday offering the bank said the one month rose point pct while the two three and six month maturities rose point each and pct respectively reuter iron-steel china sulphur iron mine starts production china largest sulphur iron mine has started trial production yunfu the southern province guangdong the china daily said said the mine has annual output capacity three mln tonnes sulphur iron ore which can used without processing because its high quality reuter copper china chile build copper tube plant china china state owned beijing non ferrous metals industrial corp and wrought copper ltd chile signed contract jointly build copper tube plant the outskirts peking the china daily said the beijing santiago copper tube involves investment mln dlrs and will completion have production capacity tonnes copper tubes year said said chile will supply copper preferential rates the venture whose equipment comes from wednesbury tube the agreement calls for joint sino chilean management the venture for years the paper said said the venture the first economic cooperation project between china and chile but gave more details china major copper importer customs figures show imported tonnes copper and alloy calendar down from tonnes reuter trade singapore external trade gains pct quarter singapore external trade grew pct first quarter against pct decline the same period last year and two pct growth the previous quarter the trade development board said said exports over the period rose pct billion dlrs and imports pct billion for trade deficit billion against billion deficit the same period and billion deficit previously the growth was attributed the strength non oil trade especially computers and computer parts electronic components and garments said reuter trade malaysia manufacturing exports rise pct malaysia manufacturing exports rose pct billion ringgit chairman the export promotion council ahmad sarji abdul hamind said the improved export performance was led electrical and electronic products textiles footwear clothing processed food timber chemical and rubber products told news conference however total gross exports for the year declined pct billion ringgit from billion due fall major commodity exports and weak prices said reuter acq offer for dome may short circuit its debt talks billion dlr offer for dome petroleum ltd dmp transcanada pipelines ltd trp may short circuit dome restructuring plan and open the door for more takeover bids oil analysts said dome trying get approval for plan refinance debt more than billion dlrs july when interim debt plan that allowed the canadian oil and gas firm defer substantial payments creditors will expire analysts said transcanada bid signals dome debtholders that alternative exists dome debt plan dome announced its plan major creditors well public noteholders march after several months delicate negotiations transcanada proposal amounts quasi debt restructuring oil analyst doug gowland brown baldwin nisker ltd said from toronto calgary based dome restructuring plan would allow creditors convert debt common shares under formula yet negotiated payments remaining debt would linked cash flow generated assets pledged against the debt the weakness the whole debt refinancing proposal that even with approval creditors there assurance that dome will fact able repay all its debt obligations said wilf gobert oil analyst for peters and ltd calgary transcanada announcement came surprise since dome was waiting for responses from creditors its proposed refinancing packages gobert said the transcanada proposal could open the bidding for dome since other potential buyers were probably waiting for lenders agree restructuring added would think that the debtholders would want entertain any and all offers for dome gobert said dome spokesman david annesley said new york that transcanada announcement could seen attempt fix the bidding price for dome and effort preclude other possible buyers from making offer drawing attention our discussions means that others may little reluctant come forward said dome does not consider transcanada proposal formal offer because the pipeline utility announcement breached confidential agreement between the two companies said dome responded the statement suspending discussions with transcanada order pursue talks with other unidentified parties however dome said its management and financial advisers would evaluate all proposals including transcanada gowland said transcanada offer probably fair price for the company mln acres oil and gas land holdings however said not enough financial details are known about dome debt restructuring compare the value transcanada proposed offer reuter money-fx money market deficit forecast mln stg the bank england said forecast shortage around mln stg the money market today among the main factors affecting liquidity bills maturing official hands and the take treasury bills will drain some billion stg partly offsetting these outflows fall note circulation will add some mln stg exchequer transactions around mln and bankers balances above target about mln reuter cpi bangladesh cost living index falls january bangladesh cost living index fell pct january after pct decline december base the bureau statistics said the cost living index fell pct january the year january inflation ran pct after pct rate month earlier and pct year earlier reuter acq rothmans denies share sale speculation rothmans holdings tobacco ltd said sttement there was foundation press speculation that would sell its stake rothmans international plc rot philip morris inc that would buy morris stake the report rothmans international said rht which controlled rupert foundation owned mln ordinary and mln ordinary shares pct and pct respectively morris owns mln ordinary shares pct rothmans shares which firmed the speculation close from friday eased gmt reuter trade trade issues straining patience with japan member states the european community are starting run out patience with japan which they believe has repeatedly promised major initiatives open its market imports but often made only minor moves diplomatic sources here said several recent actions countries bear witness new disillusionment with the willingness least the ability the japanese government reduce its massive trade surplus with the however they said all out trade war may far off states know they would suffer almost much japan senior diplomats gave generally favourable reaction executive commission proposal under which the could raise tariffs range japanese products the carries out threat make similar move april the tariffs which would involve renouncing obligations entered into with the world trade body gatt would designed stop diversion exports the market from that the the diplomats were meeting tokyo announced that the trade deficit with japan reached record billion dlrs march from billion february japanese exports the totalled billion dlrs pct from while exports japan fell one pct billion dlrs paris trade minister michel noir said france has decided give japan taste its own medicine burgeoning imports microwave ovens and frozen coquilles jacques will restricted strict application french quality standards something states say often happens their own exports entering japan britain has threatened withdraw the licences japanese banks and insurance companies operate the city london because the british cable and wireless company lost out competition for japanese telecommucations contract however british officials london have said that the government may have gone too far implying that would take immediate drastic action unless the contract was reopened contrast west germany with the most successful economy has never threatened tokyo with sanctions preferring rely firm diplomacy and encouragement its own industries surmount obstacles export japan the commission itself has switched its tactics recent years substituting general calls for action japan open its market with specific demands for moves key areas present for instance pressuring japan end allegedly discriminatory taxation imported wines and spirits ensure companies have chance win contracts for the building new international airport and simplify certification and safety checks imported cars officials say these tactics yield some benefits but often the japanese announce modifications their non tariff barriers which open the door imports only token amount they stress however that any action must taken the whole stop beggar neighbour action one the problems britain could face were withdraw licences for japanese banks would that the bankers would welcomed with open arms frankfurt amsterdam they point out reuter earn morgan crucible says prospects are encouraging morgan crucible plc mgcr said the prospects for were encouraging with orders and sales significantly last year all divisions said there were good opportunities for growth both existing and recently acquired businesses well for growth acquisition related areas earlier announced mln stg rise pre tax profit mln stg for the year december turnover rose mln from mln most its companies performed well despite slowdown the and australian economies the first half currency fluctuations reduced pretax profit around one mln stg noted morgan said although profits the electronics sector improved mln stg from stg previously results were nonetheless disappointing sales were lower than expected due mainly delayed defence orders and cancellations however said had taken the necessary remedial action obtained new business and was now proceeding with the delivery major delayed orders morgan shares firmed two pence gmt from friday close reuter earn morgan crucible pretax profit rises mln stg year december shr div making turnover mln stg mln pretax profit mln mln tax mln mln operating profit mln mln investment income mln mln net finance charges mln mln company full name morgan crucible plc mgcr minorities and provisions for preference dividends mln mln extraordinary debit mln mln credit operating profit includes carbon mln mln technical ceramics mln mln thermal ceramics mln mln speciality chemicals mln mln electronics mln mln reuter ipi swedish industrial production rises sharply swedish industrial production rose pct february after pct fall january showing pct rise over february and reaching its highest level ever the central bureau statistics said the rise reflected recovery almost all sectors after exceptionally cold spell january the bureau said adding that the highest rises were seen the forest chemical and metal industries reuter money-fx kenya devalues shilling pct against sdr kenya devalued the shilling pct against the special drawing right sdr response the decline the dollar last last week bankers said the central bank kenya set the shilling the sdr compared with the rate force since the last devaluation march the kenyan shilling has lost pct its value against the sdr this year series devaluations designed keep the value the dollar above shillings reuter acq williams details acceptances norcros offer williams holdings plc said that had received acceptances for its offer for norcros plc ncro from the holders norcros ordinary shares pct and preference shares pct before the mln stg contested bid was launched last month williams held ordinary shares pct and since then had acquired options buy further mln pct the offer has been extended april norcros shares eased the announcement while williams fell from reuter meal-feed dutch feed compounder starts case against levy major animal feed producer cehave veghel chv has begun legal proceedings against the application the european community grain responsibility levy with the full backing the dutch animal grain and feed trade association het comite association chief executive peter pex told reuters oral proceedings were held the hague friday and the court said would give its verdict within six weeks however that the normal wording and expect the hague court refer questions the interpretation and application the levy the european court justice luxembourg pex added het comite claims the way the levy applied does not take account currency cross rates exchange and can mean compounder one country being asked pay higher levy its own national currency than received down the chain from the original producer the grain would like the business administration court the hague ask the luxembourg court justice not only whether the dutch grain commodity board the levy collection agency has interpreted the levy regulations correctly but also whether the regulations themselves may contravene european law pex said only with great regret that have taken this route but have had political help and therefore have option even though could take years pex added het comite asked chv act test case against the grain levy because the bill the company received from the commodity board included grain from wide variety origins and was therefore considered the best general basis for legal challenge the levy pex noted het comite actions will run tandem with questions the levy already posed the luxembourg court case brought the association european animal feed manufacturers fefac reuter cocoa west german cocoa grindings within expectations west german first quarter cocoa grindings which rose pct from the same quarter were within expectations trade sources said they described the results announced saturday normal and unspectacular considering that the grind the fourth quarter was rather high and some was carried over into the first quarter grindings rose tonnes from the first quarter spokesman for the confectionery industry association said that west german grindings are expected stay relatively high comparison other west european countries reuter gold gobain unit issues ecu bond with gold warrants gobain netherlands guaranteed cie gobain issuing mln ecu bond with gold warrants attached due may carrying pct coupon and priced par lead manager salomon brothers international ltd said fees comprise pct selling concession with pct for management and underwriting combined listing luxembourg each ecu bond carries one gold warrant exercisable from may until may entitling the holder purchase one ounce exercise price dlrs reuter interest commonwealth bank cuts australia prime pct the commonwealth bank australia said will lower its prime lending rate pct from effective april the bank new rate will the lowest australia current prime rates they now range from pct after recent series reductions since late march following easier trend short term money market rates two the three other major trading banks now have prime rates pct and one the commonwealth move reverses increase from pct early february reuter acq hepworth sells unit globe machine hepworth ceramic holdings plc hepc said had agreed sell its western plastics corp unit globe machine manufacturing for mln dlrs cash western which makes polystyrene foam and container products has net assets mln dlrs and reported pre tax profit mln the proceeds the sale would used reduce borrowings and develop activities the hepworth shares eased the announcement reuter acq bond corp acquire pct merlin pete bond corp holdings ltd bona said has agreed acquire pct stake merlin international petroleum corp from crowley maritime corp for mln dlrs this total mln dlrs due exchange contracts april and mln july subject any regulatory approvals being obtained bond said statement the balance mln dlrs will paid required merlin for its exploration and production commitments said bond said merlin has pct working interest plus pct reversionary interest the papua new guinea permit ppl the site the iagifu oil discovery merlin also has pct stake the adjacent papuan basin permit ppl which contains the juha gas and condensate discovery addition papua new guinea merlin has petroleum exploration and production interests the bond added reuter acq blue arrow buy richards companies blue arrow plc said had agreed terms acquire group companies collectively known the richards companies which specialise executive recruitment and management consultancy personnel matters the total consideration will mln dlrs which pct will payable cash and pct the issue mln new ordinary shares blue arrow the richard companies made pre tax profit mln dlrs the year end turnover mln dlrs with net tangible assets the end mln dlrs blue arrow shares were trading lower this morning reuter acq borg warner agrees buyout merrill lynch firm borg warner bor corp facing unwanted offer from gaf corp gaf agreed billion dlr buyout offer from company formed merrill lynch capital partners inc borg warner and merrill said yesterday they entered definitive merger agreement under which subsidiary the new company holdings corp will begin dlr per share cash tender offer today for mln shares pct borg warner common stock the offer will followed merger which each remaining share will converted into dlrs cash and dlrs principal amount holdings junior subordinated discount debentures result the merger borg warner will become wholly owned subsidiary holdings borg warner spokeswoman said members management not plan participate the transaction but they will retain their positions with the company spokesman for gaf was unavailable for comment gaf holds pct borg warner shares gaf had said would offer dlrs per share borg warner spokeswoman said the company still plans sell its financial services unit which includes wells fargo security guards and the chilton corp credit rating service borg warner has been the focus takeover speculation for about year corporate raider irwin jacobs last year proposed takeover the firm and until recently held pct the stock following the gaf offer analysts had calculated breakup values for the company the low dlrs per share range and speculated offer would have sweetened its statement borg warner said its board endorsed the merrill offer and recommended that shareholders tender their shares the board received opinions the offer from its advisors first boston corp and goldman sachs and james burke president merrill lynch capital partners said are very pleased have entered into this transaction with borg warner are looking forward working with the employees borg warner and borg warner maintaining its strong presence the chicago community merrill lynch will the dealer manager for the offer which expires midnight edt may gmt may subject conditions including the completion necessary financing arrangements the offer also subject minimum mln shares pct the outstanding shares being tendered merrill lynch and certain affiliates have committed provide mln dlrs holdings equity and mln subordinated financing and forward underwriting commitments merrill lynch said that following discussions with commercial banks confident can obtain the rest the financing required complete the transaction the junior subordinated discount debentures issued the merger will carry pct coupon and will begin paying cash interest after five years the debentures will redeemable the company option for the first six years pct during the seventh year pct and after that pct the principal amount the junior subordinated discount debentures have maturity years and are entitled sinking fund commencing the year designed retire pct the issue before maturity borg warner will also redeem all its outstanding dlrs cumulative preferred stock series for dlrs per share holders who wish participate the offer must first convert their preferred stock into borg warner common stock the board borg warner has also taken steps redeem its poison pill share purchase rights for five cents per right effective immediately reuter wpi march producer prices rise pct the price index for sales manufactured goods the rose provisional unadjusted pct march after identical rise february department trade and industry figures show the index for materials and fuel purchased manufacturing industry fell provisional and unadjusted pct after pct fall february the department said the year year rise producer prices march was provisional pct compared with provisional pct increase the year end february the index for output prices non seasonally adjusted was put provisional march after february the index for input prices also not seasonally adjusted was set march after february the pct fall input prices between february and march was mainly due seasonal fall industrial electricity costs and lower scheduled prices for petroleum products the department said the department said these falls were only partly offset rise prices home produced food manufacturing materials the seasonally adjusted index for input prices showed pct rise between february and march year year the input price index was down pct march after pct drop february reuter nat-gas statoil seeks share thai gas field norway state oil company den norske stats oljeselskap statoil stat has told thai authorities interested taking pct share big offshore thailand gas field statoil said the field the southern sector the gulf thailand currently operated oil company texas pacific oil inc unit canada seagram ltd thailand state oil company petroleum authority thailand ptt also holds major stake the field ptt wants develop the field and has asked statoil consider development the field licence renewed ptt according statoil currently negotiating with texas pacific buy back the dallas based oil company holdings the field ptt must first sort out its problems with texas pacific when this done have said are interested taking over pct share the field statoil spokesman willy olsen told reuters statoil hired ptt carry out independent appraisal the field reserves and propose development plan has estimated the field could commercially developed cost some mln crowns industry sources said texas pacific has submitted lower reserve estimates for the field than statoil and shown little interest its development statoil refused disclose its upgraded reserve estimate for the field the field reserves could sold domestically through thailand gas distribution network converting the gas electricity the sources said sources would not say which field statoil considering reuter earn credit commercial france splits shares french commercial bank credit commercial france has split each its shares into four increase the number shares offer when privatised the end this month company official said told reuters general assembly had passed proposal splitting mln shares francs nominal into around mln shares francs nominal market sources have put the total value ccf selloff between four and five billion francs the bank said the share sale price was likely announced april before the launch public flotation offer april reuter gnp west german institutes call for early tax cuts the five leading west german economic research institutes said the government should more stimulate economic growth and called for early introduction tax cuts planned for their joint spring report the institutes were divided about growth forecasts with three predicting two pct expansion and the other two only one pct growth gross national product grew pct last year but the report said all the institutes believed that more must done produce dynamic growth that more additional jobs can created the institutes said any step which improved basic economic conditions should taken quickly possible from this point view the tax reform planned for should brought forward the government plans gross tax reductions billion marks part the major tax reform the net tax relief from the tax reform will amount billion marks however the institutes criticised the government not only for the timing the reform but also because the question its financing had been left open the government has not specified how the remaining billion marks the tax reduction package will paid for though has said wants cut state subsidies the institutes said this lack clarity from bonn had caused uncertainty among companies and households what exactly they would receive from the tax reform and urged quick decision from the government they also said the government should reduce tax preferences which would simplify the fiscal system urged restriction state spending and called for increase value added tax the institutes also criticised bonn for increasing subsidies time further reductions had been pledged they referred specifically doubling special writedowns for small and medium sized companies announced package tax adjustments planned for and described this increase subsidies the institutes said total subsidies including tax preferences had reached billion marks and risen further since then given the scope these subsidies should possible despite major political difficulties finance the tax reform cutting state handouts the institutes said that the government raised value added tax other indirect taxes large portion the positive effects resulting from lower taxes would lost the report also noted that the government was progressing only slowly with its plans privatise state companies and said more deregulation was needed the government had aim for more competition said reuter earn glaxo pre tax profit mln stg mln six months end december acq hillsdown buys bedding companies for mln dlrs hillsdown holdings plc hldn said its christie tyler ltd unit would buy the european bedding making interests simmons owned gulf and western industries inc usa for mln dlrs the acquisitions include sleepeeze ltd the compagnie continentale simmons france and compagnia italiana simmons spa italy the three businesses made pre tax profit around mln stg sales mln stg net assets being acquired come around nine mln stg hillsdown shares were unchanged reuter earn glaxo profits sharply dividend raised six months end december shr div pre tax profit mln stg mln turnover mln mln tax mln mln note company full name glaxo holdings plc glxo trading profit mln mln share profits associates mln seven mln investment income less interest payable mln mln profit after tax mln mln minority interests two mln one mln extraordianry credit eight mln nil turnover includes continuing activities mln mln discontinued activities eight mln mln mln mln europe mln mln north america mln mln central and south america mln mln africa and middle east mln mln south east asia and far east mln mln australasia mln mln anti peptic ulcerants mln mln systemic antibiotics mln mln respiratory system mln mln reuter acq takeover battle for dome petroleum begins takeover battle began today for debt burdened dome petroleum ltd dmp transcanada pipelines ltd trp announced billion dlr offer and dome said continuing talks with other possible buyers companies mentioned market speculation potential buyers for dome include imperial oil ltd imo which pct owned exxon corp xon pancanadian petroleum ltd which pct owned the conglomerate canadian pacific ltd and british petroleum plc along with the transcanada offer dome has had another proposal from substantial company and discussions with third company which could lead offer dome said statement the statement confirmed dome received transcanada bid but did not identify the companies involved talks transcanada canada largest natural gas pipeline operator said offering dome package cash common and preferred shares and shares new subsidiary which would own and operate dome assets transcanada said the offer dome management not shareholders dome has massive oil and gas landholdings canada totalling mln acres which mln have been developed also has tax credits worth about billion dlrs dome statement said the transcanada announcement violated the terms and spirit confidentiality agreement entered into with prospective purchasers and was apparently timed prevent dome from considering other proposals said the transcanada bid seems require favourable and substantial taxation concessions from the federal and provincial governments but dome added that its management and financial advisers will evaluate all proposals transcanada chief financial officer neil nichols said was surprised the vehemence dome statement and denied that transcanada was trying usurp other bids find dome statement very bothersome once the board made the decision authorise the proposal had legal obligation announce said nichols said did not know the identity the other bidders the terms other offers dome common shares closed dlrs friday the toronto stock exchange the preferred class stock closed dlrs common stock traded high dlrs reuter money-fx bank japan sell billion yen bills the bank japan will sell billion yen deficit financing bills today through day repurchase agreements maturing june help absorb projected money market surplus money traders said the operation will raise the outstanding supply the bills record billion yen the yield the bills for sale banks and securities houses from money houses will pct compared with the two month commercial bill discount rate today pct and the two month certificate deposit rate pct the traders estimated the surplus today about billion yen they said mainly due billion yen government tax allocations local governments and public entities and excessive banking system cash holdings due continuous large central bank dollar purchases reuter alum lme clarifies new aluminium contract details the london metal exchange lme has issued note clarifying details its new high grade aluminium contract response questions from members following the announcement the contract due start june all deliverable shapes aluminium under the high grade primary aluminium contract minimum pct purity will also deliverable against the standard primary aluminium contract min pct the lme said sows will not constitute good delivery against the standard contract until september and pct purity sows are not good delivery and cannot placed lme warrant the dollar quotation for the high grade contract will multiples one dollar but carries may made cents for even tonnages only singapore which the first port warehouse outside europe used lme delivery point will used for high grade metal only and the rent imposed owners steinweg will dlr tonne per week the lme said the lme board response representation from the trade agreed annul from lme contracts the minimum weight requirements kilos for bars and kilos for sows effective for high grade june and for standard july reuter sugar north yemen bought white sugar tender trade north yemen its weekend tender bought white sugar from french operator acting behalf swiss house dlrs tonne and traders said the amount bought was not immediately available although the country had sought tonnes june arrival whites they said reuter money-fx money market given mln stg assistance the bank england said had provided the money market with mln stg help the morning session this compares with the bank estimate that the system would face shortage around mln stg today the central bank bought bank bills outright comprising two mln stg band two pct mln stg band three pct and mln stg band three pct reuter zinc metal bulletin zinc producer price the london based trade journal metal bulletin average producer price good ordinary brand zinc for week ended april dlrs per tonne reuter wpi producer prices seen moved technicalities producer price data for march were roughly expected after taking into account technical factors which affected the year year outcome economic analysts said the figures showed pct provisional non seasonally adjusted rise output prices march unchanged from february and close the average for the last six months the year year rise was put pct down from pct february but chris tinker economist brokerage house phillips and drew said the drop the year year rate mainly reflected rise excise duties which affected the index march last year cautioned that was dangerous read too much into the monthly figure adding that rise only pct april would take the year year rise back above pct analysts also noted that drop manufacturers input prices was almost entirely due anticipated seasonal factors such fall industrial electricity costs duncan squire lloyds merchant bank said the figures were slightly disappointing that the strengthening sterling had not yet reduced input prices much expected both and tinker said this factor should help keep input costs down over the next few months although tinker added that last year fall oil prices now about drop out the year year comparisons and likely lead return rises the index rather than falls reuter gnp bangemann rejects call for early tax cuts west german economics minister martin bangemann indirectly rejected call from the country leading economic research institutes for early introduction major tax reform involving gross tax cuts billion marks statement reacting the five institutes joint spring report bangemann said that far the call for bringing forward the tax reform was concerned the government points out that the positive effects for growth its policy consolidation cutting the budget deficit must not allowed endangered bangemann also recalled that the scope tax cuts planned for had already been increased three institutes predicted two pct economic growth with exports falling pct the other two saw only one pct growth and said exports would fall pct bangemann said the government agreeing with the majority sees reason for the extraordinarily pessimistic estimate for exports expressed the minority said there was reason believe that export demand would start rise the course the year partly because further increase world trade reuter gnp italian gdp rose pct fourth quarter italy gross domestic product calculated prices rose pct the fourth quarter compared with the same period national statistics institute istat said istat said statement that gdp growth fourth quarter was zero compared with the preceding quarter italy budget ministry said last month that gdp rose pct real terms from imports the fourth quarter totalled billion lire down pct from the fourth quarter and down pct from the third quarter istat said istat said exports totaled billion lire the fourth quarter down pct from the comparable quarter and down pct from the third quarter fixed investments were billion lire the fourth quarter down pct from the preceding quarter and pct from the comparable quarter reuter dlr seems worried markets ignore coordination top officials leading industrial nations appear deeply worried that financial markets have ignored their efforts coordinate policies which they believe they strengthened talks last week monetary sources said officials were exasperated that the markets which drove the dollar rapidly lower and severely disrupted bond and stock markets too did not take heed the policy commitments the group seven the united states japan west germany france britain italy and canada treasury secretary james baker went out his way reassure markets his commitment stable dollar with statement and french finance minister edouard balladur underscored that saying don believe all that the americans want weaker dollar west german finance minister gerhard stoltenberg said the dollar latest rapid descent involves the risk now already tangible threat new strong surge inflation leading renewed rise interest rates but there were signs too that while policymakers feared the market uproar they seemed accept there was little they could until the economic picture changed and currencies settled into stable pattern result nor did there seem any enthusiasm last week semi annual meetings the imf and the world bank for higher interest rates the best way curb the dollar rapid descent that distaste stems part from fears recession outgoing deputy treasury secretary richard darman told television interviewers did not think policy driving the dollar down would solve the trade deficit would slow growth germany and japan which would adversely affect our trade balance and ultimately would drive interest rates here which would throw not into recession into slower growth said asked higher interest rates would stabilize the dollar balladur said when currency maintained artificially high artificially high interest rates not healthy and resorting higher interest rates could lead recession said acknowledging the dollar latest slide was now fact life balladur said there may adjustments course one other currencies this not fixed rate system but federal reserve board chairman paul volcker said might rein credit the dollar slide deepens monetary sources also said washington wanted understood markets the seven commitments were genuine the united states and the six major industrial countries are fully committed implementing our undertakings these agreements baker told the meetings darman said baker had been misinterpreted markets which wrongly believed earlier remarks suggested wanted further decline the dollar baker darman said was committed stabilizing currencies current levels last week statement from the seven reaffirmed february agreement paris which the reagan administration agreed reach budget deficit compromise with congress and fight protectionism west germany and japan meanwhile agreed stimulate domestic demand and lead global upturn ministers believed the paris pact was bolstered japan promise billion dlr supplementary budget the sources said they believed baker saw major action but the seven seem accept their commitment stable currencies applied today exchange rates and not those the time the paris agreement when the dollar stood higher the paris accord said currencies are within ranges broadly consistent with underlying economic fundamentals given the policy commitments summarized this statement now they accept the dollar lower level especially against the yen hard reality that nonetheless consistent with the agreement the ministers and governors reaffirmed the view that around current levels their currencies are within ranges broadly consistent with fundamentals last week statement read monetary sources said policymakers understood markets were focusing instability created the gap between the trade deficit and the surpluses west germany and japan rather than prospective policy changes european monetary sources said bonn was still unconvinced that washington meant business with its commitment cut the budget deficit reuter gnp institutes see west german recession the five leading west german economic research institutes which have revised down their forecasts for growth not predict recession west germany their spokesman hans juergen schmahl said the institutes were divided their spring report forecasts for with three predicting two pct growth and two seeing only one pct expansion growth was pct schmahl presenting the report news conference said none the institutes reckons with recession with the beginning recession added however that exports remained the weak point the economy schmahl also said west germany would have expect further encroachments foreign goods onto its markets arthur krumper munich ifo institute which with the diw west berlin had presented the more pessimistic view the economy said the braking effects the economy produced external factors will remain considerable for most the year reuter earn deposit guaranty corp deps qtr net shr dlrs dlrs shr diluted dlrs dlrs net reuter acq computer associates starts bpi bpii bid computer associates international inc said has started its previously announced dlr per share tender offer for all shares bpi systems inc newspaper advertisement the company said the offer which has been approved the bpi board and followed merger the same price conditioned receipt least shares the offer and withdrawal rights expire may unless extended addition shares sought the tender shareholders bpi owning shares pct have agreed sell their shares computer associates for the tender price reuter earn king world productions inc kwp qtr feb shr cts eight cts net revs mln mln half shr cts cts net mln revs mln mln reuter earn blue circle profits dividend rise year end december shr div making pretax profit mln stg mln turnover billion mln tax mln mln note company full name blue circle industries plc bcil company said proposes one for one capitalisation issue gross profit mln mln distribution costs mln mln administrative expenses mln mln other operating income mln mln share profits related companies mln mln operating profit mln mln net interest payable mln mln exceptional items mln debit mln debit minorities mln mln extraordinary items after tax mln mln pretax profit includes mln mln mln mln mexico mln mln australasia mln mln africa mln mln reuter acq crazy eddie crzy may make acquisition crazy eddie inc said negotiating for the possible acquisition benel distributors ltd which operates crazy eddie record and tape asylums all crazy eddie stores said the acquisition would probably also include affiliate disc mat inc which operates number record and tape stores the new york metropolitan area other details were not disclosed reuter acq crazy eddie crzy sets defensive rights crazy eddie inc said its board has adopted defensive shareholder rights plan and said has received friendly inquiries its acquisition said under the plan shareholdrs record april will receive right purchase under certain circumstances price dlrs preferred share for each common share held the rights will expire april nine the company said the rights would exercisable business days after party were acquire pct more crazy eddie common stock announce tender exchange offer that would result ownership pct more crazy eddie said party owning pct more its stock were merge into party were acquire pct more crazy eddie stock right holders other than the acquiring party would entitled acquire common shares other securities assets with market value equal twice the rights exercise price after party acquired pct more its stock crazy eddie were acquired pct its earnings power assets sold rightholders other than the acquirer would entitled buy shares the acquirer common stock worth twice the rights exercise price the company said crazy eddie said party were acquire pct more its common stock and then fail acquire crazy eddie within days thereafter rightholders would entitled exchange their crazy eddie common stock for subordinated notes crazy eddie maturing either one year above certain dollar limt five years after issuance crazy eddie said adoption the plan not response any known effort acquire control but the company said has become aware some possible accumulations its stock has has received some friendly inquiries reuter gold six killed south african mine six workers were killed and four injured undeground rock fall south africa second largest gold mine today the mine owners said was the third major mine accident the country less than week thirty four workers died methane gas explosion coal mine last thursday reuter money-fx zambia kwacha falls weekly auction the zambian kwacha fell this week foreign exchange auction kwacha the dollar from last week the bank zambia said the rate was the lowest since the auctions resumed two weeks ago under new two tier exchange rate system worked out with the world bank and international monetary fund the bank zambia said received bids ranging from kwacha for the six mln dlrs offer one hundred and thirty five bids were successful british high commission spokesman said britain would put eight mln stg into the auction rate one mln week soon zambia reached full agreement with the imf the money could spent only goods produced and supplied british firms excluding luxuries and defence equipment the spokesman added reuter interest senate leader calls for interest rate cuts senate finance committee chairman lloyd bentsen tex called major industrial countries make pledge the coming economic summit venice cut interest rates think the summit meeting venice what ought trying get the other major industrial nations that are involved bring interest rates down say one pct bentsen told nbc television meet the press bentsen said coordinated rate cuts could take billions off the debt service the latin countries and help ease protectionist pressures the industrial countries bentsen also south korea and taiwan should pressured revalue their currencies relation the dollar you take the taiwanese with enormous capital surplus enormous trade surplus and had very little cooperation there said departing deputy treasury secretary richard darman told the same television network agreed that the dollar had not fallen enough against the currencies some countries think that more does have done there negotiations with the countries involved the called nics newly industrialized countries said darman said such negotiations with newly industrialized countries were underway privately bentsen predicted congress and the white house would agree fiscal budget that would raise between and billion dlrs new revenues the texas senator said series excise taxes would considered congress including extension the telephone tax and new levies liquor and cigarettes bentsen said supported oil import fee but that would not happen without president reagan support darman called for top level negotiation between the white house and congress budget compromise that would include asset sales some excise taxes cuts middle class entitlement programs reasonable steady rate growth defense and reform the budget process reuter acq offer for dome may short circuit its debt talks billion dlr offer for dome petroleum ltd dmp transcanada pipelines ltd trp may short circuit dome restructuring plan and open the door for more takeover bids oil analysts said dome trying get approval for plan refinance debt more than billion dlrs july when interim debt plan that allowed the canadian oil and gas firm defer substantial payments creditors will expire analysts said transcanada bid signals dome debtholders that alternative exists dome debt plan dome announced its plan major creditors well public noteholders march after several months delicate negotiations transcanada proposal amounts quasi debt restructuring oil analyst doug gowland brown baldwin nisker ltd said from toronto calgary based dome restructuring plan would allow creditors convert debt common shares under formula yet negotiated payments remaining debt would linked cash flow generated assets pledged against the debt the weakness the whole debt refinancing proposal that even with approval creditors there assurance that dome will fact able repay all its debt obligations said wilf gobert oil analyst for peters and ltd calgary transcanada announcement came surprise since dome was waiting for responses from creditors its proposed refinancing packages gobert said the transcanada proposal could open the bidding for dome since other potential buyers were probably waiting for lenders agree restructuring added would think that the debtholders would want entertain any and all offers for dome gobert said dome spokesman david annesley said new york that transcanada announcement could seen attempt fix the bidding price for dome and effort preclude other possible buyers from making offer drawing attention our discussions means that others may little reluctant come forward said dome does not consider transcanada proposal formal offer because the pipeline utility announcement breached confidential agreement between the two companies said dome responded the statement suspending discussions with transcanada order pursue talks with other unidentified parties however dome said its management and financial advisers would evaluate all proposals including transcanada gowland said transcanada offer probably fair price for the company mln acres oil and gas land holdings however said not enough financial details are known about dome debt restructuring compare the value transcanada proposed offer reuter acq sosnoff raises bid for caesars world caw investor martin sosnoff said has raised his offer for caesars world inc shares dlrs each from dlrs and has reduced the number shares seeking mln from all those not already owned newspaper advertisement sosnoff said the bid his mts acquisition corp withdrawal rights and the proration period will now expire june unless extended the offer had been scheduled expire may late march sosnoff said had received negligible number shares response the offer which had been rejected caesars inadequate sosnoff already owns about four mln caesars mln common shares now outstanding pct interest primary basis last week caesars board approved recapitalization plan alternative the sosnoff offer under which shareholders would receive special dividend dlrs per share subject approval shareholders special meeting held june the company planned borrow mln dlrs and sell mln dlrs debt finance the payout sosnoff said the newspaper advertisement that the amended offer conditioned receipt enough shares give him majority interest fully diluted basis and the arrangement financing well approvals new jersey and nevada gaming authorities said the tender would the first step acquiring all caesars shares and successful would followed merger transaction sosnoff said later statement that the mln shares now seeking together with the shares owns would give him pct interest fully diluted basis said still has received only negligible number shares response his tender letter caesars chairman henry gluck included the statement sosnoff said gluck had again refused april meet with him even though had said was willing increase the price his offer sosnoff said the financing for the offer almost fully place sosnoff said painewebber group inc pwj has now delivered him commitments purchase mln dlrs increasing dividend cumulative exchangeable preferred stock mts holding corp indirect parent corporation mts acquisition said marine midland banks inc which leads syndicate that has provided commitments for mln dlr margin facility believes will able arrange for further commitments under the margin facility advance additional mln dlrs that may needed permit the purchase shares under the offer sosnoff said under the merger that would follow his tender each the caesars shares not covered the offer pct fully diluted basis would converted into series preferred stock valued dlrs per shareby independent investment baking firm said the extent that fewer than sdhares are purchased the offer the stockholders would receive combination cash and series preferred stock having value dlrs per share caesars sosnoff said believes terms his offer are superior caesars recapitalization sosnoff said will meeting this week with gaming officials nevada effort expedite the investigatory process required for regulatory approval process that already underway new jersey said his offer has been extended based the likely duration the regulatory process said intends further extend the offer the approval process not completed the expiration date reuter earn compact video inc cvsi year loss shr loss cts loss two cts net loss loss revs mln mln note results for months ended dec and eight months ended dec because the acquisition brooks drug september and the company change fiscal year prior year results are not comparable compact video explained reuter earn neworld bank for savings nwor qtr net oper shr cts cts oper net note net excludes dlr tax credit reuter acq usair buy pct mln piedmont shares tendered tea pakistan confirms kenya tea import investigation pakistan corporate law authority cla has begun enquiry into imports tea from kenya and the trade imbalance between the two countries cla chairman irtiza husain confirmed told reuters telephone that importers liptons and brooke bond had been asked supply data the authority and hearing would held the cla would then report back the commerce ministry which had requested the enquiry husain said date had yet been set for the hearing and declined give further details the matter industry sources told reuters reports that the companies tea import licences had been suspended were incorrect reuter earn merrill lynch first qtr shr one dlr cts earn merrill lynch and mer qtr net shr primary one dlr cts shr diluted cts cts net mln mln rev billion billion reuter acq corona icr favors royex rgm offer international corona resources ltd said its board directors believes that terms royex gold mining corp previously announced offer are fair and reasonable but decided will make recommendation the offer its shareholders royex march offered buy four mln corona shares for each corona share offered four dlrs cash one series share royex one series share royex and one share purchase warrant also bid for all corona warrants expiring aug reuter acq atlantic soaf independence inho merge south atlantic financial corp said has agreed principle merge with independence holding into new company called safco international ltd said each south atlantic share would exchanged for one safco share and each independence share for safco shares independence now owns about pct south atlantic mln primary common shares south atlantic said said its chairman and chief executive officer sheldon gordon would have the same posts with safco and independence president ronald strackbein would president safco the company said the transaction subject execution definitive agreements the receipt fairness opinions from investment banks and approval boards and shareholders both companies said proxy materials are expected maioled this quarter both south atlantic and independence are insurance companies reuter earn home federal upper east tennessee hfet qtr shr cts not given net note company went public fourth quarter home federal savings and loan association upper east tennessee reuter nat-gas columbia gas seeks contract cost recovery columbia gas transmission corp said made abbreviated streamlined filing with the federal energy regulatory commission recover portion its costs renegotiating high cost gas purchase contracts recently the columbia gas system inc pipeline subsidiary said ferc denied procedural grounds and without prejudice proposal include these costs the company most recent purchased gas adjustment pga filing noting has has asked for rehearing the denial ruling columbia gas said would withdraw its alternative filing the commission grantes its request for rehearing include the contract renegotiation costs its pga consolidates this issue the pipeline general rate filing and permit recovery subject refund effective april one the company said the alternative filing seeks recover about mln dlrs year through the pipeline non gas sales commodity rates this annual amortization amount based recovery about mln drls over year period beginning april columbia gas said the filing would increase the pipeline commodity rates cts per mln btu dlrs per mln the company said orginially sought include these costs its pga since the payments products resulted almost five billion dlrs prospective price relief and were not related take pay buyout costs explained this interpretation was based ferc april statement policy which said that only take pay buyout costs must recovered through general rate filing under the natural gas act result renegotiating contracts for high cost gas columbia gas said has been able reduce the average price paid for gas purchased from southwest producers dlrs per mln btu december from dlrs per mln april the pipeline said southwestern producers account for pct its total available gas supply this year reuter cpi hungary raises prices effort curb deficit hungary has announced sharp price increases for range food and consumer products part its efforts curb soaring budget deficit the official mti news agency said the government decided consumer price subsidies had cut reduce state spending from today the price meat will rise average pct and that beer and spirits pct mti said the measures are also aimed cooling overheated economy and could help dampen hungarians appetite for imported western goods which consume increasingly expensive hard currency the diplomats said the diplomats also said however that they did not expect the kind social unrest that followed sharp price rises other east bloc states notably poland mti said consumer goods will also become more expensive with the price refrigerators rising some five pct also announced number measures ease hardship including higher pensions and family allowances reuter acq glatfelter says will buy ecusta corp for mln dlrs cash earn family health systems inc fhsy qtr feb shr profit one nil net profit profit revs avg shrs mln nine mln six mths shr loss nil loss one net loss loss revs reuter earn international business machines corp ibm net qtr shr dlrs dlrs net mln billion gross income billion billion avg shrs mln mln note pretax net billion billion sales billion billion maintenance gross income billion billion program products gross income billion billion and rentals and other services mln billion reuter acq usair reports final proration factor usair group inc said announcing the final proration factor for its tender offer for piedmont aviation inc pie that mln shares pct the shares were validly tendered usair said has purchased and will pay for mln shares representing about pct those tendered reuter money-fx money market given further mln stg help the bank england said provided the market with further mln stg assistance this afternoon bringing its total assistance the day mln stg shortly before the bank said had revised its estimate the shortage mln stg from the earlier forecast mln during the afternoon the bank bought mln stg band two bank bills pct and two mln stg local authority bills plus mln stg bank bills band four pct these rates were all cases unchanged from previous intervention levels reuter earn goodyear predicts first quarter net goodyear tire and rubber said expects report earnings from continuing operations over one dlr per share mln average shares outstanding last year first quarter the company lost mln dlrs cts per share mln shares outstanding after mln dlr writedown oil reserves its celeron corp unit goodyear said will report first quarter results april goodyear chairman robert mercer also told the annual meeting that unless there major downturn the economy expects work its debt down normal levels three years through its restructuring and cash flow from improved margins the company set its restructuring program fend off hostile takeover attempt sir james goldsmith part the restructuring goodyear executed major stock buyback program that resulted increase its debt reuter trade trade issues straining patience with japan member states the european community are starting run out patience with japan which they believe has repeatedly promised major initiatives open its market imports but often made only minor moves diplomatic sources here said several recent actions countries bear witness new disillusionment with the willingness least the ability the japanese government reduce its massive trade surplus with the however they said all out trade war may far off states know they would suffer almost much japan senior diplomats gave generally favourable reaction executive commission proposal under which the could raise tariffs range japanese products the carries out threat make similar move april the tariffs which would involve renouncing obligations entered into with the world trade body gatt would designed stop diversion exports the market from that the the diplomats were meeting tokyo announced that the trade deficit with japan reached record billion dlrs march from billion february reuter trade could decide japan trade moves late may the european community has effectively given japan six weeks take moves open its market imports before decides possible tough retaliatory trade measures diplomats said they said foreign ministers will meet may and review the state trade relations between the two sides the executive commission was asked representatives member states friday propose renunciation some pledges the world trade body gatt unless there are adequate and early measures open the japanese market such renunciation would the first step imposing stiff increases duties quantitative limits japanese exports the diplomats said was unlikely that the issue would discussed detail the next meeting foreign ministers april and luxembourg time was needed prepare proposals for possible retaliatory action they said the commission has powers take some limited action before getting ministerial approval prevent japanese exports electrical photographic and other goods being diverted europe following possible tariff moves may the ministers are also likely discuss how prevent japan from getting extra trading advantage result spain and portugal joining the bloc which obliges them gradually reduce tariffs many industrial goods japan trade surplus with the community has grown steadily registering record billion dlrs march reuter acq glatfelter glt acquiring ecusta glatfelter said has reached agreement acquire all the capital stock ecusta corp for dlrs cash glatfelter printing and writing paper maker said ecusta operates uncoded three sheet and light weight specialty paper mill pisgah forest the mill produces and converts paper products used the doemstic and foreign tobacco industry glatfelter said expects close the deal may reuter earn ncr corp qtr shr cts cts earn first marathon fms plans stock split first marathon inc said planned two for one stock split effective shareholders approval the june annual meeting the financial services company said also completed the previously reported mln dlr private placement mln non voting preferred shares convertible one for one into non voting class shares reuter earn bancorp usbc qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln avg shrs mln mln reuter earn ibm ibm has higher shipments costs qtr international business machines corp said shipments and revenues were higher the first quarter but net earnings fell pct part due higher expenses ibm said net income fell mln dlrs dlrs share from billion dlrs dlrs about pct fewer shares outstanding while total sales and income rose pct billion dlrs from billion dlrs costs and expenses rose pct billion dlrs from billion the quarter the computer maker said the company said continues take actions make more competitive including cost and expense reduction measures although the worldwide economic situation remains unsettled there are some encouraging signs our business ibm said statement addition the increase first quarter shipments have announced new offerings our large processor and personal computing product lines said have yet fully benefit from our recent product announcements retirement incentives and other resource balancing measures and expect these actions will have more significant impact progresses the company added said expects more than employees take advantage the retirement incentives announced last year pretax earnings fell pct billion dlrs from billion ibm said pretax margins slipped pct from pct said reuter earn lindberg corp lind qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs mln mln note net includes gain dlrs two cts share from proceeds from the sale property reuter earn ncr corp ncr qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs billion mln avg shrs mln mln reuter wpi german producer prices fall pct march west german producer prices fell pct march compared with february stand pct lower than march last year the federal statistics office said february producer prices fell pct from january and dropped pct from their levels year earlier the statistics office said producer prices for natural gas had fallen pct march against february heavy heating oil prices were pct down liquefied gas prices fell pct and coffee was pct cheaper reuter interest fhlbb changes short term discount note rates the federal home loan bank board adjusted the rates its short term discount notes follows maturity new rate old rate maturity days pct pct days days pct pct days days pct pct days days pct pct days days pct pct days reuter earn galileo electro optics corp gaeo qtr shr cts cts net mln revs mln mln six months shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln note quarter ended march six months includes charge dlrs due reversal investment tax credits reuter acq boston five bfcs neworld nwor merge boston five cents savings bank said and neworld bank for savings have agreed merge forming new holding company boston five bancorp boston five said the proposal calls for its holders receive shares the new company stock for each share now held and for neworld bank holders recieve one share for each share held tax free exchange boston five said the planned merger with newworld bank for savings will create the largest savings bank massachusetts and the third largest new england with combined assets billion dlrs boston five chairman robert spiller said there natural fit between both banks consider this merger equals spiller will become chairman boston five bancorp and neworld president james oates will president and chief executive officer boston five said its president peter blampied will become vice chairman and chief operating officer the holding company the board the holding company will have equal number directors from each institution unlike many recent combinations this merger has acquisition premium associated with blampied said boston five has assetsof billion dlrs and officers neworld has assets billion dlrs and officers massachusetts also has loan center new hampshire reuter earn coopervision eye forms recapitalization plan coopervision inc said preparing recapitalization plan which includes common stock repurchase program and exchange debt securities for common stock the plan along with proposal change its name cooper cos inc will submitted for shareholders approval the company annual meeting june the meeting had been postponed from its original date may order let management review recapitalization options said addition coopervision said operating income its current fiscal quarter ending april expected show improvement over its prior fiscal quarter mln dlrs and its year ago quarter income from continuing operations was not immediately availalbe for the prior year second quarter which reported net loss mln dlrs drexel burnham lambert investor conference coopervision chairman parker montgomery said previously announced will listen any bid that makes sense for shareholders also said coopervision stock fell due its second quarter loss rumors liquidation dlrs and dlrs share and ivan boesky subsequent sale his position the stock dropped six dlrs three days after boesky sold his position and has never recovered montgomery said the company stock currently trading montgomery further told the conference don investor the stock the basis any short term recovery operating net income and our concentration maintaining increasing market share our core businesses this year and next regardless the impact the bottom line said reuter coffee colombia june coffee registrations opened colombia has opened coffee registrations for june shipment with limit set for private exporters april and may national coffee growers federation official said colombia has sold average bags per month since the beginning the calendar year reuter lei canada leading indicator pct january after pct december rise official money-supply spanish money supply growing double target pace spain principal measure money supply the broad based liquid assets public hands alp grew annualised rate pct march against pct february and pct march last year provisional bank spain figures show the bank target range for this year pct and bank spain governor mariano rubio said this month was aiming for the lower end that range alp grew pct during reuter earn reebok international limited rbk qtr shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln note quarter amounts not includes sales avia group international inc acquired the end the first quarter quarter revenues include rockport revenues mln dlrs quarter amounts not include rockport reebok acuqired that company october reuter earn blount inc blt qtr net oper shr cts three cts oper net revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln year oper shr cts cts oper net revs billion billion avg shrs mln mln note prior year net excludes gains dlrs quarter and dlrs year from termination overfunded pension plans backlog billion dlrs mln dlrs reuter money-fx money market given late help mln stg the bank england said gave the market late assistance around mln stg bringing its total help the day some mln stg this compares with the bank estimate the liquidity shortage around mln stg raised from its early forecast mln stg reuter gold giant bay gbylf idaho gold venture giant bay resources ltd said signed agreement principle with hecla mining for operating joint venture hecla stibnite idaho gold deposit giant bay said its bioleaching technology used for ore processing will have the right acquire working interest the property said may spend much three mln dlrs excluding capital costs bring the mine into production said drilling has indicated substantial sulphide reserves with gold grade about ounce ton and early tests show the gold ore responds bioleaching reuter acq blue arrow acquire richards consultants blue arrow plc said signed agreement acquire richards consultants ltd for mln dlrs cash and securities richards privately owned new york based executive recruitment firm part the agreement blue arrow said the four principal shareholders who manage richards will enter into long term service contracts with the agreement subject approval blue arrow shareholders reuter earn merry round mgre sets stock split merry round enterprises inc said its board declared three for two stock split payable may one holders record april reuter lead asarco ups lead price cts asarco inc said increasing its base spot sales price for refined lead one half cent cents fob delivered carload lots effective immediately reuter earn irving bank corp qtr shr dlrs dlrs earn irving bank corp qtr net shr dlr dlr net mln mln assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans billion billion reuter earn sullivan corp osl qtr net shr cts cts net rev mln mln note the earnings per share adjusted for four for three stock distribution paid may reuter interest french week bill average rate rises pct from pct official earn park communications inc parc qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter earn nvhomes nvh sets split payment date nvhomes said april will the distribution date for new units result its previously announced two for one split unitholders record april reuter earn berkey inc bky qtr net greenwich conn april oper shr profit one cent loss cts oper net profit loss revs mln mln mths oper shr loss dlrs loss cts oper net loss mln loss revs mln mln note qtr excludes profit dlrs cts per share from discontinued operations and excludes loss dlrs cts per share for net operating loss carryforward mths excludes discontinued operations loss dlrs three cts per share mths excludes discontinued operations gain dlrs dlrs per share and excludes gain dlrs cts per share for net operating loss carryforward reuter acq dillard department stores agrees buy two allied stores units for mln dlrs cash earn chemical new york corp qtr shr dlrs dlrs interest bankers trust raises broker loan rate bankers trust said raising its broker loan rate pct from pct effective immediately trust the only other bank publicize its broker rate was already posting pct reuter acq pentland reduce reebok rbk holdings pentland industries plc said report substantial capital gain from the sale part its holdings reebok international limited which will cut its stake reebok pct from pct said reebok filed registration statement with the securities and exchange commission for the offering six mln shares reebok common reebok will sell three mln shares and pentland will sell shares reducing its stake reebok mln from mln shares after the offering reebok will have mln shares shares outstanding pentland said the amount the capital gain from the sale depends the offering price for the reebok shares negotiated between reebok and the other selling stockholders who will offer about mln shares reebok common and the underwriters pentland said proceeds from the offering will used reebok retire bank debt incurred its acquisition avia group for about mln dlrs said that afterwards reebok will have bank credit lines available for general corporate purposes including possible acquisitions reebok stock was selling that price the mln reebok shares pentland will sell are worth about mln dlrs and the three mln shares reebok will sell are worth about mln dlrs pentland said will use proceeds fund growth and possible acquisitions pentland said shares rebbok will offered the syndicate led kidder peabody and inc and shares will offered outside the international syndicate led kidder said the underwriters have been granted option buy from certain selling stockholders additional shares cover overallotments pentland said has not chosen participate this over allotment pentland said that soon the date and price the offering have been determined will release further details said expects the offering close may reuter lei canada january leading indicator pct canada leading composite indicator rose pct january with eight the major components posting gains the most widespread monthly advance the past year statistics canada said the index also gained pct the preceeding month the unfiltered index however fell pct january after rising pct december the gain was led the residential construction index while the manufacturing groups continued improve and the stock market index turned the federal agency reported reuter earn national westminster bank plc qtr net net mln mln note national westminster bank plc subsidiary loan loss provision mln mln investment securitiesd gaons dlrs dlrs figures dollars reuter earn irving bank cites loans earning decline irving bank corp said the decline its first quarter earnings mln dlrs from mln dlrs the year ago period were due the placement non accrual basis mln dlrs and mln dlrs medium and long term loans borrowers brazil and equador excluding the impact the non accrual loans irving said its first quarter net income would have rose pct mln and per share amounts would have risen eight pct dlr the first quarter the bank reported earnings per share dlr compared dlr the same period last year reuter fuel global lowers heavy fuels prices global petroleum corp said today lowered the posted cargo prices for number six fuel the new york harbor cts barrel effective today the decrease brings the prices for one pct sulphur dlrs down cts two pct sulphur dlrs down cts pct sulphur dlrs down cts and pct sulphur dlrs down cts prices for pct and pct sulphur remained unchanged and dlrs said reuter earn chemical new york corp chl qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net avg shrs assets billion billion loans billion billion deposits billion billion return assets pct pct return common equity pct pct note qtr net reduced mln dlrs because billion dlrs brazil loans were placed non accrual reuter livestock ccc accepts bonus cattle canary islands the commodity credit corporation ccc has accepted bid for export bonus cover the sale head dairy cattle the canary islands the agriculture department said the cattle are for delivery may october said the bonus was dlrs per head and was made holstein friesian inc and will paid the form commodities from the ccc inventory additional headed dairy cattle for still available the canary islands under the export enhancement program initiative announced july said reuter earn afg industries inc afg qtr net shr primary cts cts shr diluted cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs primary reuter alum work greek alumina plant start end may preparatory work for construction mln dlr alumina plant near the village aghia efthymia the greek province fokida will begin the end next month and the plant will operational industry undersecretary george petsos said greece yesterday signed contracts with the soviet union for the joint venture project the biggest investment the country for years petsos said the soviet union which had initially agreed buy tonnes would now purchase the plant entire output tonnes year reuter earn new milford savings bank qtr net shr cts cts net note includes five shr charge from loan loss provision reuter earn ahmanson and ahm qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs loans billion billion deposits billion billion assets billion billion note prior qtr per shr figure adjusted for three for one stock split may reuter sugar pakistan reportedly bought white sugar tender pakistan reported have bought tonnes white sugar its weekend tender from north korean operator traders said the purchase believed priced around dlrs tonne cost and freight for fine medium grain was due shipped for arrival may tonnes june and july tonnes they said reuter money-fx fed expected set three day repurchase pacts the federal reserve expected enter the government securities market add temporary reserves directly arranging three day system repurchase agreements economists said they said the fed may add the reserves indirectly instead via large round two billion dlrs more customer repurchase agreements federal funds which averaged high pct friday opened pct and traded between there and pct reuter acq allied stores als sells dillard dds two units dillard department stores inc based little rock ark and allied stores corp jointly said they entered definitive purchase agreement for the sale dillard the joske and the cain sloan divisions allied for mln dlrs cash subject certain closing adjustments the sale excludes certain real estate assets joske and cain sloan which allied estimates have aggregate value mln dlrs based current market conditions joske has stores texas and one arizona cain sloan has four stores nashville joske the largest unit allied has slated for sale its restructuring allied stores corp subsidiary campeau corp was acquired acquired the canadian developer last year robert campeau chairman allied said this terrific start our disposition program which proceeding well ahead schedule this sale will fulfill the requirements under our bank agreements sell certain assets june and give additional flexibility the disposal the remaining divisions being sold allied stores required pay mln dlrs bank debt june there had been some doubts wall street that the company could meet the payment campeau source said believe this cash sale puts very strong negotiating position maximize the proceeds allied can receive from its other divisions allied was able put itself position where knows will able meet the june payment schedules the source said about bilion dlrs allied assets had been targeted for sale dec pay for the aquisition allied campeau allied will taking bids for its other divisions targeted for sale are bonwit tellers garfinckel dey donaldson herpolsheimer heer miller miller and rhoads pomeroy catherine plymouth shops and jerry leonard the divisions provided pct allied net sales and pct store profit fiscal reuter earn ncr ncr continues expect earnings growth ncr corp earlier reporting higher first quarter profit said continues expect that will report record earnings and revenue for all our optimism based our incoming order rates and the strength our product lines the company said ncr corp plans additional new product announcements this year said without elaborating ncr earlier said first quarter profit increased mln dlrs cts share from mln dlrs cts share the prior year ncr full year earnings rose mln dlrs from mln dlrs the prior year ncr said the increase first quarter profit resulted from strong revenue growth which was particularly strong europe and pacific marketing groups growth revenues also improved the company said first quarter revenues increased billion dlrs from mln dlrs the prior year ncr dollar value first quarter worldwide incoming orders posted very substantial gain over the prior year first quarter ncr also said without giving specific figures order growth was broad based across ncr product lines with the greatest growth coming from said reuter earn genetics institute inc geni qtr loss period ended february shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss revs avg shrs reuter earn entre computer etre closing overseas units entre computer centers inc said discontinuing its european and australian operations the company today reported loss for the second quarter ended february dlrs after dlr pretax provision for the shutdown the overseas units and dlr tax credit year earlier earned dlrs said the overseas operations lost dlrs the second quarter and did not appear strong enough provide for future growth reuter earn entre computer centers inc etre qtr loss shr loss cts profit cts net loss profit revs mln mln half shr loss cts profit cts net loss profit revs mln mln note current year net both periods includes dlr pretax provision for closing overseas operations and tax credits dlrs quarter and dlrs half reuter earn merrill lynch mer investment revenues merrill lynch and said investment banking revenues were strong the first quarter rising mln dlrs from mln the first quarter have made steady progress period market activity which has been marked unprecedented activity william schreyer chairman and cheif executive officer and daniel tully president and chief operating officer said earlier the company reported first quarter net income mln dlrs one dlr per share from mln dlrs cts per share first quarter merrill lynch said its insurance revenues made the biggest gains the first quarter rising mln dlrs the this first quarter from mln dlrs last year first quarter reuter earn standard microsystems corp smsc qtr net feb end shr profit four cts loss nil net profit loss revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln year shr profit four cts profit nil net profit profit revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln note net includes tax credits dlrs dlrs quarter and dlrs dlrs year reuter earn pennsylvania real estate investment trust pei oper shr cts cts oper net revs avg shrs half oper shr cts cts oper net revs avg shrs note current year net excludes gains sale real estate dlrs quarter and dlrs half period ended february reuter earn allwaste inc alws qtr feb shr profit four cts loss one cts net profit loss revs mln six months shr profit nine cts loss four cts net profit loss revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln reuter earn scott and stringfellow scot qtr mar shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine months shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln note full name scott and stringfellow financial corp reuter earn foster fwc unit audit reveals discrepancies foster wheeler corp fwc said audit its stearns airport equiment inc unit revealed substantial discrepancies stearns accounts that may require material adjustments previously announce consolidated results the company and its subsidiaries foster said certain stearn officers and senior management made stearn operations appear more profitable than they were improperly recording job costs said stearn president and controller had resigned foster spokesman said did not know the names the president and controller and could not immediately comment the release foster said the amount involved the discrepancy about mln dlrs before taxes about mln dlrs net after tax due improper recording job costs over period several years and continuing through part the first quarter stearns unit foster conergic corp subsidiary the company said the impact its results for was not likely significant but the amount charged prior periods had not been determined foster reported after tax earnings mln dlrs mln dlrs and mln dlrs for and respectively stearns based crowley texas makes airport baggage conveyor equipment and passenger loading bridges foster diversified international concern with subsidiaries operating worldwide based livingston new jersey its reported revenues for the period ended december billion dlrs the company said detailed audit and investigation continuing company spokesman declined comment further the investigation reuter trade taiwan announces new round import tariff cuts taiwan announced plans for another round import tariff cuts foreign goods shortly before trade talks with washington which officials described move help balance trade with the united states wang der hwa deputy director the finance ministry customs administration department told reporters the list products included items asked washington the move part our government efforts encourage imports from our trading partners particularly from the united states said said the ministry sent proposal today the cabinet that the tariffs such products cosmetics bicycles apples radios garments soybeans and television sets cut between five and pct the cabinet was expected give its approval next thursday and the new tariff cuts would implemented possibly starting april added taiwan introduced sweeping tariff cut some foreign products last january aimed helping reduce its growing trade surplus with the united states the island largest trading partner washington however was not satisfied with the cuts and pressed for more reductions way cutting its huge trade deficit with taipei washington deficit with taipei rose record billion dlrs last year from billion widened billion the first quarter from billion year earlier taiwan official figures show today announcement came before departure later today member taiwan delegation for washington for series trade talks with officials the delegation leader vincent siew told reporters last night was leaving with heavy heart meaning that would face tough talks washington because rising protectionist sentiments the congress taiwan trade surplus with washington was the third largest after japan and canada siew said the talks starting april would cover calls for taiwan open its market american products purchases major machinery and power plant equipment import tariff cuts and protection intellectual property afraid this time have give more than take from our talks with the said without elaborating reuter grain bulgaria romania grain crop seen less favorable current prospects for this year grain crop bulgaria and romania appear less favorable than the agriculture department officer belgrade said field report the report said the assessment was based travel the two countries from march april said crop conditions were better than earlier expected following the extreme dry conditions last fall and the prolonged winter temperatures this spring however general plant development was least three weeks more behind normal this spring and conditions varied greatly regions the report said fields seeded during the optimum period last fall and especially those receiving supplemental irrigation water about pct the fields observed appeared good condition with little evidence winterkill while others varied considerably the report said fields lacking adequate moisture last fall showed weak and uneven stands spotty germination and winterkill those fields averaged pct said reuter earn elcor corp elk qtr march shr cts eight cts net mln revs mln mln nine months shr dlrs cts net mln mln revs mln mln note shares adjusted for for stock split payable may holders record may qtr and nine months includes tax loss carryforward gain dlrs and mln dlrs respectively qtr nine months includes tax loss carryforward gains dlrs and mln dlrs respectively reuter earn abington savings bank abbk qtr net shr cts not given net loans mln mln deposits mln mln assets mln mln note prior share not given due june conversion stock ownserhip reuter earn banking center tbcx qtr net shr cts not given net note company went public august figures restated net includes loan loss provision dlrs dlrs gain sale securities dlrs dlrs and gain sale loans dlrs dlrs reuter earn chemical chl net hurt brazil expenses chemical new york corp said its first quarter profits fell pct largely because placed billion dlrs loans brazil non accrual chemical reported first quarter net income mln dlrs down from mln year earlier but declaring the brazilian loans non performing cost chemical mln dlrs lost interest income mln dlrs after tax pct jump non interest expense mln dlrs from mln also hit the bottom line said the rise was mainly due staff costs associated with continued growth consumer capital markets and investment banking activities excluding the effect placing brazil non accrual chemical said its net income would have been mln dlrs pct below earnings brazil suspended interest payments billion dlrs medium and long term debt february they are not resumed year end chemical said its after tax net for the whole will reduced about mln dlrs chemical also placed mln dlrs loans ecuador non accrual because the quito government also suspended interest payments its foreign debt this reduced interest income mln dlrs chemical said net interest income fell mln dlrs from mln and its net spread narrowed pct from pct this reflected the reclassification brazilian loans reduced federal income tax rate which affected the calculation the taxabale equivalent adjustment tax exempt assets and narrowing the spread between the prime rate and chemical cost funds foreign exchange trading profits rose mln dlrs from mln but bond trading profits dropped mln dlrs from mln fees from trust and other banking services rose mln dlrs from mln year earlier chemical said the provision for loan losses was mln dlrs compared with mln net loan charge offs were mln from mln leaving the allowance for loan losses mln dlrs quarter end pct loans outstanding compared with mln pct year earlier non accruing loans the end march were billion dlrs billion excluding brazil compared with billion the end and billion the end march reuter earn genetics geni sees higher losses genetics institute inc earlier reporting increased first quarter net loss said expects incur losses fiscal that are somewhat higher than those reported fiscal had loss dlrs for fiscal ended november compared fiscal loss dlrs the company said the losses result from its strategic decision invest prudent levels equity development products the company can manufacture and bring market genetics earlier said first quarter ended february losses rose dlrs from year ago loss dlrs reuter acq investor boosts trans lux tlx stake investor albert kahn said statement that group heads increased its stake trans lux corp pct from pct fully diluted basis kahn said indicated filing with the securities and exchange commission that his group bought additional trans lux common shares and dlrs nine pct convertible subordinated debentures due convertible into additional shares kahn said considering seeking representation the trans lux board and starting proxy contest connection with the upcoming annual meeting kahn also said seeking examination the trans lux shareholder list and corporate books and records under delaware law trans lux connecticut concern that leases teleprinters and display units brokerage offices airports and other public places kahn miami insurance executive and investor reuter earn solitron devices inc sod qtr net period ended february shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs year shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs note year after dlr tax provision and dlr tax credit year after dlr credit for anticipated income tax settlement for and dlr tax provision reuter earn trust corp first qtr shr cts cts earn peoples heritage bank phbk qtr net shr cts not given net note net includes securities gains dlrs dlrs company went public december reuter earn stuart hall inc stuh qtr feb net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs reuter earn clayton homes inc cmh qtr march net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln backlog nine mln six mln note share adjusted for five for four stock split june reuter earn trust corp ustc qtr net shr primary cts cts shr diluted cts cts net avg assets billion billion deposits billion billion reuter earn desptp omc dso qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs reuter earn park communications inc parc qtr mar shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter earn federal guarantee corp fdgc qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter earn angell care master acr raises quarterly shr cts cts prior pay july record june reuter earn franklin michigan insured sets lower payout mthly div cts cts prior pay april record april note franklin michigan insured tax free income fund reuter earn franklin high yield sets higher payout mthly div eight cts cts prior pay april record april note franklin high yield tax free income fund reuter earn franklin pennsylvania tax free initial payout franklin pennsylvania tax free income fund said its board declared initial monthly dividend six cts per share payable april holders record april reuter acq general partners sells gencorp stake general partners texas partnership that recently ended its bid take over gencorp inc told the securities and exchange commission sold nearly all its remaining pct stake the company general partners said sold shares gencorp april dlrs share open market transaction the new york stock exchange said the sale leaves with gencorp common shares the partnership which includes wagner and brown midland texas and irvine calif based afg industries inc last week dropped its dlr share hostile tender offer reuter earn franklin pennsylvania sets initial payout franklin pennsylvania investors government securities fund fund said its board declared initial monthly dividend cts per share payable april holders record april reuter acq gaf gaf studying borg warner bor plan gaf corp studying agreement under which merrill lynch capital partners will take borg warner corp private billion dlr transaction gaf spokesman said the spokesman had further comment analysts said there was speculation gaf would make new offer for the chicago based plastics and automobile parts company borg warner stock rose above the merrill lynch dlrs per share tender offer price merrill lynch capital partners unit merrill lynch and tendering for pct borg warner and offering package cash and securities for the balance the shares gaf had offered dlrs per share previously holds pct borg warner stock reuter earn national westminster bank usa qtr net rises national westminster bank usa said higher loans and core deposit volumes well substantial increase net interest income contributed pct rise first quarter earnings mln dlrs from mln reported year earlier the earnings gain came despite mln dlr reduction income result placing brazilian loans non accrual net interest income totalled mln dlrs compared with mln dlrs the same period loans mostly middle market businesses increased mln dlrs but some these gains were offset low levels interest rates provision for loan losses rose mln dlrs from mln year earlier march the allowance for loan losses was mln dlrs versus mln end march non accrual loans rose mln dlrs from mln the end the first quarter largely because mln dlrs loans brazil were put non accrual status the bank said that these loans remain non accrual for the remainder the year net income for would reduced about mln dlrs national westminster bank usa wholly owned subsidiary national westminster bank plc reuter earn laser photonics inc lazr qtr dec shr loss cts loss one cts net loss loss revs mln year shr loss cts loss eight cts net loss mln loss revs mln mln reuter earn eastern utilities associates eua ups payout qtly div cts cts prior qtr pay may record may reuter acq mcgraw hill mhp divests south african unit mcgraw hill inc said has sold its mcgraw hill book south africa pty ltd subsidiary local management group for undisclosed amount cash and halted the sale all products and services south africa the company said the divestiture follows resolution its board february that cited increased political and social unrest within south africa and the refusal the south african government abolish the apartheid system reuter acq oak ondustries oak buy electronics firm oak industries inc said agreed buy the stock electronic technologies inc new york for undisclosed amount cash electronic technologies manufactures quartz crystal components oak said said the acquisition part its ongoing stategy restructure its core businesses through cost reduction programs and the purchase compatible companies reuter earn peoples heritage bank phbk qtr net shr cts not given net note includes net securities gains dlrs mln dlrs from company converted stock ownership december reuter acq revlon group agrees merge with macandrews and forbes group for dlrs shr cash interest trust ustc raises broker loan rate trust said raised its broker loan rate pct from pct effective immediately bankers trust which also quotes its broker loan rate publicly raised its rate pct earlier today reuter acq corrected crazy eddie crzy sets rights crazy eddie inc said its board has adopted defensive shareholder rights plan and said has reacived inquiries friendly merger said under the plan shareholders record april will receive right purchase under certain circumstances price dlrs preferred share for each common share held the rights expire april the company said the rights would exercisable business days after party were acquire pct more crazy eddie common stock announce bid for pct more adds dropped year rights expiration reuter earn biotech electronics inc ion qtr net shr eight cts one half net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln note period ended february reuter reuter cpi portuguese consumer prices pct march portugal consumer prices rose pct march after one pct increase february and pct rise march the national statistics institute said the consumer price index base for rose from february and compared with march this gave year year march inflation rate pct against pct february and pct march measured annual average rate inflation march was pct compared with pct february the government forecasts annual inflation about eight pct this year reuter earn myers industries inc mye qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln note per share figures adjusted for ten pct stock dividend paid august reuter earn gte corp qtr shr cts cts acq resdel rsdl merge with san bar sbar resdel industries said and san bar corp has agreed merge san bar into resdel the arrangement calls for san bar spin off assets its break free division shareholders then exchange its own shares for resdel stock ratio one resdel share for each san bar share held resdel said reuter acq midlantic midl acquire county bancorp midlantic corp said agreed acquire county bancorp for about mln dlrs agreement calling for county trust county bancorp subsidiary merge into midlantic national bank north midlantic said will pay dlrs share cash times county bancorp march book value for each county about shares outstanding said received option from three principal shareholders for pct county outstanding the acquisition expected the third quarter and subject regulatory and shareholder approvals reuter earn people savings bank brockton pbkb net assets mln mln note quarter ended march the company completed conversion from mutual stock form october raising mln dlrs net proceeds through the sale mln shares common stock reuter earn micro general corp mgen qtr loss period ended december shr nil loss six cts net loss loss revs avg shrs year shr nil loss cts net profit loss revs avg shrs reuter earn gte corp gte qtr mar shr cts cts net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs mln mln reuter earn gte posts pre tax loss mln dlrs qtr for pct share sprint acq group raises scandinavia fund scf stake shareholder group consisting foreign investment firms and investors said raised its stake scandinavia fund inc shares pct the total outstanding from shares pct filing with the securities and exchange commission the group also said considering informal offer made scandinavia fund president bjorn carlson march which would grant representation the company board the group includes vbi corp turks and caicos islands investment firm and ingemar rydin industritillbehor swedish investment firm and erik martin vik norwegian investor and vik son alexander the group said vbi and the elder vik bought combined scandinavia fund common shares since march prices ranging from dlrs share reuter earn square corp sqd qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln reuter crude triton oil says paris basin reserves pct triton energy corp said proven reserves the villespedue oil field france paris basin were estimated total mln barrels march one pct from mln barrels may triton said its pct owned triton europe plc subsidiary has pct interest the field which located miles east paris the other pct held total exploration the field operator reuter earn talking point ibm ibm international business machines corp has started the year aggressively but industry analysts said the company still faces some tough rounds its fight stop two year earnings slump more impressed with what happening ibm than have been long time said painewebber analyst stephen smith but they not out the woods yet added dlrs share ibm first quarter net income easily topped most estimates wall street which had ranged from even dollar dlrs most analysts said they were pleasantly surprised ibm performance but they indicated that ibm chances for full recovery hinged several key factors whose impact will not felt until later the year these include the success ibm new personal computer line introduced two weeks ago and its minicomputers which will begin volume shipments july addition ibm has said the full benefits its early retirement program and other cost cutting moves will emerge the year progresses analysts noted that ibm chairman john akers was relatively more upbeat assessing the company outlook than has been for nearly year although the worldwide economic situation remains unsettled there are some encouraging signs our business akers said pointing among other things higher first quarter shipments remain optimistic about the prospects for both the industry and ibm said akers was most encouraging said painewebber smith weak dollar lower tax rate and strong mainframe computer sales all contributed the better than expected first quarter results analysts said shipments the mainframes were very strong march after weak january and february said ulric weil washington based weil and associates sales the top the line mainframes commonly called the sierras bailed out the whole quarter weil said adding this continues augers well for the rest the year reuter earn micro mask inc nms qtr mar oper loss oper shr loss cts loss cts oper net loss loss sales six mths oper shr loss cts loss dlrs oper net loss loss sales mln note oper data does not include losses from discontinued operations dlrs three cts per shr qtr and dlrs seven cts per shr six mths reuter earn irving bank qtr net hurt brazil irving bank corp said six pct drop first quarter net income from year earlier was largely the result placing medium and long term loans borrowers brazil and ecuador non accrual status income the first three months fell mln dlrs from mln the same period earnings per share dropped dlrs from irving put mln dlrs brazilian and mln dlrs ecuadorean loans non accrual reducing first quarter net income total mln dlrs after tax irving estimates full year net would reduced mln dlrs after tax cash interest payments are received these loans during the remainder also adversely affecting earnings were losses the trading securities and higher non interest expenses although these were partly offset increased trust income profits from foreign exchange trading and investment securities gains the bank said the allowance for loan losses was mln dlrs from mln year earlier the provision for loan losses was mln versus mln the first quarter reuter earn allegheny western energy algh ups payout qtly div cts six cts prior pay june record may note full name allegheny and western energy corp reuter earn united telecommunications inc qtr shr cts cts earn coast inc qtr net shr profit one loss cts net profit loss sales mln mln avg shrs reuter trade february trade reported new basis the february monthly merchandise trade figures reported tuesday the commerce department will new basis reflecting more recent data avoiding future revisions the monthly figure commerce officials said the overall january deficit billion dlrs will revised but the february figure will final one officials said previously the initial monthly figure has had revised subsequent months because the time lag between the report and the compiling final estimates imports and exports the reporting the february trade data was delayed several weeks permit gathering latest figures imports and exports give clearer picture the monthly trade balance reuter acq revlon rev and macandrews and forbes merge macandrews and forbes group and revlon group inc rev said that they have entered into definitive mergewr agreement where macandrews will acquire revlon dlrs per common share cash macandrews said increased its offer purchase all revlon common shares dlrs share from its april offer dlrs share following consummation the offer unit macandrews will merge into revlon and each remaining share will converted into the right receive dlrs per share cash the companies said revlon said its board directors unanimously approved the merger agreement macandrews and revlon also said they have reached settlement with the plaintiff the pending litigation challenging acquisition the shares macanrews the companies said the tender offer and withdrawal rights will expireon tuesday april unless extended macandrews said will promptly file revised tender offer material with the securities and exchange commission drexel burnham lambert inc acting dealer manager for the offer the companies said revlon currently has about mln shares outstanding the current offer price about mln dlrs company spokesman said from the previous offer mln dlrs april macandrews and forbes owned ronald perelman offered dlrs share for the pct revlon shares did not already own since the offer was made over dozen shareholder lawsuits were brought against revlon alleging the original offer was too low but the companies said these lawsuits have been settled the amended offer reuter acq real estate firm cuts intermagnetics inma stake roland international corp coconut grove fla real estate development company said cut its stake intermagnetics general corp shares pct the total outstanding from shares pct filing with the securities and exchange commission roland said sold shares feb dlrs each long roland stake intermagnetics general below five pct not required report any further dealings the company stock reuter earn first commerce corp fcom qtr net shr cts cts net reuter acq dataproducts dpc buy imaging solutions dataproducts corp said signed letter intent acquire the imaging solutions inc unit reliance electric under undisclosed terms this acquisition will give all rights proprietary solid and liquid ink technologies which had been developed joint venture operated and exxon corp xon dataproducts said said imaging solutions formerly named exxon printing systems inc had been reliance electric subsidiary but reliance recently became independent company the result leveraged buyout from its former owner exxon reuter acq jannock acquires half stake printer jannock ltd said its jannock imaging ltd unit acquired pct stake arthurs jones lithographing ltd toronto for undisclosed terms said the acquisition would lift jannock imaging revenues mln dlrs this year did not specify arthurs jones revenues reuter earn mark industries inc qtr feb net shr cts cts net revs mln mln year shr dlrs cts net mln revs mln mln avg shrs note current periods include gain dlrs qtr and mln dlrs year from changes pension accounting year ago shr figures restated for for splits paid june and january reuter acq electrohome sell unit electrohome ltd said agreed sell certain assets the computer service sector its aabex service division canadian general electric ltd cge terms were not disclosed the closing date expected may reuter earn salick health care inc shci qtr net period ended february shr cts cts net revs six mths shr cts cts net revs mln reuter acq laser photonics inc lazr closes sale laser photonics inc said completed previously announced sale shares pct its common stock group investors for one mln dlrs dlrs loan made the investors was repaid out the proceeds said also said restructured its board include three members designated the investors including pierre schoenheimer roger kirk and leonard lichter reuter acq amsouth bancorp aso sets exchange ratio amsouth bancorp said will issue about shares stock acquire first tuskaloosa corp under previously announced merger agreement amsouth offered dlrs share amsouth stock for first tuskaloosa the company said first tuskaloosa shareholders will receive shares amsouth stock for each first tuskaloosa share held when the merger effected april first tuskaloosa has assets more than mln dlrs amsouth assets are about six billion dlrs reuter earn voplex corp vot qtr mar shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter acq hadson corp hads completes acquisition hadson corp said completed the acquisition pct the seaxe energy corp seax common stock for shares hadson stock seaxe engaged international oil and gas exploration and development primarily the paris basin france reuter acq arrays aray completes merger arrays inc said completed its merger with haba systems inc terms the merger called for each share arrays exchange for share haba transaction valued mln dlrs the company said both companies produce and market microcomputer software reuter earn franklin massachusetts sets monthly payout mthly div cts cts prior pay april reord april note franklin massachusetts insured tax free income fund reuter earn franklin minnesota sets monthly payout mthly div cts cts prior pay april reord april note franklin minnesota insured tax free income fund reuter earn franklin insured sets monthly payout mthly div cts cts prior pay april reord april note franklin insured tax free income fund reuter earn franklin ohio sets monthly payout mthly div cts cts prior pay april reord april note franklin ohio insured tax free income fund reuter earn franklin puerto rico sets monthly payout mthly div cts cts prior pay april reord april note franklin puerto rico tax free income fund reuter earn franklin california sets monthly payout mthly div cts cts prior pay april reord april note franklin california insured tax free income fund reuter acq canada stocks dome petroleum ltd dmp dome petroleum ltd shares moved higher the and canada after transcanada pipelines ltd trp made billion canadian dlr bid for dome and dome said talks with two other unidentified companies market speculation that the other two potential bidders are not canadian companies and dupont conoco and atlantic richfield arc are mentioned possibilities wilf gobert peters and ltd said dome rose the american stock exchange transcanada pipelines was down the new york stock exchange dome was the most active stock the toronto exchange dlrs per share cts gobert characterized the market action dome awfully optimistic but said investors are hoping for competing offer the shareholders transcanada pipelines offer dome management not shareholders however proposes issuing new equity subsidiary that would operate dome assets current dome shareholders would own pct the new subsidiary reuter earn united telecommunications inc qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs note per share results reflect payment preferred dividend requirements reuter earn first pennsylvania corp fpa qtr net shr cts cts net avg shrs mln mln note includes gains mln dlrs cts mln dlrs cts from tax loss carryforwards reuter acq clark copy international buys german stake clark copy international corp said acquired majority interest datagraph gmbh lich west germany the acquisition was made through clark copy majority owned subsidiary interactive computer aids norway price was disclosed for the acquisition clark copy said worldwide sales for datagraph which makes color graphics workstations were mln dlrs for the year ended dec reuter earn entre computer centers inc etre qtr loss ended feb shr loss cts profit cts net loss profit revs mln mln six mths shr loss cts profit cts net loss profit revs mln mln reuter earn gte gte cites loss sprint gte corp said the decline its first quarter net income reflects mln dlr loss from its pct share ownership sprint operations this loss increase from the mln dlrs loss reported operations gte owned year ago quarter and prior entering joint venture with united telecommunications july under the joint venture each company owns pct sprint earlier the company reported net income declined mln dlrs from mln dlrs the first quarter year ago theodore brophy chairman gte said expect sprint losses diminish later this year customer traffic migrates the new fiber optic network for long distance telecommunications the reason for the higher losses reflect lower prices well higher operating costs related part the fraudalent use the network operating income its telephone operations which account for pct the total rose eight pct mln dlrs revenues from telephone operations rose eight pct billion dlrs reuter earn new england savings bank nesb qtr net shr cts not given net note converted stock ownership aug reuter earn american national corp fnb qtr net net mln mln loans billion billion deposits billion billion assets billion billion note american national corp wholly owned subsidiary first chicago corp reuter earn astra share split widen foreign ownership astra asts said was proposing two for one share split and the issue june new series foreign targeted shares with lower voting rights part strategy internationalise the company the deal which requires swedish government approval will raise the percentage foreign voting rights allowed the medical group pct from pct astra said extraordinary meeting astra board proposed the creation free shares open foreign buyers with one tenth voting right per share present astra stock consists one series restricted shares and one free shares reuter earn corrected national westminster bank usa qtr net mln mln note national westminster bank plc subsidiary loan loss provision mln mln investment securities gains dlrs dlrs figures dollars corrects name subsidiary from parent reuter earn the one bancorp tone qtr net shr cts cts net avg shrs note includes gains mln dlrs dlrs from benefit tax loss carryforwards includes operations bank hartford acquired feb year ago shr figures reflect for split april reuter acq nor quest nqrlf makes bid for northair nrm nor quest resources inc said will make takeover offer acquire all shares northair mines ltd the basis one nor quest share plus one dlr for two shares northair nor quest said plans bring northair willa mine the nelson area british columbia into production using nor quest recently acquired ton per day mill located the area reuter earn aristech ars says qtr shr estimate right aristech chemical corp chairman and chief executive officer thomas marshall said analysts estimates its fiscal year earnings dlrs dlrs per share are about right addressing gathering analysts and institutional investors marshall also said that analysts estimates its first qtr earnings cts cts per share were the ballpark marshall said the full year estimates represent more than pct increase over fiscal year net dlrs per share also said the first quarter estimates were pct higher than first quarter net cts per share marshall attributibuted the first quarter earnings growth several factors including sustained demand aristech major domestic markets and continued growth exports aristech plans spend approximately mln dlrs over capital investments over the next three years marshall added reuter earn united telecom reports sprint loss united telecommunications inc said its lower first quarter earnings included loss dlrs from its equity sprint sprint was formed july partnership which combined united telecommunications long distance voice and data operations with those gte corp gte earlier united telecommunications reported first quarter earnings mln dlrs cts share compared mln dlrs cts share year ago revenues declined mln dlrs from mln dlrs united telecommunications said the transition sprint nationwide fiberoptic network proceeding ahead schedule said the transition the fiber network from interim networks would not only reduce operating costs the second half but also assist controlling unauthorized network use reuter nat-gas canada approves gas exports progas progas ltd was issued export licence sell billion cubic meters natural gas ocean state power burrillville rhode island the federal energy department said the sale covering year period beginning may was previously recommended the national energy board contract terms were not released reuter earn brand companies bran sees first quarter loss brand companies inc said expects report first quarter loss cts share revenues mln dlrs the first quarter brand reported earnings cts revenues mln dlrs reason was given for the expected loss final quarterly results will reported toward the end the month the beginning may company spokesman said reuter trade february trade reported new basis the february monthly merchandise trade figures reported tuesday the commerce department will new basis reflecting more recent data avoiding future revisions the monthly figure commerce officials said the overall january deficit billion dlrs will revised but the february figure will final one officials said previously the initial monthly figure has had revised subsequent months because the time lag between the report and the compiling final estimates imports and exports the reporting the february trade data was delayed several weeks permit gathering latest figures imports and exports give clearer picture the monthly trade balance reuter acq boothe bcmp makes acquisition boothe financial corp diversified holding company said has acquired the robert half and accountemps franchises new england including four offices boston and eastern massachusetts and one office providence boothe said previously announced the purchase robert half international inc the franchisor the robert half and accountemps offices the the company said the aggregate purchase price paid for robert half international and the franchises was about mln dlrs reuter acq atlantic financial atlf acquire and atlantic financial said signed definitive agreement acquire centurion savings and loan association atlantic did not disclose the purchase price atlantic said originally announced its intention acquire centurion located los angeles feb centurion has assets mln dlrs atlantic said reuter acq gaf gaf seen raising borg warner bor bid gaf corp set acquiring borg warner corp valuable plastics business believed analysts preparing increased offer for the chicago based company yesterday borg warner said agreed acquired for billion dlrs company formed merrill lynch capital partners merrill offered dlrs cash per share for pct borg warner common stock and package cash and securities for the balance borg warner stock rose think the stock price telling gaf coming with another bid said one analyst who values the company dlrs per share gaf has offered dlrs per share holds pct borg warner stock you cat and mouse game how you going the price obviously nobody wants pay more than you have think gaf looking the company the way looking that worth more pershing and analyst richard henderson said henderson estimated worth abouth dlrs per share gaf has only said was reviewing the situation merrill lynch officials did not return phone calls analysts have said they believe gaf chairman samuel heyman sought borg warner because its chemicals and plastics business the rigid plastics are used such things telephones computer terminals and appliances where the heck can you buy world class chemical operation these days said henderson heyman got the bucks heavy hitter and does not like get pushed around said henderson gaf roofing and chemicals concern attempted takeover the much larger union carbide corp two years ago while gaf did not win the company made substantial gain its investment carbide analysts said gaf already has large profit built into its borg warner holdings they said even gaf raises its offer and does not succeed higher bid from another company would give gaf millions dollars profits its stock win win situation said one analyst one analyst speculated offer from gaf would forthcoming shortly think are finally down the final paragraph this book said borg warner other businesses include automotive parts protective services which includes wells fargo security guards and chilton corp credit rating service charles rose oppenheimer and analyst who follows gaf said gaf were sell into the merrill lynch offer would realize about mln dlrs net profit about per share think there probability goes price said rose rose said however could not really predict what heyman would sam low risk high return player trying build major industrial chemical enterprise trying investment bank rose said analysts said borg warner chemical business would add earnings momentum gaf worked out that paying much dlrs per share would still additive gaf time they sold off most the non chemical facilities said john henry hutton borg warner chemical and plastics business provided operating profits mln dlrs revenues billion dlrs total operating profits were mln dlrs and net earnings were mln dlrs for the borg chemical business great said rose adding its only competitors are monsanto mct and dow chemical dow reuter earn pueblo international inc pii sets payout qtly div five cts five cts prior pay june two record april reuter acq gen term corp acquires private firm gen term corp said entered into escrow for the mln dlr purchase lewis westco and privately held bottler and distributor wines and distilled spirits lewis westco had sales more than mln dlrs for its fiscal year ended june gen term also said separately gen term which trades over the counter said plans apply for nasdaq listing after completes the acquisition reuter earn and clothiers inc jan year net shr dlrs cts net sales mln mln reuter acq ccx network ccxn make acquisition ccx network inc said has entered into letter intent acquire privately held modern mailers inc and its affiliate anwalt inc for about dlrs common stock the company said modern mailers had revenues dlrs for the year ended october and provides computer service computer printing and lettershop facilities reuter earn personal computer products pcpi expects loss personal computer products inc said expects report loss about dlrs its third quarter ended march compared year ago loss the quarter dlrs said revenues the quarter are expected about dlrs compared dlrs year earlier for the nine months ended march personal computer expects net loss about dlrs compared loss dlrs the previous year revenues the nine months are expected about dlrs compared year ago the company said will report its earnings soon reuter earn great northern nekoosa first qtr shr dlrs cts acq gander gndr buys western wear retailer gander mountain inc said acquired the privately held western ranchman outfitters catalog and point purchase retailer western apparel based cheyenne wyo said western ranchman had sales for the year ended jan about mln dlrs the purchase was made for undisclosed amount cast reuter earn great northern nekoosa gnn qtr net shr dlrs cts net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln note figures restated for adoption financial accounting standards board statement employer accounting for pensions net and includes dlrs investment tax credits and mln dlrs reuter earn american health properties inc ahe qtr shr cts net revs note company began operating february reuter earn wells fargo and qtr shr dlrs dlrs earn wells fargo and wfc qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln avg shrs loans billion billion deposits billion billion assets billion billion reuter earn comerica inc cmca qtr net shr dlrs dlrs shr diluted dlrs dlrs net avg shrs loans mln mln deposits billion billion assets billion billion note per share results reflect payment preferred dividends reuter earn champion products sets pay date for split champion products inc said the two for one stock split declared february will payable april shareholders record april one reuter earn spearhead industries inc sprh qtr net periods ended feb shr cts cts net sales mln nine mln avg shrs nine mths shr cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs reuter earn kdi corp kdi qtr march shr cts six cts net mln revs mln mln reuter acq nabisco rjr unit sells cigar business rjr nabisco inc reynolds tobacco usa unit said reached definitive agreement sell winchester little cigar business tobacco exporters international usa ltd atlanta the subsidiary rothman international plc terms were not disclosed last week reynolds announced the sale four smoking tobacco brands these brands and winchester represent less than one pct reynolds tobacco usa total sales which were billion dlrs reynolds said the sale expected completed april the company said planned concentrate its resources the manufacture and sale cigarettes reynolds said that winchester introduced was dominant brand the little cigar market reuter earn software services america inc ssoa net qtr feb shr profit cts loss four cts net profit loss revs nine mths shr profit cts profit two cts net profit profit revs reuter acq gander mountain gndr buys western wear firm gander mountain inc said acquired privately held western ranchman outfitters cheyenne wyo retailer and catalog seller western apparel terms were not disclosed western ranchman had sales about mln dlrs for the year ended jan the company said gander mountain sells brand name hunting fishing and outdoor gear through catalogs reuter earn health and rehabilitation hrp sets first divi health and rehabilitation properties trust said declared its initial dividend cts per share for the quarter ending march the dividend payable may shareholders record april said the dividend includes five cts attributable the period between dec and and cts attributable the first quarter ending march reuter earn utah power and light utp qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln billion avg shrs mln mln note mth net includes mln dlr charge due december provision for coal mining operations refund reuter acq ericsson ericy buy rest spanish unit ericsson sweden said agreed principle buy the pct intelsa its spanish unit that does not already own from telefonica spain telecommunications administration terms the agreement were not disclosed ericsson said intelsa which controls about pct the spanish telephone switch market has employees and annual sales mln crowns mln dlrs the purchase will not affect the close working relationship between telefonica and intelsa ericsson said reuter earn computrac llb sees lower first quarter net computrac inc said expects first quarter earnings down pct from year ago last year first quarter ended april computrac earned dlrs revenues mln dlrs the company said sales commitments hand are about pct above those year ago but system sales revenues are recognized shipment and only pct sales commitments hand will ship during the period said its outlook for the year remains unchanged reuter acq nova nva not planning dome dmp bid nova alberta corp chief executive robert blair expressed hope that dome petroleum ltd dmp remains under canadian ownership but added that his company plans bid its own for debt troubled dome plan bid blair told reporters after speech business group although stressed that nova and pct owned husky oil ltd hyo were interested dome extensive western canadian energy holdings but being interested can sometimes different from making bid blair said transcanada pipelines ltd trp yesterday bid billion dlrs for dome but dome said was discontinuing talks with transcanada and was considering proposal from another company and was also talking with another possible buyer both rumored offshore asked reporters dome should remain canadian hands blair replied yes think that still need building much canadian position this industry can and think would best dome ends the hands canadian management said did not know who other possible bidders were blair said that any move put dome financial house order will remove one the general problems attitude that have hung over western canadian industry added however that the energy industry still faced couple tough tough additional years asked about nova prospects blair predicted that nova net profit would rise this year more than mln dlrs from last year net profit mln dlrs due improved product prices and continued cost cutting reuter gas exxon xon extends mid grade unleaded marketing exxon said expanding marketing its mid grade unleaded gasoline along the east coast the exxon corp subsidiary said the changeover the octane unleaded fuel will begin late this month and early next major markets virginia maryland florida and the district columbia the product was introduced new york new jersey delaware connecticut rhode island massachusetts new hampshire and the philadelphia area late last year reuter acq first montauk securities merger deal first montauk securities corp said has reached preliminary merger agreement with mcc presidential inc the company said mcc shareholders would have pct stake the combined company and would receive cash distribution about cts per share reuter earn barnett banks florida inc bbf qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln avg shrs mln mln reuter earn golden west financial corp gdw qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net loans billion billion deposits billion billion assets billion billion note current qtr figures include mln dlr charge resulting from penalties for prepayment fhlb borrowings reuter earn honeywell inc hon qtr oper net oper shr cts cts oper net mln mln sales billion billion note sales includes operations sperry aerospace operating net excludes charge from discontinued operations mln dlrs cts share reuter earn wall street stocks browning ferris bfi the environmental protection agency five mln dlr suit against browning ferris industries inc bfi unit cecos international inc caused the stock drop today analysts said the stock has fallen far today after the news about the suit was released this morning potentially big suit and investors feel that its not good against regulators kenneth leung smith barney analyst said what investors are actually saying selling off some bfi shares the cloud over this industry the threat that the epa will get tough waste management companies willard brown senior analyst for first albany corp investors are saying themselves that waste management companies have that kind exposure regulatory suits brown said brown said the suit were settled for mln dlrs would have impact browning ferris earnings leung said however that browning ferris has adequate cash reserves cover the fine would have impact earnings whatsoever said reuter gold homestake mulls buying ore reserves homestake mining considering acquiring more gold ore reserves addition the company exploration efforts chief executive harry conger told reuters interview are looking more options acquire more reserves rather than just exploration conger said adding the move consider acquisitions represents change the company acquisitions policy conger said all homestake current cash position mln dlrs would available acquire reserves addition homestake has two lines credit totaling mln dlrs which have not been drawn today and could used finance acquisition said conger said anticipates exploration budget will about the same spending mln dlrs conger said exploration for precious metals may slightly higher than last year spending mln dlrs while oil and gas exploration spending will slightly less than last year pct conger said sees homestake gold production about the same gold production ounces however first quarter production from its mclaughlin reserve will about pct lower than last year ounces due start production problems said believes gold prices will hold above the dlr ounce level for the rest company earnings were based average market price for gold dlrs ounce conger said three pct change gold prices represents cts share impact earnings but declined give specific forecast for first quarter due released days for full year results reuter earn chronar corp crnr year loss shr loss cts loss nine cts net loss loss revs mln mln avg shrs note net includes dlrs increased provisions for uncollectible receivables from affiliates lower recoverable value inventories and writeoffs capitalized costs discontinued projects dlr provision for resolution shareholder class action suit and gain dlrs from repurchase manufacturing equipment reuter acq empire empa buy sobeys sysa stock empire ltd said will acquire all shares sobeys stores ltd does not already own under arrangement approved directors both companies holders sobeys class non voting shares and class common shares may elect receive either non voting class empire shares one non voting class empire share and one half eight pct redeemable retractable preferred share the preferred share has par value dlrs and retractable the holder option may reuter earn international research irdv qtr net shr six cts three cts net revs note international research and development corp full name company reuter acq corrected goodyear sell celeron goodyear tire and rubber said expects sell its celeron corp oil and gas subsidiary for about two billion dlrs about two months after the company annual meeting rober mercer goodyear chairman and chief executive officer also said goodyear expects report profit more than one dlr share from continuing operations the first quarter the same year ago period goodyear reported loss cents share from continuing operations mercer said about seven companies are interested buying celeron and they may form consortium buy the unit reuter earn int research development irdv qtr net shr six cts three cts net revs note full name international research and development corp reuter earn bank new england corp qtr shr dlrs cts earn honeywell hon cites cost cutting for gain honeywell inc said gain pct its first quarter operating earnings was the result cost cutting efforts which began last year honeywell reported first quarter operating earnings rose mln dlrs cts share from mln dlrs cts the same period year ago better operating results each the company three sectors offset higher interest costs the first quarter due financing the december acquisition sperry aerospace and the sharing the federal systems subsidiary pre tax profit with honeywell bull inc honeywell said our first quarter results show clear benefits our restructuring chairman edson spencer said all our businesses are producing better results than last year even though not see significant improvement the external market environment said total orders the first quarter were substantially with sharp increase aerospace and defense orders addition those the new sperry aerospace group said domestic industrial automation and control orders were modestly higher than the same period said orders honeywell home and building automation and control business were flat the and international markets said international orders increased with the greatest strength europe honeywell said the company said that year end intends complete the repurchase mln shares remaining five mln share buyback program which began reuter earn mgm communications mgm qtr feb loss shr loss cts net loss mln profit mln revs mln mln six mths shr loss cts net loss mln profit mln revs mln mln note company said year ago per share not given not comparable due certain allocations expenses from the turner entertainment group not made subsequent periods results reflect the tbs merger agreement and operations the company independent agent data includes extraordinary tax loss carryforward gains dlrs qtr and six mths reuter gold homestake mulls buying ore reserves homestake mining considering acquiring more gold ore reserves addition the company exploration efforts chief executive harry conger told reuters interview conger said the move consider acquisitions represents change the company acquistions policy conger said all homestake current cash position mln dlrs would available acquire reserves addition homestake has two lines credit totaling mln dlrs which have not been drawn and could used finance acquisition said conger said anticipates exploration budget will about the same spending mln dlrs conger said exploration for precious metals may slightly higher than last year spending mln dlrs while oil and gas exploration spending will slightly less than last year pct conger said sees homestake gold production about the same gold production ounces however first quarter production from its mclaughlin reserve will about pct lower than last year ounces due start production problems said believes gold prices will hold above the dlr ounce level for the rest reuter earn interfirst corp qtr loss cts profit three cts crude kuwaiti daily says opec credibility stake opec credibility faces fresh scrutiny coming weeks amid signs significant rise supplies oil international oil markets the kuwait daily qabas said article headlined gulf oil sources say middle east production mln bpd warned opec official prices could face fresh pressure from international oil companies seeking cheaper supplies did not say whether only opec both opec and other producers were behind the reported rise mideast output nor did specify the sources were official other contacts the sources said the credibility opec would come under fresh scrutiny from today monday with activity the european and american markets the daily said the sources were quoted saying that after opec had march demonstrated its commitment quota agreements some members had raised output last week gave details dealers oil markets were now waiting see opec was able control production whether the days cheating and producing over quotas has begun anew said the sources warned that maybe the price barrel oil will fall below perhaps dlrs this week next there control supplies said the sources believed return oil below dlrs barrel may open the doors for international oil companies pressure opec over contract prices similar the struggle last march said apparently referring resistance buyers lift from qatar unless gave price discounts more than one official has warned opec would find its solidarity under scrutiny the end april start may said noting demand usually fell with the onset summer reuter earn willamette industries wmtt qtr net shr cts cts net mln sales mln mln note per share figures reflect april five three stock split full year figures not available reuter earn marine midland banks inc qtr dlrs dlrs earn american century act restates earnings american century corp said has restated its earnings for the fiscal year ended june provide additional five mln dlrs its loan loss allowance causing restated year end net loss dlrs instead dlrs the company said the change came after talks with the securities and exchange commission the company judgement considering the five mln dlrs collectible the note its financial statement american century said considered the five mln dlrs collectible making its loan loss provision less than required the company said spite the sec decision still feels its allowance for possible loan losses june was adequate and that has considered all relevant information determine the collectibility the five mln dlr receivable but said continued disagreement with the sec staff would not its best interest reuter earn interfirst corp ifg qtr loss shr loss cts profit three cts net loss mln profit mln assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans billion billion note net includes securities gains mln mln net charge offs totaled mln mln while provisions for loan losses was mln mln non performing assets totaled billion mln reuter earn marine midland banks inc qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans billion billion note qtr includes pre tax provision mln dlrs resulting mln dlrs after tax loss for reserve against interest due medium and long term brazilian loans net investment gains for the qtr were mln dlrs versus gain mln last year first quarter provision for loan losses the quarter was mln dlrs mln dlrs the prior first quarter reuter acq fourth national corp stake acquired fourth national corp said investor group led management has acquired pct stake the company from interfirst corp ifc dallas bank holding firm fourth national spokesman said the deal was for cash but would not disclose the amount fourth national bank holding company with about mln dlrs assets said statement that will continue operate its four subsidiaries and retain its employees reuter acq del webb wbb unit sells joint venture stake del webb corp said its del webb properties corp unit sold one half its interest the acre towne meadows mixed use development near mesa and gilbert ariz klukwan inc alaskan native cooperative terms the sale were not disclosed webb said had one half interest the venture reuter earn bank new england corp bkne qtr shr dlrs cts net mln mln reuter earn canandaigua wine inc cdg qtr net qtr ended feb shr cts cts net revs mln mln six mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter earn national city corp qtr shr primary cts cts orange trade panel rules against brazilian orange juice imports will impose dutues earn florida progress corp fpc qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln avg shrs mln mln months shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs mln note first quarter profits restated down one cent share result previously reported pooling interests merger with mid continent life insurance reuter orange agency rules against brazil orange juice the international trade commission itc voted authorize the commerce department impose anti dumping duties imports brazilian frozen concentrated orange juice the itc voted favor the anti dumping petition its final ruling the matter today itc ruling was consistent with the commerce department final ruling march and activates anti dumping duty pct imports brazilian frozen concentrated orange juice stephen vastagh itc investigator said the itc found that brazilian orange juice imports have injured producers the commerce department had already ruled that the imports were unfairly priced and lowered pct the anti dumping margin that preliminary decision last fall had been set pct vastagh said the government has been requiring bond posted imports brazilian frozen concentrated orange juice since commerce preliminary ruling last october said commerce had ruled that one major brazilian producer cutrale would excluded from the anti dumping duty brazilian imports account for about pct total supply vastagh said between december and november the united states imported the equivalent mln gallons brazilian orange juice worth mln dlrs said currently the united states requires cent per gallon tariff orange juice imports vastagh said itc spokesman said the agency would forward its final report the anti dumping case commerce april commerce then will process the anti dumping order and transmit customs which will liquidate bond entries dating from commerce preliminary ruling and begin assessing duties vastagh said said about brazilian orange juice exporters including three major shippers would affected the decision reuter earn national city bancorp ncbm qtr net shr cts cts net reuter earn oneok inc oke qtr feb net shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln note company reports earnings qtrly and includes the previous mths figures reuter crude texaco says some oil flows established texaco inc has established some key oil supply lines following yesterday court filing for protection under chapter the bankrupcty code said elton yates texaco coordinator worldwide operations several companies say they are willing start trading yates told reuters interview the company last week had stated that number domestic and international oil suppliers were demanding cash for oil shipments and some cases had cut supplies altogether banks had also cut credit lines said court filings manufacturers hanover corp mhc and other banks told texaco would cut off one billion dlr credit line texaco said the court filing chase manhattan corp cmb and morgan jpm morgan guaranty trust asked for deposits cover transactions said the severe conditions with suppliers and creditors arose from unfavorable ruling last monday the supreme court texaco ongoing dispute with pennzoil pzl over the acquisition getty oil the high court said texas courts must consider texaco plea cut its billion dlr bond while appealing the case most the suppliers stayed with long they could elton said but following monday supreme court ruling texaco suppliers began demanding cash and halting supplies wasn until last wednesday that turned into avalanche said supplies were cut the point where could not run the system anywhere near capacity said less than half texaco oil supplies had been jeapordy but the cut off would have produced severe shortages mid may now the situation appears much less severe elton said said that sonatrach the algerian national oil company canceled future deliveries crude oil and natural gas occidental petroleum oxy demanded cash for crude and atlantic richfield arc asked for special safeguards the company also said british petroleum plc last week refused accept order for fuel oil but yates today said big company has fact said they would supplying they had cancelled last week declined identify the company petroleos venezuela the venezuelan state oil company that supplies large portion texaco oil also halted shipments two weeks ago yates said but added that texaco expected meet with the venezuelans later today attempt reestablish that key supply line talks were also expected take place with the algerians added bankruptcy specialists said was likely texaco chapter filing would allow the company secure its credit lines and oil supplies that are key the company business will business usual for texaco said martin klein bankruptcy attorney the new york law firm dreyer and traub creditors are nervous bunch people said but when the dust settles they will reevaluate the situation and will likely extend credit the chapter company but other officials texaco were not immediately available say whether discussions were being held with its banks whether credit lines had been reestablished reuter earn national city bancorp ncbm pct dividend national city bancorp said directors the annual meeting declared pct stock dividend payable may record april reuter earn flagler bank corp flgla qtr net shr cts cts net assets mln mln deposits mln mln loans mln mln note per share amounts adjusted for stock dividends reuter earn national city corp ncty qtr net shr primary cts cts shr diluted cts cts net mln mln avg shrs mln mln assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans billion billion return assets pct pct note net includes securities gains seven cts shr two cts net includes loan loss provision mln mln net charge offs totaled mln brining the loan loss reserve the end the qtr mln reuter earn bank new england bkne post pro forma net bank new england corp reported that pro forma first quarter earnings which reflect its combined operations under pending merger with the conifer group rose mln dlrs cts share from mln dlrs cts share the merger expected close april earlier bank new england reported first quarter net income not taking the merger into account rose dlrs from cts share note first quarter does not include restatement from recent acquisitions after restatement net income was mln dlrs the pro forma first quarter results include nonrecurring merger expenses mln dlrs excluding these expenses growth operating expenses the combined companies was reduced from pct pct during the first quarter loans and leases increased pct billion dlrs and deposits grew pct billion dlrs the provision for possible credit losses was mln dlrs the first quarter compared with mln dlrs last year net charge offs were mln dlrs down from mln dlrs reuter earn burnham american propoerties bapyz qtr qtr ended march net revs six mths net revs note per share data not given not comparable net figures which are before depreciation reuter acq canada wilson has comment dome dmp finance minister michael wilson said was too early comment the tax implications transcanada pipelines ltd billion dlr offer for dome petroleum ltd the specific offer transcanada just the course being made and don have the details all the elements the proposal wilson told the house commons daily question period opposition parties were questioning wilson about possible loss tax revenue the takeover was completed because the large tax credits held dome reuter acq dauphin deposit dapn acquire colonial dauphin deposit corp said signed definitive agreement acquire colonial bancorp inc the agreement calls for colonial merged into dauphin deposit corp and colonial subsidiary new holland farmers national bank merged into dauphin deposit bank and trust the lead bank dauphin deposit corp the company said shareholders colonial will receive between and shares dauphin common stock for each share colonial depending dauphin current market value said dec colonia bancorp had assets mln dlrs dauphin said reuter crude kuwaiti daily says opec credibility stake opec credibility faces fresh scrutiny coming weeks amid signs significant rise supplies oil international oil markets the kuwait daily qabas said article headlined gulf oil sources say middle east production mln bpd and markets witness new surplus amid whispers return cheating days warned opec official prices could face fresh pressure from international oil companies seeking cheaper supplies did not say whether only opec opec and other producers were behind the reported rise mideast output nor did specify the sources were official other contacts the sources said the credibility opec would come under fresh scrutiny from monday with activity the european and american markets said the sources were quoted saying that after opec had march demonstrated its commitment quota agreements some members had raised output last week gave details dealers oil markets were now waiting see opec was able control production whether the days cheating and producing over quotas has begun anew reported the sources warned that maybe the price barrel oil will fall below perhaps dlrs this week next there control supplies the sources believed return oil below dlrs barrel may open the doors for international oil companies pressure opec over contract prices similar the struggle last march said apparently referring resistance buyers lift from qatar unless gave price discounts more than one official has warned opec would find its solidarity under scrutiny the end april start may said noting demand usually fell with the onset summer reuter money-supply treasury balances fed fell april treasury balances the federal reserve fell april billion dlrs from billion dlrs the previous business day the treasury said its latest budget statement balances tax and loan note accounts fell billion dlrs from billion dlrs the same respective days the treasury operating cash balance totaled billion dlrs compared with billion dlrs april reuter crude doe resolves issues with royal dutch unit the energy department said had approved final form agreement that resolves all remaining issues with shell oil over oil pricing and allocation controls that ended under the agreement the royal dutch shell group unit agreed pay mln dlrs settle refiner pricing issues and mln dlrs settle crude oil pricing issues doe said doe said that before making the pact final modified reflect shell compliance with the tertiary incentive program provision not the version published last dec reuter acq cellular communications comm closes buyout cellular communications inc said that unit purchased pct interest the cincinnati non wireline cellular system result the transaction the company said now owns pct the system cincinnati reuter earn athlone industries inc ath sets qtly dividend qtly div cts cts prior pay may record may one reuter earn first federal savings bank ffsd qtr net qtr ended march shr cts net six mths shr dlrs net note bank went public dec reuter earn plantronics inc plx qtr march net shr cts cts net sales mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net sales mln mln note current qtr and nine mth net include dlr gain asset sales prior nine mth net includes mln dlr asset sale gain reuter acq gaf gaf seeks information borg warner bor gaf corp said exploring its options response merrill lynch capital partners billion dlr offer for borg warner corp and has asked for all information that was supplied merrill lynch gaf spokesman said the company asked for the information order enable gaf fully evaluate its alternatives the spokesman also confirmed that gaf did raise its bid dlrs cash from dlrs per share friday merrill offering dlrs per share cash for pct borg warner and package cash and securities for the balance the transaction with merrill lynch will take borg warner private the form leveraged buyout merrill lynch does not intend sell borg warner assets but may forced financing the deal said sources familiar with the transaction borg warner has said its management not participant the transaction but managers will retain their positions the investors involved with merrill include pension funds insurance companies and other institutional investors sources said analysts believe gaf which owns pct borg warner will raise its offer that speculation drove borg warner stock heavy trading gaf closed off reuter crude abu dhabi marketing said not breaching opec pact senior abu dhabi oil official said remarks published today the emirate largest producer the united arab emirates uae was succeeding marketing its crude oil without breaching opec accords khalaf oteiba marketing director the abu dhabi national oil adnoc told the company petroleum community magazine adnoc was also keen keep good customer relations the company will maintain its dialogue with and care for its customers accordance with market conditions and take necessary steps guarantee marketing its production said the present oil marketing policy adnoc based adherence opec decisions december control production and establish new pricing system attempt stabilize the market added opec agreed last december limit production mln bpd and return fixed prices averaging dlrs barrel oteiba said stabilization the oil market the future depended how much discipline opec showed oteiba said last year when world oil prices dropped was adnoc most difficult ever but practical and flexible pricing policy was implemented relate the changed market environment said crude oil sales last year jumped average bpd which pct was exported refined product sales totalled eight mln metric tonnes which pct was exported adnoc marketed total bpd crude oil and mln tonnes refined products reuter earn rhnb corp rhnb qtr net shr cts cts net loans mln mln deposits mln mln assets mln mln reuter acq kraft kra completes acquisition kraft inc said completed the acquisition holleb and foodservice distributor based bensenville ill terms were withheld said holleb sales were about mln dlrs reuter earn first america bank inc fabk qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net avg shrs loans billion billion deposits billion billion assets billion billion reuter earn lomak petroleum inc lomk year loss shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss revs mln mln acg shrs mln mln reuter acq newmont nem stake pont declines newmont mining corp held pont shares about pct those outstanding the end down from the shares pct those outstanding held year earlier newmont annual report said corrects march item show holdings decreased reuter earn bankeast corp benh qtr net shr cts cts net assets billion mln deposits mlnvs mln loans mln mln note results restated reflect acquisition united banks corp reuter earn ust corp utsb qtr net shr cts cts net assets billion billion deposits billion billion note results restated reflect pct stock dividend reuter earn central ill public service cip qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln note full name central illinois public service per share results reflect payment preferred dividends reuter acq thera care inc acquire cushing thera care inc said agreed acquire cushing and associates glendale calif exchange for thera care shares reuter acq interco iss completes lane lane acquisition interco inc said its shareholders and those lane approved merger the two companies special meetings previously announced lane shareholders will receive shares interco common stock for each share lane stock held interco said the merger becomes effective april reuter acq hmo america hmoa agrees acquired hmo america inc said signed letter intent with mount sinai medical center here and affiliate providing that all its common and preferred stock acquired new not for profit company controlled mount sinai and other chicago area not for profit hospitals who may elect participate the acquisition the form the transaction has not yet been determined said according terms hmo shareholders would receive combination cash and debt securities issued the buyer exchange for their outstanding shares common and preferred stock said the amount cash per share has not yet been determined added arrangements for financing have not yet been made and there can assurance that any financing will received hmo said closing the proposed transaction completed expected before november said reuter earn everest and jennings qtly dividend shr five cts five cts prior qtr pay may record april reuter earn group inc psg qtly dividend shr cts cts prior qtr pay may record april reuter acq dome dmp benefits from takeover speculation shares dome petroleum ltd posted their biggest gain months the and canada stock markets foresaw takeover tug war beginning for the debt heavy company dome rose the american stock exchange and gained cents canadian dlrs the toronto stock exchange where was the most active stock rose high dlrs toronto during the day recent months dome has normally moved only few cents per day transcanada pipelines yesterday announced billion dlr canadian billion bid for all dome assets but dome which based calgary alberta said also still talking with two other companies which refuses identify market analysts today said the other two firms are believed foreign oil companies noting that transcanada yesterday stressed that its bid canadian solution the financial difficulties dome petroleum the talk about conoco which controlled dupont and atlantic richfield arc which sold its canadian interest and could getting back said wilf gobert peters and ltd david bryson moss lawson and also noted that british petroleum plc mentioned possible buyer despite dlr per share bid two weeks ago for the percent standard oil srd does not already own calgary based independent analyst james hamilton has said recent reports that amoco corp has also been talks with dome representatives atlantic richfield british petroleum conoco and amoco were not immediately available for comment gobert characterized the market action dome today awfully optimistic given transcanada offer give current dome shareholders stock new subsidiary which valued dlrs canadian per common share under the offer current dome common and preferred shareholders would own pct the new subsidiary which would own and operate all dome former assets transcanada would own pct however bryson said the market may looking the potential for shares publicly traded subsidiary the transcanada offer has quite bit upside potential for dome said gobert said believes the transcanada offer the upper end what thought somebody would pay for dome the transcanada proposal would pay dome creditors billion canadian dlrs billion dlrs with another one billion canadian dlrs mln dlrs available secured creditors the dome subsidiary earns profits above certain level transcanada would not detail the profit level dome currently seeking restructure about six billion canadian dlrs billion dlrs debt which took several years ago when oil prices were high and the company wanted expand there has been speculation that dome assets are capable supporting debt three four billion dlrs that basis the transcanada offer would the upper end that gobert said dome debt troubles have often obscured the fact that major player the canadian oil and gas field holds reserves about mln barrels crude oil and billion cubic feet natural gas the company also owns has interest mln acres oil and gas exploration land the province alberta the heart canada oil industry dome owns has interest total mln acres land across canada the company also has tax credits about billion dlrs canadian billion dlrs reported loss billion dlrs billion dlrs believed the largest ever canadian company reuter interest bill auction rates average pct the treasury said its weekly auction three month bills produced average rate pct with pct rate six month bills these rates compared with averages pct for the three and pct for the six month bills sold last week the bond equivalent yield three month bills was pct accepted bids ranges from pct and pct the bids the high stopout rate were taken for six months the yield was pct and the bids ranged from pct pct with pct the bids accepted the treasury said received billion dlrs bids for the three month bills including billion dlrs non competitive bids from the public accepted billion dlrs bids including billion dlrs from the federal reserve and mln dlrs from foreign and international monetary authorities some billion dlrs bids for six month bills were received including mln dlrs non competitives the treasury accepted billion dlrs including billion dlrs from the fed and billion dlrs from foreign and international authorities the average price for the three month bills was and prices ranged from the average price for the six months bills was and prices ranged from the average yield the three month bills was the highest since pct june the average yield the six month bills was the highest since pct june reuter acq group raises computer memories cmin stake shareholder group led far hills investor natalie koether said raised its stake computer memories inc shares pct the total outstanding from shares pct filing with the securities and exchange commission the group which includes sun equities corp investment firm said bought net computer memories common shares since march prices ranging from three dlrs share for capital appreciation the group had earlier abandoned plans seek control the company and lowered its stake less than five pct reuter acq hong kong firm has pct mcgill mgll industrial equity pacific ltd told the securities and exchange commission has acquired shares mcgill manufacturing inc pct the total outstanding common stock industrial equity which principally owned brierley investments ltd publicly held new zealand firm said bought the stake for mln dlrs for investment purposes said may add its stake sell some all but has plans seek control the company reuter earn montgomery street income mts qtr net shr cts cts net note full name montgomery street income securities inc reuter acq northair nrm opposing norquest nqrlf bid northair mines ltd said would oppose nor quest resources inc earlier reported proposed takeover bid with every means its disposal saying this attempt property grab insult the intelligence our shareholders said nor quest offer swap one nor quest share plus one dlr for two northair shares would seriously dilute northair equity its willa mine british columbia our company sound financial position and production financing can readily arranged when required not looking for partner and were certainly wouldn these guys northair said reuter acq texas air tex unit completes system sale texas air corp eastern airlines said completed its previously announced plan sell its travel agency automation system systemone direct access inc and its computer and communications support unit eal automation systems inc systemone corp wholly owned subsidiary texas air corp reuter earn ncnb corp ncb qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln assets billion billion loans billion billion deposits billion billion reuter acq investment firm has pct blasius blas fidelity international ltd bermuda based investment advisory firm and affiliated investment firm american values iii said they have acquired share blasius industries inc filing with the securities and exchange commission the group said bought the stake which amounts pct the total outstanding common stock acquire equity interest the company for investment purposes the group said may raise its stake sell some all and has plans seek control the company reuter earn isc systems iscs qtr march net shr seven cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter iron-steel slater ssi plans modernization slater industries inc said planned mln dlr modernization its slater steels corp fort wayne specialty bar division indiana said the modernization would involve replacement the existing bar mill with high speed quick change continuous mill the new facility will lower labor and mill costs and enhance product quality and range slater said completion date the new mill was undisclosed reuter acq adams russell aar acquire cable systems adams russell inc said agreed acquire cable television systems serving about customers new york state from sammons communications inc for undisclosed terms adams russell said the systems operate wellsville amity andover scio willing belmont milo jerusalem benton and penn yan reuter earn independent bank corp ibcp qtr net shr cts shr cts net reuter crude gulf canada goc acquires suez oil stake gulf canada corp said acquired pct working interest the gulf suez oil concession for undisclosed terms the company said its agreement with operator conoco hurghada inc and hispanoil covered the acre east hurghada offshore concession said mln dlr four well program was planned for after the acquisition which subject egyptian government approval working interests the hurghada block will conoco hurghada pct hispanoil pct and gulf canada the balance reuter earn convergent technologies cvgt sees qtr loss convergent technologies inc said expects report the first quarter loss more than twice the size the mln dlr loss reported the fourth quarter convergent reported first quarter profit dlrs five cts per share the company said results declined the quarter both its traditional oem business and its business systems group the anticipated loss reflects lower than expected operating margins start costs for new product manufacturing and higher than planned expenses reuter acq interco iss shareholders approve merger interco inc said its shareholders and shareholders the lane lane approved the merger the two companies the merger lane stockholders will receive shares interco common stock for each outstanding share lane common stock interco said reuter earn john harland qtr net shr cts cts net mln revs mln mln reuter earn travelers realty income investors qtr net shr cts cts qtrly div cts cts prior net note dividend payable may shareholders record april reuter acq dotronix inc dotx buy video monitors dotronix inc said agreed principle buy video monitors inc privately held company payment for the acquisition dotronix will issue unregistered shares its common stock notes worth mln dlrs payable over three years and about dlrs cash dotronix said video monitors sales for the fiscal year ended april were mln dlrs dotronix had income dlrs sales mln dlrs for the six months ended dec previously reported reuter earn develcon electronics ltd dlcff qtr loss period ended feb shr loss cts loss cts net loss revs six mths shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss revs reuter crude texaco filing adds uncertainty oil market oil traders said texaco inc filing for protection under the chapter bankruptcy code adding uncertainty already skittish oil market but opinions are divided the impact the market the filing holding wet barrel trading today said one trader everyone talking about assessing their company situations relation texaco added some traders said companies that deal with texaco are concerned about whether they will receive payment supplies under the bankruptcy filing however others were less worried the first paid will the trading community and those connected with texaco the shipping industry one new york trader said texaco doesn get crude supplies can run its refineries its other assets would not worth anything added texaco filed for protection under chapter the bankruptcy code yesterday after failing reach settlement with pennzoil billion dlrs court award for illegally interferring with pennzoil proposed purchase getty oil however others were less worried the first paid will the trading community and those connected with texaco the shipping industry one new york trader said texaco doesn get crude supplies can run its refineries its other assets would not worth anything added texaco filed for protection under chapter the bankruptcy code yesterday after failing reach settlement with pennzoil billion dlrs court award for illegally interferring with pennzoil proposed purchase getty oil there some reluctance trade with texaco but great change said another trader adding that traders are tending toward prudence their dealings with the company traders are assessing whether require cash prepayment letters credit continue trade usual with texaco open line basis said another trader however described today activity business usual adding that traders feel more secure because liens can put texaco assets while bankruptcy traders said there was apparent effect the texaco filing crude futures trading although they said the exchange might lower texaco position limit and require higher margins for texaco trades new york mercantile exchange president rosemary mcfadden declined comment texaco futures trading saying that proprietary information mcfadden did say however that matter procedure possible the exchange can lower allowable position limits increase margin requirements for companies that are financial trouble reuter earn valley national corp vncp qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln assets billion billion deposits billion billion net loans billion billion reuter earn otter tail power ottr sets dividend qtly dividend cts cts pay june record may reuter acq merrill get mln dlr fee borg bor deal merrill lynch and inc mer subsidiary seeking take over borg warner corp said could realize mln dlr fee for its efforts whether not the deal which values billion dlrs succeeds filing with the securities and exchange commission merrill lynch capital partners inc said would receive mln dlr fee from the surviving company for acting dealer manager the merger after the borg warner deal completed but said could also receive break fee mln dlrs the deal fails for reasons which include another party holding more than pct its stock tendering for pct the mln dlr fee among the highest set down any tender offer agreement either compensation for dealer manager services for break the deal merrill lynch capital markets backed group investors organized has launched dlr share tender offer for borg warner for pct its stock the company board has approved the plan which was intended thwart unsolicited offer from gaf corp borg warner also agreed redeem all outstanding series preferred shares and pay off all options dlr share exercise price before the merger effective said merrill lynch said its representatives discussed possible leveraged buyout with borg warner early last december that time merrill lynch told the company would consider dlr share tender offer cash and securities the borg warner board approved said feb said was told the company had decided against buyout but talks were revived after gaf launched its dlr share proposal march merrill lynch said unlike its earlier proposal merrill lynch said borg warner management was asked not take part the new deal and was conditioned upon payment the fees addition its fees merrill lynch said will also get mln dlrs from borg warner cover its expenses the tender offer merrill lynch said would continue operating borg warner subsidiary with its current officers keeping their positions but for flexibility purposes merrill lynch said considering redistributing borg warner assets number subsdiaries entity created carry out the merger all all merrill lynch estimated that there would mln dlrs fees and expenses connected with the deal another mln dlrs will needed repay certain debt borg warner merrill lynch said finance the deal merrill lynch said expects borrow billion dlrs from group banks and sell mln dlrs common stock the new company sell mln dlrs non voting preferred stock the new company merrill lynch and sell mln dlrs subordinated notes merrill lynch and and sell the public mln dlrs subordinated discount debentures gaf has raised its offer dlrs share cash reuter acq chrysler non profit group sells unit chrysler corp chrysler motors corp said its chrysler training corp non profit organization sold the name and assets its motech auto mechanic and body shop schools corp troy mich the sale price was not disclosed under the internal revenue service code proceeds from the sale motech must donated another tax exempt nonprofit organization chrysler did not reveal the name the group that received the proceeds reuter earn potlatch corp pch qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln sales mln mln reuter acq diceon electronics dicn buy symtron corp diceon electronics inc said has entered agreement principal buy closely held symtron corp stock exchange transaction under the pact diceon would exchange shares its stock for all symtron shares the acquisition which subject board approval and definitive agreement expected concluded during may diceon said symtron management would continue running the business which would become wholly owned subsidiary symtron had sales about mln dlrs reuter crude ecuador says will resume limited oil production ecuador will resume limited crude output next week fill storage tanks first step pump oil colombian pipeline may one the state ecuadorean petroleum corp cepe said cepe manager carlos romoleroux told reporters that ecuador would begin pumping unspecified amount crude northeastern jungle oilfields the end next week preparation send the oil through new pipeline link neighbouring colombia oil production ecuador was halted march five when earthquake damaged the country main pipeline from lago agrio the heart the ecuadorean jungle oilfields the pacific port balao will take least until the end july repair the pipeline and return output normal levels the country was pumping between bpd and bpd before the tremor resume limited output the meantime ecuador constructing mile pipeline linkup capable carrying bpd from lago agrio puerto colon the starting point colombia pipeline the pacific port tumaco the original target date resume limited crude output was may eight the scheduled date for the inauguration the lago agrio puerto colon pipeline energy ministry spokesman said reuter cpi new zealand cpi rises pct march quarter new zealand consumer price index cpi which measures the rate inflation rose pct the quarter ended march against pct rise the december quarter and pct rise the march quarter the statistics department said for the months ended march the cpi rose pct against pct months ended december and pct the months ended march said statement nearly half the increase the latest quarterly index was contributed the housing group the department said the december quarter was significantly affected the introduction pct value added goods and services tax gst october added however some gst charges not measured the december quarter influenced the latest march quarterly figure said this because unavoidable lag price information particularly housing used cars and insurance household contents added reuter trade miyazawa sees eventual lower trade deficit japanese finance minister kiichi miyazawa told press conference expects the trade deficit eventually start reflecting economic fundamentals which should influence exchange rates the minister was not referring the trade data released washington later today miyazawa also said told major industrial nations when was washington last week that present exchange rates are not necessarily good had said earlier washington that current exchange rates were within levels implied the february paris currency accord reuter wpi japan march wholesale prices rise pct pct february drop official acq talks set proposed japan telecom merger formal talks have been scheduled yet among companies involved controversial proposal merge two groups seeking enter japan international telecommunications sector official from one group said nothing has been firmed yet said official international digital communications planning inc idc one the groups set last year study competing against kokusai denshin denwa ltd which monopolises the sector britain cable and wireless plc cawl which holds pct share idc has opposed plans merge with rival group international telecom japan inc under the plan backed the post and telecommunications ministry cable and wireless and based pacific telesis international inc would become core companies the merged firm with shares equal those the six major japanese core companies and seats the board directors britain angry over what feels are moves restrict cable and wireless role the sector views the issue test case the idc official declined specify what was holding the talks spokesman for itoh and ltd citt which holds pct idc said meeting may held later this week reuter sugar haitian cane planters protest sugar mill closure about sugar cane planters marched port prince protest against the closure haiti largest sugar mill and second biggest employer the haitian american sugar company closed friday because huge surplus unsold sugar the firm said haiti has been flooded with smuggled refined and unrefined sugar from the dominican republic and refined sugar from miami the closure idled factory workers and left small cane planters with outlet for their cane the protesters blamed finance minister lesly delatour for the closure saying his policies have hurt haitian businesses reuter alum china open first phase large aluminium plant china major aluminium importer will open the first phase its biggest aluminium plant october the china daily said the first phase the plant located qinghai province will have annual capacity tonnes ingots half the capacity the finished plant will turn out tonnes the paper said but gave more details construction the mln yuan plant began april customs figures show china imported tonnes aluminium and alloy down from reuter money-fx bank japan intervening support dollar against yen dealers money-supply japan march money supply rises pct japan broadly defined money supply average plus certificate deposits rose preliminary pct march from year earlier compared with pct rise february the bank japan said the seasonally adjusted march average plus cds rose pct from february when rose identical pct from month earlier said unadjusted plus cds stood average billion yen march compared with billion february reuter bop south korea change policies avert trade war south korea has decided major changes its trade investment and finance policies aimed reducing the growth its balance payments surplus and avoiding trade war with the united states deputy prime minister kim mahn said kim told reporters the excessively fast rise exports could make south korea too reliant exports increase nflation and produce trade friction the policy shift which means abandoning seoul goal rapidly reducing its foreign debt was worked out series ministerial meetings kim who also economic planning minister said the current account surplus previously expected exceed eight billion dlrs this year would held about five billion dlrs increasing imports accelerating market liberalisation and rationalising exports said seoul would try limit its current account surplus around five billion dlrs year for the next few years although trade volume would continue grow this will gradually reduce the ratio the surplus gnp gross national product from the current five pct level three pct added koo bon yong aide kim said south korea foreign debt had been expected fall below billion dlrs the end against the initial forecast billion and billion dlrs end but now with the policy changes the debt expected remain above billion dlrs although could still lower than the originally projected billion dlrs said the policy change was announced two days before the scheduled arrival commerce secretary malcolm baldrige for talks with trade minister rha woong bae south korea under pressure reduce its bilateral trade surplus which rose billion dlrs last year from billion dlrs kim said the policy changes were also prompted the swing south korea current account surplus billion dlrs the first quarter from deficit mln dlrs the same period first quarter exports rose pct billion dlrs the government would make foreign currency loans worth billion dlrs firms willing import capital goods raw materials and equipment preferably from the said the foreign currency based loans which carry interest points above libor london interbank offered rate are considerable incentives given increase imports koo said koo said the loans would repayable foreign currency means they could become interest free loans the korean currency continues rise value said said the south korean won would revalued against the dollar gradually but added not believe rapid one shot changes the value the won the won fixed the dollar today has risen six pct against the dollar since the beginning reuter acq bank china buys share luxembourg company state owned bank china has bought three five pct share baii holding financial institution registered luxembourg the china daily business weekly said said the institution pct owned arab interests and has set wholly owned commercial banking branch hong kong but gave more details reuter crude saudi arabia wants increase oil sales japan saudi arabia hopes increase the volume its oil exports japan through expanding bilateral trade saudi arabian interior minister naif bin abdul aziz said told tokyo reception his country hopes raise crude and products exports japan earlier levels but did not elaborate promote trade saudi arabia inviting japanese industries business there said japanese firms now have long term contracts import total barrels per day saudi crude reuter lei south korea leading indicators rise february south korea index leading indicators rose pct base february after pct rise january stand pct higher than feburary provisional economic planning board figures show the index based indicators which include export values letters credit received warehouse stocks and money supply figures and the composite stock exchange index reuter money-fx japan ldp call for flexible monetary policies japan ruling liberal democratic party ldp will call for adequate and flexible management the nation monetary polices its plan expand domestic demand senior ldp official told reuters junichiro koizumi the head the ldp committee working out the plan said the phrase should not taken implying immediate cut japan pct discount rate the ldp generally believes that there need for further discount rate cut the moment said but koizumi said the ldp does not rule out rate cut necessary the future bank japan governor satoshi sumita told press conference wednesday that the central bank does not have any intention easing credit conditions reuter wpi india annual inflation rate drops marginally the finance ministry said india wholesale price linked inflation rate dropped marginally pct all fiscal ended march from pct and pct the average wholesale price related inflation stood pct march this year against pct year ago the ministry said statement said wholesale prices cement textiles and jute fell compared with the previous year but milk cereals mainly wheat and rice fruits and vegetables edible oils tobacco and fertilisers were costlier reuter trade japan details plan stave off trade problems japan liberal democratic party ldp has drawn detailed plan calling for large tax cuts and increase government purchases foreign goods the head the committee working out the plan junichiro koizumi said the plan will also urge the government double official development assistance billion dlrs within five years instead seven the government had promised senior ldp officials said press conference ldp executive council chairman shintaro abe will explain the plan officials when visits the april abe visit prepare for prime minister yasuhiro nakasone talks with president ronald reagan later this month koizumi said the ldp plan will not specify the size the tax cut the amount domestic demand stimulated however top ldp executives will work out figures that abe will able offer specifics officials the proposed increase procurement foreign goods the government will probably include the purchase super computers ldp officials said specific trade problems with other nations and will encourage flows funds developing countries the officials said the ldp expects the measures prop the economy and lessen trade problems with the they added the basic ideas the ldp plan were presented and welcomed monetary authorities the major industrial nations washington last week they said the ldp plan will form the basis for the last several packages stimulate japanese domestic demand and will unveiled the government late may reuter rubber thai venture will sell rubber china teck soon ltd major thai rubber exporter has formed joint venture with state owned chinese international economic and technology development corp produce tonnes sheet rubber annually for export the chinese auto industry teck soon general manager chit surivitchpan said chit said new joint venture company will have registered capital four mln dlrs china imported tonnes thai sheet rubber last year and tonnes reuter trade japan farm reform key trimming trade surplus basic reform japan protected farm sector key shifting its economy away from export domestic led growth vital step trim its trade surplus securities analysts said the farm sector which protected import tariffs and quotas propped subsidies and price supports and sheltered the tax system has ample room for change they said economic terms reform would plus said christopher chew brokerage firm james capel and the ultimate cost the existing system food prices twice those europe and two three times those the the analysts said spending food accounts for about one quarter the average household budget and roughly pct the gross national product gnp according study chew reducing these prices could increase household spending power five pct his study said the money could spent products which would have more direct impact boosting domestic growth added there lot slack government official tokyo said all that money could spent something else direct central government subsidies the farm sector amount some five billion dlrs per year independent estimates put total subsidies from all sources high billion and the analysts said much that money wasted changing tax laws encourage city residents who only farm weekends put their land for sale for residential development would also give boost domestic spending economists said housing construction the key strategic variable the expansion domestic demand wrote chihiro nakajima professor kyoto gakuen university japanese business groups are calling for staged farm reform shift some the burden trade friction and economic restructuring away from the manufacturing sector and onto the farm sector employers groups also want change you really want expand domestic demand the way not raise wages recklessly but reduce commodity prices bumpei otsuki president the japan federation employers associations told recent press conference external pressures are rising the and europe seek removal tariffs and quotas help reduce their trade deficits with japan but vested japanese interests opposed change remain well entrenched dimming prospects for quick reform analysts said although the full time farm population falling and there are signs the ldp paying more attention urban constituencies the ruling party remains heavily dependent farm votes the rural areas one rural vote worth several city votes due the pattern constituency borders the ldp already political trouble over its tax reform plan and does not want raise another sticky issue soon the analysts said consumer groups are politically weak and tend accept the traditional view that higher prices are small fee pay for national food security they said powerful agricultural cooperatives are fiercely opposed import liberalisation but are more flexible about reforms aimed stepping productivity they said reform when comes will response specific pressure rather than all embracing program said chew reuter money-supply japan sees higher money supply growth this quarter the bank japan said forecast japan broadly defined money supply average plus certificates deposit cds will rise about nine pct the current april june quarter against pct year earlier unadjusted plus cds rose preliminary pct january march compared with nine pct rise year earlier said the bank said the forecast rise due increase floating deposits due recent low interest rates and shift private banks from the bank japan billion yen the recently privatised japanese railways reuter cpi oecd consumer prices rise february consumer prices the countries the organisation for economic cooperation and development oecd rose pct february and inflation rose pct year year the oecd said communique the oecd attributed the rise consumer prices the effects the february drop energy prices working their way out the index the february increase was less than janauary pct increase but slightly above the average for the later months inflation the western industrialised nations january was revised pct year year retail energy prices rose pct less than january pct increase energy prices for consumers were still nine pct lower than year earlier said consumer prices excluding food and energy rose pct february line with previous months although there has been some acceleration noticeable the and britain among the leading seven industrial countries consumer price inflation was highest italy pct followed canada pct britain pct france pct the pct and west germany and japan with negative rates pct and pct respectively reuter trade japan details plan stave off trade problems japan liberal democratic party ldp has drawn detailed plan calling for large tax cuts and increase government purchases foreign goods the head the committee working out the plan junichiro koizumi said the plan will also urge the government double official development assistance billion dlrs within five years instead seven the government had promised senior ldp officials said press conference ldp executive council chairman shintaro abe will explain the plan officials when visits the april abe visit prepare for prime minister yasuhiro nakasone talks with president ronald reagan later this month koizumi said the ldp plan will not specify the size the tax cut the amount domestic demand stimulated however top ldp executives will work out figures that abe will able offer specifics officials the proposed increase procurement foreign goods the government will probably include the purchase super computers ldp officials said according the plan japan will also strive solve specific trade problems with other nations and will encourage flows funds developing countries the officials said the ldp expects the measures prop the economy and lessen trade problems with the they added the basic ideas the ldp plan were presented and welcomed monetary authorities the major industrial nations washington last week they said the ldp plan will form the basis for the last several packages stimulate japanese domestic demand and will unveiled the government late may reuter trade baldrige launch far east trade drive commerce secretary malcolm baldrige leaves saturday day trip the far east help spur trade and improve business relations with china south korea and the philippines officials say baldrige will also stop hong kong meet british officials and local and hong kong businessmen the last year had major deficits with three its asian trading partners south korea billion dlrs hong kong billion and china billion the deficit with the philippines was mln dlrs baldrige will meet south korean president chun doo hwan and trade minister rha woong bae monday discuss opening south korean markets more goods baldrige will peking from april will meet zheng tuobin minister for foreign economic relations and trade attend meeting the china joint commission commerce and trade and address management and training organisation however officials said chief purpose baldrige visit would discuss relaxed rules for transferring modern technology chinese industries hong kong baldrige will hold meetings april with governor david wilson and trade and industry secretary eric well addressing the american chamber commerce officials said baldrige will meet philippines president corazon aquino april show continued support for her government and discuss steps could take improve the atmosphere for american investment will also will meet finance secretary jaime ongpin and trade and industry secretary jose concepcion reuter earn federated guaranty fdgc sets stock split federated guaranty corp said its board declared two for one stock split and raised the quarterly dividend cts per share post split from six cts both payable june one record may the company said shareholders the annual meeting approved increase authorized common shares mln from mln and name change alfa corp said the name change should take effect next week along with nasdaq ticker symbol change alfa reuter trade reagan announce decision japan sanctions president reagan today announce decision tough new tariffs japanese exports retaliate for what calls japan failure end its unfair practices semiconductor trade the pct tariffs are imposed mln dlrs japanese goods recommended for curbs special panel experts headed the trade representative office reagan announced last march would impose the tariffs certain goods taken from list that ranged from computors and television sets power tools and photographic film the panel this week winnowed through the list the some products and sent their recommendations yesterday santa barbara where reagan vacationing his march annoucement reagan said committed full enforcement our trade agreements designed provide american industry with free and fair trade opportunities added the tariffs would lifted once japan honored the pact signed last year end dumping semiconductors world markets and opened its home market products officials said japan had done nothing since the march announcement alter reagan plan invoke the sanctions white house spokesman marlin fitzwater said yesterday not want trade war but feel that this the kind action that requires meaningful action reagan move follows steadily rising trade deicits with last year hitting record billion about one third the deficit trade with japan congress weighing trade bill force the president retaliate certain cases unfair trade practices has opposed the legislation saying would prevent negotiated solutions trade disputes and any case that existing law was adqeuate end unfair trade practices trade experts say his tough action against the japanese was much penalize the japanese show congress did not need any new trade legislation the japanese have complained that they have been honoring the semiconductor pact but that would take time before the results showed officials however have said their monitoring japanese semiconductor shipments east asian countries and western europe showed letup the dumping and that the japanese home markets remained shut american exports japan has said that reagan imposed the tariffs would file complaint with the general agreement tariff and trade gatt said hoped gatt would find the retaliation had violated the regulations the global trading group and would approve compensation japanese retaliation officials have said they did not think japan would retaliate because had too much lose any trade war with the united states reuter earn union planters corp upcm qtr net shr cts dlrs qtly div cts cts prior net avg shrs note dividend pay may record may one reuter acq union planters upcm acquisitions approved union planters corp said has received regulatory approvals for its previously announced acquisitions borc financial corp and first citizens bank hohenwald and approval its acquisition merchants state holding expected within days all are completed during the second quarter said reuter earn pioneer savings bank inc psbn qtr net march end shr cts cts net avg shrs half shr dlrs dlrs net avg shrs reuter earn management science america inc msai qtr shr loss cts loss two cts net loss loss revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln note net includes tax credits dlrs dlrs reuter earn general housewares corp ghw qtr net shr two cts one net sales mln mln note net includes gain dlrs from change pension accounting reuter earn oakite products inc okt qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln reuter earn bha group inc bhag qtr march net shr cts cts net sales avg shrs half shr cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs reuter earn transportation services inc ptsi net qtr shr cts cts net revs mln avg shrs reuter earn first federal bank ffbn qtr march net shr cts cts net total income half shr dlrs dlrs net total income mln mln reuter earn global natural resources inc gnr qtr loss oper shr loss five cts loss nil ope net loss loss revs mln avg shrs mln mln year oper shr profit cts loss one oper net profit loss revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln note net excludes extraordinary tax charges dlrs dlrs quarter and credits dlrs dlrs year reuter earn first interstate iowa inc fiia qtr shr profit two cts loss two cts net profit loss note pretax net profit dlrs loss dlrs charge against earnings for loan losses dlrs dlrs and net chargeoffs dlrs dlrs reuter earn double eagle petroleum and mining dblb qtr feb shr loss two cts loss eight cts net loss loss revs half shr loss cts loss eight cts net loss loss revs reuter earn tel international inc qtr dec loss shr loss two cts profit cts net loss profit sales mln half shr loss cts loss seven cts net loss loss sales mln mln reuter earn electromagnetic sciences inc elmg qtr shr cts cts net sales mln backlog mln mln reuter earn cape cod bank and trust ccbt qtr net shr cts cts shr diluted cts cts net avg shrs avg shrs diluted reuter acq holiday corp hia sells stake venture residence inn corp said has agreed buy holiday corp out their equaly owned joint venture for mln dlrs with closing expected within the next few weeks the all suite residence inn system which geated extended stays currently has open franchised company owned hotels nationwide and another construction development reuter earn cadnetix corp cadx qtr march net oper shr cts five cts oper net sales mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths oper shr cts cts oper net sales mln mln avg shrs mln mln note prior year net excludes extraordinary credits dlrs quarter and dlrs nine mths reuter earn bush industries inc bsh qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln note share adjusted for three for two stock split february reuter earn plasti line inc sign qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln reuter earn endata inc data qtr net oper shr cts cts oper net revs note net excludes dlr tax credit reuter earn roto rooter inc roto qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln reuter earn birdsboro corp qtr loss shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss sales year shr loss dlrs loss cts net loss mln loss sales mln mln note year net includes pretax realized loss secureity transaction dlrs net includes tax credits dlrs dlrs quarter and dlrs dlrs year net both periods includes gain dlrs from pension plan termination reuter earn dynamics research corp drco qtr march shr cts cts net revs mln mln note share adjusted for five for four stock split january reuter earn martin processing inc mpi qtr net oper shr cts cts oper net sales mln mln note net excludes dlr gain from discontinued machinery division reuter earn bush industries bsh sees higher year results bush industries inc said expects higher earnings and sales for partly due efficiencies manufacturing that have improved its margins the company reported first quarter earnings dlrs from dlrs year before sales mln dlrs from mln dlrs for all last year earned dlrs sales mln dlrs reuter earn bildner and sons inc jbil year jan net shr cts three cts net sales mln mln avg shrs note net includes dlr tax credit reuter earn bildner jbil sees improved results bildner and sons inc said expects improved earnings and sales the current fiscal year the company reported earnings for the year ended january dlrsl from dlrs year before sales mln dlrs from mln dlrs bildner also said plans offer mln dlrs eurodollar convertible subordinated debentures due through underwriters led painewebber group inc pwj and kidder peabody and inc with proceeds used finance expansion and reduce debt reuter acq amoco may buy dome dmp report says amoco corp apparently the successful bidder for debt laden dome petroleum ltd according published report the toronto globe and mail quoting sources close the negotiations today said dome broke off talks last night with transcanada pipelines ltd which last week announced billion canadian dlr offer for all dome assets financial details about the amoco offer were available and dome spokesman would neither confirm nor deny that amoco had emerged the winner the newspaper said however the dome spokesman indicated that the sale dome could finalized and announced this weekend the globe and mail said representatives amoco were not immediately available for comment last sunday when transcanada announced its offer dome said was also talks with two other companies but refused identify them since then market speculation has centered amoco and exxon corp xon pct owned imperial oil ltd subsidiary canada british petroleum plc and royal dutch shell group have also been mentioned possible suitors for dome the past two days dome management has been pressured the federal government select the offer from transcanada the only canadian company the bidding prime minister brian mulroney government appears want avoid dome sale foreign company since the government gave dome hundreds millions dollars tax breaks encourage oil and gas exploration the arctic analysts and officials have said purchase transcanada would least likely run afoul canadian antitrust laws however transcanada asking for tax concessions from federal government that trying hold its deficit below billion canadian dlrs analysts have said takeover amoco imperial would also give foreign oil company dominant position canada oil industry imperial oil already canada largest energy company with revenues billion canadian dlrs chicago based amoco had revenues billion dlrs its amoco canada petroleum subsidiary pct owned amoco corp reuter earn gorman rupp grc sets quarterly qtly div cts cts prior pay june record may eight reuter earn lilly industrial coatings inc licia payout qtly div cts cts prior pay july one record june reuter earn grumman corp payout qtly div cts cts prior pay may record may eight reuter earn ambrit inc abi payout qtly div two cts two cts prior pay may record may eight reuter earn oneok inc oke payout qtly div cts cts prior pay may record april reuter earn diamond shamrock offshore partners dsp payout qtly div cts cts prior pay june eight record may eight reuter ipi french industrial production rises february french industrial production rose seasonally adjusted three pct february after unrevised pct fall january the national statistics institute insee said the figure which excludes construction and public works put the february index base after january insee changed its base year from last month reuter earn rlc corp rlc qtr march net shr loss nil profit six cts net loss profit revs mln mln half shr loss two cts profit cts net loss profit revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln note current quarter net includes dlr tax credit current half net includes reversal dlrs investment tax credits reuter earn fresh juice inc frsh qtr feb net shr loss five cts net loss sales note company began opeations april reuter acq french government sets terms bimp sale the french finance ministry said today public flotation offer opening this coming tuesday for pct the capital banque industrielle mobiliere privee bimp has been set francs per share the offer closes next friday the ministry said statement pct the bank capital had been sold solid core large investors including insurance companies and michelin subsidiary spika for pct the public offer price ten pct the shares have been reserved for employees who get five pct discount increased pct they keep the shares for two years employees also get one free share for each one bought the shares are held for least one year small investors would receive one free share for every bought with upper limit five free shares per investor and condition the shares are held for least months the state owned capital bimp comprises mln shares the bank being sold the public part sweeping programme privatise state owned groups over five years separate statement the ministry said last week privatisation offer mln shares banque batiment des travaux publics btp was times oversubscribed reuter interest budget chief miller warns fed interest rates white house budget chief james miller said was concerned that the federal reserve might overreact the decline the value the dollar raising interest rates move said could cause recession next year our greatest danger overreaction miller told newspaper reporters yesterday concerned about the fed overreaction concerned about what see recent data showing substantial fall the money supply edwin dale miller spokesman said the remarks published the new york times today were accurate miller said was concerned the fed might overreact signals rising inflation tightening credit move said could have political consequences the white house budget chief appeared referring the effect economic slowdown could have the presidential and congressional elections next year fear that get into recession are deep soup and there question about said miller said economic slowdown could lead lower tax revenues and widening the budget deficit miller remarks reflected concern that the central bank might feel compelled tighten credit means bolstering the dollar both treasury secretary james baker and federal reserve board chairman paul volcker recently have warned that further declines the value the dollar could jeopardize global growth prospects officials have urged japan and west germany stimulate economic growth their countries move that could boost exports and relieve trade protectionist pressures the united states reuter ipi bank france sees pickup industrial activity the bank france said its latest monthly report the french economy expected pickup industrial production registered march gather steam over the next few months without giving figures the report said last month rise partly linked efforts catch with production lost earlier this year through industrial action was due mainly firming domestic demand new progress expected all main sectors except capital goods where production will remain its present level the report added the upbeat report comes the wake grim march trade balance figures which showed deficit industrial trade for the first time since june while the automobile industry remained unchanged from previously boosted levels consumer goods production grew and was expected accelerate except the area domestic appliances semi finished goods showed clear increase all sectors construction and civil engineering boosted rise public works also improved while retail trade sales all sectors continued slow reuter wpi italian wholesale prices pct february italy wholesale price index rose pct month month february after increasing pct january the national statistics institute istat said the index base equals registered february compared with january the february figure represents decline pct compared with february after year year decline january pct reuter trade yeutter says japanese curb all but certain trade representative clayton yeutter said was all but certain president reagan would ahead today and impose curbs japanese exports planned asked television interview what the chance was for reagan cancel the scheduled pct tariffs japanese electronic exports said slim none reagan announced march would impose the tariffs retaliate for japan failure honor agreement end dumping computer semiconductors world markets less than cost and open its home markets products yeutter the nbc program today said the united states did not want terminate the agreement and would drop the tariffs once japan began fulfilling the agreement said japanese negotiators last week told officials they were honoring the pact but yeutter said would take time monitor any compliance asked how long that would take said want see pattern compliance minimum would say that would take few weeks yeutter said did not think there would much consumer impact the tariffs mln dlrs worth japanese goods because the items selected are also readily available from other countries and manufacturers said did not think japan would retaliate seems not the interests either country get escalating conflict the japanese understand that full well yeutter said added japan might challenge the tariffs the general agreement tariffs and trade gatt but that more paper kind exercise and don really expect see any adverse impact trade yeutter also said did not see any way the semiconductor issue could resolved before during washington visit later this month japanese prime minister yasuhiro nakasone said hoped the visit which have trade major issue would productive but don see any practical way resolve this particular dispute before during his visit reuter earn church fried chicken inc chu qtr net shr one cts qtly div cts cts prior net revs mln mln note dividend pay may record may one reuter earn dominion resources inc qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs mln mln reuter alum ford developing aluminum car frame ford motor said developing aluminum space frame for its probe concept car using extruded stretch formed aluminum that could lead new techniques for building production cars the future said the frame would reduce vehicle weight and cost while maintaining structural integrity and crashworthiness the frame has fewer parts than conventional steel frames ford said the company said the lighter weight would allow smaller powertrains and suspensions further reducing weight and improving fuel economy ford said addition extrusion dies cost dlrs each compared with hundreds thousands dollars for steel stamping dies and using extruded aluminum the number welds car could reduced about from over reuter trade commerce trade report omits freight costs the commerce department said that insurance and freight costs for imported goods billion dlrs were included the february trade deficit billion dlrs reported tuesday the department required law wait hours after the initial trade report issue second report customs value basis which eliminates the freight and insurance charges from the cost imports private sector economists emphasized that the commerce department was not revising down the deficit billion dlrs but simply presenting the figures different basis report the washington post caused stir the foreign exchanges today because gave the impression dealers said that the underlying trade deficit for february had been revised downward the commerce department would like have the law changed permit report both sets figures simultaneously feeling the second one better report but there legislation that requires delay two days said robert ortner commerce undersecretary for economic affairs but this has been going for long time and one pays any attention the second figure the billion dlr february trade deficit compared with revised january deficit billion dlrs the law requiring hour delay publishing the monthly trade figure excluding freight and insurance was passed reportedly the feeling was the first figure which includes customs freight and insurance allowed better comparison with other countries that reported their trade balances the same basis the second figure which would always lower deducting freight and insurance presents the deficit more favorable light for the reagan administration ortner said would like see the law changed eliminate the hour delay reporting the two figures considering said one those dinosaur laws and think time has come the second figure which would always lower deducting freight and insurance presents the deficit more favorable light for the reagan administration ortner said would like see the law changed eliminate the hour delay reporting the two figures considering said one those dinosaur laws and think its time has come reuter acq hong kong firm ups calmat czm stake pct industrial equity pacific ltd hong kong investment firm said raised its stake calmat shares pct the total outstanding common stock from shares pct filing with the securities and exchange commission industrial equity which principally owned brierley investments ltd publicly held new zealand company said bought calmat common shares between april and for total mln dlrs reuter acq foundation cuts wurlitzer wur stake the farny wurlitzer foundation told the securities and exchange commission cut its stake wurlitzer shares pct the total outstanding common stock from shares pct the foundation said sold wurlitzer common shares between march and prices ranging from dlrs share long the foundation stake wurlitzer below five pct not required report further dealings has the company common stock reuter acq investment firms raise orient express oeh stake two affiliated investment firms and funds they control told the securities and exchange commission they raised their orient express hotels inc stake shares pct the total from pct the firms boston based fmr corp and bermuda based fidelity international ltd said they bought combined orient express common shares from march april prices ranging from dlrs each reuter acq hospital corp hca board against buyout bid hospital corp america said its management believes the dlr per share acquisition offer received from charles miller richard ragsdale and richard scott not the best interest shareholders and does not plan meet with the individuals the company said its board considered information the three and their bid and given the lack any demonstrated ability the part these individuals consummate acquisition this magnitude the board decided was not necessary take any action their proposal this time hospital corp said the benefits the company ongoing repositioning program are already being realized and will continue explore appropriate alternatives for enhancing shareholder value reuter earn calny inc clny sets quarterly qtly div four cts four cts prior pay may record april reuter earn rowan rdc sees substantial losses for year rowan cos inc said expects incur substantial losses despite expected improvement drilling levels the gulf mexico and the north sea the offshore and onshore drilling company today reported first quarter loss mln dlrs after mln dlr tax credit compared with year earlier loss dlrs after tax credit dlrs for all rowan lost mln dlrs after mln dlr tax credit reuter earn rowan cos inc rdc qtr loss shr loss cts loss cts net loss mln loss revs mln mln note net includes tax credits mln dlrs dlrs reuter earn care enterprises cre qtr loss oper shr loss cts profit cts oper net loss profit revs mln mln avg shrs mln year oper shr loss cts profit cts oper net loss profit revs mln mln avg shrs note quarter net includes dlr tax credit net excludes charges from debt restructuring dlrs quarter and dlrs year reuter earn lance inc lnce qtr net shr cts cts qtly div cts cts prior net sales mln mln note pay may record may one reuter earn fhlbb reports thrift results fourth quarter the federal home loan bank board said its insured savings and loan associations thrifts that made profit the fourth quarter reported moderate increases net earnings said that the pct the thrifts reporting profits had net after tax income billion dlrs from billion dlrs earned pct the profitable industry the third quarter for whole the profitable firms had net income billion dlrs from billion dlrs said the pct the industry that made profit the fourth quarter had losses billion dlrs the figure for the unprofitable firms was from billion dlrs the third quarter said over the year these firms had total losses billion dlrs from billion dlrs reuter ipi soviet industrial output first quarter soviet industrial output the first quarter this year grew pct compared with the first three months tass news agency reported regular meeting the politburo heard that march industry achieved the average daily rate needed fulfil annual targets quarterly plans were exceeded the fuel and power sector and agriculture where output grew pct compared with the same period last year said plans were not fulfilled the engineering and building ministries the chemical and timber sectors rail transport and light industry added reuter money-fx white house says monetary policy correct the white house distancing itself from remarks the administration budget chief said the federal reserve current course monetary policy was appropriate the administration feels that the current course monetary policy appropriate white house spokesman marlin fitwater said fitzwater said the administration did not endorse remarks white house budget chief james miller who said was concerned the federal reserve might overreact the decline the value the dollar raising interest rates more money-supply business loans fall billion dlrs business loans the books major banks excluding acceptances fell billion dlrs billion dlrs the week ended april the federal reserve board said the fed said that business loans including acceptances fell billion dlrs billion dlrs reuter earn communications satellite corp qtr net shr cts cts div cts cts prior net mln mln note qtr net after mln dlr reserve for potential refund result the federal communications commission continuing rate investigation company said believes any refunds may have make would not materially affect its financial position reuter earn american management systems amsy qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs note shr reflects for stock split june reuter earn hytek microsystems inc htek qtr loss shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss revs avg shrs reuter earn tvi corp tvie year loss shr loss cts profit two cts net loss profit revs reuter earn riggs national corp rigs qtr net shr cts dlrs net avg shrs assets billion billion loans billion billion deposits billion billion note gain from sale securities mln mln loan loss provision dlrs mln reuter earn northwest natural gas nwng qtr net shr dlrs dlrs div cts cts prior net revs mln mln avg shrs reuter acq kentucky central kenca unit sells stations kentucky central life insurance said its bluegrass broadcasting inc subsidiary has agreed sell two orlando fla radio stations communications inc for mln dlrs subject fcc approval reuter earn kimbark oil and gas kimb year loss shr loss cts loss dlrs net loss loss reuter earn southern national corp snat qtr net shr cts cts net reuter acq first bank system fbs sells lewiston bank first bank system said has agreeed sell its first bank lewiston subsidiary lewiston mont two local bankers for undisclosed terms first bank lewiston has assets mln dlrs the end the first quarter reuter acq icn icn has five pct syncor scor icn pharmaceuticals inc told the securities and exchange commission has acquired shares syncor international corp pct the total outstanding common stock icn said bought the stake for mln dlrs investment and has plans seek control the company participate the management reuter acq dixons exploring sale cyclops cyl unit dixons group plc dxns the british concern that recently acquired operational control cyclops corp said exploring the possibility selling the cyclops subsidiary busy beaver building centers inc filing with the securities and exchange commission dixons said has determined explore the possibility the sale following its preliminary review the business and activities cyclops busy beaver building centers pittsburgh lumber and building materials company dixons won control cyclops with dlr share tender offer reuter trade japanese tariffs seen worldwide warning the tough trade sanctions president reagan imposed japanese exports are not only shot across japan bow but also sign reagan will attack unfair trade practices worldwide officials said but robert crandall trade specialist brookings institution think tank said shot across their bow can often result shot our stern said left the united states open retaliation the officials said the pct tariffs reagan ordered mln dlrs worth japanese goods will also show congress that tough pro trade stand can taken under existing laws and new protectionist legislation needed the past year tough trade action had been taken against the european community over corn and sorghum taiwan over beer and wine south korea over counterfeiting copyrights patents and trademarkets and japan tobacco white house spokesman marlin fitzwater told reporters the tariffs from five pct should seen serious signal other nations the need for fair trade practices reagan said imposed the sanctions certain computers television sets and some hand tools because japan did not honor agreement end dumping semiconductors world markets less than cost and open its markets products the tariffs were placed items which were available from other sources there would little effect the american consumer fitzwater said reagan has come under heavy pressure take tougher action especially against japan end global unfair trade practices and reverse the growing trade deficit the alternative was that did not congress would the trade gap last year was record billion dlrs and continues rise with japan accounting for about one third america overall deficit but there are other two way deficits with canada west germany taiwan and south korea and reagan officials said the president ready fight them all reagan said announcing the sanctions today that regret that these actions are necessary but that the health and vitality the semiconductor industry was essential american competitiveness world markets cannot allow jeopardized unfair trading practices reagan added the statement from his california vacation home santa barbara said the tariffs would remain force until japan abided the agreement officials say the action today will show congress which about write trade bill does not like that already has the tools needed fight unfair trade the white house aide said the tariff action wasn done appease congress but because there was unfair trade practice the aide added however another plane was example how the administration uses the trade law fight unfair practices that not necessary make major overall our trade laws but the analyst crandall said the tariff action was not the best interests the united states and that negotiations should have been pursued resolve the issue very dangerous down the retaliatory route said because leads more retaliation and restrictions trade crandall said the administration doing this for its political impact across the country and therefore its impact congress said don think makes lot sense but other analysts said made little difference whether the tariffs were aimed trading partners congress and that the main point was that the trading partners were notice that retaliation was weapon reagan was ready use spokesman fitzwater said don want trade war but the imposition sanctions showed the united states would act when had evidence that trade pacts were being violated crandall said the administration doing this for its political impact across the country and therefore its impact congress said don think makes lot sense but other analysts said made little difference whether the tariffs were aimed trading partners congress and that the main point was that the trading partners were notice that retaliation was weapon reagan was ready use spokesman fitzwater said don want trade war but the imposition sanctions showed the united states would act when had evidence that trade pacts were being violated reuter trade yeutter almost sure japan will not retaliate trade representative clayton yeutter said was almost sure japan would not retaliate against tariffs president reagan slapped mln dlrs japanese electronic goods today say plus pct sure that the tariffs will not provoke retaliation american products yeutter told cable news network japan has far too much stake this relationship with the united states seriously entertain thoughts retaliation yeutter said earlier today reagan imposed pct tariffs range japanese goods retaliation for japan alleged violation bilateral pact governing semiconductor trade yeutter did say that farm products would targeted tokyo decided hit back they japan were retaliate would probably something like american agricultural products said but really think the chances that happening are between slim and none added reuter trade japan will not retaliate now against tariffs japan does not plan take immediate retaliatory action against implementation tariffs some japanese electronic goods the minister international trade and industry hajime tamura said statement japan requested bilateral consultations accordance with article the general agreement tariffs and trade gatt washington yesterday tamura said there was deep regret over the measures which will impose pct tariffs about mln dlrs worth japanese imports some small computers colour television sets and power tools reuter earn southam inc stm qtr net oper shr cts cts oper net mln mln revs mln mln note net excludes extraordinary gain mln dlrs five cts shr from sale surplus property reuter earn loctite corp loc qtr march net shr cts cts net revs mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln reuter earn glenfed inc gln qtr march net oper shr dlrs cts oper net mln mln revs mln mln nine mths oper shr dlrs dlrs oper net mln mln revs billion billion assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans billion billion note oper net excludes extraordinary loss and mln for qtr and nine mths prepayment borrowings from the federal home loan bank board oper also excludes tax credits mln for qtr and mln mln for nine mths reuter earn horizon industries inc hrzn qtr net qtr ended april four shr profit eight cts loss cts net profit loss revs mln mln six mths shr profit cts loss cts net profit loss revs mln reuter money-supply fed data provide new evidence tighter policy banking data released today are too distorted draw sweeping conclusions about monetary policy but they support the market assumption that the federal reserve has started tighten its grip credit economists said clear that the fed has firmed somewhat discount window borrowings net free reserves the fed funds rate average and the pattern reserve additions are all consistent with modest tightening said dana johnson first chicago corp johnson and several other economists now estimate that the fed funds rate should trade between and pct discount window borrowings the week wednesday were mln dlrs day producing daily average for the two week statement period mln dlrs the highest since the week december and from mln dlrs previously moreover banks were forced borrow huge billion dlrs from the fed wednesday the highest daily total this year even though unexpectedly low treasury balances the fed that day left banks with over two billion dlrs more reserves than the fed had anticipated however economists said almost certain that the fed aiming for much lower discount window borrowings than witnessed this week they pointed two factors that may have forced banks scramble for reserves the end the week first economists now expect money supply for the week ended april rise staggering billion dlrs partly reflecting the parking checking accounts the proceeds from stock market sales and mutual fund redemptions pay annual income taxes banks checking account liabilities rise the reserves that they are required hold deposit the fed required reserves did indeed rise sharply billion dlrs day the two weeks ended wednesday but economists said the fed may not have believed the magnitude the projected surge until late the week and started add reserves too late second apparent shortage treasury bills apparently left wall street dealers with too little collateral with which enagage repurchase agreements with the fed economists said thus although there were billion dlrs repos outstanding wednesday night the fed may have wanted add even more reserves but was prevented from doing not all inconceivable that the fed didn add much they wanted because the shortage collateral said ward mccarthy merrill lynch economics inc mccarthy estimated that the fed now targetting discount window borrowings about mln dlrs day equivalent fed funds rate around pct after citing the reasons why the fed probably has not tightened credit the degree suggested the data economists said the fact that the fed delayed arranging overnight injections reserves until the last day the statement period was good sign more restrictive policy jeffrey leeds chemical bank had not been convinced that the fed was tightening policy but after reviewing today figures said fair say that the fed may moving toward slightly less accommodative reserve posture leeds expects fed funds trade between and pct and said the fed unlikely raise the discount rate unless the dollar fall gathers pace johnson first chicago agreed citing political opposition washington dollar defense package time when congress sees further dollar depreciation the key reducing the trade surplus with japan reuter earn rorer group inc ror qtr net oper shr profit cts loss cts oper net profit loss mln revs mln mln note year ago oper exludes gain sale businesses mln year ago oper includes charges mln resulting from allocation the purchase price revlon businesses inventory and mln for restructuring costs reuter coffee mild coffee growers meet guatemala large group other milds coffee growing nations will hold talks guatemala next month map their strategy for next september meeting the international coffee organisation ico mario fernandez executive director the costa rican coffee institute said delegates from mexico the dominican republic peru ecuador india papua new guinea and five central american nations will participate the two day strategy session beginning may the main topic will reform what many producing countries perceive the ico unfair distribution export quotas fernandez said said costa rica would press for quotas based the real production and export potential each country the past few years and distribute quotas based historic production levels rather than recent harvests and crop estimates reuter acq study discusses dropped comsat contel merger congressional study today said the proposed but now apparently abandoned merger the communications satellite corp and contel corp ctc would technically legal but could violate the spirt the law setting comsat two weeks ago before the study was completed contel announced would seek terminate the proposed merger the study the non partisan congressional research service crs said the proposed merger appears comply technically with the mandates letter statutes may nevertheless violate the spirit the law comsat created act congress and contel corporation local telephone and communications firms filed with the federal communications commission last november application for merger several firms had protested the proposed merger analysis the law the research service issued several critical comments about the structure the new firm and said apparent domination contel restructured comsat would have broken the spirit the law setting comsat comsat the arm intelstat the international satellite communications firm reuter money-supply australia money supply rise pct march australia money supply growth was pct march and pct the months march the reserve bank said this compared with revised rise pct february and pct the year end february the reserve bank said the data for march was affected the start the operations national mutual royal savings bank ltd which has resulted the transfer deposits equivalent around pct from the united permanent building society national mutual royal savings bank ltd the reserve bank said money supply march was billion australian dlrs compared with revised billion february and billion march deposits the private sector held trading and savings banks plus holdings notes and coins reuter dlr many major nations yesterday intervened heavily aid dlr miyazawa acq standard oil says british petroleum share tender extended until may acq standard oil says extends tender standard oil srd said brief announcement issued after meeting its board directors that british petroleum plc has extended its dlr per share tender offer until midnight may the offer for the pct standard shares not owned had been due expire midnight april standard oil said discussions with concerning the tender were continuing but provided further details long those discussions continue recommendation will made standard oil shareholders regarding the offer standard said standard directors met the company cleveland headquarters thursday regularly scheduled meeting the spokesman was unable say the meeting would continue friday committee independent directors previously obtained opinion from first boston corp that the standard shares were worth dlrs each dlrs more than the offer reuter interest national mutual cuts australian prime pct national mutual royal bank ltd said would cut its prime rate pct from effective april the cut follows trend toward lower rates started last month and accelerated westpac banking corp which yesterday cut its prime pct from pct westpac pct the lowest prevailing rate reuter acq elders purchase canadian brewer approved elders ixl ltd elxa said the canadian government approved its bid for carling keefe ltd elders earlier announced was buying mln shares pct carling from the canadian subsidiary rothmans international plc rot for canadian dlrs each elders chairman john elliott said statement when the offer for the ordinary shares closed april that acceptances representing over pct outstanding shares had been received ixl holdings would proceed acquire the rest compulsorily said reuter crude ecuador use colombia oil link for five years ecuador will use new pipeline link with colombia export crude oil for the next five years colombian mines and energy minister guillermo perry said the link will inaugurated may was built allow ecuador resume exports crude oil halted march earthquake damage its lago agrio balao pipeline once that pipeline repaired ecuador will exceed its opec quota order offset lost income and pay debts contracted with venezuela and nigeria since the quake ecuador mines and energy minister javier espinosa said the two ministers were speaking news conference after signing agreement for joint oil exploration and exploitation the jungle border zone between the two nations drilling will begin september the agreement transport ecuadorean crude oil not only for this emergency period but for the next five years with possibility extension between and barrels per day bpd will pumped along perry said espinosa said ecuador planned pump mln barrels through the link the next five years cost cents per barrel during the first year the link with maximum capacity bpd will run from lago agrio the centre ecuador jungle oilfields existing colombian pipeline that runs the pacific port tumaco espinosa said the stretch the link built the ecuadorean side cost mln dlrs perry gave figures for colombia segment but said was insignificant compared with what are going earn opec member ecuador was pumping around bpd before the quake lost exports bpd are costing mln dlrs per month espinosa said reuter ship iran says will combat gulf intervention iranian foreign minister ali akbar velayati warned that iran would combat any superpower intervention the gulf iran which the most powerful country the gulf will not allow the superpowers any other foreign forces interfere the region said velayati visiting the united arab emirates the first leg gulf tour told reporters iran had the capabilities and means prevent any interference president reagan has pledged keep the gulf sealanes open and protect kuwaiti tankers from possible iranian attack reuter earn toshiba corp tsba year ended march group shr yen net billion billion pretax billion billion operating billion billion sales billion billion reuter cpi peru consumer prices rise pct may peru consumer price index rose pct may base compared pct april and pct may the national statistics institute said said accumulated inflation for the first five months this year was pct against pct for the same period inflation for the year ending may was pct compared pct for the year ending may reuter interest bundesbank schlesinger says plan cut discount rate nihon keizai newspaper gas singapore petroleum revises petrol pump prices singapore petroleum pte ltd will revise pump prices petrol from june official said grade octane with lead will cents litre against cents previously for lead grade octane will cents against previously spc price revision follows the ministry trade and industry move liberalise petrol pricing allowing oil companies set their own pump prices new grades petrol with lower lead content are sold singapore from today line with the ministry environment regulations reuter interest bundesbank reported have plan for rate cut bundesbank deputy president helmut schlesinger said the west german central bank had plan cut its three pct discount rate nihon keizai newspaper reported the financial daily quoted schlesinger saying interview that the bank would try maintain current interest rate levels for the time being also told the newspaper saw need for large scale intervention the foreign exchange market because exchange rates are stable earlier schlesinger told press conference that the bundesbank would continue its policy maintaining short term interest rates low level for currency stability also said was satisfied with the current dollar mark exchange rate but added that was not certain was ideal for the west german economy reuter trade seoul announces more tariff cuts for south korea will cut import taxes items including construction equipment photographic film cigarettes and pipe tobacco help reduce its trade surplus with the united states the finance ministry said the tariff cuts between five and percentage points take effect july this brings the number goods which import taxes have been cut this year ministry official said the are among about items which washington has asked seoul lower tariffs added today announcement follows saturday removal import curbs products for those products the had had sought free access the south korean market this line with the government policy limit our trade surplus with the united states help reduce trade friction between the two countries the official said south korea trade surplus with the rose billion dlrs from billion officials said the surplus was expected widen further but seoul would try hold below eight billion dlrs the finance ministry said tariffs would cut later this month further items including acrylic yarn and ethylene average percentage points order check inflation the officials said the tariff cuts would contribute holding wholesale and consumer price rises less than three pct this year reuter trade study says tariffs and quotas could backfire the use tariffs and quotas reduce the flow foreign goods into the united states will little cut the nation swelling trade deficit government study said fact the federal trade commission ftc report said such protectionist policies could make products less competitive the world marketplace raising the cost imported products that are exported different forms such policies are much more likely hurt rather than help the productive capabilities the economy said the page report written ftc economists john hilke and philip nelson blamed the rising trade shortfall which climbed record billion dlrs last year shifting currency exchange rates and growing consumer demand other factors commonly blamed for the deficit such foreign trade practices deteriorating industrial competitiveness high labour costs and government restrictions mergers added little the problem said although each industry competitiveness affects the level imports and exports that industry general find that there have been significant industry specific changes affecting competitiveness that would explain the increase the overall trade deficit the study said the extent any government action needed deal with the trade deficits policies should focus economy wide phenomena such exchange rates and relative economic growth the ftc study said supporting its conclusion that broad based economic shifts were the cause the increase the trade deficit the report said found that nearly all industries lost some domestic market share foreign competitors the also said found fairly direct relationship between the increased trade deficit and the influence shifting currency exchange rates economic growth and domestic demand for goods and services which has outpaced foreign consumer demand the study examined seven factors which have been commonly blamed for the trade deficit foreign government subsidies and trade barriers protect foreign industries lack investment industry declining research and development industry high labour costs union work rules the oil prices rises the and antitrust regulations each case the study found little evidence that the factor had any impact the trade deficit reuter rubber tokyo exchange allows more gold and rubber brokers the tokyo commodity exchange for industry tocom said will allow five more members become precious metal brokers taking the total and four more members broke rubber for total exchange official told reuters the ministry international trade and industry expected approve the the new brokers mid june the move has been under study since early may response requests non broker members the exchange reuter gold renison and city resources set png gold venture renison goldfields consolidated ltd rgfj rgc and explorer city resources ltd have agreed principle joint venture examine the bulolo alluvial gold field papua new guinea city resources said city resources would progressively earn pct rgc prospecting authority which covers all the field spending total mln kina said statement said believed bulolo was not fully exploited the past noting the literature refers heavy gold losses tailings during dredging from which produced total mln ounces city resources also said previous dredging was only carried out depth metres and high grade gold values are reported least metres the central part the bulolo valley and possibly deep metres its productive life recovered average grade bulolo was rpt grams tonne from some mln cubic metres gravel said city resources will act operator the bulolo field morobe province was the first successful gold mining operation placer development ltd after was floated canada operated the field until dredging ceased reuter ship moscow says will retaliate against gulf attacks any iranian attack soviet ships the gulf will bring forceful and violent response soviet foreign ministry official said interview published here alexander ivanov head the gulf desk the soviet foreign ministry told rai aam newspaper moscow will answer back with force and violence iran attempts attack any soviet ship tanker the gulf soviet tanker hit mine the gulf last month ivanov also accused the united states stepping the regional crisis and failing exert genuine efforts end the iran iraq war reuter gas mobil raises singapore petrol pump prices mobil oil singapore pte lte will raise pump prices petrol from june spokeswoman said grade octane with lead will cents litre against cents previously for lead grade octane will cents against previously spc earlier announced its pump prices cents and cents for and octane respectively for lead petrol which being sold singapore from today line with the ministry environment regulations reuter interest window for bank aid kuwait remains shut the kuwait central bank kept its window for funds the domestic interbank deposit market shut banks returned from four day holiday dealers said the move drove short term interest rates sharply higher with overnight and tomorrow next funds more than doubling from last wednesday and hitting pct there were few offers tight market and traders scrambled for any available funds one month one year deposits were indicated one point higher eight seven pct but there was little activity the longer end the market bankers see the suspension central bank aid deliberate move drive kuwaiti dinar interest rates and stem flow funds out the country where market nervousness increasing over the growing tension the gulf the central bank move has been combined with steady cut the dinar exchange rate today rate was reduced the dollar from wednesday before the four day bank holiday that celebrated the end the fasting month ramadan reuter gas shell caltex revise singapore petrol prices shell eastern pte ltd will revise pump prices petrol from hours local while caltex asia ltd and singapore pte ltd will revise theirs midnight tonight company officials said caltex and shell will set prices lead cents litre for octane and cents for octane will set prices cents litre and cents respectively previous industry pump prices for lead were cents for octane and cents for octane reuter fuel bangladesh import tons diesel from ussr bangladesh will import tons high speed diesel oil from the soviet union under barter agreement signed here last week bangladesh petroleum corporation officials said the oil worth about mln dlrs will shipped december this year they added but did not say what bangladesh would sell return the soviet union reuter crude pemex official says opec output critical price crude oil prices could remain around dlrs barrel until the end the year but opec decision output its next meeting would the critical factor official mexico state oil company petroleos mexicanos pemex told group japanese businessmen adrian lajous pemex executive vice president international trade said current opec output already appeared very near the mln barrel per day level set itself for the third quarter production surging ahead what was originally planned while demand growing more slowly than envisaged few months ago said said opec had look very carefully what level production the third quarter would effectively sustain the dlrs price and that increase what had originally been envisaged might soften price levels the member cartel scheduled meet june vienna review its december accord prices and output hope opec will follow very conservative attitude terms volume decisions lajous said repetition what happened last year when opec boosted output and sent oil prices tumbling down below dlrs always there possibility said hope never again through the trauma expect other oil exporters have learned their lessons and discipline will maintained said lajous said there was still excess supply and long this remains there will tendency instability oil markets but prices should remain around dlrs during output remains under control said saudi king fahd remarks last month that increased production was not important long incomes would not affected the output were very relevant and welcome from such powerful producer reuter acq coniston group continue bid for allegis aeg investor group led coniston partners said plans continue its effort gain control allegis corp despite the defensive maneuvers allegis announced last week allegis said then that would borrow three billion dlrs and pay shareholders dividend dlrs per share lowering the company net worth the coniston group which owns pct allegis stock has said that would seek shareholder consents remove the allegis directors the group had said would consider breaking allegis into its airline hotel and vehicle rental components succeeded the coniston group said expects make further announcement today its plans for allegis wall street analysts and traders had not expected coniston abandon its pursuit allegis result the allegis defensive measures allegis officials were unavailable for comment reuter acq spectra physics rejects ciba geigy tender offer acq first city industries sells yale and nutone units for mln dlrs and securities acq boeing acquire argosystems for dlrs share acq first city fcy sells yale nutone units first city industries inc said has reached definitive agreement sell its nuton and yale security subsidiaries valor plc for mln dlrs and warrants purchase two mln valor ordinary shares addition the company said will recieve special dividend mln dlrs from nutone and yale and has agreed buy mln dlrs valor convertible preference shares first city said seeking increase shareholder values improving and realizing the values inherent its operating subsidiaries the company said the transaction subject approval shareholders valor and expected completed within days said valor has arranged financing through issue ordinary and convertible preference shares underwritten hoare govette ltd and barclays zoete wedd ltd nutone makes built electric products for the housing market and yale makes door locks and electronic security products valor makes home products reuter earn genovese drug stores inc gdxa qtr may shr cts seven cts net sales mln mln reuter acq national security nsic stake acquired national security insurance said group investors has acquired common shares pct interest for dlrs per share the company said the acquisition the portion the shares over five pct interest subject approval the alabama department insurance said the sellers included atlantic american corp aame bankers fidelity life insurance and georgia casualty insurance reuter acq computer associates acquire uccel corp for about mln dlrs tea sri lankan tea workers launch one day protest thousands tea workers indian origin went strike today press demands for citizenship and voting rights sri lanka union statement said the ceylon workers congress cwc said its members launched prayer campaign temples and other places non violent protest get the authorities expedite citizenship procedures cwc spokesman said three day campaign was suspended after cabinet committee promised speed procedures under new set regulations trade sources said the strike did not affect production today colombo auction reuter cocoa dutch cocoa processors unhappy with icco buffer dutch cocoa processors are unhappy with the intermittent buying activities the international cocoa organization buffer stock manager industry sources told reuters the way operating the moment doing almost nothing support the market fact could said actively depressing one company spokesman said including the tonnes acquired friday the total amount cocoa bought the buffer stock manager since recently began support operations totals tonnes despite this buying the price cocoa well under the special drawing rights sdrs tonne level below which the bsm obliged buy cocoa off the market even before started operations traders estimated the manager would need buy least his tonnes maximum before prices moved above the sdr level and yet appears reluctant one manufacturer said all hoped the manager would move into the market buy tonnes fairly short period and then simply step back added the way the manager only nibbling the edge the market the moment actually depressing sentiment and the market because everyone holding back from both buying and selling waiting see what the manager will next one processor said long his buying tactics remain the same the market likely stay the doldrums and see indication about alter his methods added processors and chocolate manufacturers said consumer prices for cocoa products were unlikely affected buffer stock buying for some time come reuter acq entertainment marketing seeks buy crazy eddie for eight dlrs share acq spectra physics spy board rejects tender offer spectra physics inc said its board rejected dlrs per share unsolicited tender offer for the company stock from ciba geigy ltd cigz which already holds pct the stock spectra physics said also filed lawsuit delaware federal court this morning seeking enjoin the offer and alleging among other things that the offer vilates federal securities laws certain agreements between ciba geigy and spectra physics and ciba geigy fiduciary duties spectra physics said the two ciba geigy designess its board were not present yesterday special meeting which voted reject the offer financially inadequate unfair and not the best interests spectra physics its stockholders the company said the board also authorized special committee outside directors take whatever steps deems necessary protect the interests spectra physics and its stockholders and investigate all alternatives maximize the value the stock including talks with third parties spectra physics said letter communicating the board recommendation and reasons therefore being mailed stockholders said robert bruce reliance group holdings inc rel designee spectra physics board resigned his position may his letter resignation said the action was alleviate ciba geigy stated justification for making the unsolicited offer that had not contemplated another significant investor having representation the board when its spectra physics investment was made reuter acq boeing acquire defense electronics firm boeing and argosystems inc argi said they reached agreement for boeing acquire the sunnyvale calif defense electronics firm for about mln dlrs the boards both companies have approved the merger which will accomplished through tender offer boeing subsidiary dlrs share cash for all argosystems shares the companies said under the agreement the boeing subsidiary tbc holdings corp will begin the tender offer promptly least pct the shares are not tendered the offer will prorated pct the companies said argosystems has granted boeing option buy shares pct the outstanding stock for dlrs share they said also bill may chairman argosystems and three other officers have granted boeing option buy their shares another pct the outstanding stock for dlrs share argosystems makes equipment monitor and analyze military communications signals electronic warfare equipment monitor and jam radar signals and signal processing systems for the nine months ended march argosystems reported earnings more than doubled mln dlrs cts share from mln dlrs cts the year ago period included mln dlr charge from writedown securities sales rose pct mln dlrs sales are expected exceed mln dlrs for the fiscal year ending june the companies said joint statement the company backlog currently more than mln dlrs they said has about employees about pct argosystems business comes from international customers argosystems clear leader its field this association will expand our overall activities and significantly enhance our ability compete the defense electronics area boeing president frank shrontz said statement argosystems will operate wholly owned subsidiary boeing the merger following the tender offer will subject approval argosystems shareholders the companies said the tender offer and merger are subject customary conditions and expiration the hart scott rodino notification waiting period they said reuter acq computer associates uccel set merger computer associates international inc and uccel corp uce said they have signed definitive merger agreement under which computer associates will pay about mln dlrs stock for all outstanding uccel shares the companies said under the terms the agreement all uccel shareholders will receive about shares computer common stock for each the approximately mln uccel shares outstanding according the companies this would amount about dlrs per uccel share based may new york stock exchange closing prices closing the transaction anticipated august the companies said the companies said the resulting company wil retain the name computer associates international inc additionally the companies said charles wang currently computer associates chairman and chief executive will continue chairman the new company reuter trade seoul announces more tariff cuts for south korea will cut import taxes goods including construction equipment cigarettes and tobacco help reduce its trade surplus with the united states the finance ministry said today the tariff cuts between five and pct will take effect july south korea ran trade surplus billion dlrs with washington sharply from billion today announcement brings the number goods for which similar measures were taken this year ministry official said the are among about items which washington has asked seoul lower tariffs this line with the government policy limit our trade surplus with the united states help reduce trade friction between the two countries said the official reuter acq entertainment makes buyout offer crazy eddie entertainment marketing inc said has made offer the board crazy eddie inc acquire all outstanding shares crazy eddie inc for eight dlrs share cash entertainment said the offer would conducted through negotiated merger with new corporation formed entertainment marketing entertaiment said has requested early meeting with crazy eddie inc board and that has committed mln dlrs toward the purchase the shares including those already purchased the company also said has retained dean witter reynolds inc assist raising the balance the financing according entertainment its company and its chairman own about pct crazy eddie currently outstanding shares additionally the company said willing negotiate all aspects its offer and willing consider transaction which would tax free crazy eddie shareholders reuter acq society for savings socs forms parent society for savings bancorp inc said has completed its previously announced plan acquisition making new delaware chartered bank holding company the parent conneticut chartered society for savings reuter crude saudi renegotiation aramco deal moving along saudi arabia renegotiation its collective agreement with aramco purchase oil for the latter partners moving along and should lead fundamental structural change the contract oil industry sources said petroleum intelligence weekly this monday edition said negotiations are moving along for adjustment the mln bpd joint long term agreement official prices and volumes and other terms may rearranged the agreement signed january for the months from february june for renegotiation under the january contract aramco was purchase mln bpd for the four partners allocated among them exxon corp xon bpd texaco inc bpd mobil corp mob and chevron corp chv bpd between them but overlifting texaco inc the first quarter allowed other companies like exxon corp underlift its obligations under the contract piw said that that one alternative under consideration revert four individual contracts rather than collective agrement john lichtblau director the petroleum industry research foundation inc said that renegotiation the pact was more formality the saudis have each company separate schedule although separate agreements with the companies would favor one one negotiations and ensure that contracted liftings occur the companies will probably follow the saudi wants within limits they not want antagonize them for the long haul said lichtblau said that the renegotiations would most likely concentrate volume rather than price saudi displeasure with the agreement has long been noted and april industry publications said that renegotiation were being sought fact later confirmed reuters with aramco aramco corp was formerly owned chevron corp chv exxon corp xon mobil corp mob and texaco inc but now owned saudi arabia which bought its assets although the partners have various agreements with saudi arabia reuter money-fx money market given mln stg late assistance the bank england said provided the money market with late assistance around mln stg this takes the bank total help today some mln stg and compares with its latest forecast mln stg shortage reuter acq cpc international cpc completes asian sale cpc international inc said has completed previously announced transactions involving its grocery products businesses four asian countries with ajinomoto inc ajin raising about mln dlrs said will receive about mln dlrs more later mostly this month when closings are expected three more countries proceeds will used mostly for debt reduction cpc said ajinomoto has purchased its equity knorr foods ltd joint venture japan between the two companies with cpc get fees for trademark and technology use cpc said ajinomoto also purchasing pct interests cpc wholly owned subsidiaries hong kong malaysia the philippines singapore taiwan and thailand reuter acq borden acquire prince for about mln dlrs acq porex porx merge with medco mccs porex technologies corp said has agreed merge with its partly owned subsidiary medco containment services inc deal worth about mln dlrs cash and common stock porex shareholders the company said under the agreement prex holders would receive new medco shares representing pro rata share the medco shares now owned porex plus pro rata shares the cash value other porex assets which estimated mln dlrs subject adjustment medco now has mln shares outstanding while exact terms may not determined until the transaction becomes effective porex said each porex share expected exchanged for medco share and dlrs cash subject approval sharehoilders both companies part the deal medco will split its stock five for two the company said the merger will accounted for corporate reorganization and recorded historical book values reuter acq colt industries cot sell british unit colt industries inc said signed conditional agreement sell its woodville polymer engineering ltd subsidiary great britain the dowty group plc gloucestershire england for mln stg the deal scheduled close the end june the company said woodville which makes high technology precision products for aerospace automotive and other industries had sales about mln stg said reuter earn advanced systems inc asy qtr april net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs six mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs reuter earn mannville oil and gas ltd mog qtr net shr two cts seven cts net revs reuter earn house fabrics inc qtr net april shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter earn orbit oil and gas ltd orb qtr net shr three cts three cts net revs avg shrs reuter acq video juke buy president shares video jukebox network inc said signed letter intent purchase mln shares the four mln shares the company common stock from its founder and president steven peters video said the shares are purchased louis wolfson iii senior vice president venture inc national brands inc patrick michaels and cea investors partnership video said currently has shares common stock outstanding the company said went public earlier this year and its current ask price was cea investors partnership has planned the partnership operated michaels who chairman and president communications equity associates inc media brokerage firm video said the terms the proposed transaction were not disclosed video said peters will continue chairman and president the company said the parties have until june agree all terms the letter intent reuter earn berkshire gas bgas raises payout qtly div cts cts prior pay july record june reuter earn marcade group inc mar qtr may net shr four cts cts shr diluted two cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs avg shrs diluted reuter earn greenman bros inc gmn qtr may loss shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss sales mln mln note year ago share results adjusted for five for four stock split august reuter acq marcade group mar plans acquisition marcade group inc said has agreed principle acquire prominent privately held maker ladies sports wear for cash shares and options purchase marcade common valued about mln dlrs its fiscal year recently ended marcade said the company acquired which owns five manufacturing facilities and one offshore had revenues over mln dlrs and pretax earnings about four mln dlrs reuter acq pennsylvania enterprises pent bid stands utilities investment inc said still offering acquire pennsylvania enterprises inc for dlrs per share said prepared negotiate its offer the pennsylvania enterprises board rejected the offer two weeks ago being inadequate utilities said has the financial commitments required ensure that pennsylvania enterprises facilities would upgraded insure adequate supply safe drinking water said its representatives will attending pennsylvania enterprises annual meeting tomorrow wilkes barre reuter pet-chem dow chemical dow increase prices dow chemical midland said will increase prices its high performance thermal fluids bulk and drums effective july one for contract and spot customers the bulk list prices for diphenyl oxide both technical and refined grades will raised five pct dlrs per pound for technical and dlrs per for refined dow said other increases include dowtherm dlrs per gallon dowtherm dlrs per gallon dowtherm dlrs per gallon and dowtherm dlrs per gallon reuter acq merrill lynch says proration factor for supermarkets tender pct cocoa brazil not selling cocoa buffer stock trade brazil not selling cocoa beans the international cocoa organization icco buffer stock spot prices for beans the interior area are pct higher than levels which would paid the icco buffer stock manager trade sources the major producing state bahia said the scarcity beans because the effects drought the current temporao harvest has pushed prices well above international levels the sources noted the only buyers are bean exporters local processors covering previously contracted commitments they added sales were made they would executed individual exporting companies which are members the brazilian cocoa trade commission they said reuter acq raven industries rav buys truck body business raven industries inc said purchased the utility truck body business astoria fibra steel inc for cash details the transaction were not disclosed the astoria product line which has annual sales about mln dlrs will manufactured and sold raven newly formed subsidiary astoria industries inc raven said its glasstite inc subsidiary also manufactures and sells utility truck bodies reuter acq pay pak pnp gets two offers for company pay pak stores inc said received two proposals response its previously announced solicitation potential buyers for the company the company said evaluating the proposals from paul bilzerian and from third party which active the leveraged buyout field but which pay pak declined identify said the bilzerian proposal calls for shareholders receive blended basis dlrs cash and dlrs liquidation value cumulative exchangeable redeemable preferred stock for each common share pay pak said the second proposal structured merger which each holder would receive combination dlrs cash and dlrs liquidation value pct cumulative preferred the company said the dividend the preferred offered bilzerian would set that the opinion his financial advisor and the company financial advisor the preferred would trade the public market its liquidation value dividends the preferred could paid the option the surviving corporation cash additional shares preferred for the first five years added pay pak said bilzerian proposal subject physical inventory merchandise june bilzerian did not provide details with respect financing his proposal which not subject financing condition the company said dividends the preferred being offered the second proposal would paid additional preferred the first three years and the preferred would redeemed years and said the second offer contingent the arrangement financing adding the party making the offer confident its ability obtain the balance the financing pay pak said the second proposal conditioned upon satisfactory agreement with the company management regarding its equity participation the new company the second party anticipates executing letter intent when delivers its financing commitment the pay pak board that would incorporate expense reinbursement and option arrangement the company said reuter acq maxwell files suit stop harcourt hbj publisher robert maxwell british printing and communicaton corp plc said filed lawsuit district court against harcourt brace jovanovich inc its directors and advisers stop among other things payment the special dividend harcourt paying part its recapitalization the suit filed manhattan also names first boston corp fbc and seeks void the issue harcourt shares super voting preferred stock first boston securities corp and the issue convertible voting preferred stock with votes the harcourt employee stock ownership plan the preferred shares issued first boston have votes the suit brought derivatively behalf harcourt and individually british printing capacity substantial holder harcourt common shares and pct convertible debentures the suit alleges harcourt special dividend exceeds more than one billion dlrs harcout surplus available for dividends under new york law and contstitutes fraudulent conveyance the lawsuit also alleges that harcourt failed disclose that one consequence the payment the dividend which terms illegal will that shareholders will liable repay harcourt last week said would pay dlrs per share stockholders special dividend harcourt also announced extensive recapitalization plan which analysts said was aimed thwarting takeover effort british printing british printing last week withdrew its dlr per share two billion dlr offer for harcourt because the recapitalizaton plan the time said was reviewing its alternatives british printing said filed the suit after consultation with its advisers its lawsuit also alleges that harcourt failed disclose the effect the special dividend harcourt pct convertible debentures british printing alleges the effect will enormous increase effective the june eight record date for the dividend the number harcourt common shares issuable upon conversion the debentures british printing also charged harcourt unlawfully coercing debenture holders convert denbentures before the record date because harcourt may not have enough authorized common shares honor conversion after the date british printing holds shares and mln dlrs worth debentures the suit also alleges that management the board directors and first boston engaged illegal scheme entrenchment through combination selling first boston securities corp the super voting preferred bargain price the grant the company employee stock plan convertible voting preferred the six mln share open market repurchase program and the manner which its financing has been structured reuter acq steinberg group has five pct pizza inn pza group controlled new york investor saul steinberg told the securities and exchange commission has acquired shares pizza inn inc pct the total outstanding common stock the group which includes reliance financial serivces corp subsidiary reliance group holdings inc rel said bought the stock investment said might add its stake sell some all the steinberg group said bought the stock for mln dlrs open market purchases between april and may prices ranging from dlrs share reuter acq supermarkets general sgl tender expires smg acquisition corp subsidiary merrill lynch capital partners inc said mln shares supermarkets general corp were validly tendered the midnight friday expiration resulting preliminary proration factor pct merrill lynch said expects announce the final proration factor within business days and begin payment immediately thereafter shares validly tendered represented about pct the outstanding shares supermarkets general the announcement said the cash tender offer was for mln shares dlrs net per share reuter crude opec output may seen over ceiling mln bpd london june opec may output appears have risen well above its mln bpd ceiling mln bpd and the increase likely put short term lid spot oil prices kleinwort grieveson securities says but kleinwort latest world oil report said stocking and lower non opec output earlier this year should allow the group produce mln bpd the current third quarter the supply demand front the market continues enjoy degree stability rarely seen recent years said said most opec members were overproducing slightly but only the united arab emirates uae was seriously above quota the report said saudi arabia had been sending clear signals the need maintain oil prices current levels around dlrs barrel and adopt provisional output rises agreed december when opec meets vienna june opec adopts the provisional ceilings mln bpd third quarter and mln bpd the fourth there will probably room for overproduction the third quarter when demand for its crude will probably mln said said that the uae and ecuador may demand higher quotas vienna but the biggest obstacle iraq which has refused honour its quota less than that gulf war enemy iran but opec appears committed short meeting and realises something must done about the iraq issue the report said according kleinwort sources saudi arabia has already held separate talks with iran and iraq and urging iraq more moderate one strong indication that some kind deal may eventually worked out the almost complete silence coming from iran said indications are that return for going along with the saudi desire maintain official prices vienna iran seeking concessions from the kingdom the iraq issue said kleinwort said the kingdom will face increasingly uphill task trying maintain prices around dlrs beyond firstly opec hardliners led iran are bound oppose such move secondly other opec members will press for another price rise the dollar remains weak against other currencies thirdly saudi arabia may forced raise prices earlier than intended ward off growing calls for higher prices from the stimulate domestic drilling and exploration the report concluded that there strong possibility official opec prices will rise dlrs barrel end and dlrs barrel end reuter acq suburban bancorp woodstock bancorp merge suburban bancorp inc and woodstock state bancorp inc said they agreed merger under which suburban will purchase woodstock shares for total more than mln dlrs cash and suburban bancorp shares woodstock the holding company for the mln dlr state bank woodstock the merger will bring suburban assets mln dlrs and its total banks the merger subject regulatory and shareholder approval reuter interest bankers consider new ecgd financing plan representatives major based banks are meeting here today consider new plan for reducing the cost financing british exports guaranteed the export credits guarantee department ecgd senior banking sources said the plan being developed conjunction with the ecgd and the bank england neither the ecgd nor the bank england would comment the plan however bankers said one the main points under discussion plan refinance the bulk the ecgd medium term credit portfolio the international capital markets the proposals involve introducing set interest margins ecgd backed debt pct depending the size and maturity the credit and the currency the banks are likely push for higher margin bankers said that while these rates would reduce bank return they would still more than those proposed about year ago when the government attempted unsuccessfully initiate another cost reduction plan the same time the banks would expected allow the ecgd realise additional savings refinancing existing government backed credit the capital markets credits that are refinanced original lender would receive residual margin pct for loans mln stg and pct larger transactions reuter acq coke consolidated coke sell canada unit coca cola bottling consolidated said has agreed principle sell its vancouver based canadian bottling subsidiary coca cola for undisclosed terms with closing expected within days subject regulatroy approvals the company said the sale previously announced agreement for coca cola buy coke consolidated common shares and operating cash flow should allow reduce its long term debvt about nmln dlrs from mln dlrs the end the first quarter reuter acq campeau cmp unit sell garfinckel campeau corp said its allied stores corp entered into definitive agreement sell its garfinckel division raleigh stories corp for mln dlrs the transaction expected close july the company said garfinckel net sales for fiscal were mln dlrs the company said campeau said expects sell its remaining allied divisions the near future campeau announced its first agreement sell allied unit april the company said reuter acq wallace computer wcs buy office products firm wallace computer services inc said acquired for mln dlrs cash and industrial revenue bonds certain assets rockwell barnes inc chicago based office products company reuter acq sun sun acquire more wyoming field wolverine exploration said substantially all the material aspects the agreement sell its pct working interest the luckey ditch unit unita county wyo sun inc have been satisfied closing the transaction scheduled for june eight wolverine said the company agreed sell its interest for dlrs subject downward adjustment for certain title and state requirements sun already owns pct working interest the unit reuter earn consolidated professor cpf qtr net shr profit one nil net profit loss revs note full name consolidated professor mines ltd reuter acq geodyne geod sets warrants acquisition geodyne resources inc said iit filed registration with the securities and exchange commission covering planned offering mln warrants buy its common the company also said its board evaluating proposal acquire closely held snyder exploration for one mln geodyne shares members geodyne senior management also serve senior management snyder and painewebber group inc pwj which owns pct geodyne mln outstanding shares has substantial equity interest snyder the acquisition being evaluated geodyne board members not employed the company painewebber any company affiliated with painewebber will subject approval the board and series preferred shareholders geodyne resources said registration related the stock exchanged for snyder has been filed with the sec but has not yet become effective the snyder owners other than painwebber are geodyne president michael tomasso and its executive vice president james snyder the company said the warrants will offered solely investors the painewebber geodyne energy income program for every dlrs invested the program investor will entitled buy one warrant purchase one geodyne common share price equal pct the average closing price the stock for the trading days prior formation the partnership which the investor subscribes adddition geodyne said painewebber investment executives who market the program will entitled receive one warrant for every dlrs subcriptions generated after four year vesting period these warrants would have exercise price equal pct the day average the company said the warrants are currently priced cts each but this price suject further evaluation independent underwriter reuter earn detection systems detc year end march shr cts nil net revs mln reuter earn bildner and sons inc jbil qtr shr one nil net revs reuter crude compromise seen likely over conoco statoil dispute norway expected seek compromise solution defuse row between den norske stats oljeselskap stat statoil and conoco norge over which firm will operate the heidrun oil field government sources said the sources who asked not named said the government will likely recommend that conoco allowed continue the field operator through the development phase with statoil taking over only after production starts the early oil minister arne oeien told reuters the government had today discused the heidrun matter but that final decision had been taken and several questions remained unresolved was unlikely the government would announce its decision heidrun operatorship until after thursday cabinet meeting and after discussing proposed solution with both companies the sources added this spring norway state owned oil company statoil exercised option the heidrun field exploration license that approved the government would allow relieve conoco heidrun operator move sharply criticised conoco heidrun often cited the government and industry the most likely candidate for the first field development project the haltenbanken exploration tract off central norway reuter earn fiat unit fidis reports sharply higher profit year net profit billion lire billion ordinary share dividend lire note finanziaria sviluppo spa financial services subsidiary fiat spa fiat said statement that shareholders approved previously announced nominal share capital increase from billion lire billion reuter gold northgate quebec gold workers end strike northgate exploration ltd said hourly paid workers its two chibougamau quebec mines voted the weekend accept new three year contract offer and returned work today after one month strike said the workers represented united steelworkers america would receive dlr hour pay raise over the life the new contract and improved benefits northgate which produced ounces gold first quarter said that while the strike slowed production are still looking forward very satisfactory performance the chibougamau mines produced ounces gold last year reuter acq royal gold rgld agrees make acquisition royal gold inc said has signed two agreements principle acquire the stock two transwestern mining units for mln shares royal gold common stock royal said the assets the units will acquire from transwestern are mostly gold properties added expects close the deals june and subject standard closing conditions including title and environmental approval and closing definitive agreement royal said the shares issued the deal will subject registration rights reuter earn hawkins chemical inc hwkn qtr mar net shr cts six cts net sales six mths shr cts cts net sales mln mln note per share earnings adjusted for ten pct stock dividend paid february reuter gold northgate ngx quebec workers end strike northgate exploration ltd said hourly paid workers its two chibougamau quebec mines voted the weekend accept three year contract offer and returned work today after one month strike said the workers represented united steelworkers america would receive dlr hour pay raise over the life the new contract and improved benefits northgate which produced ounces gold first quarter said that while the strike slowed production are still looking forward very satisfactory performance the chibougamau mines produced ounces gold last year reuter jobs portuguese unemployment steady first quarter unemployment portugal held steady pct the first quarter after the same rate the last quarter the national statistics institute said this compared with pct unemployment the first quarter the total number registered unemployed the first quarter this year was reuter acq partnership ups hbo hboc stake pct andover group great falls investment partnership that seeking control hbo and said raised its stake the company shares pct the total from shares pct filing with the securities and exchange commission the partnership said bought hbo common shares for mln dlrs may the group which has slate candidates seeking board seats said would decide whether submit offer acquire the company after the hbo annual shareholders meeting which was have been april but was postponed reuter acq humana hum buy int medical assets humana inc said florida judge approved previously announced proposal for the company buy certain assets international medical centers which had been declared insolvent and put into receivership early may humana said will pay mln dlrs the state department insurance pay prior claims and mln dlrs working capital reuter acq diversified industries dmc sell units diversified industries inc plans recover more than four mln dlrs from the sale two marginal subsidiaries chairman ben fixman told the annual meeting fixman said diversified industries part its effort redeploy assets wants sell its theodore sall inc and liberty smelting works ltd units the two either lost money had marginal profitability recent years said diversified also said the process obtaining six mln dlrs industrial revenue bond financing from the state connecticut modernize the company plume and atwood brass mill plant thomaston conn reuter acq insurance firm piezo pepi preferred stake corporate life insurance west chester insurance firm told the securities and exchange commission has acquired shares preferred stock piezo electric products inc pct the total corporate insurance said bought the cumulative convertible preferred stock stake for dlrs for investment purposes reuter acq cellular inc cels sell unit take gain cellular inc said reached definitive agreement sell assets its wholly owned michigan cellular inc century telephone enterprises inc ctl and add cts share the year earnings result said the sale subject regulatory approval represents capital gain excess dlrs over the original price paid cellular for its cellular interests michigan acquired december reuter earn comptek research inc cmtk qtr march shr cts four cts net sales mln year shr cts cts net sales mln mln reuter acq dotronix dotx completes acquisition dotronix inc said completed the acquisition video monitors inc for mln dlrs video monitors privately owned wisconsin based manufacturer video display and and video monitor devices reuter earn dataflex corp dflx qtr march net shr cts eight cts net revs year shr cts cts net revs mln note share adjusted for pct stock dividend april reuter earn polydex pharmaceuticals ltd polxf qtr april end shr loss one loss two cts net loss loss sales reuter acq clark copy buys norwegian firm clark copy international corp said bought norwegian drafting machines company for three mln dlrs clark copy said its majority owned norwegian subsidiary interactive computer aids norway purchased kongsberg drafting systems division norwegian state owned kongsberg vappenfabrikk kongsberg drafting annual worldwide sales are about mln dlrs clark copy said reuter acq society savings socs forms holding company society for savings said has completed merger into newly formed holding company society for savings bancorp inc share for share basis reuter earn geodyne resources inc geod qtr feb shr profit three cts profit cts net profit profit revs avg shrs year shr loss eight cts profit six cts net loss profit revs avg shrs note share results after preferred dividend requirements dlrs dlrs quarter and dlrs dlrs year company pct owned painwebber group inc pwj reuter acq ladd furniture ladf completes acquisition ladd furniture inc said has completed the previously announced acquisition privately held colony house furniture inc for undisclosed amount cash and notes reuter iron-steel ministers consider cutbacks steel support new steel quota system that would strictly limit european community support the industry could forced producers they fail find their own solution quickly officials said industry ministers meeting here considered two key proposals aimed cutting back surplus capacity mln tonnes the first would limit the current quota system which has protected output for seven years only flat products and heavy sections thereby forcing other types steel products into free market competition the second proposal would link continuation quota system with progress toward plant closures although less than month ago the steelmakers lobby group eurofer said they had abandoned efforts close plants voluntarily the ministers stopped short imposing their own solution immediately instead urging steel producers try again reach agreement voluntary cutbacks the commission has said will come with detailed proposals july the future the steel industry and industry ministers meet again september reach final decision reuter acq philip crosby pcro makes acquisition philip crosby associates inc said has agreed acquire process integrity inc dallas computer software designer for undisclosed terms said process software helps companies monitor industrial processes identifies problems and recommends solutions reuter acq peerless manufacturing pmfg sells unit peerless manufacturing said has sold its industrial sensors and instruments division and panhandle equipment subsidiaries for total dlrs cash said the transaction will result loss about dlrs cts per share which will take the fourth quarter ending june peerless said due the sale will probably have loss for the year said sold the units buyers did not name due increasing losses caused the depressed petroleum equipment market peerless earned dlrs cts per share fiscal said the units being sold lost cts per share the first nine months fiscal and cts all fiscal reuter acq hicks and haas group gets financing for spectradyne acquisition earn united tote inc tote qtr april shr profit four cts profit three cts net profit profit revs mln mln six months shr profit four loss seven cts net profit loss revs mln mln note first half includes revnues new racetrack operation reuter lumber canada lumber exports may become unprofitable canada softwood lumber will become unprofitable for some forest product producers prices decline about dlrs per thousand board feet two four inch lumber from current levels about dlrs canadian forest industry council chairman adam zimmerman told reporters zimmerman reiterated profitability has been hurt move canadian negotiators impose last january pct export tax softwood lumber shipped the exchange for lumbermen lobby dropping its request for countervail duty think that there has been falling off the market think there moderate slow down the price now zimmerman said media briefing zimmerman said the adverse impact from lower lumber product prices would felt lumber mills eastern canada first migrating westward the country has swallowed time bomb and will off when times get tough zimmerman said also said the federal government should maintain the existing pct export tax and not allow provinces offset the tax with increased provincial fees for cutting lumber reuter acq semicon tools inc making acquisition semicon tools inc said has signed letter intent acquire majority interest privately held east coast sales distributor and fabricator technical ceramic products and disposable clean room materials and supplies terms were not disclosed said expects acquisition result substantial sales increase reuter acq safety kleen completes acquisition safety kleen corp said completed the acquisition pct interest breslube enterprises for about mln dlrs stock and cash breslube based toronto collects used lubricating oils from auto garages car dealers and other businesses and refines for resale its annual revenues are about mln dlrs reuter acq hicks haas group has spectradyne spdy funds spi holding inc group consisting hicks and haas and acadia partners said has received commitments for the senior bank financing needed complete its proposed acquisition spectradyne inc for dlrs share cash securities total about mln dlrs the transaction was conditioned the arrangement financing today said has also executed multi year employment and non competition agreements with five spectrayne senior managers reuter alum alcoa raising prices aluminum beverage can stock eight pct acq computer assoc bolsters hand against ibm computer associates international inc mln dlr merger with uccel corp uce will eliminate its strongest rival but the company still faces stiff competition from international business machines corp ibm wall street analysts said ibm still the ruling force mainframe systems software said scott smith analyst with donaldson lufkin and jenrette but the combination the two companies will clearly present much stronger front said besides ibm computer associates will far and away the most powerful company the field added hutton analyst terence quinn that field segment the market known system utilities software packages that boost the productivity company data processing facilities increasing the speed power and efficiency large mainframe computers the merger uccel and computer associates combines the two biggest systems utilities suppliers other than ibm analysts said the remaining players are mostly small firms that will find the competition much harder than the past for computer associates the merger with uccel caps six year acquisition campaign that has vaulted the garden city based company the top the software industry when the deal completed sometime august the company revenues will exceed mln dlrs pushing past microsoft corp mfst the world largest independent software vendor computer associates founder and chairman charles wang took the company public and since then has bought companies and boosted annual sales from mln mln dlrs for the year ended march liemandt took charge wyly sold off its non computer businesses and decided that would focus solely mainframe computer software the company was renamed uccel corp liemandt who said will leave the company after the merger completed also turned acquisitions for growth the last day uccel completed the buyouts six companies for total about mln dlrs for earned mln dlrs dlrs share sales mln dlrs the agreement took industry analysts surprise largely because the companies had been such bitter rivals also dallas based uccel had engineered strong comeback from the dark days when wyly corp lost mln dlrs cts share that time wyly owned potpourri different businesses only three which were involved computer software walter haefner swiss financier and major wyly investor lured gregory liemandt away from his job chairman general electric computer services unit computer associates wang and uccel liemandt said news conference that the merger would give computer users single source for wide range software products addition system utilities computer associates also sell products for microcomputers while uccel has made inroads the applications software market where analysts said has been successful with accounting and banking systems wang said computer associates would continue support and enhance both companies product lines but noted that the company will eventually weed out duplicate offerings said about pct the companies products overlap analysts said the merger would dilute the holdings current computer associates shareholders about pct but they joined wang forecasting that the deal will not dilute computer associates earnings for the current fiscal year quinn hutton said wang has proven track record completing acquisitions without earnings dilution therefore said would not change his earnings estimate dlrs share wang said would look closely the combined operations the two companies and cut duplication sales marketing and research and development analysts said computer associates paid premium for uccel based friday closing price the company will swap dlrs worth its stock for each uccel share which nearly times uccel estimated earnings dlrs share stephen mcclellan merrill lynch research said most software companies are currently valued about times per share earnings but the analyst said uccel was worth the premium because its earnings potential and customer base wang said haefner the swiss investor would hold about pct computer associates stock after the merger currently owns pct uccel the executive said the merger would not alter his target maintaining sales and earnings growth pct pct addition said expects problems having the deal cleared the antitrust division the justice department uccel liemandt declined say what will after the merger but did not rule out working together with wang reuter acq maxwell would not renew bid suit fails british press magnate robert maxwell said his british printing and communication corp plc would not renew its bid for harcourt brace jovanovich inc hbj the lawsuit filed against harcourt new york today fails speaking press conference maxwell denied market rumors that british printing had approached british institutions arrange rights issue with view relaunching its bid for the publishing concern don believe chasing mirages maxwell said british printing filed suit district court manhattan block what maxwell called fraudulent recapitalization announced harcourt last week harcourt response hostile two billion dlr takeover proposal from maxwell planned recapitalization that would pay shareholders dlrs per share under the plan also said pct its shares will controlled its employees management and its financial adviser first boston corp fbc reuter alum alcoa raising prices aluminum beverage can stock eight pct earn grand union qtr march net net sales mln mln year net mln mln sales billion billion note twelve and week periods generale occidentale subsidiary prior year net both periods includes dlr pretax charge for store closings year net includes pension gain dlrs charge dlrs due change pension accounting income tax rate for year pct pct due abolition investment tax credits elimination investment tax credits approximately offset gain from change pension accounting company said reuter acq video vvco first national merger video vending corp said completed acquiring first national telecommunications inc from first national entertainment corp for about mln controlling interest video vending shares pursuant the transaction harvey seslowsky and william hodes resigned from video board and were replaced four members first national reuter cocoa cocoa origins dismayed buffer stock action traders recently returned from west africa say some producers there are dismayed the ineffective action far the international cocoa organization icco buffer stock manager buffer stock purchases one trader said some west african producers are annoyed the buffer stock manager not playing his part required the international cocoa pact stabilise prices from current lows far only tonnes second hand cocoa have been taken for buffer stock purposes and this traders noted only intermittent basis they noted the purchases tonnes the first week bought and the second are well short the limitations more than tonnes one day and one week which the cocoa agreement places him the traders recently returned from west africa say producers there are unhappy about the impact cocoa prices far noting producing countries are part the international cocoa pact and deserve the same treatment consumers london traders say terminal market prices would have gain around stg tonne take the icco day average indicator its sdr per tonne midway point reference price however little progress has been made that direction and the day average still well below the sdr lower intervention level from previously the buffer stock manager may announce today will making purchases tomorrow although under the rules the agreement such action not automatic traders said complaints about the inaction the buffer stock manager are not confined west african producers they observed reuter report from rotterdam quoted industry sources there saying dutch cocoa processors also are unhappy with the intermittent buffer stock buying activities london traders expressed surprise that more than tonnes cocoa has been bought far against total potential purchases under the new agreement tonnes carryover holdings from the previous international cocoa agreement the stock total tonnes terminal prices today rose stg tonne from friday close basis july its high seems that when the buffer stock manager absent from the market prices while when declares his intention buy quite often the reverse applies traders said reuter acq rapid american completes mart store buy privately held rapid american corp said has completed the previously announced acquisition kresge and jupiter stores from mart corp the company said plans operate the stores mccrory five and variety stores and close the others the end july reuter earn hughes supply inc hug qtr april net shr cts cts shr diluted cts cts net sales mln mln note average shares pct primary basis reuter acq total health tlht make acquisition total health systems inc said has agreed acquire comed inc denville health maintenance organization with over subscribers for undisclosed amount cash the assumption liabilities and the provision mln dlrs equity and debt financing the company said the acquisition subject regulatory approvals said comed had revenues mln dlrs and earnings dlrs and had revenues for the first four months mln dlrs pct from year before reuter acq united asset uam completes acquisition united asset management corp said has completed the acquisition rice hall james and associates san diego for undisclosed terms said rice hall manages investments for institutions and individuals and has about mln dlrs assets under management currently reuter acq computerland acquired investor group computerland corp said investor group led the financial services firm warburg pincus and inc has agreed acquire computerland business computerland privately held company said the world largest retailer personal computers declined provide details the arrangement but the company said expects close the acquisition over the next days announcing the transaction computerland said the acquisition will provide with resources and support maintain and expand its leadership position the computer retail industry computerland also said its network retail sales totalled billion dlrs reuter acq bilzerian says pay pak signs merger accord will tender for mln shares acq piosec pio acquires semiconductor stake piosec technology ltd said exchanged mln common shares for pct privately owned alliance semiconductor corp santa clara calif followin the acquisition piosec spokesman said the company has mln shares outstanding reuter tin tin traders response muted futures market european free market tin traders made somewhat muted response plans for kuala lumpur dollar based tin futures market due launched october traders said the new market would probably useful trading medium for japan and other south east asian tin interests although european traders generally appear reasonably satisfied with the current free market system which has been operating since london metal exchange lme tin trading ceased october dealers here will also want see how acceptable foreign metal will the new market and what sort demand develops for forward deliveries there also view among european traders that while the proposed kuala lumpur tin futures market would provide another useful reference point market inaugurated the malaysian government the past viewed major player times the trade would make participants uncomfortable some traders expressed preference for resumption trading the london metal exchange but they added that while there has been some behind the scenes discussion the subject definite move unlikely until outstanding high court litigation actions have been resolved spot tin prices the european free market are currently around stg per tonne for high grade metal warehouse rotterdam over the past months the price moved ten year low stg march and rebounded high stg december this compares with stg last paid when lme trading ceased october and record high tin price stg traded for cash standard grade metal june that year lme warehouse stocks are now near two year low tonnes having fallen steadily from record high tonnes reached february traders said the free market turned bullish during late last year based producer forecasts supply demand deficit some tonnes analysts were predicting prices stg per tonne during however the trend was reversed following strong upswing sterling versus the dollar and values fell back briefly stg last month after approaching stg december the decline accelerated producers who had sold very little metal the higher levels became competitive sellers there was also lack significant demand from major steel mills who made large purchases prior the new year traders say the itc creditor banks original tin holdings nearly tonnes have now been almost halved and the bulk material still available being held malaysian and japanese firms which are reluctant depress the market with unwanted metal some tonnes were held banks and brokers after the international tin council itc buffer stock manager halted support operations the lme behalf the members nations the international tin agreement the overhang metal was reduced further broker shearson lehman brothers which earlier this year reported having sold its itc related holdings and halved its overall tin position analysts see immediate sign rally european tin prices and movements are still expected largely related currency fluctuations unless significant consumer demand emerges for the third quarter the association tin producing countries atpc has made efforts since the collapse the ita achieve higher world prices attempting bring all major producers under export control umbrella but date brazil and china two major producers remain unaffected the atpc argument and apparently are continuing offer material discounts consumers main european trading centres dealers said reuter cocoa icco buffer stock manager buy tonnes cocoa tuesday june official acq operative cobk completes acquisition operative bancorp said completed the acquisition all the issued and outstanding stock the quincy operative bank qbck under the agreement quincy stockholders will receive dlrs cash for each share owned the quincy operative bank for total transaction approximately mln dlrs operative said reuter money-fx reagan says allies must honor accords exchange rate stability acq info data acquire usa outdoor advertising info data inc said will acquire usa outdoor advertising inc jacksonville fla exchange for stock usa outdoor advertising was acquired for pct the outstanding shares info data inc the company said info data said plans change its name usa outdoor advertising inc reflect the change the company operations reuter money-fx reagan urges fulfillment exchange accords president reagan preparing depart for the venice economic summit wednesday said the united states and its allies must fulfill agreements exchange rate stability economic policy decisions made last year tokyo and this year meetings group finance ministers paris and washington cannot ignored forgotten said the commitments made these meetings need translated into action reagan said pre summit speech celebrating the anniversary the marshall plan reuter acq uni marts imma acquires gas all stores uni marts inc said acquired seven gas all inc convenience stores for undisclosed amount cash the acquisition bring the number convenience stores owned uni marts the company said reuter earn merrill corp mrll qtr april net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs reuter acq advanced telecommunications atel buy advanced telecommunications corp said reached agreement principle purchase teltec savings communications long distance telephone service florida the proposed acquisition price approximately mln dlrs cash the company said reuter earn odetics inc qtr march net shr seven cts eight cts net revs mln year shr three cts one net revs mln mln reuter crude basin pipeline texas okla border washed out floods some bpd crude affected interest ccc interest higher june usda says interest rates commodity loans disbursed the commodity credit corporation ccc this month will carry pct interest rate the agriculture department said that from the may rate pct and reflects the interest rate charged the ccc the treasury june usda noted reuter veg-oil andriessen hints fats oil tax could summit european community agriculture commissioner frans andriessen said his proposal for tax european currency units per tonne oils and fats was likely for discussion next week summit meeting leaders farm ministers have been unable agree the tax one the main items proposed andriessen for the farm price package the tax which would apply both domestically produced and imported oils and fats has been fiercely opposed the united states and developing countries vegetable and marine oil producers reuter acq bilzerian prepared tender for pay pak pnp investor paul bilzerian said pay pak stores inc enters into merger accord with him will immediately begin tender offer for mln shares for dlrs per share cash bilzerian told reuters believes his offer superior leveraged buyout proposal disclosed announcement the company this morning the company said evaluating both proposals bilizerian said was optimistic his offer will accepted meeting the board directors wednesday officials pay pak did were not immediately available for comment bilzerian said has pool mln dlrs raised shearson lehman brothers inc available for the tender and may add bank that submitted agreement prepared sign said shares not accepted bilzerian tender would exchangeable for dlrs convertible preferred stock asked what would happen the leveraged buyout group which the company did not identify topped his offer between now and the board meeting bilzerian said expected opportunity respond pay pak gave details about the buyout group but did say the offer was contingent financing and agrreement regarding management equity participation bilzerian said was his understanding that the management particpation was nominal pay pak fell arbitrageurs said there was disappointment that neither the offers topped dlrs were expecting offer north above dlrs said one arbitrageur the leveraged buyout plan was for dlrs per share cash and dlrs pct cumulative preferred stock robert cheadle analyst montgomery securities said you have ask yourself why one the industry made bid scott drysdale analyst birr wilson securities said the company has not made the best strategic moves over the years they have not done the right things the right time said and result earnings per share have steadily declined since the cts per share earnings reported for the fiscal year ended february was lower than earnings said earnings totaled mln dlrs revenue mln dlrs drysdale said pay pak has better trained sales people than many competitors but competes price even though competitors have lower costs the result squeezed margins noted that there have been other publicly identified bidders stepping forward since the company rejected earlier bilzerian proposal mid april another arbitrageur said might not too late for another bidder get the game speculated that someone the same home improvement business might able offer deal for stock that would top both the buyout proposal and bilzerian plan reuter acq forstmann little and said plans sell sybron corp unit acq pharmacontrol phar acquires revco unit pharmacontrol corp said acquired private formulations inc from revco inc for six mln dlrs cash dlr promissory note and warrants buy pharmacontrol common shares pharmacontrol said the purchase price was financed along with one mln dlrs working capital through secured institutional financing the company said betweenm dlrs and dlrs the principal amount the revco note plus accrued interest payable june the balance payable over three years pharmacontrol said expects make the payment due revco from proceeds proposed offering units consisting convertible subordinated debenturers and common stock currently file with the securities and exchange commission upon closing the public offering the company said expects the secured institutional financing increase total mln dlrs private formulations primarily engaged the manufacture and distribution vitamins and private label over the counter pharmaceutical products reuter acq fisher shareholder indecisive over stock buy fisher foods inc fhr said richmond road corp its largest shareholder has not yet reached definitive decision about whether will buy more fisher stock through possible merger tender offer another acquisition proposal delaware corporation formed american seaways foods inc rini holding and rego companies which owns mln shares fisher about pct its outstanding common stock fisher said had announced april that they would make decision june about the move fisher said also told they will continue explore possible advantages and disadvantages various acquisition proposals also said continuing discuss with various financial groups about possible financing for such move but gave indication when any financing proposal would finalized fisher said reuter acq bancorp usbc has acquisition approval bancorp oregon said has been advised orally that its application for the acquisition old national bancorp has been approved the board governors the federal reserve the company said has also been advised that has received fed approvals for its acquisition heritage bank camas wash and for its conversion its subsidiary thrift and loan salt lake city utah into commercial bank january bancorp and old national reached definitive agreement covering the acquisition all the stock old national which does not already own for mln dlrs bancorp currently owns pct old national stock reuter crude major oil pipeline shut down floods flooding the red river the texas oklahoma border has shut down the basin pipeline inch pipeline that transports much barrels per day sweet and sour crudes from texas cushing okla texaco pipeline spokesman confirmed the water rushing fast that can get any divers down assess the damage but there some possibility that the pipeline could the end the week company source said the pipeline transmits roughly two thirds sour crude and one third sweet crude oil from the midland texas region texaco sources said that the pipeline service restored friday there would little problem restoring oil which has been lost the flood but the pipeline down more than days will difficult make without prorationing and would not like proration this pipeline don have the basin pipeline jointly owned atlantic richfield corp arc shell oil subsidiary the royal dutch shell group and texaco inc which the pipeline operator peter beutel analyst elders futures inc said crude oil futures contracts new york mercantile exchange rose new highs this afternoon following news the pipeline break july crude futures west texas intermediate traded dlrs barrel rise more than cts cash market prices also firmed the news with sellers wti raising offers dlrs barrel sour crudes which would most affected the pipeline shutdown however were slow react the news with west texas sour and alaska north slope holding cts one dlr barrel below wti respectively dan stevens manager public and government affairs texaco said the company hopes fix the pipeline five days but that will depend when the water level the red river recedes there already evidence that the water level dropping and appears the rain has stopped the area affecting the pipeline stevens said said the segment the pipeline that was damaged was underground and distance from the red river that flooded the pipeline runs over the red river and under the subsoil nearby according stevens said some this subsoil was apparently washed away the potential for environmental damage being downplayed this time despite the volume oil that runs through this line texaco stevens said that aerial surveillance has not found any crude the water the river lake texoma which nearby reuter earn british land america inc bla year march shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln note company subsidiary british land plc reuter acq forstmann little and sell unit forstman little and said plans sell its sybron corp unit leading maker and marketer dental and laboratory products for undisclosed sum forstmann little said acquired sybron february and since that time sybron has been substantially restructured with new management lower corporate overhead and new location saddle brook fortsmann little said goldman sachs and will act its financial advisor for the move added that sybron expects revenues for the current fiscal year mln dlrs with operating income about mln dlrs reuter acq takeover speculation lifts hutton efh shares hutton group inc shares rose speculation the company would receive takeover offer traders said hutton stock also was affected newspaper report that first boston corp fbc accumulated almost five pct hutton stock behalf outside client traders said traders said the story which appeared usa today added speculation which began the street last week they said there were rumors the stock was under accumulation and speculation abounded the company would soon receive offer hutton official declined comment hutton stock rose hutton several months ago rejected buyout offer from shearson lehman brothers inc she the newspaper story mentioned speculation american express axp the parent shearson was possible buyer but traders said the rumors today did not name buyers first boston officials were not immediatley available for comment prudential bache analyst larry eckenfelder said doubted the speculation about american express said believed hutton which occassionally surrounded rumors moved today result the newspaper article hutton still takeover candidate said eckenfelder reuter acq hong kong firm ups wrather wco stake pct industrial equity pacific ltd hong kong investment firm said raised its stake wrather corp shares pct the total outstanding common stock from shares pct filing with the securities and exchange commission industrial equity which principally owned brierley investments ltd publicly held new zealand firm said bought wrather common shares may and dlrs share mln dlrs total reuter crude congressman says unprepared for oil cutoff rep mike synar said today that while president reagan ready use military force protect kuwait tankers the gulf the united states ill prepared home deal with new energy crisis synar democrat oklahoma made his remarks comments study the general accounting office gao the participation the test the emergency oil sharing program the international energy agency the iea alliance oil consuming countries was formed after the arab oil embargo find ways deal with any future oil cutoff synar said the president prepared take military action protect kuwaiti oil tankers but has been unwilling take less dangerous equally important action prepare our nation for the next energy crisis reagan said the military would protect kuwaiti oilers assure the west continuing supply middle east oil increasingly being threatened the iranian iraqi war synar who asked for the gao report after criticism action previous iea test said the united states successfully advocated test limited training participants oil sharing procedures and the system mechanical aspects reuter acq allied signal ald completes sale mpb corp allied signal inc said completed the sale its mpb corp unit bearing acquisition corp for mln dlrs plus assumption certain mpb liabilities headquartered keene mpb designs and makes precision ball and roller bearings used aerospace ordnance and computer applications allied signal said the unit had sales over mln dlrs noted the sale newly formed bearing acquisition was announced may allied signal said bearing acquisition newly formed corporation owned investors group organized harold geneen and donaldson lufkin and jenrette securities corp wells fargo bank provided senior debt financing bearing acquisition and donaldson lufkin and jenrette provided bridge financing the form subordinated notes preferred stock and common stock amount sufficient fund the purchase price allied signal added reuter acq bass group cuts national distillers stake investor group led members the bass family fort worth texas said lowered its stake national distillers and chemical corp shares pct the total common from pct filing with the securities and exchange commission the bass group said sold national distillers common shares between may and prices ranging from dlrs share long the group stake below five pct not required disclose its further dealings national distillers common stock reuter acq republic american rawc ups buckeye bpl stake republic american corp told the securities and exchange commission raised its stake buckeye partners limited partnership units pct the total from units pct republic which controlled cincinnati ohio financier carl lindner and his american financial corp said bought buckeye units between may and prices ranging from dlrs each about mln dlrs total reuter acq kingsbridge masco set merger kingsbridge holdings ltd said signed letter intent for merger with masco sports inc the transaction calls for mln sahres kingsbridge common stock issued shareholders masco reuter earn international corona icr qtr net period ended march oper shr profit four cts loss cts oper net profit loss revs not given six mths oper shr profit eight cts loss cts oper net profit loss revs mln not given reuter earn royex gold mining rgm qtr march net oper shr loss three cts loss one oper net loss loss revs six mths oper shr loss eight cts loss four cts oper net loss loss revs note net excludes qtr extraordinary gain mln dlrs dlrs shr from sale pct stake mascot gold mines ltd msg full name royex gold mining corp reuter acq dresser industries inc sell reliance standard life insurance rosenkranz unit earn diana corp dna year march oper net oper shr cts cts oper net note operating net excludes credits dlrs cts share operating net excludes discontinued operations dlrs two cts and extraordinary charges dlrs loss cts reuter acq wyse wyse get link technologies wyse technology said agreed principle acquire privately held link technologies inc exchange for undisclosed amount wyse technology shares link technologies develops and markets computer terminals wyse also said reuter earn mclain industries inc mccl qtr march shr cts cts net revs mln mln six months shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter earn phillips van heusen corp pvh qtr shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln note includes lifo charge mln dlrs pension expenses declined dlrs due change accounting interest decreased dlrs reuter acq dresser sell unit rosenkranz and dresser industries inc said signed definitive agreement sell its reliance standard life insurance rsl holding inc subsidiary the privately held new york based investment firm rosenkranz and terms were not undisclosed philadelphia based reliance earned mln dlrs sales mln dlrs dresser said will use the proceeds from the sale for stock repurchases debt reduction and possibly complementary acquisitions the field engineered products and services for energy producers reuter acq atcor atco seeks buyers for consumer business atcor inc said that roth american inc which had signed letter intent may acquire its turco and charmglow operations its consumer products segment has decided against buying charmglow while roth american said still interested acquiring turco atcor said now reviewing its options with other potential buyers who have expressed interest its consumer products businesses reuter earn international consumer brands icbi qtr shr profit one cts loss three cts net profit loss revs mln reuter acq uspci upc seen rejecting union pacific bid share bid made last wednesday union pacific corp unp analysts said the offer inadequate said douglas augenthaler analyst with hutton noting that does not represent the needed premium over the company fundamental value based earnings estimates uspci which has mln shares outstanding was trading down uspci vice president finance larry shelton said could not comment the adequacy the offer when the board would meet consider augenthaler said that while uspci was trading only dlrs share the time the takeover bid its announcement that same day higher earnings expectations changed its value uspci said its second quarter earnings would exceed analysts expectations cts share that price uspci could maintain stock price the low augenthaler said hutton revised its earnings estimate for the waste management concern dlrs share from dlrs the announcment said lifted its projection dlrs share from dlrs addition analysts said the hazardous waste management business holds significant growth potential the industry has grown from pct over the last five years based earnings per share said jeffrey klein analyst with kidder peabody and the industry expected continue growing pct over the next five years said augenthaler said the dlr share offer mln dlrs total would bargain for union pacific the transportation and energy company would both gain entry into profitable business and win cost control benefits said union pacific has what are rumored some fairly signficant environmmental problems its own said herb mee president beard oil bec which holds pct stake uspci said last week union pacific offer was grossly inadequate reuter crude total petroleum tpn shuts texas pipelines total petroleum tpn shut down several small crude oil pipelines operating near the texas oklahoma border last friday precaution against damage from local flooding according gary zollinger manager operations total shut inch line that runs across the ouachita river from wynnewood ardmore with capacity bpd well several smaller pipelines few inches wide with capacities several thousand bpd less zollinger said the basin pipeline major pipeline running bpd run consortium other oil companies was closed today one other small pipeline that total also closed has capacity bpd and crosses the red river fargo texas zollinger said said the closed pipelines run under river water and could damaged the flooded rivers erode the river banks and expose the piping zollinger said total waiting for the river waters recede before they reactivate the pipelines reuter crude doe reaches proposed oil settlements the energy department said reached proposed oil pricing settlements totaling dlrs with the operator and four working interest owners leblanc well vermillion parish trigon exploration inc operated the well from june january for bryan ferguson william rogers omni drilling partnership and entex inc doe alleged trigon caused overcharges dlrs improperly classifying its oil newly discovered crude classification that allowed charging higher prices during period price controls said the proposed settlements would resolve disputes over possible violations the five parties doe added that agreeing the settlements the five did not admit any violations non compliance with its regulations said would receive written comments the settlements before making final reuter acq first america fabk acquires keystone first america bank corp said acquired keystone bancshares inc for mln dlrs keystone shareholders will receive dlrs per keystone share payable first america convertible preferred stock having dividend rate nine pct keystone has two affiliates with combined assets mln dlrs first america has billion dlrs assets reuter acq fluorocarbon fcbn completes acquisition fluorocarbon said completed the acquisition eaton corp etn industrial polymer division the company said paid about mln dlrs cash for the division which will renamed samuel moore group fluorocarbon also said the division should boost annual sales mln dlrs from last year mln dlrs reuter iron-steel ltv qltv negotiate with steelworkers ltv corp ltv steel corp said agreed resume negotiations with the united steelworkers america the local plant levels discuss those provisions its proposal that require local implementation the local steelworker union narrowly rejected tentative agreement with the company may said ltv also said agreed reopen its offer contained the tentative agreement reached with the union negotiating committee part plan resolve problems through local discussions reuter earn charter power systems inc chp qtr shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln reuter acq financial security fssla acquired financial security savings and loan association said signed letter intent for controlling interest acquired investor group led south florida developer william landa terms were not disclosed reuter acq edelman group cuts burlington bur stake new york investor asher edelman and dominion textile inc dtx who are currently seeking acquire burlington industries inc hostile tender offer said they lowered their stake the company filing with the secruties and exchange commission the edelman dominion group known samjens acqusition corp said sold options buy burlington common shares reducing its stake the company shares pct from shares pct the group said the sale which represented all the burlington options owned was made may for mln dlrs the edelman dominion group last week sweetened its hostile tender offer dlrs share after burlington agreed leveraged buyout morgan stanley and backed group for dlrs share but the edelman dominion group which has litigation pending against burlington also said has held talks with morgan stanley about the possibility settlement outstanding matters among morgan stanley and burlington reuter acq entertainment marketing tops crazy eddie offer quickly growing texas based distributor electronics products offered mln dlrs for crazy eddie inc crzy the leading new york city electronics retailer one dlr per share more than its founder has bid the dlr share offer entertainment marketing inc for crazy eddie comes less than two weeks after founder eddie antar and firm controlled the belzbergs canada announced bid take the store crazy eddie chain private analysts said entertainment marketing whose revenues and profits quadrupled may looking break into the highly competitive new york city retail market for consumer electronics the nation biggest time the fortunes electronics retailers have sagged the analysts questioned whether houston based entertainment marketing founded former electronics retailer but whose present buinesses are primarily wholesale distributors had the management expertise for retailing was merely trying drive the price the crazy eddie shares already owns have mixed feelings said analyst dennis telzrow eppler geurin and turner dallas brokerage the one hand probably cheap price the other hand does entertainment marketing have the management talent run and will the crazy eddie people leave risky strategy for entertainment marketing said analyst eliot laurence wessels arnold and henderson minneapolis brokerage electronics retailing very management concentrated they want keep crazy eddie management place laurence said that since entertainment marketing already owns percent crazy eddie million shares may trying get the antar belzberg group increase its dlr share offer shares crazy eddie which have jumped from the high dlr range above dlrs since the antar belzberg bid was announced may rose another cents monday share over the counter trading antar the reclusive founder the chain the new york city philadelphia and connecticut areas said last month that his group controlled percent crazy eddie shares crazy eddie spokesman said the company board has taken decision the antar belzberg offer worth some mln dlrs since they own more shares than entertainment marketing would not comment the new offer entertainment marketing sells computer products such disk drives and other often discounted electronics goods retailers primarily the southwest and directly consumers cable television fiscal ending last january its revenues rose mln dlrs from mln dlrs the previous year net profit went mln dlrs from dlrs entertainment marketing whose chief executive officer elias zinn once ran electronics retailing business said statement had committed mln dlrs toward the purchase crazy eddie and had retained dean witter reynolds inc assist financing the balance analyst telzerow estimated that the company would have borrow about mln dlrs complete the proposed buyout since crazy eddie has cash and other assets worth about the same amount shares entertainment marketing were cents monday reuter acq first union func completes acquisitions first union corp said completed the acquisition two florida based banks north port bank based north port and city commerical bank based sarasota reuter earn crop genetics international crop qtr qtr ended march shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss revs year shr loss dlrs loss cts net loss revs reuter acq investors may take computerland public the investor group that has agreed buy computerland corp will likely take the leading personal computer retailer public sell other investors industry analysts said now good time said joe levy international data corp the personal computer industry has bottomed out and the way again said earlier today closely held computerland the largest retailing chain the country said agreed bought investor group led warburg pincus and new york neither computerland which pct owned its founder william millard nor warburg money management and venture capital firm would disclose the value the transaction analysts estimated that computerland whose stores generated billion dlrs sales last year would fetch mln dlrs mln dlrs computerland franchise owners pay royalties averaging pct the parent company officials for warburg referred all questions computerland computerland officials could not immediately reached for comment warburg currently manages billion dlrs venture capital funds and its past investments have included mattel inc mat and the ingersoll newspaper chain also money manager with billion dlrs under management although the retailers are benefitting from the strong upturn sales analysts said computerland must make key changes fend off advances from rivals like businessland inc busl and tandy corp tan radio shack stores the name the game now outbound sales forces customer service and customer support said levy international data relations between computerland and its franchise owners have mellowed recently after millard was forced give managment control the company faber who took over chairman and chief executive officer revamped the company royalty plan which help quell much the franchisee dissent reuter acq ladd ladd unit completes acquisition ladd furniture inc clayton marcus furniture subsidiary said completed the previously announced purchase privately held colony house furniture inc for undisclosed amount cash and notes reuter acq cis cisif agrees second extension cis technologies inc said that and the swiss reinsurance zurich switzerland agreed second extension two dates for the final part their share purchase agreement said the june one election date has been extended june and the june closing date has been changed july reuter acq waste management wmx board okays modulaire buy waste management inc said its directors approved may accord with modulaire industries modx under which waste management would acquire modulaire under the agreement modulaire stockholders would receive dlrs waste management stock for each modulaire share modulaire has scheduled special shareholders meeting for july vote the merger waste management said has received proxies from holders pct modulaire common stock that could voted favor the merger the hart scott roding waiting period the takeover will expire june reuter acq burlington bur hearing continue tomorrow district court judge eugene gordon said plans issue decision tomorrow burlington industries inc request for injunction stop samjens acquisition corp takeover bid for the company wall street sources have said the outcome the case could pivotal determining the winner the fierce takeover battle for burlington the largest textile maker gordon presided over six hours argument today lawyers for burlington and samjens partnership formed dominion textile inc and new york investor asher edelman hearings are scheduled continue tomorrow preliminary injunction would hold samjens billion dlr offer until the case decided burlington had previously agreed billion dlr buyout from morgan stanley group inc one dlr per share lower than sweetened dlr per share bid made samjens last week burlington has not responded the new samjens offer burlington has alleged its lawsuit that edelman and dominion used illegally obtained confidential information about the company making their takeover attempt that information burlington said was provided james ammeen former burlington executive through painewebber group inc pwj ammeen who had worked for burlington for years had many divisions with pct burlington sales reporting him when left burlington november burlington said signed contract promising never divulge inside information about the company burlington lawyers said shortly after left began working with painewebber employee hostile plan takeover the company dismember the company and displace its management burlington lawyer hubert humphrey said samjens lawyers acknowledged received information from painewebber but argued the information was public information and could obtained either from texitle industry analysts burlington public financial statements burlington lawyers said painewebber and ammeen met with edelman and dominion november and continued meet with them until couple days before edelman and dominion went public april with their intention take over the company burlington lawyers claim dominion board decided attempt takeover burlington after ammeen met with the board february burlington lawyers said edelman and dominion held discussions with painewebber and ammeen about acting financial advisers samjens but they allege talks broke off because painewebber and ammeen could not satisfy edelman and dominion with written statement that they did not provide inside information lawyers for samjens contended that painewebber and ammeen withdrew potential advisers because burlington chairman frank greenberg had called painewebber executive and threatened legal action painewebber got involved effort takeover burlilgnton the ultimate question not the price per share the profit but rather the permissable standards conduct for those who would takeover american company said burlington lawyer humphrey burlington lawyers also contended that burlington the largest manufacturer denim the united states would violation anti trust laws acquired dominion canada largest textile maker dominion has denim manufacturing plants georgia which would reduce competition the denim market the lawyers said samjens lawyers discounted the concern they said the market for denim more fragmented than burlington contends and that burlington has the ability switch between light weight and heavy weight denim production demand and price dictate samjens lawyers also pointed lawsuit filed burlington canada which said was considering bid for dominion surely what would have been sauce for the goose would have been sauce for the gander said sidney rosdeitcher samjens lawyer reuter acq edelman details burlington bur options sale tender offer asher edelman and dominion textile ltd dtx for burlington idustries inc not affected the investors sale options buy burlington stock according associate edelman noting that our tender offer definitely place the aide said the investors are prohibited securities and exchange commission regulations from exercising options long tender offer open the options are due expire the end june said the may sale options buy burlington shares was thus non event reuter acq cont materials cuo ends consideration bid continental materials corp said its directors decided not give further consideration business combination proposed stockholder group that holds pct continental materials stock continental materials said the offer had been received from continental associates group louis businessmen according continental materials the group said may might boost its stake continental materials but the group also said letter last week the company that the group had financing the board did not consider official offer continental materials spokeswoman said reuter acq ameribanc ainv cardinal end acquisition ameribanc investors group and cardinal savings and loan association jointly announced that the proposed acquisition cardinal ameribanc has been terminated mutual agreement reuter alum venezuela gets mln dlrs credit for aluminum venezuela has obtained more than mln dlrs financing for industrial projects and increased its lines credit for import financing finance minister manuel azpurua said can say that are achieving the recuperation credit but that cannot done overnight azpurua said television interview said credit agreement for mln marks will signed this week with the german state bank kreditanstalt fur wiederaufbau kfw finance expansion the state aluminum company venalum the credit will divided into two separate agreements one for mln marks with interest rate pct and another for mln marks pct azpurua said financing has also been obtained for expansion alcasa another state aluminum company and for projects the state steel and petrochemical industries yesterday said venezuela obtained two new credits mln dlrs each for export financing one from credit nord france and the other from britain midland bank the venezuelan government has been criticised home for failing obtain new credits despite its insistence repaying foreign debt according the terms rescheduling accord reached last february azpurua recently visited tokyo hoping acquire new credits for industrial expansions but clinched agreements japanese officials refused allow new issue venezuelan bonds until the country regains its triple credit rating reuter acq court upholds bank building self tender bank building and equipment corp america said the delaware chancery court denied stockholder request for preliminary injunction against offer for bank building stock made the company and its employee stock ownership plan and trust bank building said the joint offer for shares bank building stock dlrs share the offer scheduled expire midnight edt june bank building also said its board set july the date the company annual meeting with record date july six reuter acq harcourt hbj debentures may trigger suit holders convertible subordinated debentures harcourt brace jovanovich inc threatened sue the company they not get more information about how their investment will affected the company proposed recapitalization plan the holders none whom was willing identified said although harcourt has urged that they convert their shares common stock the june eight record date for special dividend they were unable determine might better for them continue holding the debentures there are rumors that various houses will bring litigation don get answers said wall street source officials harcourt declined comment citing suit brought british publisher robert maxwell whose has been trying acquire harcourt executives first boston inc harcourt financial adviser did not return telephone call seeking comment when announced its recapitalization may harcourt advised holders the pct convertible subordinated debentures due convert into common the june eight record date for the company special dividend harcourt special dividend pays dlrs per share cash plus security worth dlrs holders would also retain stock the recapitalized firm the debentures had been convertible dlrs per share harcourt may announcement said the conversion price would adjusted according the indenture covering the securities arbitrageurs said the conversion formula yielded negative number and thus they needed further information from the company reuter alum venezuela obtained million dlrs credits venezuela has obtained more than mln dlrs financing for industrial projects and has also increased its lines credit for import financing finance minister manuel azpurua said can say that are achieving the recuperation credit but that cannot done overnight azpurua said television interview azpurua said credit agreement for mln marks will signed this week with the german state bank kreditanstalt fur wiederaufbau kfw finance expansion the state aluminum company venalum the credit will divided into two separate agreements one for mln marks with interest rate pct and another for mln marks pct azpurua said financing had also been obtained for the expansion alcasa another state aluminum company well for projects the state steel and petrochemical industries did not provide details yesterday after meeting leaders the ruling accion democratica party azpurua said venezuela had obtained two new credits five mln dlrs each for export financing one from credit nord france and the other from the midland bank great britain the finance minister statements came the government under sharp criticism for failing obtain new credits despite its insistence repaying the foreign debt according the terms rescheduling accord reached last february azpurua and other senior economic officals returned from trip tokyo last week which they hoped acquire new credits for industrial expansions but agreements were reached japanese officials also refused allow new issue venezuelan debt bonds because until the country regains its triple credit classification reuter crude south korea increases duty crude imports south korea has increased its duty crude oil imports dlrs barrel from dlrs effective today the energy ministry said the duty raise funds for special energy projects was adjusted after average crude import prices rose dlrs barrel april from dlrs march and dlrs april ministry officials said separate pct import tax crude oil unchanged reuter acq equiticorp tasman bid for monier ltd equiticorp tasman ltd etl said will offer dlrs share cash for all the issued capital monier ltd mnra currently the subject dlrs share bid csr ltd csra alternatively etl will offer three shares plus cents cash for each monier share said statement previously reported etl moved into the market for monier shares last week taking its stake pct friday now holds pct the maximum allowed without foreign investment review board firb approval etl classified foreign because its new zealand base the etl cash offer values monier issued capital mln shares mln dlrs against mln for the csr bid based the current price etl shares dlrs the alternative worth dlrs per share but etl said the value placed its shares for the offer aproximates the diluted asset backing etl march etl said the offer will have minimum acceptance conditions and will subject australian foreign investment and hart scott rodino anti trust clearances etl chairman allan hawkins said the statement that the shareholding monier was long term investment etl and its feltex international ltd associate have targetted the building products sector area expansion and monier fits well with this aim added monier chairman bill locke said separate statement that the independent directors monier intend recommend acceptance the etl bid the absence higher bid also said monier will not now proceed with the one for two bonus issue announced with its interim results march view the proposed takeover bids previously reported the csr offer involves complex put and call option deal with monier major shareholder redland plc rdld which gives redland the choice accepting the csr offer for its pct stake moving pct within six months the bid closing csr officials have made clear that they see redland taking the second option resulting the two companies running monier joint venture csr officials have also said they had intention raising the company bid for monier after etl intervention became public last week reuter money-fx venezuela tightens foreign exchange restrictions venezuela central bank has ordered venezuelan banks and exchange houses cease foreign exchange operations with brokers based outside the country according copy central bank telex made available reuters the measure confirmed brokerage firm here has effectively cut off all foreign participation venezuela volatile currency market the telex issued may was signed carlos hernandez delfino manager the bank department international operations the telex said the restriction business with foreign brokers line with earlier measure prohibiting foreign exchange houses from selling dollars other foreign currencies anyone living outside venezuela recent weeks the venezuelan government has denied rumours that intends impose foreign exchange controls prop the weakening bolivar but brokers said the central bank move seen facto currency control definitely control the sense that there longer complete freedom operate one broker here said gradually they imposing restrictions and the direction towards complete control the broker said the broker who requested anonymity said virtually all his venezuelan customers had stopped doing business with him since the central bank issued the telex and followed with telephone calls said that before the restriction was imposed the volume his firm transactions with venezuela was about mln dlrs day was frenetic market was really quite active said the broker said saw logical explanation for the prohibition because his firm only acted act intermediary between venezuelan brokers exchange houses and banks weren buying dollars from venezuelans that ridiculous said they been rampage against foreigners the broker noted that two months ago venezuela central bank quietly announced that banks doing foreign exchange business outside venezuela would have respect new pct reserve requirement february the central bank also prohibited trading bolivar futures the broker said used have forward market said for small currency was miraculous said the bolivar which averaged the dollar would continue slip from its current range because the central bank was rapidly running out foreign reserves support the currency the free market reuter gas esso raises singapore petrol pump prices esso singapore pte ltd said raised pump prices petrol from today new prices for lead grades are cents litre for octane and cents for octane other singapore oil companies announced yesterday that they would revise their pump prices effective today shell eastern petroleum pte ltd mobil oil singapore pte ltd caltex asia ltd singapore petroleum pte ltd and singapore pte ltd are pricing octane cents shell mobil and caltex are pricing octane cents and spc and cents reuter interest tokyo bundesbank schlesinger sees reason lower interest rates earn fujitsu ltd itsu group year ended march group shr yen net billion billion current billion billion operating billion billion sales billion billion reuter crude mees newsletter says oman offers oil discounts oman has granted term crude oil customers retroactive discounts from official prices cents per barrel liftings made during february march and april the weekly newsletter middle east economic survey mees said mees said the price adjustments arrived through negotiations between the omani oil ministry and companies concerned are designed compensate for the difference between market related prices and the official price dlrs per barrel adopted non opec oman since february reuter rubber malaysian rubber output recovers from wintering malaysian rubber production should return normal levels this month after hard wintering season the malaysian rubber exchange and licensing board said its latest review packers and remillers expect production recover normal levels june sellers will remain reserved the near future the review dated may said many consumers are holding off waiting for the best time buy the market mindful approaching summer holidays industrial countries and there air uncertainty beyond july said gave figures for the output drop reuter gnp central bank head says philippine growth target the philippines first quarter growth figures released yesterday indicated the government was likely achieve its targets central bank governor jose fernandez said interview the national economic development authority neda announced yesterday gross domestic product gdp grew pct and gross national product gnp pct the first quarter from year earlier don see anything the horizon that should cut growth short fernandez said neda said gnp had grown pct and gdp pct the fourth quarter from year earlier last year gnp growth put earlier pct was revised pct certainly not see any shortage external resources and gnp growth continues this level would assume that domestic resources the fiscal side would generated and would not stumbling block fernandez said think even before the figures came out simply looking key indicators such consumption fuel oil and power showed that the economy was different track from last year said fernandez said consumption tended heavier the first and second quarters because the dry weather and could drop off the third quarter said the most significant sign recovery lay the manufacturing sector which grew pct after declines and slow turnaround the second half that not seasonal thing secular said said the government had met all monetary targets set for the first quarter consultation with the international monetary fund imf expected draw down the fourth tranche from its mln sdr stand arrangement soon the philippines has far drawn three tranches totalling mln sdrs from the arrangement expiring april fernandez said imf mission would visit here july august review performance the january june period said imf repayments were projected total billion dlrs over the period and drawings only mln dlrs repayments were inevitable and many countries would find their net repayments the imf rising the next few years means that since there will net drain oda official development assistance accounts the commercial banking system will requested hold the line said internal constraint that exists because the imf debt cannot rescheduled fernandez said the philippines rescheduled billion dlrs its billion dlr foreign commercial debt march fernandez said central bank bills introduced march mop excess liquidity had peaked billion pesos april but their unwinding maturity dates started october last year had almost been completed said auctions treasury bills whose outstanding level touched billion pesos may were going well treasury bills will remain basic monetary tool said commenting the country foreign debt fernandez said think the philippine debt stock looms large because our own receipts from exports have not taken the same kind leap forward might have been suitable the foreign debt projected the central bank reach billion dlrs the end neda said exports totalled billion dlrs the first quarter while imports were billion dlrs fernandez said the government had targeted gnp growth between six and pct this year cautioned that while growth far was high the targets had not yet been achieved fernandez said saw merit arguments some economists that the peso currently pegged the dollar ought devalued make the country exports more competitive being pegged the dollar basket basis the peso has already substantially devalued against all the country trading partners said the proposed omnibus investment code said was opposed clause which would allow the unrestricted repatriation abroad investments made during the first two years after the imposition the code the imposition the code scheduled for last january has been delayed objections from some business groups think any central bank certainly this one after the events the past two two and half years has prudent this not the time throw all caution the winds and not about that fernandez said would ideal reach point where movement capital and earnings can free said have had one year reasonably good results certainly continue have fairly heavy drain our external availabilities simply servicing our debts reuter ipi belgian february industry output down year ago belgian industrial production excluding construction and adjusted for seasonal and calendar influences was provisionally pct lower february than year earlier the national statistics office said output february was however pct higher than january spokeswoman for the office said the production index base rose provisional february from provisional january slightly revised from the originally estimated february last year the index stood reuter interest bundesbank sets new repurchase tender the bundesbank set new tender for day securities repurchase agreement offering banks liquidity aid minimum bid rate pct central bank spokesman said banks must make their bids gmt today and funds allocated will credited accounts tomorrow banks must repurchase securities pledged july reuter earn storehouse reports higher profits weeks april share basic fully diluted final dividend making pretax profits mln stg mln turnover mln stg mln profit from retail operations mln stg mln tax mln stg mln profit after tax mln stg mln extraordinary items debit mln stg debit mln note full name storehouse plc sthl reuter earn norcros profits advance year march shr final dividend making pretax profit mln stg mln turnover mln stg mln group operating profit mln stg mln share associates profits mln stg mln investment income mln stg mln interest payable mln stg mln tax mln stg mln leaving mln minorities debit mln stg debit mln extraordinary items credit mln stg debit mln operating profits breakdown class business building materials manufacture mln stg mln distribution mln stg mln specialist print and pack mln stg mln international mln stg mln head office and property mln stg mln discontinued sold businesses stg mln operating profits geographic breakdown britain mln stg mln africa mln stg mln australasia mln stg stg north america mln stg mln note full name norcros plc ncro reuter gnp german gnp figures publication delayed figures for first quarter west german gnp will published june after they were provisionally scheduled for june official the federal statistics office said the official said there had been delay gathering information for the data which are expected show that the west german economy contracted the period spokesman for the economics ministry bonn said there was political motivation behind publishing the figures june the day after the venice economic summit ends there political motivation purely technical matter added the west german government expected come under pressure venice from both the and its european partners stimulate domestic demand way reducing international trade imbalances and contributing world economic growth however government officials have ruled out any further tax reduction packages supplement major program stimulatory fiscal measures already underway helmut schlesinger vice president the west german central bank the bundesbank said tokyo today that gnp the widest measure country economic activity fell real terms seasonally adjusted one pct the first quarter compared with the fourth period the government has confirmed that growth was negative the first quarter but year year growth expected about two pct schlesinger today repeated the bundesbank reluctance cut its official interest rates further its key discount rate three pct just above historical lows west german officials are likely emphasise the venice summit that domestic demand which draws goods from abroad already outstripping export performance which has suffered from pct rise the mark against the dollar just over two years the government has pointed out that depressed exports are the main reason for the current weakness the economy but says that later the year stronger domestic demand will compensate for this setback expects gnp growth for the whole just under two pct after pct rise reuter acq stad rotterdam takes stake swiss owned insurer dutch insurer stad rotterdam anno asrn said from july will own pct the shares europeesche verzekering maatschappij fully owned unit swiss insurer union rueckversicherungs gesellschaft stad rotterdam chairman lucas van leeuwen told reuters may raise its stake majority interest the two companies are found sufficiently compatible van leeuwen said that due partly the fact europeesche made losses and the pct stake was obtained below the shares intrinsic value gave precise sum the europeesche which specialises travel and recreation insurance had premium income mln guilders stad rotterdam premium income was billion guilders making the fifth largest dutch insurer europeesche made loss nine mln guilders which narrowed mln guilders van leeuwen said said the company was course for independent recovery and was expected reduce its losses further reuter acq duffour igon gives backing aga takeover bid french industrial gas group duffour igon has decided back the takeover bid swedish industrial gases group aga aga ending lengthy battle between rival bidders from france spain and west germany duffour igon chairman jean igon said the board agreed late last night back the aga bid and advise its shareholders accept the swedish group latest offer francs per share told reuters the other main bidders were union carbide corp french subsidiary union carbide france and west germany linde ling aga topped rival bids for the gases distribution group may raising its offer francs from francs this was accepted spain carburos metalicos which sold aga six pct duffour igon stock and the right first refusal the remaining nine pct stock holds also won over the french midi pyrenees development authority which agreed sell aga its pct stake duffour igon under aga offer shareholders can either accept cash bid exchange one share duffour igon for one bond nominal value francs with pct coupon issue aga france the bond issue guaranteed the parent aga the takeover battle for the toulouse based company which controls eight pct the french industrial gas distribution market began april with offer francs per share from union carbide france aga offer which puts price mln francs the company closes june and the results will announced july duffour igon shares were quoted yesterday francs with buyers after series suspensions during the takeover tussle they traded francs january before the first suspension reuter money-fx poehl looks set for eight more years bundesbank for currency dealers karl otto poehl the scourge speculators for bankers the man who has played key role shaping the world financial destiny for the last seven years and for germans the guardian the mark president the powerful and independent west german central bank the bundesbank poehl likely have his contract renewed for another eight years when expires the end this year government officials say index economic spotlights see page ecra but official announcement has yet been made raising eyebrows west germany business community the ebullient poehl spent seven years bonn top ministerial posts under the social democrats now opposition before moved the bundesbank there has been speculation that chancellor helmut kohl would try replace poehl with man closer his own christian democrats but officials noted that poehl has worked closely and successfully with finance minister gerhard stoltenberg since kohl government took office poehl the most senior central banker apart from paul volcker the united states enjoys strong international reputation which would take newcomer years build given these circumstances kohl will probably overlook poehl past adviser former social democrat chancellor willy brandt and top aide helmut schmidt when was finance minister bankers said was schmidt who chancellor appointed poehl his present job recent months with the mark strong rise against the dollar poehl has made exchange rates the central concern the bundesbank council highly conservative institution which has doggedly pursued monetary policies prevent inflation catching hold older germans can remember two bouts galloping inflation this century but with consumer prices falling for much and inflation negligible far this year poehl thinks safe relax the monetary reins little and concentrate the dangers the german economy bloated exchange rate the opinion that efforts stabilise the dollar mark rate have reached high priority also for the bundesbank because further massive revaluation the mark would endanger the economy west germany told business journalists frankfurt recently ute geipel head research citibank says that poehl reappointment would guarantee flexible monetary policy poehl policy has always been policy which does not focus rigidly domestic factors but also the external economy she said economist german bank who declined identified said poehl confirmed his post will certainly plus for the pragmatic course which not rigidly oriented towards money supply one poehl great struggles recently has been persuade the united states stop talking down the dollar for poehl the significance the february louvre accord was that the united states agreed join efforts stabilise currencies the louvre accord was greeted with scepticism currency dealers who said they would soon put the test but fact the dollar has been relatively stable since the pact this because the markets know perhaps because they don know what the central banks can poehl says intervention currency markets which can quickly turn rates round making speculator position worthless poehl was born and worked financial journalist the before starting his ministerial career relaxed sun tanned figure who enjoys cracking jokes over glass beer hardly stereotype central banker also keen sportsman who likes watch football and play golf poehl says currency market intervention cannot substitute for correct economic policies exchange rates are imbalanced but you can achieve enormous effect with small amount you strike the right moment said bundesbank dealers are very professional and skilled they burnt the fingers many people said and unlike the speculators poehl notes the bundesbank dealers usually make profit reuter bop finland current account deficit qtr finland current account balance payments showed deficit billion markka first quarter against deficit billion the same period last year the bank finland said statement reuter earn rue raises annual profits pct year ended march fin div making shr pretax profit mln stg mln net mln mln turnover mln mln net interest payable mln mln profit share related companies mln mln note the rue plc dlar proposes offer ordinary shareholders the opportunity receive their dividends the form new shares alternative cash reuter sugar china seen unlikely raise sugar imports china will not increase sugar imports substantially this year because foreign exchange constraints and large stocks despite falling production and rising domestic demand traders and the official press said despite rapid increases domestic production over the last years imbalances between supply and demand continue extremely serious the farmers daily said said plantings fell due removal crop incentives because farmers could earn more from other crops and because technical and seed improvements had not been widely disseminated the official press had estimated the sugar crop november march mln tonnes down from mln year earlier and domestic consumption six mln tonnes year the yunnan sugar harvest was record tonnes the provincial daily said gave year earlier figure output guangxi was mln tonnes the new china news agency said without giving year earlier figure the nanfang daily said production guangdong province fell estimated mln tonnes from mln and that the area under sugar was dropping supply cane guangdong inadequate the newspaper said processing costs are rising and the economic situation nearly all the mills not good guarantee supply cane major problem western diplomat said sugar output also fell fujian south china fourth major producer where there was drop area planted said the rural sectors guangdong and fujian were wel developed enabling farmers choose crops according the maximum return meaning that many had avoided sugar the farmers daily said peasant the ortheast province heilongjiang could gross yuan from one hectares soybeans and yuan from one corn but only from one sugarbeet the paper said the profit margin mills china fell pct last year from pct mills lacked the capital modernise and they competed with each other for raw materialsx added this resulted falling utilisation rates big mode nised mills the price sugar had not changed years the official press has said customs figures showed china imported mln tonnes sugar calendar down from mln the diplomat said stocks end august were mln tonnes from year earlier foreign trader here said china accumulated large stocks when provincial authorities were allowed import sugar their own authority this practice was stopped when the central government resumed control imports china lacked storage much these imports was stored qinghai inner mongolia and other inland areas the diplomat said the trader said transporting stocks from these areas consumers east and south china was problem particularly coal had priority how quickly they can move the sugar one factor determining import levels said another factor was the quality the harvest cuba china major supplier through barter trade said china bought two distress cargoes last week for about dlrs tonne added china not desperate buyer now but the cuban harvest bad will have into the open market japanese trader said peking major concern regarding imports was price while the foreign trade situation has improved this year foreign exchange restraints persist said the diplomat said domestic demand was rising about five pct year but communist government much better position regulate demand than capitalist one the foreign exchange situation demands reuter ship kuwait rejects iranian spy boat charges kuwait target iranian anger over the emirate backing for iraq the gulf war today rejected charges that fishing vessels seized recently iran were spy boats there are bases truth the contents the iranian accusation the nature the operations the vessels recently taken into custody iran these vessels were out fishing the foreign ministry said statement said iranian charge affaires mohammad baqeri was summoned the ministry yesterday confer with foreign undersecretary suleiman majed shaheen the iranian news agency irna said sunday iran had seized seven kuwaiti speed boats and detained their crew who confessed spying for iraq under the cover fishing said the boats were intercepted the khur abdullah waterway which separates kuwait and iraq faw peninsula the head the gulf captured iran last year the kuwaiti response came iranian envoys toured gulf arab states saying responsibility for security and stability the waterway was regional matter senate team was scheduled today meet kuwait crown prince and prime minister sheikh saad abdulla sabah and the defence and oil ministers today foreign ministry statement carried the kuwait news agency kuna said the recent detention kuwaiti fishing vessels iran was not the first tehran the past had held back number vessels kuwait had sought release through diplomatic contacts said however kuwait perplexed that this time the iranian charges are accompanied accusations that the vessels were undertaking espionage activities said shaheen condemned the detentions and accusations and asked tehran free all fishing boats and sailors held iran the statement said reuter crude saudi arabia will not agree mad oil price rise saudi arabia oil minister hisham nazer said riyadh would not agree cut oil prices and would not accept mad increase that would drive consumers away told riyadh newspaper saudi arabia follows balanced petroleum policy does not approve decrease prices from current levels and also does not accept mad increase that would drive consumers away and make them try and find alternative sources for energy opec agreed last december cut production after world prices hit new lows they agreed pricing system aimed stabilise the market around dlrs barrel opec scheduled meet vienna june where will review its current oil price and production policy saudi arabia king fahd said last month that wanted oil prices remain stable for the next two years saudi arabia the architect the current pricing and production pact which backed kuwait and the uae the current pact set production ceiling for first half mln bpd and implemented fixed prices based dlrs barrel average reuter money-fx taiwan curbs inflows foreign exchange taiwan central bank announced that from today the overseas foreign exchange borrowings local and foreign banks would frozen the level they reached the end may the central bank statement added that the measure would effective until the end july bankers said the measure designed curb the inflow foreign exchange and slow the growth money supply they added that the move which sparked record single day plunge the local stock market would limit their ability lend foreign exchange importers and exporters foreign exchange borrowings local and foreign banks reached almost billion dlrs the end april according official statistics last week the central bank said that from today would reduce its purchase forward dollars from banks pct from pct the value the contract said the move was needed because distortions the foreign exchange market exporters nervous about the appreciating taiwan dollar have been heavily selling forward dollars the interbank market avoid exchange rate losses official figures show that forward dollar sales may reached record almost six billion dlrs against billion april all taiwan foreign exchange earnings must converted into local dollars boosting money supply time booming exports money supply rose seasonally adjusted pct the year end april raising fears higher inflation march the central bank clamped tight restrictions remittances foreign exchange companies and individuals taiwan move curb inflows speculative money economists and bankers estimate that the rising value the local dollar has attracted about ten billion dlrs speculative money into taiwan since early last year has flowed mainly from hong kong japan and the since september the taiwan dollar has risen about pct against the dollar bankers said the government efforts stabilise the foreign exchange market were prelude lifting all curbs capital outflows the central bank has said the controls will dropped the end july early august foreign exchange dealers said today announcement caused jitters the market with foreign and local banks making heavy purchases dollars they said the central bank sold about mln dlrs taiwan stock market plunged record points close reuter reserves reserves rise underlying billion dlrs may billion april official reserves reserves show record underlying rise may britain gold and currency reserves rose record underlying billion dlrs may following april billion dlrs increase the treasury said the underlying trend indicates the level recent bank england intervention currency markets curb sterling strength was above market expectations which had been for rise between one billion and three billion dlrs the treasury declined comment the figures actual reserves rose billion dlrs may compared with april billion increase total value billion dlrs compared with billion the end april borrowings under the exchange cover scheme were mln dlrs against april mln repayments under the scheme were mln dlrs after mln previously with capital repayments eight mln after three mln last month repayments government debt amounted mln dlrs the underlying reserves increase net borrowings and repayments was larger than the previous record billion dlrs rise seen october the may increase represents the seventh monthly rise with reserves billion dlrs that period and billion since the start reuter interest nakasone sumita agree discount rate cut not appropriate now central bank sources interest nakasone sumita agree rate cut not appropriate prime minister yasuhiro nakasone today agreed with bank japan governor satoshi sumita that further cut the discount rate was not appropriate present central bank sources said they told reuters the two discussed the subject routine meeting sumita told nakasone did not feel rate cut was appropriate and nakasone expressed his understanding the sources said currency dealers have speculated that japan and west germany might come under pressure next week venice summit cut interest rates boost their economies nakasone but not sumita due attend the summit reuter trade japan concerned trade threats minister japan disappointed the recent threats trade retaliation from the european community just the trade situation between the two improving japanese trade and industry minister hajime tamura said deeply concerned that the has moved take harsher line toward japan despite this tangible improvement said speech prepared for delivery the opening new centre designed improve understanding between the two sides last week foreign ministers the nations agreed impose tariffs range unspecified japanese electrical goods unless tokyo opened its markets more exports tamura referred pct rise japanese imports manufactured goods the year ended march feel this strong step the road balance through expansion while not deny the existence the trade deficit between japan and the believe should rectified not reducing trade through import restrictions export restraints but expanding the overall trade tamura said reuter acq glynwed buys gallaher units for around mln stg glynwed international plc glyn said had bought all the issued shares two companies belonging gallaher ltd subsidiary american brands inc amb deal worth around mln stg the full names the companies purchased from gallaher are formatura iniezione polimeri spa genoa and fip ltd weybridge consideration for the purchases which will based the net asset values per share the companies has yet finalised but some nine mln stg the total represents debt assumed glynwed fip manufacturer valves and other pressure pipe fittings thermoplastics its products are complementary those glynwed subsidiaries durapipe and philmac the acquisitions appreciably develop and strengthen glynwed strategic position the thermoplastic pipework systems market the sale gallaher reflects decision dispose more peripheral businesses proceeds the sale will used the continuing expansion the gallaher group glynwed shares were after the announcement gallaher not quoted the london stock exchange reuter money-fx kuwaiti dinar rates firm aid window open interest rates kuwaiti dinar deposits held firm scattered trading despite central bank decision revive limited funding lines dealers said the central bank which last tuesday shut daily aid window through which lent funds one year reopened the facility for three month money which was available seven pct they said offered one month funds seven pct through swap facilities dealers said today central bank action combined with sales dollars some banks helped ease recent credit squeeze engineered the monetary authority stem rush for the currency arising from attractive interest rates and gulf tension dealers said however one dealer noted the market still unsettled overnight funds bid pct the outset business traded pct before easing liquidity dragged offers down pct the close tomorrow next for which buy sell quotes started pct ended eight spot next was indicated seven after opening bids dealers quoted one week eight seven against early one month rates were the same level after trade eight then dealers quoted three months seven pct and six month one year funds seven six pct they reported offshore offers overnight tomorrow next eight and one year pct towards the close the central bank fixed its dinar exchange rate steady the dollar against yesterday the spot dinar was reuter acq boeing starts argosystems argi bid boeing said has started the dlr per share tender offer for all shares argosystems inc that announced yesterday morning newspaper advertisement the company said the offer withdrawal rights and proration deadline all expire june unless extended the offer not conditioned receipt any minimum number shares boeing said least pct argosystems shares are tendered said will buy all shares but less than pct are tendered said plans buy only pct the offer boeing said less than pct argosystems shares are tendered but the purchase all shares tendered along with the exercise options holds would give over pct argosystems boeing may buy all shares tendered argosystems has granted boeing option buy new shares pct interest dlrs each and shareholders have granted boeing option purchase shares the same price about pct those now outstanding without taking the company option into consideration merger the tender price that has been approved the argosystems board follow the offer reuter acq dumez has united westburne uwi shares dumez investments inc said accepting and paying for shares united westburne industries ltd response its dlr per share tender offer and has extended the offer until june dumez pct owned dumez dump and pct unicorp canada corp unia said the shares represent pct those not controlled westburne international ltd which dumez previously acquired tender reuter acq italy agip petroli buys stake company state oil firm agip petroli spa said has acquired pct stake steuart petroleum independent oil products company financial terms were not disclosed agip petroli subsidiary state energy concern ente nazionali idrocarburi said statement that the remaining pct the firm owned steuart investment holding company that also operates the sectors transportation hotels and insurance the italian firm said steuart petroleum operates primarily the east coast reuter acq carolco crc may bid for lieberman lman lieberman enterprises inc said carolco pictures inc negotiating for the acquisition the pct lieberman shares held the families chairman david lieberman and president harold okinow dlrs each and the deal were concluded public shareholders would offered the same price for their shares lieberman said the carolco bid its public shareholders would cash shareholders could offered securities alternative the offer would occur within about days after the closing the sale the initial pct stake the company said the company said final agreement has not yet been reached the first transaction but negotiations are expected concluded early june present management expected continue operate lieberman the company said lieberman distributes prerecorded music video movies and other products reuter crude saudi arabia opposes drastic change oil price saudi arabia oil minister hisham nazer said riyadh would not agree cut oil prices and would not accept mad increase that would drive consumers away told riyadh newspaper saudi arabia follows balanced petroleum policy does not approve decrease prices from current levels and also does not accept mad increase that would drive consumers away and make them try and find alternative sources for energy opec agreed last december cut production after world prices hit new lows they agreed pricing system aimed stabilize the market around dlrs barrel opec scheduled meet vienna june where will review its current oil price and production policy saudi arabia king fahd said last month that wanted oil prices remain stable for the next two years saudi arabia the architect the current pricing and production pact which backed kuwait and the uae the current pact set production ceiling for first half mln bpd and implemented fixed prices based dlrs barrel average reuter earn hanson trust shows sharply higher half year profit six months ended march share diluted interim dividend pre tax profit mln stg mln net profit mln mln sales billion billion operating profit mln mln interest and other income less central expenses credit mln debit six mln company full name hanson trust plc hnsn operating profit sector consumer goods mln stg mln building products mln mln industrial mln same food mln nil sectors consumer goods mln stg mln building products mln mln food seven mln two mln businesses owned and sold during nil nine mln reuter earn harnischfeger industries inc hph qtr net april end oper shr cts cts oper net sales mln mln orders mln mln half oper shr cts cts oper net mln sales mln mln orders mln mln backlog mln mln note prior year net excludes losses from discontinued operations mln dlrs quarter and mln dlrs half net excludes tax credit dlrs credit reversal dlrs quarter credit dlrs nil half results include syscom corp from december purchase and beloit corp from march purchase orders exclude mln dlrs acquired with syscon acquisition backlog january mln dlrs average shares mln mln quarter and mln mln half income tax provisions dlrs dlrs quarter and dlrs dlrs half current quarter tax rate pct benefited from wisconsin department revenue decision the company said reuter earn seal inc sinc qtr april net shr profit cts loss six cts net profit loss sales half shr profit cts profit cts net profit profit sales mln avg shrs reuter acq eni unit agip petroli buys stake company subsidiary state energy concern ente nazionali idrocarburi entn eni said has acquired pct stake steuart petroleum independent oil products company financial terms were not disclosed agip petroli spa said statement that the remaining pct the firm owned steuart investment holding company which also has interests transportation hotels and insurance the italian firm said steuart petroleum operates primarily the east coast the reuter earn del webb investment properties inc dwpa qtr shr seven cts nine cts net revs reuter acq basix corp bas sell unit cubic cub basix corp said has agreed principle sell the stock its automatic toll systems inc subsidiary cubic corp for about mln dlrs the company said would retain automatic toll assets worth about nine mln dlrs dispose over time the company said completion the transaction subject approval both boards and basix banks and the expiration the hart scott rodino waiting period reuter earn oncor inc oncr qtr loss shr loss cts loss five cts net loss loss sales reuter acq resdel rsdl san bar sbar merger deal resdel industries inc said has agreed acquire san bar corp share for share exchange after san bar distributes all shgares its break free corp subsidiary san bar shareholders share for share basis the company said also before the merger san bar would barry hallamore and lloyd hallamore san bar director corporate development dlrs and dlrs respectviely under agreements entered into october reuter ship colombo defend waters india readies flotilla sri lanka today ordered its armed forces defend the island territorial waters india prepared send flotilla with relief supplies that colombo says does not want for the tamils the jaffna peninsula the sudden crisis between sri lanka and its giant neighbour deepened prime minister ranasinghe premadasa told parliament have our territorial limits and nobody can allowed trespass there president junius jayewardene has ordered the army navy and air force protect the island and its territorial waters premadasa said round applause from the house new delhi indian spokesman said the plan send flotilla small unarmed boats with red cross supplies jaffna tomorrow would ahead despite colombo objections the confrontation was the latest result the long and bitter conflict between sri lanka buddhist sinhalese majority and the hindu tamil minority which has strong ethnic and cultural links with india mln tamils reuter money-fx lawson says louvre currency accord satisfactory the louvre agreement the group seven finance ministers and central bankers stabilise currencies has worked well and needs fundamental strengthening the economic summit venice june chancellor the exchequer nigel lawson said previewing the summit which expected would not produce any major new economic initiatives lawson told reporters work remained done improving the conditions for lasting world economic growth side measures boost growth said think possible that there may scope for further reduction interest rates germany added but stressed that had had indication that such move was likely made mention japanese interest rates lawson said the should embark gradual reduction its fiscal deficits over the next two three years said the february louvre accord had produced satisfactory exchange rate stability part thanks heavy coordinated intervention group seven central banks and was content with sterling exchange rate pointing the record billion stg rise may currency reserves announced today said have been playing very full part ourselves have been intervening very much greater extent than had done hitherto lawson said there was risk that the louvre agreement may falter member states did not implement the macro economic commitments underlying the accord certainly would more difficult maintain exchange rate stability countries are seen not implement their commitments paris this respect said the budget deficit was very important noting the billion yen economic package announced japanese prime minister yasuhiro nakasone last week lawson said what really needed japan increase merchandise imports supply side measures are critical there specific range consumer and agricultural goods where they have extremely restrictive regime which wholly unjustified said lawson doubted that tokyo partners would indulge japan bashing the summit especially after the economic stimulation package and the announcement nakasone plans increase japanese development aid over the next three years japan more flexible stance tokyo stock exchange membership would also help deflect criticism said said thought west germany would instead come under pressure the summit adopt similar stimulation measures jack faltering economic growth this respect lawson said hoped bonn would bring forward january part its agreed package tax cuts scheduled for also called bonn push ahead with the privatisation german national industries debt lawson said expected three point british plan alleviate the burden the poorest sub saharan countries make progress venice the plan involving concessional rescheduling sovereign debt the paris club was first proposed the imf and world bank meetings washington earlier this year lawson said would seek consolidate political backing for the plan the venice summit and hoped the programme would finalised the autumn meetings the imf and world bank welcomed the recent moves citicorp and chase manhattan increase sharply their third world debt provisions first blow for realism second because the market response has shown that banks have much less fear from this sort move than they felt before citicorp said banks should follow bank england recommendations strengthening their balance sheets and making more provisions they have done some extent they need more lawson said adding was the banks themselves determine the appropriate size provisions also said the dismantling farm subsidies would discussed the summit there consensus which have push further reuter acq centel cnt completes sale centel corp said completed the sale its water properties serving customers four southwestern kansas communities central kansas utility columbia terms were not disclosed reuter acq csr says proceeding with offer for monier csr ltd csra intends proceed with its planned bid for building materials group monier ltd mnra despite the counter bid from equiticorp tasman ltd etl csr executive director gene herbert told reuters etl said today would offer dlrs each for monier issued capital mln shares plus share alternative this compares with dlr cash element csr proposed bid the proposed offer etl controlled new zealand entrepreneur allan hawkins came after built pct stake monier mln dlr share raid recent days herbert said britain redland plc rdld which holds just under pct monier still supported the csr bid and had told csr not seller said redland wanted maintain and build its operations australia and the where monier has built strong presence notably roofing tile manufacture the csr offer contains put and call option agreement with redland this enables redland accept the csr bid within six months its close lift its stake pct the same period and run monier joint venture with csr csr has said that redland will take the second option etl has declined say why intervened monier beyond describing long term investment etl would bring synergies monier unlike csr which leader building materials herbert said fit better with monier said csr has said that will concentrate development its core businesses sugar and building materials after its moves into energy several years ago asked what thought etl bid sought achieve herbert said puzzled what hawkins strategy one has wonder monier the main target herbert said csr had plans raise its bid and said higher price would difficult justify fundamentals monier was trading dlrs when csr launched its original bid times earnings late april the shares closed dlrs today down cents yesterday after etl withdrew reaching the top foreign shareholding level permitted without foreign investment review board firb approval its bid subject firb approval herbert also said that institutions which are more likely accept share alternative than cash would have judge the respective values etl and csr shares etl the third group become involved possible acquisition monier this year redland held discussions possible takeover before the csr bid emerged but the negotiations foundered the price share analysts said that for this reason they did not think etl intervention would flush out full redland bid although monier ultimate fate rests its hands redland still the driving seat said tim cohen ord minnett ltd adding that redland would happier having csr partner running monier than etl monier independent directors have recommended etl bid reuter earn comp card international inc cucd qtr periods ended april shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln note net includes gain dlrs seven cts share from tax loss carryforwards reuter acq montrose holding acquire virginia federal virginia federal savings and loan association said has signed definitive agreement acquired montrose holding affiliate montrose capital corp for mln dlrs virginia federal and montrose capital said the agreement provides for the conversion virginia federal from mutual stock association and the purchase pct its stock for mln dlrs montrose according the companies virginia federal has over mln dlrs assets and operates branches virginia virginia federal said the proceeds would enable provide increased mortgage and lending services and enable the company compete more effectively the virginia market the companies said the agreement subject federal home loan bank board approval expected later this year additionally the companies said the converted association would managed board directors consisting the six current virginia federal directors and two representatives montrose holding the senior management virginia federal was expected continue office after the conversion the companies said reuter cpi brazil sarney renews call for war inflation president jose sarney today declared war without quarter inflation and said the government would watch every cent public expenditure sarney addressing his cabinet live television also reiterated that intended remain power for five years until there has been long running political debate about how long his mandate should brazil currently suffering from the worst inflation its history april monthly inflation reached pct reuter gnp pakistan says good economic growth continues pakistan says its economy has continued its recent outstanding performance during the financial year ending june but areas like balance payments investments and energy were causing concern gdp grew line with the average growth rate since and the inflation rate was the lowest since according government economic survey the reform economic regulation had gathered momentum and there was impressive performance five point government program for rural uplift education and poverty alleviation said the survey ministry economic adviser qazi alimullah told news conference that before recent unseasonal rains and hailstorms damaged the wheat crop gdp growth was calculated pct compared pct said the figure might now slide down little around pct the survey said monetary expansion was estimated nine pct date but might rise around pct the year end alimullah said exports rose pct billion dlrs from billion dlrs but the the same time home remittances pakistanis abroad dropped billion dlrs from the level billion more exports and improvement the balance payments situation will required overcome this declining trend home remittances said the survey said the trade deficit was expected fall billion dlrs from three billion dlrs because the boost exports said national investment continued small because poor rate savings about pct gdp said more savings were required maintain possibly step the present growth rate and finance the country seventh five year development plan launched july reuter interest bank france leaves intervention rate unchanged pct official cocoa icco buys tonnes cocoa for buffer stock the international cocoa organization icco buffer stock manager bought tonnes cocoa today for the buffer stock traders said the cocoa believed have been entirely made second hand material they added such purchase would bring cumulative buffer stock purchases tonnes reuter acq acme precision acl buyout bid dropped acme precision products inc said management group has withdrawn six dlr per share leveraged buyout offer acme said the management group dropped its bid due continued weakness the machine tool industry and acme precision operating results and the inability the management group obtain modifications terms its financing commitment said the effect these factors led the management group conclude that the six dlr per share price was excessive under current conditions reuter earn pep boys manny moe and jack inc pby qtr may two net shr cts eight cts net sales mln mln note share adjusted for three for one stock split payable july holders record july one reuter acq elders happy leave carling shares outstanding elders ixl ltd elxa says happy leave preferences shares brewer carling keefe ltd outstanding after undisclosed bidder made offer acquire all carling outstanding preferred stock elders which owns pct carling outstanding common shares previously proposed redeem the carling series preferred shares canadian dlrs each and redeem the series preferreds dlrs share the series and preferred shares carry vote while dividends are paid elders says neither nor carling knows the identity the bidder for carling preferred shares may the bidder offered acquire the carling preferred for dlrs for each series and dlrs for each series share elders said leaving the carling preferred shares outstanding will not affect ongoing plans the company series preferred shareholders had previously rejected carling proposal redeem the shares and series preferred shareholders meeting was adjourned june reuter carcass chicken not main salmonella cause official says representative the poultry industry said statistics showed that chicken less frequently the cause salmonella poisoning than beef dairy products salads and other mixed foods kenneth may president holly farms poultry industries and director the national broiler council told house agriculture subcommittee the incidence salmonella chicken has not increased recent years and that chicken neither the major source the bacterial poisoning nor the cause increase outbreaks the disease may said the center for disease control figures showed that between and chicken was involved four pct all salmonellosis outbreaks while beef accounted for ten pct outbreaks and dairy products six pct may said the remaining outbreaks were caused salads and mixed food turkey seafood pork eggs and other foods may said the chicken industry favored moving away from bird bird inspection procedures risk assessment system better able identify microbial and bacterial contamination poultry however ellen haas executive director public voice for food and health policy said bird bird inspection should retained and labels should attached each ready cook chicken remind consumers about preparation procedures necessary avoid illness haas also called for review present chicken industry inspection methods that she said can worsen poultry hazards reuter acq jones and vining jnsv starts bid for shares jones and vining inc said has started tender offer for all its own shares five dlrs per share the company said will hold special meeting july for vote approval merger the tender price said the price paid the tender and merger could reduced any fees and expenses the court may award counsel for the plaintiffs the class action suit brought against delaware chancery court ronda inc the plaintfiffs counsel are seeking fees cts per share jones and vining said the company said the court has scheduled hearing the proposed settlement the suit for july eight the company said the start the tender offer and the calling the special meeting are conditions the settlement and completion the tender and merger are conditioned final approval the settlement reuter acq healthsouth hsrc makes acquisition healthsouth rehabilitation corp said has acquired pine island sports medicine center fort lauderdale fla and will incorporate the facility into its healthsouth rehabilitation center fort lauderdale which now under construction and should operation mid summer terms were not disclosed reuter acq banc one one makes indiana acquisition banc one corp said has completed the acquisition first national bank bloomington ind which has assets mln dlrs reuter acq orion broadcast obgi buys ford unit orion broadcast group inc said its majority owned orion financial services corp subsidiary has agreed purchase realty services inc from ford motor for dlrs cash and notes said closing expected within days after receipt regulatory approvals provides loan collection accounting data processing and administrative services the real estate industry reuter earn phh group inc phh qtr april net shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion note prior year restated reflect results from current year acquisitions reuter money-fx lawson calls intervention proof stability goal the scale foreign exchange intervention the bank england has carried out recently clear proof britain determination stabilise exchange rates agreed between the group seven industrialised countries paris february chancellor the exchequer nigel lawson said saying was content with sterling current value lawson told reporters wanted maintain the exchange rate stability have all signed for declined say favoured rise fall from present sterling levels may currency reserves out today showed record billion stg rise pointing massive currency intervention april reserves rose hefty billion stg pointing the reserves data lawson said have been playing very full part ourselves meeting our commitments toward exchange rate stability agreed paris wish see stability continuing added asked which techniques were available preserve stability lawson said both central bank intervention and interest rate changes could used tackle the market pressures there are from time time interest rate stability not objective that sense rates have moved and down times added lawson said expected intervention sterilised draining excess sterling liquidity from the market through new issues government securities and foreign currency sales when the market allowed this would limit the inflationary impact intervention said sterilisation will dictated market tactics not necessarily the month which intervention occurs lawson said confident that can sterilise this scale reuter earn gulf and western inc qtr april net shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln six mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion reuter trade turkish trade deficit widens april turkey trade deficit widened mln dlrs april from mln march and mln april the state statistics institute said the deficit for the first quarter widened billion dlrs from billion year earlier april exports totalled mln dlrs compared with imports billion exports the first four months were worth billion dlrs compared with imports billion reuter earn united financial banking ufbc qtr net shr four cts cts net note full name united financial banking cos inc net includes loan loss provision nil dlrs reuter earn brown group inc qtr may net shr cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs reuter crude energy secretary sees higher oil prices energy secretary donald hodel said expects oil prices rise significantly the year probably around dlrs barrel current dollars anticipate significant increase thirty three dlrs barrel not unreasonable hodel told the senate energy committee hodel said the loss some domestic oil production through the shutdown stripper barrels day less wells because low prices was probably permanent said was also concerned the decline domestic oil exploration hodel urged congress approve oil exploration section the arctic national wildlife refuge alaska said geologic condtions the area were favorable for the discovery oil fields equal those nearby prudhoe bay reuter earn northwest teleproductions nwtl qtr net shr cts cts net sales year shr cts cts net sales mln reuter acq judge decide burlington bur several days district court judge eugene gordon said will decide the next few days whether grant burlington industries inc request stop takeover samjens acquisition corp not know how come down this preliminary injunction gordon said after listening arguments attorneys for days been long time since was deluged with much information have been have consider what been presented and issue opinion this both sides cannot winners said burlington requested the injunction stop takeover effort samjens claiming the partnership used illegally obtained confidential information about the company make its offer also alleges there would anti trust violations samjens formed asher edelman and dominion textiles inc canada were succeed samjens last week topped dlr per share offer for burlington from morgan stanley group one dlr per share morgan stanley made its billion dlr bid after samjens bid dlrs per share for burlington burlington lawyers told the court the injunction not granted samjens would win control burlington samjens lawyer argued that the judge granted the injunction would kill the offer jay greenfield attorney for samjens said the partnership would suffer irreparable harm the injunction were granted there only one burlington said cannot get that then amount money can compensate greenfield also said samjens could sell its holdings burlington for mln dlrs don want that not this for the money said irving nathan burlington lawyer reiterated that information provided james ammeen former burlington executive was crucial dominion decision attempt takeover burlington dominion relied the information provided the insider jim ammeen nathan said attorney for ammeen who named defendant asked the court dismiss the lawsuit against his client the judge said would not rule the request today reuter acq allegis aeg sell canadian hotels allegis corp said has created limited partnership sell selected hotels canada the public said the offering expected raise excess mln canadian dlrs and will completed the end september the limited partnership will similar the westin hotels limited partnership completed last year when allegis sold westin hotels san francisco and chicago allegis reported pretax gain mln dlrs result that partnership allegis spokesman said the offerings have been planning stages for long time and are unrelated recent corporate developments such the firm recapitalization plan and threatened takeover investor group lead coniston partners and the pilots its united airlines unit the spokesman said the company has not yet identified which its canadian hotels will offered for sale allegis has pct ownership westin hotels vancouver calgary ottawa and toronto and pct interest hilton international hotels toronto and montreal owns pct the westin edmonton richard ferris chairman allegis said statement the hotel limited partnerships allow the company convert unrecognized asset appreciation into cash with the proceeds from the earlier limited partnership the money will used for general corporate needs the spokesman said merrill lynch capital markets and wood gundy will lead underwriters for the public offering the limited partnership will offered outside the allegis said reuter acq raycomm transworld racm make acquisition raycomm transworld industries inc said has agreed principle subject board approvals acquire spiridellis consulting group inc privately held computer services consulting firm for number common shares determined based pretax earnings spiridellis over five year period the company said will gaurantee that almost all the issued shares will attain price levels ranging from five nine dlrs each for two years after their issuance said spiridellis had revenues dlrs calendar reuter acq mmm acquires control data cda unit minnesota mining and manufacturing said acquired computerized hospital information systems business from control data corp terms were not disclosed the business which has employees and supplies computers and software for hospital information systems will integrated into hospital software business control data said the divestiture was part its strategy focus narrower markets reuter crude lukman sees stable oil price for next couple years the current crude oil price between and dlrs barrel will remain stable over the next couple years rising only one two dlrs barrel per annum keep with inflation opec president rilwanu lukman said lukman who was speaking during talks with swedish trade officials said the stable price depended upon output restraint both opec and non opec oil producers swedish government officials said they said lukman who also nigerian oil minister made the remarks whilst talking about the connection between third world debt and industrialised nations crude oil output controls did not necessarily mean higher energy bills for the world industrial nations lukman said although very low oil prices such those seen around the beginning the year may appear beneficial for the industrial countries that depend imported energy they would only lead wastage and overdependence the fuel the long term said this turn would bring swing back extremely high prices added sweden heavily dependent imported oil suffered major crisis the mid when oil prices spiralled reuter alum alcan reduces cost planned smelter alcan aluminium ltd said has cut the expected cost its planned laterriere quebec smelter using enhanced grande baie reduction technology the company said the decision use prebaked anode technolgy used its grande baie quebec and sebree smelters was taken primarily for cost reasons result said the estimated total cost the planned smelter will held mln dlrs the low end the range estimated mid may while the cost the first phase was cut mln dlrs from the projected mln dlrs reuter gnp german experts say further economic stimulus the west german government independent council economic experts believes further stimulation the economy inappropriate government spokesman friedhelm ost said statement released ost after meeting chancellor helmut kohl and senior government officials with the council said the experts believed ecomomic growth two pct was achievable added the council believed intensification the already expansionary stimulation monetary and financial policy not called for ost statement said experts believed further pressure west germany adapt external economic factors would not increase the government regularly uses the term changed external economic factors when referring the fall the dollar which has severely damaged west german exports bonn officials have said they expect exports pick during the year but could still fall below the level along with other leading industrial countries west germany agreed package measures meeting paris february aimed stemming the fall the dollar the stance taken the experts backs the official position the west german government ahead next week seven nation summit venice where bonn expected pressed the and other partners boost its economy west german government officials have stressed bonn not position stimulate growth further since tax cuts due next year and are already stretching the budget the bundesbank has also ruled out quick cut official interest rates although sees market rates continuing low the experts prediction for economic growth this year between and two pct slight downward revision from forecast made last november when two pct growth was forecast many independent forecasters have revised down predictions light the downturn exports the government itself has said expects growth just under two pct compared with pct expansion reuter earn royal bank canada qtr april net shr basic cts dlrs shr diluted cts cts net six mths shr basic dlrs dlrs shr diluted dlrs dlrs net loans billion billion deposits billion billion assets billion billion avg shrs mln mln reuter carcass usda official urges chicken handling labels former agriculture department official urged the department require that packages chicken labeled with handling and cooking instructions protect the public from disease carol tucker foreman president foreman and heidepriem and former assistant secretary agriculture for food and consumer services told house agriculture subcommittee every hour every day americans become victims chicken contaminated with salmonella she said every two and half weeks american dies salmonellosis complications arising from and the incidence poisoning from poultry has increased steadily over the past several years foreman said usda should follow national academy sciences recommendation label chicken packages remind consumers preparation procedures necessary avoid illness she urged usda require that birds washed thoroughly before they are defeathered and that defeathering machines cleaned several times day that birds condemned their intestines are punctured there visible fecal contamination and that chiller water changed more often kenneth blaylock president the american federation government employees said poultry industry recommendation move away from the current bird bird inspection could prove disastrous said strengthened bird bird inspection with slower line speeds was the foundation upon which new inspection techniques should overlaid reuter acq century ccc buy puerto rican century communications corp said had entered into agreement acquire all the assets community cable vision puerto rico associates and its associated companies for about mln dlrs century said anticipates that media partners which jointly owns with century company called cable television greater san juan will join acquisition and management community cable century said community cable located san juan puerto rico reuter trade weighs lifting japanese trade curbs the white house has completed new review japanese semiconductor trading practices but has not yet decided whether trade sanctions levied against japan last april should lifted officials said they said the president economic policy council looked japan adherence the japanese semiconductor pact yesterday and that announcement may made shortly but there was hint what the announcement might officials have said the pct tariffs mln dlrs japanese exports could modified japan was found honoring portion its semiconductor pact but they also noted that the white house has said was unlikely the tariffs would lifted before the meeting the world seven major economic powers venice june the officials added that while the curbs complicated japanese economic cooperation they did serve blunt congressional criticism that the reagan administrtation was not taking tough actions reduce trade deficit reagan imposed the sanctions april retaliation for japan failure honor commitments end dumping semiconductors world markets less than production costs and open its own market goods the sanctions were levied certain japanese television sets personal computers and hand held power tools reagan imposing the curbs said they would lifted soon there was evidence pattern that japan was adhering the pact reuter interest house speaker wright concerned interest rate rise under greenspan crude energy secretary sees higher oil prices energy secretary donald hodel said expects oil prices rise significantly the year probably around dlrs barrel current dollars anticipate significant increase thirty three dlrs barrel not unreasonable hodel told the senate energy committee hodel said the loss some domestic oil production through the shutdown stripper barrels day less wells because low prices was probably permanent said was also concerned the decline domestic oil exploration hodel urged congress approve oil exploration section the arctic national wildlife refuge alaska said geologic condtions the area were favorable for the discovery oil fields equal those nearby prudhoe bay the area could contain potentially recoverable oil resources more than billion barrels amount nearly equal the prudhoe bay oil field which currently provides almost one fifth domestic production hodel said said production from the new section could begin about the time prudhoe bay production begins decline without endangering caribou other wildlife the area reuter reserves danish reserves rise billion crowns may denmark net official reserves rose billion crowns may from billion april against billion may the central bank said its monthly balance sheet report total net reserves including reserves held commercial and major savings banks and corrected for exchange rate adjustments rose billion crowns may from billion april against billion may the bank said statement that public loan transactions accounted for net capital import billion crowns may with net registered private capital imports billion this the net sale danish crown bonds other countries totalled about billion crowns there was balance between the purchase and sale foreign securities the statement added the central bank said that figures for private bank reserves and registered capital movements were provisional and there was estimate yet unregistered movements therefore not possible this basis draw conclusions about the developments the external current account the statement added reuter acq stewart stew sells plant sara lee sle stewart sandwiches inc said has sold its coffee roasting plant sara lee corp superior coffee and foods subsidiary for undisclosed terms the company said superior will become the exclusive packer squire labeled coffee products which are marketed stewart and stewart will provide equipment service and distribution suppoort for some superior coffee accounts reuter earn aep industries inc aepi qtr april shr cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs half shr cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs note current year net both periods includes nonrecurring gain dlrs reuter acq ncnb ncb merge with centrabank ncnb corp said the board governors the federal reserve system approved its application merge with centrabank inc baltimore expected completed july the company said the board approval included the dismissal protest the baltimore based maryland alliance for responsible investing against ncnb performance under the community reinvestment act the company said maryland alliance wanted the merger blocked the grounds that ncnb inadequately served the credit and financial needs low income and minority communities its markets the company said denied the claim reuter acq spectra physics spy mulls sale restructure spectra physics inc said considering the possibility recapitalizing restructuring seeking buyer for the company following its rejection unsolicitied dlr share bid from ciba geigy corp filing with the securities and exchange commission the san jose calif gas lasers and accessories company also said its board sunday agreed plan that gives top executives bonuses ranging from pct their base salary they stay with the company through august rejecting the takeover proposal the subsidiary swiss based ciba geigy the company said was unfair the spectra physics board voted unanimously with two ciba geigy representatives not participating reject the swiss based chemical and pharmaceutical company takeover bid citing opinion from its financial advsior morgan stanley and inc that inadequate and unfair from financial point view the holders shares the company said the board also authorized special committee and morgan stanley vigorously investigate pursue and authorize any alternatives which would maximize the value shareholders investment the company the company said among the alternatives the special committee will consider are sale the company third party for more than dlrs share recapitalization restructuring including self tender offers and asset dispositions through the use dividends spectra physics said the retention plan for the top officers will pay average bonus percentage pct salary said spectra physics said its board approved the plan order encourage key operating personnel remain with the company during the period turmoil and uncertainty engendered the ciba geigy offer under the plan the executives would entitled their cash bonuses they stay with the company through august but could receive them earlier they are fired for reasons other than gross and willful misconduct they leave the company because their salaries have been sharply cut spectra physics also said filed suit against ciba geigy yesterday district court wilmington del charging with making takeover bid that was false and misleading violation securities law and with violating the intent july standstill agreement spectra physics said ciba geigy indicated the time the standstill agreement that would not make unsolicited takeover proposal for the company and that the intent the agreement was that ciba geigy would not acquire more than pct the company unless there was another takeover threat ciba geigy was pct spectra physics and reliance group holdings rel which controlled new york investor saul steinberg controls pct spectra physics said the agreement prevents ciba geigy from raising its stake beyond pct through jan unless another person get more than pct its voting power reuter acq atlantic richfield arc unit buys technology atlantic richfield said has acquired exclusive worldwide rights the methyl methacrylate technology texas eastern corp halcon group affiliate for undisclosed terms the company said the technology will allow introduce cleaner and more efficient way making methyl methacrylate liquid monomer used make resins for acrylic sheet coatings molded parts and products and plastic impact modifiers arco said reviewing options for commercialization the technology reuter trade shultz welcomes tokyo economic package secretary state george shultz said the billion yen economic package announced tokyo last week went further than the had expected but said the would not lift the selective economic sanctions imposed japanese imports april until tokyo changed its sales policies concerning computer microchips speaking televised news conference linking several european capitals shultz said was heartening that the japanese had confronted the problem stimulating domestic and global demand there even greater amount stimulus than was originally thought said shultz speaking from washington lot more than nothing more than was talked about when prime minister yasuhiro nakasone was here involves major reduction tax rates and believe that getting the tax burden down one way stimulating the economy added but asked japanese reporters also linked into the news conference whether the positive reaction meant the might decide next week venice summit lift its sanctions some japanese electronic goods shultz replied these sanctions were undertaken the basis agreement that had been reached between the united states and japan various sale practices and prices relating the chip market they will lifted the facts change japan the agreement that made become evident said officials had only been able monitor the situation for month and that was impossible determine trend only one month data the imposed pct import duties personal computers colour televisions and power tools alleging that japan had violated last september bilateral agreement selling computer chips below fair market value shultz said west germany and other nations would also well look what they could stimulate demand asked whether the could reasonably ask its allies take action stimulate the world economy without bold american initiative reduce the size the federal budget deficit shultz said moves were already underway tackle the problem said the end the current fiscal year the deficit would probably reduced around billion dlrs against last year and that the budget being worked this year would contain major reduction reuter acq champion home chb sells two properties champion home builders inc said sold the commerce meadows site manufactured housing rental community commerce township michigan for pre tax gain about dlrs and the heron cay site adult community vero beach florida for nominal pre tax gain the company said the sales proceeds will partly used reduce debt said shifting its focus away from the development communities requiring significant equity and having lengthy projected life cycles the company also said along with local landowners and investors will acquire acre tract northtowne meadows the toledo ohio area for development into home sites and three acres commercial land terms the transactions and other parties involved were not disclosed reuter veg-oil acp states say oils tax plan breaks accords developing countries said the european community would breach two international agreements went ahead with its plans for oils and fats tax ambassadors the from african caribbean and pacific acp states told press conference the tax would hit the exports acp countries they said the failed follow consultation procedures laid down the lome convention which regulates relations between acp states and the bloc for moves which could affect trade between the two sides they also said the would breach undertaking not bring new protectionist measures during the current punta del este round world trade negotiations being held under gatt general agreement tariffs and trade auspices the commission has proposed tax european currency units ecus tonne both imported and produced vegetable and marine fats for human consumption which could raise two billion ecus year farm ministers who would have approve such tax are split the issue and are expected decide marathon meeting farm prices beginning luxembourg june jamaican ambassador leslie wilson said acp countries are convinced this would lead industry substituting products made within the bloc for oil and fat imports the acp estimates this would result fall mln ecus its member country exports can believe the would willingly take measures undermine our countries but such would the impact these measures wilson said the and malaysia say their exports would also hit the proposed tax and they may take retaliatory action approved wilson said the acp would take such steps only very last resort but added that the acp touch with other countries which oppose the plan wilson who was chairing the news conference made clear jamaica itself would not hit the tax does not export oils and fats among the worst hit countries would ivory coast senegal nigeria and papua new guinea the acp says reuter earn burlington coat factory bcf qtr net quarter ended may shr cts cts net sales mln mln six mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln sales mln mln note full name burlington coat factory warehouse corp reuter earn cml group inc cmli qtr net qtr ended may shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs nine mths shr dlrs cts net revs mln mln avg shrs reuter acq ball corp bll completes acquisition verac ball corp said completed the acquisition privately held verac inc terms were not disclosed the company said the san diego based defense systems and software development company had sales about mln dlrs and will operate part ball technical products group reuter earn nodaway valley nvco qtr net qtr ended april shr seven cts cts net revs reuter ship need for bigger allied force gulf played down secretary state george shultz said today that boost allied forces the mideast gulf was not vital protect shipping against attack but that possible allied contributions should examined asked saw the need for greater military presence the allies the gulf shultz told reporters not necessarily particularly but said adequate force was needed deter attack and noted that the british and the french well the united states maintained naval contingents there have look things that others might said reuter earn gamma biologicals inc gama qtr march shr profit four cts loss cts net profit loss sales year shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss sales mln mln reuter gold skyline skx expects begin mine july skyline explorations ltd said expects construction can begin next month gold mine johnny mountain camp located miles north vancouver the company said contract has been let for tons per day mill and the company receiving cooperation from provincial and federal agencies its stage one report approval principal which required before actual construction can begin skyline said optimistic the approval principal will received late june which time expects have confirmed threshold tonnage and grade targets construction can begin july skyline said the exploration drift vien east johnny mountain has advanced feet the vein continuous averaging four feet thick plus altered mineralized hanging wall said periodic face samples indicate average grade ounces per ton ore ranging from low ounce per ton high ounces per ton reuter earn london house inc lond year april net shr cts cts net revs avg shrs mln mln reuter acq group has pct distributed logic dlog investor group led technology growth fund ltd aspen colo investment firm said has acquired shares distributed logic corp pct the total and may try influence the company filing with the securities and exchange commission the group which also includes individual investors and non profit foundation said bought the stake for dlrs investment the anaheim calif company but also said investigating the possibility seeking influence the composition the management the company and may increase its stake reuter crude major pipeline may closed several days the operator major crude oil pipeline shutdown because flood damage said may several days before repairs are made and the system functioning again dan stevens manager public and government affairs texaco inc operator the pipeline through its subsidiary texaco pipeline said the company hopes repairs will begin about five days and expects take several more days complete this point are lining what know need get the job done stevens said adding that the timing for repairs will depend the damage the pipeline which difficult assess because flooding the red river the pipeline was shipping roughly barrels crude oil per day about pct its capacity during the days preceding its shutdown saturday stevens said the pipeline was shut down from cushing okla witchita falls kan saturday due undetermined leak the red river crossing near the oklahoma texas border because severe rains spokesman for texaco said stevens said was reasonable suggest the pipeline could operate full capacity when reopens order make for the shortfull but cautioned they will talk with customers determine their requirements oil analysts and traders said they were not sure the shutdown will continue raise oil prices monday after texaco confirmed that the pipeline had been closed west texas intermediate crude the spot market and new york mercantile exchange energy futures complex rose cts barrel stevens said was reasonable suggest the pipeline could operate full capacity when reopens order make for the shortfull but cautioned they will talk with customers determine their requirements oil analysts and traders said they were not sure the shutdown will continue raise oil prices monday after texaco confirmed that the pipeline had been closed west texas intermediate crude the spot market and new york mercantile exchange energy futures complex rose cts barrel reuter acq neti technologies netfc sells subsidiary neti technologies inc said has sold for over four mln dlrs cash notes and the assumption liabilities its huron leasing inc subsidiary group investors headed former huron executive the company said the transaction will yield about two mln dlrs cash huron sells leases and services computer hardware the transaction subject approval the montreal and vancouver stock exchange and the arrangement financing june reuter acq pacificorp ppw buys buys computer firm pacificorp said acquired thomas nationwide computer corp for mln dlrs cash and mln dlrs deferred consideration depending the future performance the company thomas nationwide leases and markets new and used international business machines corp equipment pacificorp said said thomas nationwide will combined with its systems leasing corp unit maclean reuter pet-chem fmc corp fmc peroxide venture fmc corp said has entered into equally owned joint venture with indo thai synthetics called thai peroxide ltd build hydrogen peroxide plant with initial capacity metric tonnes pct peroxide north bangkok the company said the plant expected starft operating the fourth quarter said the venture received grants and incentives from the government thailand reuter acq investment firm ups france fund frn stake vbi corp british west indies investment firm told the securities and exchange commission raised its stake france fund inc shares pct the total from shares pct vbi said bought france fund common shares between april and june prices ranging from dlrs share reuter acq lynch lgl plans offer for becor bcw stock lynch corp said will offer dlrs share cash dlrs subordinated debentures and share new company for each becor western inc share outstanding lynch said its proposed offer substantially improves over the offer dlrs share cash and dlrs senior sinking fund debentures made bcw acquisition inc formed becor management lynch chairman mario gabelli who heads group which owns pct becor mln outstanding shares said the lynch bid about one dlr better than the present offer gabelli previously said filing with the securities and exchange commission felt the becor managment buyout was unfar the lynch officer said was invited other becor shareholders make offer following sale becor aerospace subsidiary february the management group led president william winter announced plans for mln dlr leveraged buyout was planning take becor for about mln dlrs shareholder vote the buyout offer scheduled for june four reuter pet-chem goodrich canada studies plant the quebec government said joined with goodrich canada inc study the feasability building vinyl chloride monomer plant montreal the plant would supply manufacturers pvc construction and other materials eastern canada and the northeastern government officials said theys said the plant would cost about mln canadian dlrs with production beginning economic conditions are right more the quebec government has said wants the project proceed because would provide future demand for petromont inc petrochemical products petromont jointly owned union carbide canada ltd ucc and the quebec government sgf industrial development group its montreal plant would provide ethylene raw material for the project quebec said also wants interprovincial pipe line ltd ipipf adapt its pipeline from sarnia ont montreal carry natural gas liquids decision that will made the federal national energy board said the pipeline could provide petromont with feedstock one third the cost moving rail reuter cocoa icco buffer stock manager buy tonnes cocoa wednesday june official cocoa icco buffer buy tonnes cocoa june the buffer stock manager the international cocoa organization icco will tender for about tonnes cocoa beans wednesday june the icco said statement said all other conditions remain unchanged from the previous announcement these conditions are that offers from registered companies should pounds sterling for cocoa beans for which standard differentials have been set the icco buffer stock rules and can for cocoa afloat through december shipment and spot december arrival delivery the basis position will afloat may july shipment june arrival delivery for later positions the appropriate carrying costs will taken into account the deadline for the receipt offers the manager shall hrs london time gmt the case offers emanating from the secondhand market and hours the case offers emanating from the origins the competitiveness offers will assessed taking into account the standard differentials the cost taking cocoa into store currently pounds sterling from cif landed and pounds sterling from cif shipping weights store and the cost carry which currently pounds sterling per month the icco said more than four offers will considered from each offering party added reuter acq group lifts stake scandinavia fund scf foreign investment group told the securities and exchange commission raised its stake scandinavia fund inc shares pct the total outstanding from shares pct the group which includes ingemar rydin industritillbehor swedish firm vbi corp british west indies investment firm and norwegian investor erik vik said bought scandinavia common shares since april prices ranging from dlrs share reuter copper mueller brass lowers product prices mueller brass said that effective with shipments today adjusting the price all brass mill products except free cutting brass rod and related alloys and copper water tube and related products reflect contained copper values cents pound down two cents reuter fuel fuel storage tanks france burst into flames two people were missing and six injured after tanks containing thousands cubic metres fuel burst into flames today shell storage unit lyon rescue workers said the blaze broke out with explosion around local time gmt shell subsidiary the royal dutch shell group some firemen fought the flames the gasoline storage unit edouard herriot riverside port complex and appeared have the blaze under control night fell the entire southern section lyon was cordoned off the fire destroyed five giant tanks and threatened four others the shell spokesman said said that the company estimated between six and seven thousand cubic metres domestic fuel oil gasoline and additives had been burned the total capacity the burning tanks was over cubic metres but some had been empty when explosion started today fire added reuter acq pay pak pnp receives amended proposal pay pak stores inc said received revision one the two previously disclosed proposals buy the company pay pak said that the proposal from leveraged buyout firm had been amended increase the dividend rate the cumulative preferred stock received pnp shareholders from pct pct previoiusly announced the proposal calls for transaction which pnp shareholders would receive combination dlrs cash and dlrs liquidation value cumulative preferred stock for each common share under the other proposal received from paul bilzerian pnp shareholders would receive blended basis dlrs cash and dlrs liquidation value cumulative redeemable preferred stock for each common share the company said under the bilzerian proposal the dividend rate the preferred stock would set that the joint opinion the financial advisor bilzerian and the financial advisor pay pak the preferred stock would trade its liquidation value fully distributed basis the company said reuter ship protect only american ships military forces the mideast gulf are under orders protect only american flag vessels and occasional arms deliveries other ships non belligerent states the area the pentagon said today one has ever stated supported policy protecting all shipping those waters pentagon spokesman bob sims said the reagan administration drew plans increase the protective military presence the gulf sims denied published reports that defense secretary caspar weinberger sought air cover protect all neutral shipping the western gulf from attacks iran and iraq have said repeatedly only american flag vessels are under our protection with the exception limited case case basis ships carrying our foreign military sales equipment friendly non belligerent states the region sims said warships the gulf two weeks ago protected kuwaiti ship which sailed bahrain with arms for bahrain and kuwait but sims said washington had received assurances that the the arms would not used elsewhere said kuwait which turning oil tankers over firms fly the american flag and protected the warships not considered belligerent despite iranian charges that kuwait supporting iraq the gulf war kuwaiti tankers have come under repeated iranian attack sims refused say how the united states will beef its seven ship middle east task force the gulf protect the kuaiti tankers but pentagon officials said that additional ships and air cover are under consideration reuter acq viacom says federal court rejects request block planned merger crude asamera asm completes refinery sale asamera inc said wholly owned asamera oil inc concluded the mln dlr sale its denver refinery total petroleum north america ltd addition total purchasing crude oil and refined product inventories market value asamera said reuter acq court declines block viacom via merger viacom international inc said the district court for the southern district new york denied the motion carsey werner for temporary injunction block the proposed merger viacom with subsidiary national amusements inc carsey werner the producer the cosby show reuter acq aegon aegn buys life investors shares aegon holding corp unit aegon the netherlands and life investors inc linv said they have purchased about shares life investors common stock for dlrs per share cash the purchase part agreement between the two companies made november saying that before each april between and the companies would offer buy one sixth the number life investors common stock outstanding dec not already owned aegon dec they would offer buy any and all remaining shares reuter acq wesbanco wsbc acquiring bank sissonville wesbanco inc said its board executed merger agreement with the bank sissonville when the merger completed each the shares the bank sissonville common stock outstanding will converted into shares wesbanco common stock the company said the bank sissonville has total assets mln dlrs dec the company said reuter earn municipal financial corp mfc six mths net period ended april shr cts cts shr diluted cts cts net revs mln mln reuter earn commonwealth mortgage ccmc qtr net qtr ends april shr cts cts net dlrs dlrs avg shrs mths shr dlrs cts net dlrs dlrs avg shrs note full name company commonwealth mortgage inc reuter earn aaron rents inc aron year net year ended march shr cts dlrs net rev mln mln reuter acq holllinger hlg paying mln dlrs for buy hollinger inc will pay about mln dlrs cash for its previously reported acquisition privately owned unimedia inc chairman conrad black told reporters after the annual meeting confirming published report commenting press reports about the mln dlr price tag black said that would not wildly inaccurate although declined disclose the actual cost montreal based unimedia quebec third largest newspaper group with three french language daily newspapers quebec city ottawa and chicoutimi quebec and four printing plants ontario and quebec black added that hollinger would also continue seeking acquisitions daily newspapers with circulation under readers said hollinger was currently talking about such newspapers the where the company currently owns dailies there really end the ones that are available told reporters although added that most remaining acquisition opportunities are the said that hollinger pct owned daily telegraph plc london should become profitable this year fourth quarter for full year the daily telegraph could break even better said black citing major reductions labor costs and improved technology the telegraph britain largest circulation quality daily the telegraph lost mln canadian dlrs last year daily telegraph chief executive andrew knight told reporters after the meeting that the telegraph daily circulation had risen since september about weekdays despite added competition from the new independent daily newspaper knight said the independent was not affecting the telegraph growth but was making inroads into the circulation other london quality dailies such the times and the guardian hollinger chairman black predicted hollinger would post net income about mln dlrs one dlr share including extraordinary gains from previous sales discontinued operations hollinger lost mln dlrs dlrs share last year fewer average shares and after extraordinary loss mln dlrs black told shareholders that first quarter operating earnings continuing operations amounted dlrs against year ago loss dlrs revenues continuing operations rose mln dlrs from mln dlrs last year which did not include daily telegraph revenues added consolidated first quarter figures were not disclosed said the daily telegraph first quarter operating loss was sharply reduced from last year reuter nat-gas texas eastern tex unit files for new rates algonquin gas transmission unit texas eastern corp said has filed for federal energy regulatory commission approval new rate schedules said has also filed for proposed service agreements for interruptible and firm transportation service algonquin said the filing would allow its customers move available spot gas supplies price competitive markets reuter iron-steel usx unit raises prices certain grades usx corp uss division said was raising prices for all hot rolled bar and semi finished products series grades dlrs per ton effective july one the company said the increase reflects current market conditions the company could not say what percentage the increase reflects from current prices nor could say how much per ton the products sell for currently reuter trade reagan seeks romania trade concession president reagan called for continued nondiscriminatory treatment for romanian exports the united states the face congressional opposition because the bucharest government record human rights white house statement said reagan decision press for continuation called most favored nation mfn status for romania had been exceptionally difficult and came after all options were seriously considered but the statement said that despite concerns about human rights abuses the bucharest government the president had decided that should continued because helped stimulate emigration from romania and gave the united states influence human rights practices there the statement was issued reagan sent congress requests for one year extensions mfn for romania hungary and china the house representatives has attached trade bill legislation that would temporarily deny mfn for romania pending certification reagan that the country had made progress human rights there controversy over continuation mfn for hungary and china reuter earn timberline industries inc timb qtr net oper shr eight cts two cts oper net sales mln note current qtr figures exclude loss from discontinued operations dlrs two cts per share loss dlrs four cts per share reuter ship last minute opposition gulf bill arises house speaker jim wright predicted passage legislation requiring the reagan administration provide congress with report its mideast gulf policy but last minute revolt alliance liberals and conservatives left the bill fate doubt the legislation was written the wake the may iraqi missile attack the frigate stark the gulf which killed americans and president reagan decision protect kuwaiti oil tankers putting them under flags effectively making them american ships since the administration made known its reflagging plans congressional leaders complained they had not been consulted and some charged the policy could lead the united states into the year old war between iran and iraq the house was vote today bill supported the democratic and republican congressional leadership and the administration which demanded report within seven days plans meet the security needs forces the gulf the resolution was expected pass without controversy today the house foreign affairs committee before the full house was take the bill but surprise move liberal democrats and conservative republicans the committee joined unusual alliance oppose the resolution liberal democrats said lack any restrictions the bill implied consent reagan policies reuter carcass ccc accepts bonus poultry iraq usda the commodity credit corporation ccc has accepted bid for export bonus cover the sale tonnes frozen poultry iraq the agriculture department said the poultry for shipment june september and the bonus was dlrs per tone said the bonus award was made conagra poultry and will paid the form commodities from the inventory ccc stocks the purchase completes the export enhancement initiative for frozen poultry iraq announced december reuter carcass ccc accepts bonus poultry egypt usda the commodity credit corporation ccc has accepted bid for two bonus offers cover the sale tonnes frozen poultry egypt the agriculture department said the poultry for shipment november through august and the bonus was dlrs per tonne for the frozen fryer legs the bonuses were made gress foods inc tonnes and serva international ltd tonnes the subsidies will paid the exporters the form commodities from ccc stocks additional tonnes frozen poultry remain available egypt under the export enhancement program initiative announced dec and feb the department said reuter copper phelps dodge sees stronger copper prices phelps dodge corp officials said good fundamentals copper markets should lead improving prices for the metal interview with reuters chairman robert durham said continued strong demand and low inventories pushed prices eight nine pct the new york commodities exchange last month our customers this country are living off the tailgates our trucks said referring tightness supply and strong demand the fundamentals are good asked metal prices will continue rise durham said all know fundamentals cannot ignored said copper supplies are lower than they have been for almost years last year copper demand was second highest record behind said phelps dodge the nation largest copper company with annual production expected reach tons this year during the interview executive vice president douglas yearley said believed was only matter time before the copper price rose because there aren that many new projects coming and demand short major recession will continue grow modestly copper for july delivery rose more than two cts pound more than cents comex trading today one cent pound rise copper prices yields mln dlrs annual earnings for phelps dodge the company said demand has been surprisingly good construction and other areas yearley said new production later this year from bingham utah mine owned kennecott corp unit british petroleum plc standard oil mine new guinea and phelps dodge own expanded morenci ariz mine will offset production shortfalls mexico and zambia said durham said production costs the new mexico located chino mine will line with conventional copper production the company other mines the fourth quarter the company total production costs including depreciation but before interest and corporate expense should below cts pound late said reuter lumber ccc credit guarantees haiti amended the commodity credit corporation ccc has amended its export credit guarantee program line haiti add one mln dlrs guarantees for sales wood products the agriculture department said the action increases the value export credit guarantees for wood products haiti from mln dlrs and the total value export credit guarantees authorized haiti for the current fiscal year for all commodities mln dlrs the department said all sales must registered and exports completed sept noted reuter earn texas american energy corp tae qtr shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter earn intermetco ltd int six mths april net shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter instal-debt fed release april consumer credit june the federal reserve board said would release april consumer instalment credit figures friday fixed time was set for the release consumer credit fell seasonally adjusted mln dlrs march after rising billion dlrs february reuter acq professor lifts banc texas btx preferred stake university massachusetts finance professor said raised his stake banc texas group inc shares dlr cumulative preferred stock pct the total from shares pct filing with the securities and exchange commission ben shirley branch also said bought shares class cumulative convertible preferred stock pct the total for dlrs bringing his total investment both preferred series about dlrs branch said bought the stock investment but reserved the right try influence the company reuter trade investment crucial textile recovery with more private investment not more protection the textile industry could become competitive with the most modern foreign producers analysts from two congressional agencies said today the office technology assessment nonpartisan arm congress told house ways and means trade subcommittee hearing there was still concern for the future parts the textile and apparel industry but there was more reason for optimism than few years ago while textile producers are making significant investments they could more ota analyst henry kelly said the congressional budget office cbo the nonpartisan budget analysis arm congress said federal loans loan guarantees would preferable options for congress rather than increased trade protection which could lead foreign retaliation cbo analyst edward gramlich said past trade protections first imposed the have had only small benefit for profits and investments domestic firms trade subcommittee chairman rep sam gibbons said the agencies analyses seemed agree with his opinion against congressional approval protectionist textile quota legislation aimed mainly western europe japan and other asian textile producing countries president reagan last year vetoed textile protection bill but was reintroduced this session congress and expected voted the house this year however approval this year doubt because passage major trade bill without specific protections for textiles showed weakening support for the legislation most producers have fallen behind other foreign producers the use modern textile and apparel production equipment and net imports are growing faster than the domestic markets kelly said added that private investment the textile and clothing industry pct was less than one seventh the average manufacturing investment pct despite existing import quotas and tariffs imports textiles grew pct and imports apparel grew pct while production rose only pct the traditional industry seems destined replaced new technology imports some combination both while the industry may not able compete all domestic markets that enjoyed twenty years ago the results our research indicate that portions the domestic market can recovered and that exports can expanded kelly said reuter earn ione inc six months march net shr two cts net revs note company became public march reuter earn atlas yellowknife six mths loss period ended march shr loss nil profit one net loss profit revs note full name atlas yellowknife resources ltd reuter earn woodward ltd wdsa qtr may loss shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss revs mln mln reuter earn commonwealth mortgage inc ccmc qtr qtr ended april shr cts cts net year shr dlrs cts net assets mln mln reuter acq stockholders won pursue continental cuo bid continental associates group four shareholders who hold about pct continental materials corp stock said will not pursue tender offer for all its shares the shareholders said they were told that continental materials directors had interest selling the company late yesterday continental materials board said decided not give further consideration business combination proposed the group louis businessmen reuter reserves treasury publish reserve assets monthly the treasury department said would release data reserve assets monthly basis from now instead quarterly reserve assets are held gold special drawing rights with the internatinal monetary fund foreign currencies and reserve position the imf assets totaled billion dlrs the end april compared with billion dlrs the end march the treasury said reuter coffee mexico has plans leave ico mexico has intention leaving the international coffee organization ico the event brazil withdrawing from the group the mexican coffee institute imc said the imc said statement the ico important instrument for ensuring producers obtain adequate price mexico currently produces around five mln kilo bags coffee per year brazil said during meeting coffee producers rio janeiro over the weekend that would consider leaving the ico its export quota was reduced the organization reuter earn minntech corp mntx qtr mar net opr shr nil seven cts opr net revs avg shrs year opr shr cts cts opr net revs mln avg shrs note earnings for year exclude gains due tax loss carryforward dlrs cts share and dlrs cts reuter ship house passes gulf bill despite opposition the house representatives approved bill that requires the reagan administration provide congress with report its gulf policy but does not place any restrictions its actions the bill passed winning necessary two thirds those voting despite last minute revolt alliance liberal democrats and conservative republicans who sought defeat signal that growing number legislators oppose president reagan policies the region the legislation was passed the wake the may iraqi missile attack the frigate stark the gulf which killed americans and reagan decision protect kuwaiti oil tankers putting them under flags effectively making them american ships the legislation supported congress democratic and republican leadership well the administration required defense secretary caspar weinberger provide report congress within seven days enactment plans protect warships and flag ships the persian gulf did not however place any restrictions the administration proceeds reflag the kuwaiti ships and thus has immediate effect policy the senate was expected approve the legislation this week the bill would then sent reagan for signature supporters the bill said passage the bill was only first step toward greater congressional involvement formulating policy but democratic critics said the bill did not ask the administration address tough policy questions the report reuter crude colombian group suspends bombings pipelines colombian group announced the suspension its bombings oil pipelines pending the government levy social tax foreign petroleum companies and mln dlrs fine the occidental petroleum corp oxy there was indication the government would meet the conditions demanded the leftist national liberation army eln according the state oil firm ecopetrol the eln carried out attacks petroleum pipelines between and the assaults the most recent launched two months ago have caused estimated total mln dlrs damage communique the eln said would demand tax one dollar per barrel crude oil pumped foreign firms condition for maintaining its suspension the assaults foreign oil firms pump average barrels per day colombia colombian tax authorities are investigating occidental owned firm for alleged tax evasion the charges are proven the firm could face fine mln dlrs the eln demands the government charge the penalty reuter acq investment firms have pct midway mdwy two affiliated investment firms told the securities and exchange commission they have acquired shares midway airlines inc pct the total outstanding common stock the firms boston based fmr corp and fidelity international ltd bermuda based investment advisory firm said they bought the stake acquire equity interest the company pursuit specified investment objectives the firms said they may increase decrease their stake the company but have plans seek control the company representation its board reuter acq wickes wix completes purchase wickes cos inc said has completed the purchase dura corp for undisclosed amount dura supplier automotive equipment had annual sales over mln dlrs reuter copper phelps dodge seeks diversify more from copper phelps dodge corp prepared make another large non copper acquisition and deal could struck the near future chairman robert durham said durham told reuters the company was examining potential candidates but not yet talking with any any acquisition must have different economic cycle copper said phelps dodge the largest copper producer last year paid mln dlrs for columbian chemicals which makes carbon black used rubber and tires the purchase was part strategic plan diversify and then match earnings between copper and non copper operations the company could spend between mln and mln dlrs buy another non copper firm durham said citing mln dlrs cash and mln dlrs untapped bank credit reuter acq ball corp bll completes acquisition ball corp said completed the purchase privately held verac inc san diego defense systems and software development company terms the acquisition were not disclosed verac had sales about mln dlrs verac will operate san diego part ball technical products group reuter strategic-metal strong demand for peru bismuth jan may very strong demand from all markets including recently japan has resulted peru bismuth exports showing impressive increase january may peru state owned mining industry marketing arm minpeco said statement released its london office minpeco said peruvian customs figures for bismuth exports for the first five months were tonnes compared with tonnes the same period and tonnes during the whole minpeco said breakdown the figures showed peru exported tonnes bismuth the during jan may compared with during the whole other recipients were peoples republic china holland ussr and other areas tonnes sales the west germany france and other western and eastern european countries are hidden under the heading holland minpeco sells customers these countries from stocks the company normally holds rotterdam the statement said reuter acq freedom frdm recognize gain unit sale freedom savings and loan association said will record net gain mln dlrs the sale certain assets its freedom mortgage subsidiary chase home mortgage corp subsidiary chase manhattan corp cmb freedom also said had completed the sale the company said about mln dlrs the gain will recnogized the quarter ending june with the remainder derferred and recognized over the remaining life the serviced mortgage porfolio reuter carcass meat industry launches campaign japan the meat industry has launched aggressive promotion campaign japan increase consumer awareness beef and persuade the japanese government relax current beef import quotas beef sales japan currently around mln dlrs annually could increase over two billion dlrs and high six billion dlrs the year japanese quotas were removed and the japanese consumer were made more aware the attributes beef officials the meat export federation said press conference today partially funded with mln dlr award made through the agriculture department targeted export assistance tea program five year meat promotion campaign japan was launched the meat export federation april the promising japanese beef market could one the bright spots for agricultural exports said philip seng asian director for the federation supply and they japan buy very high quality beef they like our beef and want buy more said seng pointed japan beef quota system which limits total japanese beef imports tonnes per year and imports tonnes the major constraint expanding beef shipments japan the quotas were implemented time heavy japanese foreign beef imports the current quota agreement expires next march and beef quota negotiations are set get underway this fall the reagan administration has called for end the quotas april but japanese officials have said they would not liberalize imports regardless the pressure officials from the meat export federation told reuters that they not expect complete lifting the quota but that they hope for least gradual increase the quota high beef prices japan caused the protected market has also kept beef consumption modest levels meat industry officials said japanese shoppers pay average dlrs for tenderloin steak restaurant and average dlrs for japanese produced restaurant steak the meat association said the retail level striploin sells for dlrs per pound while japanese beef sells for dlrs per japanese consumers currently eat less than lbs beef per year compared lbs for the average american officials said total beef consumption japan now tonnes per year but seng said with the removal quotas and decrease beef prices consumption could increase mln tonnes reuter earn comp card international inc cucd qtr shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln note net includes seven cts mln dlrs tax loss carryforward reuter earn merchants mchn report qtr loss merchants national corp with billion dlrs assets said will report loss mln dlrs for the second quarter due its decision increase its provision for losses mln dlrs mainly due uncertainties surrounding latin american debt the second quarter last year merchants reported net income mln dlrs cts share result the increased loan loss provision the bank said the allowance for loan losses will increase from pct pct the bank total loans the bank said its expects report estimated net over mln dlrs for reuter alum venezuelan aluminum firm credits the venezuelan state aluminum company venalum negotiating total mln dlr credits from abroad for planned expansion production faciities finance minister manuel azpurua said azpurua spoke reporters after meeting representatives the kreditanstalt fur wiederaufbau kfw bank germany who tommorrow will sign agreement grant mln marks mln dlrs credits venalum the agreement will have eight and one half year term and fixed interest rate pct azpurua said venalum negotiating credits mln dlrs from the swiss bank corporation mln dlrs from mitsubishi japan and mln dlrs from eksportfinans norway this proves are achieving our goal reestablishing the financial flows the country said azpurua the credits would the installation fifth production line venalum one three state aluminum companies which produces primarily for the export market reuter ship house passes mideast gulf bill the house today approved bill requiring the reagan administration report congress its mideast gulf policy but not restricting its actions the vote favor was despite last minute revolt alliance liberal democrats and conservative republicans who sought defeat signal that growing number legislators oppose president reagan policies the region the senate leading republican senator former senate appropriations committee chairman mark hatfield oregon said would try prevent consideration the bill said will put called hold the bill until finds out whether the war powers act applies protecting kuwaiti tankers congressional leaders complain they were not consulted about plans put the flag kuwaiti ships and some charged the policy could lead the into the iran iraq war conservative republicans said increasing the military obligation the gulf would place impossible burdens american servicemen and equipment and warned could lead war real snake pit best and powder keg that will blow sky high worst said wisconsin rep toby roth reuter money-fx near term strength seen for currency futures currency futures are likely move higher following the sharp rally today after president reagan announced that paul volcker would not accept third term federal reserve chairman and that alan greenspan was nominated his replacement currency analysts said contrary predictions before the volcker resignation analysts are calling for higher currency futures prices between now and the june venice economic summit particular uncertainty about greenspan attitude the dollar could undermine sentiment toward the currency analysts said greenspan said today that the dollar appeared nearing bottom but the market will bear mind his remarks chicago last week that the dollar recent move upward was technical reaction and that would trade significantly lower analysts said disappointment european central bankers over the appointment will used opportunity sell the dollar lower said manufacturers hanover futures vice president carol mackoff the international community will not like this appointment suggests the possibility that the budget deficit too much burden monetary policy and that volcker was unable get the commitment sought reduce the deficit added merrill lynch economics analyst david horner furthermore that greenspan was not named two months ago suggests that was not the administration first choice and that the status his appointment was bridesmaid horner said declining dollar scenario with higher currency futures prior and throughout the venice meetings would mitigated only concrete action opposed jawboning the summit said but finance ministers judged recent statements may impasse analysts said japan and west germany today reiterated that neither planned further interest rate cuts despite pressure from the mackoff said the the other hand has not cut its budget deficit japan and west germany have urged she said should members force commitment cut its budget deficit the next two years further decline the dollar could forestalled horner said however the impact from venice will nothing nothing changes horner said smith barney harris upham and analyst craig sloane said european currencies will likely move the higher end their ranges after today sharp advance for the next two weeks sloan calls for september yen futures advance toward the area said september marks could close upside target while swiss francs could climb range between and reuter interest westpac drops new zealand indicator lending rate westpac banking corp wstp said cutting its indicator lending rate pct from pct effective from june westpac said statement various other lending rates are also being revised downwards the westpac move follows base rate drops other new zealand trading banks recently bank new zealand base rate drops pct from june and national bank new zealand ltd rate falls pct from june the australia and new zealand banking group ltd anza rate remains pct reuter wpi korean wholesale prices pct may south korea wholesale price index base rose pct may after pct rise april and was pct higher than may the bank korea said the may consumer price index which has the same base rose pct after pct gain april for year year rise pct wholesale prices rose pct the first five months while consumer prices rose pct bank officials said the rises were due strong yen which made imports japanese parts raw and intermediary materials more expensive reuter gas ess lowers premium petrol pump price esso singapore pte ltd will lower the pump price its premium octane petrol price cents litre from cents effective midnight tonight spokeswoman said the new price similar other oil companies price for the same grade esso price for octane remains unchanged cents reuter interest citibank lowers australian prime rate pct citibank ltd said would lower its australian prime rate pct from effective tomorrow the new rate unmatched other banks will the lowest among australian trading banks other primes range from pct australian prime rates have now retreated from recent peak pct october line with declining money market levels citibank said its reduction reflected the decline reuter strategic-metal china moves stabilise world tungsten prices china moving stabilise world prices tungsten after fluctuating prices this year affected the country export earnings the china daily said the paper quoted industry officials saying they would fix export prices the basis the world market stop smuggling and encourage producers reduce exports current world prices range from dlrs per tonne unit but china suffered heavy losses when the price slumped dlrs earlier this year said some pct world tungsten exports come from china but the country imports high grade tungsten products reuter acq australia ansett take pct america west australia ansett airlines will exercise option acquire pct america west airlines inc awal for about mln dlrs ansett transport industries ltd managing director peter abeles said exercise involving the purchase about three mln new america west shares for dlrs each was scheduled finalised july august said statement abeles said ansett would become the largest single shareholder what said was the fastest growing airline the united states america west based phoenix arizona under the terms the option agreement ansett would have the right maintain its pct position the event future stock sales but could not beyond pct unless requested america west abeles said america west would retain the right first refusal ansett offered any the shares for sale addition ansett would gain one board seat said ansett transport industries wholly owns ansett airlines one australia two major domestic airlines and turn owned abeles international transport group tnt ltd tnta and rupert murdoch news corp ltd ncpa reuter ship japan foreign shipbuilding orders fall may new foreign shipbuilding orders received japanese yards may fell five vessels totalling gross tons from eight ships april against four ships year earlier the japan ship exporters association said the backlog orders end may was ships mln against ships mln end april and ships mln year ago association official said the world shipping recession and the yen appreciation against the dollar depressed may orders said reuter trade shultz predicts rapid narrowing trade gap secretary state george shultz said the would erase its large foreign trade deficit faster than many predicted and the consequences for its trade partners might traumatic the economy will inevitably make the adjustment necessary move from deficit surplus trade balance order service our growing foreign debt told conference attended the six members the association southeast asian nations and their leading western friends view this will happen more rapidly than many observers now predict the universal strategy aggressive export led growth becoming less effective shultz said not arithmetically possible for every country the world net exporter the same time the deficit which all decry has been sense the place into which everyone export led strategy for growth has gone the huge surpluses japan and west germany have fed this deficit something will have give and will possibly traumatic experience added while you must keep the pressure eschew protectionist policies you must act too shultz said can better job convincing the congress leave our door open imports more our trading partners open their doors wider told the group which included representatives from australia canada japan new zealand and the european community reuter acq hong kong dairy farm says bids for pct kwik save for mln stg acq dairy farm bids mln stg for pct kwik save dairy farm international holdings ltd said statement making tender offer for pct kwik save discount group plc kwik britain for total mln stg dairy farm said will offer buy mln kwik save shares stg each the offer will bring dairy farm stake kwik save pct from the present pct mln shares the offer which will begin monday and ends june requires that the shares tendered will bring its stake least pct dairy farm said will finance the acquisition placing mln shares with affiliate jardine strategic holdings ltd jars dlrs each for total mln dlrs the placement will raise jardine strategic stake dairy farm pct from the current pct said the kwik save purchase will also financed with loan from the hongkong and shanghai banking corp hkbh did not give the size the loan but said would raise its net bank borrowings maximum billion dlrs dairy farm said would reduce its bank borrowings the proceeds from the previously announced sale its office building sydney for mln dlrs will consider raising additional capital most probably through placement convertible preference shares the euromarket added company chairman simon keswick said the market offers attractive opportunities for competitively priced food retailers and that strategic investment kwik save offers the best vehicle pursue those opportunities reuter earn mazda motor corp mazt six months ended april parent shr yen div yen same net billion billion current billion billion sales billion billion oustanding shrs mln mln reuter earn berisford lifts first half profit mln stg six months march shr div turnover billion billion interest mln mln pretax profit mln mln tax mln mln minorities mln extraordinary items mln credit mln debit note company name and berisford plc brfd reuter money-supply south african april growth revised upward south african year year broadly defined money supply growth was revised upward pct for april from preliminary pct but was down from revised pct march reserve bank figures show rose revised billion rand april from preliminary billion and march revised billion april last year stood billion rand preliminary figures for may show billion rand for year year rise pct from billion may april rose year year pct billion rand after rising pct billion march while rose pct billion after pct increase billion the figures showed rose pct billion april after rising pct billion march reuter interest commonwealth bank cuts australian split prime the commonwealth bank australia said will lower its reference rate for loans pct from pct and its overdraft reference rate pct from effective june bank officials have said the bank regards the overdraft reference rate based short term rate trends its key prime lending rate corporate customers the loan reference rate based longer term trends the bank the latest cut prime rates recent days following continuing decline market rates other prime rates now range from pct pct reuter gnp korea sees gnp growth more than pct this year south korea gross national product gnp will exceed pct real growth this year and the won will rise further long the current account surplus continues widen deputy prime minister chun yong told reporters chung who also minister economic planning said his gnp estimate was based the assumption that the economy will remain stable the official target for gnp growth eight pct gnp rose pct between the first quarters and according provisional bank korea figures gnp rose pct calendar the first four months this year the current account swung surplus billion dlrs from deficit mln dlrs the same period what the minister said does not imply any major economic policy change ministry spokesman told reuters but tried urge business circles prepare for the forseeable economic future high won era south korean manufacturers who have insisted the won should not rise more than seven pct this year have said they plan ask the government slow down its appreciation against the dollar the bank korea today quoted the won unchanged against the dollar pct gain far this year compared with pct increase for the whole the won strengthened won the dollar three days earlier this month while international monetary fund team held talks here discuss revaluation reuter crude australian crude output falls first nine months australian crude oil and condensate output fell pct megalitres about mln barrels the first nine months fiscal ending june the department resources and energy said the decline production the nine months end march reflected mainly sharp dip early the fiscal year when low oil prices and high marginal excise rates led reduction output from bass strait department figures its major energy statistics publication show megalitre barrels reuter earn british telecom raises profit pct year end march shr pct rise div making turnover billion pct increase operating profit billion pct increase pretax profit billion pct rise fourth quarter turnover billion pct rise operating profit mln pct increase pretax profit mln pct rise reuter earn johnson matthey raise pretax profits pct year march fin div making shr pretax profit mln stg mln net after tax mln mln turnover billion billion extraordinary dbt mln mln note full company name johnson matthey plc reuter acq government sell pct air new zealand the new zealand government will sell pct state owned air new zealand ltd the public civil aviation minister richard prebble said prebble said statement the government would appoint adviser help decide how the shares should sold the timing any sales and the price clearly there will need gauge the effect other proposed share issues enter the market the best opportunity prebble said are particular rush sell our shares air new zealand said our aim maximise the benefit the taxpayer that means waiting for while then prebble said said air new zealand expects release its results soon for the year march said was confident would post excellent profit prebble said air new zealand was successful but its ability prosper future was hampered its wholly government owned status prebble said access new sources capital would increase its ability expand and develop this sale announcement follows the public float march around pct the bank new zealand ltd the government has said will also float part the capital other state owned operations including dfc new zealand ltd formerly development finance corp new zealand ltd and petroleum corp new zealand ltd reuter wpi african producer price inflation rises april south african year year producer price inflation rose pct april against pct march central statistics office figures show the all items index base rose monthly pct april after increasing pct march and standing year earlier reuter earn london international raise profits mln year march final dividend making share pre tax profit mln stg mln net profit mln mln turnover mln mln note london international group plc lonl said that sharply increased sales condoms had led particularly strong start the year and had considerable confidence for the future reuter trade toshiba sharp restrain lap top exports toshiba corp tsba and sharp corp shrp decided maintain exports lap top personal computers the european community last year levels despite the halt shipments the company spokesmen told reuters they said the voluntary restraints were aimed averting sanctions urged european computer makers the europeans feared japanese personal computers would flood markets after washington imposed pct tariffs last april toshiba and sharp together control about pct the personal computer market the the sharp spokesman said toshiba said exports and lap top computers would continue units month for the time being sharp said exports the series lap top personal computers would continue last year level units year washington imposed the tariffs because japan alleged failure uphold agreement semiconductor trade reuter interest belgium cuts treasury certificate rates the belgian national bank said cut one two and three month treasury certificate rates all points effective immediately the cuts take the one month rate pct the two month rate pct and the key three month rate pct the central bank said telex national bank spokesman said the modest cut was made after decline domestic money market rates yesterday and was not expected followed cut the pct discount rate the short term treasury certificate rates and especially the three month rate have been the national bank main monetary policy instrument for the last two years the discount rate has been the market penalty rate rather than guiding rate since and its advances are currently little used liquidity ample bank economists said the bank last cut one three month certificate rates june also points reuter crude indonesia cuts july crude supplies japan indonesia state oil company pertamina has informed its affiliated japanese companies that crude oil supplies will pct less than contractual volumes july spokesman for affiliated company said said the allocations were line with indonesia production ceiling under its current opec quota they might increased opec ratifies production rise next week allocations indonesia main traded crude minas had been cut pct and duri pct said last month contractual volumes were cut pct contractual volumes assume production ceiling oil traders said indonesian grades were already trading above their official selling prices osp the spot market due strong demand from japan and the and tight supplies cargo duri loading july was reportedly traded yesterday cents over its osp dlrs per barrel and minas trading about cents higher they said reuter reserves french official reserves billion francs may billion april official reserves french official reserves rise may french official reserves rose mln francs may billion francs from billion the end april the finance ministry said the slight rise partly reflected the repayment last month france outstanding billion francs debt owed the european monetary cooperation fund fecom also reflected negative mln franc position with france exchange stabilisation fund after intervention purchases billion francs during may foreign currency holdings fell billion francs billion while ecu holdings fell billion francs billion due the repayment part france debt owed the fecom and stabilisation fund operations the ministry said claims the imf rose billion francs billion including mln franc increase france reserve position with the imf and mln franc rise holdings special drawing rights gold holdings were unchanged billion francs reuter acq french state sell offs raise billion francs the french government privatisation program which began late last year has earned the french state about billion francs date the finance ministry said sources close finance minister edouard balladur said the revenues raised from the privatisation program would used priority pay off public debt which stood billion the end the ministry said communique that the returns included banking group societe generale sgen which began its two week public flotation last monday the government has carried out eight flotations well the private sale telephone group cie generale constructions telephoniques cgct since its denationalisation scheme began last december with the sell off glass makers saint gobain sgep added the government has pledged privatise state owned industrial banking and insurance companies other companies sold the private sector the near future are television network later this month and banking group cie financiere suez fspp the autumn the ministry said forthcoming sell off meant that third the government programme would have been completed less than nine months balladur sunday rejected press and opposition charges that the share prices for privatised companies had been pitched too low said that the average premium shares trading the bourse was between and pct over their offer price this compared with premiums between and pct similar share flotations britain reuter sugar fiji makes sugar payment get harvest started fiji sugar farmers will receive interim payment the crop four months ahead schedule move aimed getting harvesting the drought hit crop under way governor general ratu sir penaia ganilau said industry sources said latest forecasts for the crop indicated output tonnes well down the record tonne tel quel production the may december crop year the previous record was set when fiji produced tonnes for the past month fiji sugar farmers have delayed harvesting the crop pending response from the governor general demands following the may coup ganilau said statement the fiji sugar corp would make payment five dlrs per tonne against the final payment for the crop the understanding that preparations growers for commencement harvesting would completed all mills june crushing would commence labasa and penang mills june and lautoka and rarawai mills june said the interim payment made about june the full amount the grower share sugar proceeds received date the balance will paid october growers had also called for the full forecast price dlrs per tonne cane paid cash delivery the mill but this has been rejected the state controlled fiji sugar corp ganilau said however addition the scheduled delivery payment dlrs additional sum dlrs pct the forecast price would paid december all cane harvested november said ganilau said this will least one month advance the expected date payment the second payment cane the balance the second payment will made six weeks after the end crushing another demand fiji small farmers was that estimated mln dlr loan from the fiji development bank fdb for the cane crop rehabilitation programme written off the fdb rejected this request ganilau said however the bank prepared carefully consider requests for rescheduling loan repayments cases hardship case case basis response further demand that all soldiers removed from the cane growing areas ganilau said the army would restrict its presence the cane areas said had directed the authorities issue permits harvesting gangs cane growers and sugar industry trade unions hold the necessary meetings preparation for the commencement harvest senior representatives the sugar cane growers had indicated desire commence the crush soon possible added reuter jobs may adjusted unemployment falls record mln pct official income average earnings rose pct year april underlying rise pct official ipi april industrial output rises pct manufacturing pct official money-supply may adjusted rises provisional pct pct bank england interest may ajusted sterling bank lending billion stg after billion april official jobs unemployment falls below three mln may unemployment fell record provisional seasonally adjusted may total mln pct the workforce the employment department said april seasonally adjusted unemployment fell upwardly revised mln pct said the unadjusted jobless total may including school leavers alos fell record mln pct from april mln pct may was the eleventh successive decline from peak last summer pct the employment department said unemployment has fallen under three mln for the first time over three years the may fall was the largest drop since records were first kept employment minister norman fowler said all regions have seen above average falls long term unemployment during the past year added the last time the adjusted total unemployed was below three mln was july while the unadjusted total was last below this level june reuter income earnings underlying pct april average earnings rose seasonally adjusted pct the year end april after increasing pct annually march the employment department said the april index base was set provisional seasonally adjusted from march but the underlying rise was pct pct from march and back the same level seen late last year the underlying rise adjusted for factors such back pay and timing variations unit wage costs manufacturing industry rose one pct the year april after upward revised rise pct the period march the department employment added the three months end april such costs were pct higher year year compared with rise pct the three months march manufacturing productivity april was pct higher than year ago after downward revised pct increase march the last three months period manufacturing productivity was pct having increased pct the first quarter reuter interest citibank lowers australian prime rate pct citibank ltd said would lower its australian prime rate pct from effective tomorrow the new rate unmatched other banks will the lowest among australian trading banks other primes range from pct australian prime rates have now retreated from recent peak pct october line with declining money market levels citibank said its reduction reflected the decline reuter trade senators propose ban toshiba imports three senators said they will propose temporary ban imports all toshiba products due the company illegal sales sensitive high technology goods the soviet union senator jake garn john heinz and richard selby said hearing the senate banking committee export control they will offer the proposal part major trade bill when brought before the senate this summer garn utah republican said talking about specific retribution company that endangers the security their own country and ours reuter sugar four sugar cargoes sold china yesterday trade four cargoes raw sugar were sold china yesterday via the london trade supplement the country current nearby buying programme traders said the sugar was reported sold around dlrs tonne and for july august shipment arrival september they said some traders said recent chinese purchases could total much tonnes but others while agreeing heavy volume had been taken said amount less than that figure was involved china was still believed the market for more sugar traders said reuter earn james hardie industries ltd haha march ended march shr cents final div cents making net mln dlrs mln turnover billion billion other income mln mln shrs mln mln note div pay aug reg july div unfranked and thus will not tax free under dividend imputation net after tax mln dlrs mln depreciation mln mln interest mln mln and minorities mln mln but before extraordinary profit mln loss mln reuter interest commonwealth bank cuts australian split prime the commonwealth bank australia said will lower its reference rate for loans pct from pct and its overdraft reference rate pct from effective june bank officials have said the bank regards the overdraft reference rate based short term rate trends its key prime lending rate corporate customers the loan reference rate based longer term trends the bank the latest cut prime rates recent days following continuing decline market rates other prime rates now range from pct pct reuter veg-oil dutch parliament backs stand against oils tax dutch parliamentary parties have affirmed their support for the government opposition the proposed european community tax oils and fats parliamentarians said broad cross section members parliament voiced their opposition the tax during debate the lower house yesterday the basis possible retaliation from the and the potentially damaging effect third world countries state secretary for foreign affairs rene van der linden said the government was against the tax although noted deepening financial difficulties difficult against the tax and against extra finance the members have make choice van der linden said however denied the government had dropped its opposition the proposed tax altered its position reuter acq csr declares pioneer sugar bid unconditional csr ltd csra said had declared unconditional its takeover bid for pioneer sugar mills ltd following pioneer recommendation that shareholders accept this meant pioneer shareholders would paid for all shares tendered within days csr said statement csr statement follows industrial equity ltd inea disclosure yesterday that had built pct stake pioneer dlrs share topping csr cash bid csr also offering one share currently worth dlrs plus cash for every two pioneer shares which values pioneer per share holds about pct pioneer reuter acq sandvik diamant boart finalise drills merger sweden sandvik svik and diamant boart belgium which societe generale belgique belb holds indirect pct stake have finalised negotiations merging oil and gas drilling tool activities officials both companies said staffan paues president the new brussels based joint venture company diamant boart stratabit dbs told news conference that the merged firm would able offer products for all types drilling operations said there were already signs that slow recovery from recession was under way the oil and gas industries stability oil prices should lead renewed investment paues said dbs which paues said began operations today brings together sandvik wholly owned subsidiary strata bit corp houston and diamant boart petroleum activities europe north america the middle and far east and africa paues said the merger was direct result the sharp fall oil prices months ago which led oil firms cut back exploration activities officials said the complementary character the two firms operations was further reason reuter acq thomson grand public takes over thorn emi audiovisual division thomson acq thomson takes over thorn emi audiovisual thomson grand public the subsidiary thomson thmp has taken over the audiovisual consumer goods division british group thorn emi thomson grand public chairman pierre garcin said the cost the deal signed late yesterday around mln stg and thomson will finance mln this from its equity thorn emi leader the british audiovisual market with turnover last year mln stg garcin said the new acquisition would substantially increase thomson turnover the sector reuter acq jwt group jwt sues wpp group plc jwt group inc said filed suit against wpp group plc enjoin the company from continuing its tender offer the company said charged that former jwt group unit executive john peters has breached his fiduciary duty disclosing confidential information about the company and its clients the company said the suit filed new york state supreme court seeks halt the ongoing misuse and misappropriation highly confidential and proprietary information concerning jwt and its clients the defendants the suit are wpp group and its units and peters who until january was director walter thompson jwt group main subsidiary and its president and chief operating officer jwt said asked the court enjoin the defendants from acquiring any further jwt stock make them return all confidential and proprietary information and disgorge all profits other gains the company said also asked the court award jwt unspecified damages reuter acq jwt group jwt grants golden parachutes jwt group inc disclosed filing with the securities and exchange commission that awarded called golden parachutes top officers the company said granted the special bonuses which take effect only executive fired within two years successful takeover june granted the officials severance payment just under three times their annual compensation they are fired after takeover for chairman don johnston the payment was limited twice his annual compensation jwt approved additional lump sum payments one year compensation unspecified number other highly paid company officials the company also altered its employee retirement and stock incentive plans assure continued protection and benefits for employees the event hostile takeover the company did not disclose the cost the changes made the severance retirement stock plans reuter acq unilever declines comment gillette bid rumours spokesman for unilever plc declined comment market rumours that may considering bid for the health care group the gillette gillette shares are traded the over the counter market london and this morning stood one dollar higher dlrs response the bid speculation unilever dipped generally depressed market most analysts dismissed the rumours saying was old story and one commented that was utter rubbish adding thought unilever would not interested gillette gillette shares rose sharply the beginning the month wall street rumours that sir james goldsmith was building stake the company gillette has been the subject repeated rumours since ronald perelman chairman the revlon group inc rev made unsuccessful bid for the company last year reuter acq service resources src ends sorg srg bid service resources corp said has withdrawn and terminated its dlr per share takeover offer sorg inc because sorg failed respond the bid said sorg largest single shareholder will evaluate all its options including making further offer sorg disposing some all its sorg shares reuter acq halcyon has stake research cottrell halcyon investments new york firm reported pct stake research cottrell inc alan slifka partner halcyon told reuters the shares were purchased for investment purposes but declined further comment june research cottrell said had entered into definitive agreement acquired acquisitions inc for dlrs per share research cottrell closed today unchanged from the previous close reuter earn cullinet software inc cul qtr earnings april end shr loss cts shr profit cts net loss net profit revs mln mln avg shrs months shr loss cts shr profit cts net loss mln net profit mln revs mln mln avg shrs note both and figures restated reflect april acquisition distribution management systems inc accounted for pooling interests results include first quarter non recurring charge mln dlrs with after tax impact cts per share attributable the write off the remaining assets acquried from computer pictures corp november reuter acq allegis aeg meets with united employees group spokesman for group united airlines employees who oppose the attempted takeover united the airline pilots association said met with the new chairman allegis frank olson william palmer the group spokesman which claims speak for thousands united employees said the meeting with olson was positive and friendly but future meeting dates were set april the pilots union offered buy out united allegis subsidiary through employee stock ownership plan reuter interest nat west cuts mortgage rate for new borrowers national westminster bank plc nwbl announced pct reduction the mortgage interest rate applicable new mortgages taken out from june the new rate pct apr annual percentage rate pct including fees for normal repayment mortgages and pct including fees for endowment and pension mortgages spokesman for nat west said the position for existing mortgages being kept under active review the light market conditions and announcement will made soon possible reuter veg-oil rpt opposition oils tax intact minister minority group european community countries strong enough block the adoption tax vegetable and marine oils and fats still intact after the commission proposed changes its proposals earlier today british agriculture minister john macgregor told journalists said britain west germany the netherlands and denmark continue oppose the tax after the commission proposed making temporary and promising compensation any third countries whose exports suffered reuter acq harcourt brace hbj calls special meeting harcourt brace jovanovich inc said has called special meeting for july for vote increase authorized common shares mln from mln increase preferred shares mln from and provision allowing the payment preferred dividends stock property well cash the company said june will the record date for the meeting harcourt which fighting off takeover bid from british printing and communication corp plc has declared special dividend common stock dlrs cash and pct preferred stock with market value dlrs per share the special dividend paid july reuter earn penwest inc penw qtr may net shr dlrs cts net sales mln mln avg shrs nine mths shr dlrs cts net sales mln mln avg shrs reuter coffee rpt european trade may propose new ico formula european coffee traders and roasters may propose new formula for calculating international coffee organization ico coffee quotas the end their meeting here this week traders and officials told reuters although traders were unwilling reveal details the possible new formula they said would give brazil the world biggest coffee producer unchanged ico quotas for the next two years and could basis for renegotiation the main sticking point quotas has been brazil attitude and this compromise could solution one said however the european coffee trade federation meeting which began here today and continue the end the week has revealed gaps the european position introducing quotas traders said that whole the trade side was against introduction ico quotas while roasters were generally favour with the single proviso that there had some formula basis for allocating quota shares among producing countries the roasters said the positions were generally fairly close and problems with some government officials germany and italy were cited the extremes polarized government attitudes with most other countries the fence sources said germany was the most extreme against quota introduction while the italians were most favour nevertheless expect find enough common ground the end the week least present common european community view the next meeting consumer members the international coffee agreement ica july one trader said hope can present the compromise proposal and that not only the consumer side but the producer side will accept one official said have learned that can live without the quotas that were suspended february last year but would prefer the stability they can bring the market long not simply return the old and outdated status quo far quota allocation concerned added overall however trader and roaster opinion the likelihood successful negotiation was mildly pessimistic varying between chance and against our main difficulty will persuade the the consumer side and brazil the producer side agree quota introduction said the position has anything hardened while the new brazilian coffee institute president has adopted the least negotiable position any his predecessors one trader said however with many producers starting swing favour the consumer position that quotas have allocated under new formula brazil becoming increasingly isolated which gives least some hope compromise the ico quota meeting september the official said reuter acq first data management fdmc completes merger first data management inc said has completed merger into firsst data management holding following sharehoplder approval said each shares will exchanged for dlrs principal amount pct senior subordinated debentures due june reuter earn frost and sullivan inc frsl qtr qtr ends april shr loss cts profit nine cts net loss profit revs nine mths shr profit four cts profit one net profit profit revs reuter earn culp inc culp qtr may two net shr cts cts net sales mln mln year shr dlrs one dlr net sales mln mln note prior year net both periods includes gain dlrs from adjustments lifo reserves compensation related accruals and revised effective tax rate reuter jobs first time jobless claims rose week new applications for unemployment insurance benefits rose seasonally adjusted the week ended june from the prior week the labor department said the number people actually receiving benefits under regular state programs totaled the week ended may the latest period for which that figure was available that was from the previous week reuter crude opec differentials not seen posing major problems some opec states are unhappy about the prices assigned their crude oil but this should not pose great problems when the group reviews its six month old price and output pact vienna next week oil analysts say they said nigeria which holds the opec conference presidency and qatar probably have the biggest grievances about price differentials making some their crudes uncompetitive there has also been speculation japanese traders that opec might want mark prices high sulphur heavy crudes correspond with greater demand and higher fuel oil prices but most experts agree that major overhaul price differentials unlikely avoid giving the market signals dent opec new unity all opec members can make good case for changing differentials said one analyst with major oil company but the end the day the attitude going leave well alone and little nothing likely altered iran libya and saudi arabia are among those who also saw sales problems earlier this year traders say but diminished customer resistance fixed prices and some cases marketing incentives have helped their sales some producers can sell uncompetitively priced crudes means discounts processing deals selling them alongside better priced grades package many opec crudes are seen reasonably priced least for some part the year but many experts say opec should change prices quarterly monthly match seasonal demand for fuel oil rich heavy crudes and gasoline rich lighter grades its last meeting december opec agreed reintroduce fixed prices from february around dlr per barrel reference point official prices had been effectively dropped when members offered discounts attract customers opec also decided limit first half output mln bpd and proposed ceilings mln for the third quarter and mln for the fourth analysts expect will now extend raise slightly the current ceiling for the coming months spot market and netback values for some crudes not mirror official prices but opec will probably keep the dlr target and most make minimal changes differentials analysts say the dlr figure based basket six opec and one non opec crudes opec assigned prices its other key export crudes with dlr gap between the heaviest and lightest extra heavy crudes were among those left out industry estimates vary the proportion opec oil exports actually sold official prices several experts say only one quarter one third the total fact sells official prices with some the rest included processing barter deals sold the form refined products problems with the new structure appeared earlier this year when some producers output fell due customer reluctance pay the new prices nigeria especially found its gasoline rich bonny light crude now opec highest priced grade dlrs barrel was uncompetitive the spot market against britain brent february and march nigeria production shrank below its mln bpd opec quota spot prices have since revived due partly seasonal demand for gasoline and its output has risen some experts feel bonny light still overvalued and say its price should cut between cts one dlr barrel but mehdi varzi chief oil analyst with london kleinwort grieveson securities doubts nigeria will actively push the differentials question vienna would not look good for opec unity nigeria which holds the presidency raised the issue said reuter earn general instrument corp grl qtr may shr cts eight cts net mln mln revs mln mln backlog mln mln reuter acq rooter root rescinds united western pact rooter corp said rescinded recent agreement calling for united western energy corp buy majority rooter stock for four dlrs share the company said has also demanded repayment dlr loan made united western since announcing the agreements rooter said discovered additional information relating united western and the unaffiliated privately held corporation which had guaranteed all united western obligations under the agreements rooter said the agreements were rescinded light this additional information without providing details said talks are progress with united western with regard the repayment terms the loan reuter acq gillette says revlon asked its board consent dlrs per share offer acq liberty financial says agrees acquired equimark for dlrs per share earn price pclb qtr june seven net shr cts cts net mln mln sales mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs ctsd net mln mln sales billion billion avg shrs mln mln note twelve and week periods reuter earn medchem products inc mdch qtr net qtr ends may shr cts eight cts net dlrs dlrs revs dlrs dlrs nine mths shr cts cts net dlrs dlrs revs dlrs dlrs reuter acq lomas and nettleton lnf make acquisition lomas and nettleton financial corp said has agreed principle acquire houston discount brokerage firm texas first brokerage services inc for undisclosed terms subject regulatory approvals said completion expected july reuter crude shell canada raises crude oil posting canadian cts bbl acq liberty financial announces merger with equimark liberty financial group inc the parent liberty savings bank said has signed definitive agreement acquired equimark corp eqk the parent equibank for dlrs share liberty the transaction structured merger liberty with duly formed unit equimark the company said liberty shareholders will receive about dlrs per share uopn the merger the company said according the companies the acquisition contingent upon the approval liberty shareholders and the appropriate regulatory authorities liberty said the acquisition its unit liberty savings bank equimark corp will result the bank operating separate wholly owned unit equimark charles cheleden chairman and president liberty financial and liberty savings will continue president and chief executive officer liberty savings headquartered horsham the company said liberty said feels that the price dlrs cash per share attractive and that has advised shearson lehman brothers that the price fair reuter acq gillette gets offer from revlon rev gillette said revlon group made unsolicited request asking the gillette board allow revlon make cash offer for all gillette shares least dlrs per share gillette said consent for the bid required under standstill agreement between revlon and gillette before revlon can make any move gillette stock november revlon made unsolicited offer for gillette shares gillette said subsequently revlon withdrew its offer sold back gillette the shares owned that time and entered into the standstill agreement the gillette board directors has regularly scheduled meeting this afternoon and gillette said anticipates making statement after that meeting reuter acq becor western bcw talks fourth bidder becor western inc said talking with possible fourth bidder for the company the company also said lynch corp lgl has renewed its offer for becor which was withdrawn last week talks with the possible bidder are expected concluded shortly becor said adding its board will evaluate all then existing offers that time the meantime the company said plans today adjourn further its meeting stockholders june that meeting was called act merger agreement calling for buyout bcw acquisitions inc the third identified becor suitor davis mining and manufacturing inc fairfield lynch said its latest proposal calls lynch own pct becor stock and becor holders retain the other pct peviously lynch would have held about pct with becor holders receiving pct and becor management about half lynch said the proposal was changed because believes becor management needs more guidance terms financial structuring reuter income personal income rose pct may spending pct income personal income rose pct may personal income rose pct billion dlrs may seasonally adjusted annual rate billion dlrs the commerce department said the increase followed revised pct rise april the department previously estimated april income rose pct the department also revised the march personal income rise pct from previously reported pct personal consumption expenditures rose pct billion dlrs billion dlrs may after rising pct billion dlrs april the department said the department said both the april and may increases personal income were restrained lower subsidy payments farmers and initial payments newly established retirement fund for federal government employees april wages and salaries increased billion dlrs may after billion dlr rise april while manufacturing payrolls were billion dlrs may after falling billion dlrs april farmers incomes fell billion dlrs may after decreasing billion dlrs april due lower farm subsidy payments the department said reuter acq and berisford wants stay independent and berisford plc brfd which has attracted takeover bids making every possible effort remain independent deputy chairman henry lewis said after the company announced interim results taken specific steps strengthen ourselves for this purpose added referring management changes and corporate strategy concentrating four business sectors berisford aims produced balanced earnings growth from combination commodities property financial services and food its industrial division with assets about mln stg including debt being reviewed and parts may sold reuter money-fx fed seger says foreign exchange markets showing signs stability interest fed seger says thrift industry needs stable interest rates money-fx fed governor seger sees currency stability federal reserve board governor martha seger said there were signs helpful stability foreign exchange markets recent weeks think are beginning see more calm those markets seger told reporters after speech the league savings institutions think very healthy when you can get into period stability she said she said market forces have major influence exchange rates and said she did not know the right value for the dollar against the yen the mark seger told the savings and loan executives that she was concerned about financial markets absorption with exchange rate influences concerned that have gotten nervous about exchange rates seger said she said the fed takes into account additional factors determining monetary policy than the value the dollar against other currencies the economy seger called the latest figures gross national product modest upward revision reuter livestock indonesia turkey eligible for cattle under eep exporters will able sell head dairy cattle indonesia and head turkey under the export enhancement program the agriculture department said the export sales will subsidized with commodities from the inventory the commodity credit corporation ccc the department said indonesia and turkey already have purchased and head dairy cattle respectively under the program details the program and invitation for offers from exporters will issued the near future said reuter crude imperial oil raises crude oil postings canadian cts bbl light sweet now crude phillips raises crude oil posted prices cts bbl effective yesterday wti now dlrs acq usair says dot public counsel backs merger usair group inc said the department transportation office public counsel has urged that expedited non hearing procedures used its proposed acquisition piedmont aviation inc pie the company said that america west airlines inc awal was the only party voicing opposition the acquisition the department transportation had asked parties submit statements june either supporting opposing the acquisition usair said and piedmont again requested expedited approval for the acquisition the company said the office public counsel could find evidence that the acquisition would substantially lessen competition any market reuter acq freedom federal frfe seeks buyer freedom federal savings bank said hired salomon brothers inc solicit offers for the purchase the bank part ongoing review methods enhance shareholder value freedom federal operates retail branch banks and had year end assets about mln dlrs there assurance the bank will receive acceptable offers sold but feel this prudent step take this time the bank said reuter acq arco arc spin off seen mln dlrs atlantic richfield considering spin off pct interest its chemical operations could gain about mln dlrs from the deal industry analysts estimated yesterday arco stock jumped much five points rumors was spinning off the chemical operations based about mln outstanding shares the market its frenzy was valuing the spin off about mln dlrs analysts said atlantic richfield aware the rumors issued statement around mid day that was considering sale only pct the unit leading investors take profits after the announcement the company stock retreated closing today was off was smaller deal than expected and somewhat disappointing said analyst george baker smith barney said rumors the spin off had been around for couple days baker said the unit was very profitable but wasn getting the type exposure atlantic richfield sought and its value was not reflected the company stock price industry analyst richard pzena sanford bernstein said the unit had operating earnings mln dlrs last year and expected earn about mln dlrs this year based multiple times earnings which pzena says chemical companies now sell for the entire unit worth about three billion dlrs putting the pct interest around mln dlrs pzena said thought the company was selling the stake because chemical margins had peaked and speculated the company would use the proceeds pay down debt but added the possibility remained the deal would fall through yesterday arco said the proposal had not yet been presented its board the chemical unit last year had revenues billion dlrs reuter crude shell canada shc raises crude cts canadian shell canada shc whose majority interest owned the royal dutch shell group companies raised the postings light sweet and sour crude oil from edmonton swann hills canadian cts barrel effective today the new price for light sweet crude oil canadian dlrs barrel while the new price for light sweet sour crude canadian dlrs barrel the royal dtuch shell group owns pct shell canada and public shareholders primarily canadian own the remaining pct the company shell canada spokesman said reuter crude union pacific raises crude oil postings cts bbl effective yesterday wti dlrs crude imperial oil imo raises crude canadian cts canadian imperial oil pct exxon owned said raised its posting for light sweet crude oil edmonton canadian cts barrel effective today the company said its new posting for light sweet crude oil edmonton canadian dlrs barrel reuter earn tultex corp ttx qtr may net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln six mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln reuter veg-oil dutch consumers industry see veg oils tax threat dutch consumers and food processors would hit hard the proposed tax oils and fats dick bruyn chairman the commodity board for margarine fats and oils mvo said the annual meeting the dutch are the second largest consumers margarine and fourth largest consumers vegetable oils the the fiercely contested tax would levy consumers and steeply increase the costs industries such potato processing and cake and biscuit manufacturing bruyn said move these industries countries outside the cannot ruled out added bruyn said the tax vegetable and marine oils and fats would wide open fraud difficult police and hugely expensive administratively also said the proposed tax contravened not only article three the general agreement tariffs and trade gatt the lome convention and the united nations food and agriculture organization fao guidelines but also the own treaty the proposed tax would not only inflationary but also have consequences for employment and investment added reuter crude diamond shamrock raises crude oil posted prices cts bbl effective yesterday wti dlrs earn poco petroleums ltd poc qtr net period ended april shr not given net revs mln mln six mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter crude coastal raises crude oil postings cts bbl yesterday wti dlrs crude southland corp raised crude oil postings cts bbl wti now dlrs bbl crude murphy raises crude oil postings cts bbl yesterday wti dlrs crude permian raises crude oil postings cts bbl wti dlrs earn robert bruce industries bruca qtr loss qtr ends march shr loss dlrs loss cts net loss dlrs loss dlrs revs mln mln avg shrs note full name company robert bruce industries inc reuter earn evergood products corp evgd year loss oper shr loss cts loss cts oper net loss dlrs loss dlrs revs mln mln reuter earn calstar inc csar year april net shr primary cts dlrs shr diluted cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs primary avg shrs diluted note latest net includes tax credits dlrs dlrs reuter earn microdyne corp mcdy qtr may three net oper shr nil profit one oper net profit profit revs six mths oper shr loss nine cts profit seven cts oper net loss profit dlrs revs dlrs mln note qtr and six mths excludes loss dlrs and dlrs respectively for loss from discontinued operations reuter earn major video corp majv year april net shr cts cts net revs mln note latest year includes three cent per share loss from discontinued operations while prev year includes seven cent per share tax credit reuter crude southland slc unit raises crude cts bbl southland corp subsidiary citgo petroleum said raised its posted prices for crude oil across the board cts barrel effective june citgo said its new posting for west texas intermediate and west texas sour dlrs barrel light louisiana sweet now posted the company said reuter acq hollinger hlg completes unimedia takeover hollinger inc said completed the previously reported acquisition privately held unimedia inc the owner three french language daily newspapers and four printing plants ontario and quebec the company which owns pct daily telegraph plc said named former carling keefe ltd chief executive pierre des marais chief executive societe media quebec the unit acquiring unimedia said his appointment effective july reuter earn edwards inc age qtr may net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs reuter crude murphy oil mur raises crude postings murphy oil said increased its crude oil posted prices cts barrel effective june the company said its new posting for west texas intermediate and west texas sour dlrs barrel light louisiana sweet crude now dollars barrel the company said increases follow general trend the industry started yesterday sun reuter crude phillips petroleum raises crude postings phillips petroleum said raised its crude oil posted prices for west texas intermediate and west texas sour cts barrel effective june the company said the new posted price for wti and wts dlrs barrel the increase reaction sun raising postings similarly yesterday reuter nat-gas mobil mob has north sea natural gas find mobil corp said the wildcat well block the british north sea flowed mln cubic feet natural gas per day from depths feet the company said has pct interest and other interest holders include atlantic richfield arc sun sun and deminex pct reuter crude petro canada raises crude postings cts canadian bbl sweet crude dlrs canadian bbl veg-oil commission defends oils and fats tax spokesman for the european community commission defended the controversial plan for levy oils and fats saying that consumers would have help alleviate the surplus problem paying the proposed tax norbert tanghe head division the commission directorate general for agriculture told the antwerp oils and fats contact days the commission firmly believes that the sacrifices which would undergone community producers the oils and fats sector would justify asking consumers make appropriate contribution solving the serious problem within that sector paying levy the proposed tax necessary because the level budgetary costs resulting from olive oil and oilseeds production has become unacceptable tanghe said recent estimates put these costs billion european currency units and they would rise another billion ecus said the community standstill agreements with spain and portugal end and the would then feel the full impact its enlargement the commission has proposed several cost and production cutting measures which include the introduction maximum guaranteed quantity system added under the commission system for stabilising consumer prices the oils and fats sector reference price ecus per tonne for refined soy oil would introduced tanghe said consumer prices could raised lowered regulatory amount when market prices are below above this level said the revenue generated charging regulatory amount would used finance the common agricultural policy oils and fats regime the commission believes that hostile reactions the proposed tax have for the most part been based incomplete insufficiently thorough analysis the proposal said tanghe said the proposed system conforms with general agreement tariffs and trade gatt rules would not discriminatory because would applied domestic and imported products and past experience showed would not cause any decline consumption oils and fats produced oilseeds would not benefit more than they under present aid arrangements said the competitiveness between different oils whether produced imported would remain unchanged and quantities imported from third countries would not affected the tax tanghe said the proposed system would not alter the nations requirements far imports are concerned since the overall effect would stabilise community production levels without affecting demand said one the proposal objectives maintain current import levels said imports soybeans would unaffected because they are imported primarily satisfy the cakes and meals requirements which are not covered the stabilising system furthermore more than half the oil produced from imported beans exported third countries tanghe added reuter crude union pacific unp raises crude oil prices union pacific resources formerly champlin petroleum said raised posted prices for crude oil cts barrel effective yesterday the price increase brings west texas intermediate the benchmark grade dlrs barrel the posted price increase follows similar move several other oil companies sun was the first raise crude oil postings yesterday afternoon and today many other companies are following the last price increase made oil companies was around may reuter crude marathon raises crude oil postings cts bbl wti now dlrs reserves italian net official reserves fall may italy net official reserves fell billion lire may from previously reported billion april the bank italy said gold holdings totalled billion lire end may unchanged from end april convertible currencies totalled billion lire may down from billion april while european currency unit holdings were billion against billion reuter acq becor western bcw again adjourns holder meeting becor western inc said its reconvened shareholders meeting has been adjourned cdt june the company had previously announced plans again adjourn the meeting following receipt renewed offer from lynch corp lgl yesterday the meeting was originally convened june four when shareholders approved the sale becor western gear corp subsidiary before adjourning the remaining matter presented the proposed acquisition becor bcw acquisition inc now one four offers for the company reuter iron-steel steel firms study usx unit price hike two major steel companies said they were studying price increase announced yesterday usx corp uss steelmaking division spokesman for armco inc and bethlehem steel corp said the proposed price hike was under study yesterday uss said plans raise base prices plate products dlrs ton about five pct effective with shipments october spokesman for ltv steel unit ltv corp qltv declined comment adding that the company does not make heavy plate and makes few other plate products spokesman for national steel corp joint venture national intergroup inc nii and nippon kokan said the company not the product lines affected reached later inland steel industries inc iad spokesman said the company was studying the pricing move usx said the increase will all plate products including carbon high strength low alloy strip mill and alloy plates also said planned dlr ton increases some special plate widths and thicknesses analysts have said firm prices for steel should contribute better results the nation major steelmakers reuter crude coastal cgp crude posting cts bbl coastal corp cgp said raised the postings crude oil cts barrel across the board effective yesterday june the new price for west texas intermediate dlrs barrel for west texas sour the new price dlrs barrel reuter crude national intergroup nii unit raises crude prices permian corp subsidiary national intergroup said raised its crude oil postings cts barrel effective june the company said its new posted price for west texas intermediate and west texas sour dlrs barrel while light louisiana sweet now the price hike follows other increases industrywide reuter iron-steel steel firms study usx unit price hike two major steel companies said they were studying price increase announced yesterday usx corp uss steelmaking division spokesman for armco inc and bethlehem steel corp said the proposed price hike was under study yesterday uss said plans raise base prices plate products dlrs short ton about five pct effective with shipments october spokesman for ltv steel unit ltv corp declined comment adding that the company does not make heavy plate and makes few other plate products reuter earn standard commercial stob qtr net qtr ended march shr cts cts net revs mln mln year shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln note full name standard commercial tobacco latest qtr and year includes tax loss carryforwards dlrs and dlrs respectively and loss dlrs for discontinued operation prev qtr and year includes tax loss carryforwards dlrs and dlrs respectively reuter crude petro canada crude cts canadian bbl petro canada state owned oil company raised the posting prices sweet and sour crude oils cts canadian per barrel effective today the company said the change brings the price light sweet crude dlrs canadian per barrel and the price light sour crude dlrs canadian barrel the crude oils are from edmonton swann hills reuter crude court rules against rtz oil field costs the high court dismissed appeal rio tinto zinc corp plc rtzl rtz oil and gas ltd unit and ruled that the financial provisions company makes for the future cost abandoning oil field are not tax deductible the press association reported the company was appealing against decision the tax commissioners that any such provision was capital expenditure not revenue expenditure and was not deductible the court was told that since the company had made annual provision around stg for the eventual cost abandoning rig rtz spokesman said the ruling was not worrying the subsidiary had assumed that the provisions were not deductible from corporation tax payable would have been bonus the company had won but all budgeting had been the assumption that would not said oil analysts said that rtz assumption liability was shared the industry whole the ruling appeared mean that tax relief the expensive process abandoning rigs would apply when the expense occurred not when provisions for future expenses were built into the accounts one analyst added reuter acq southmark acquires berg ventures southmark corp said acquired berg ventures inc which manages apartment complexes with over units and shopping centers stretching from new jersey florida that are controlled affiliated with berg harmon associates terms were not disclosed southmark said the acquisition makes the nation largest apartment management firm with over units under its wing southmark also said has become the managing partner berg harmon associates over berg harmon limited partners have made capital investments over mln dlrs the properties now managed southmark reuter earn klm net profit declines year amsterdam june year ended march net profit mln guilders mln profit per guilder nominal ordinary share guilders unchanged mln shares operating revenues billion guilders billion profit sale fixed assets mln guilders mln dividend eight pct guilders per ordinary share same and five pct same for priority and preferential shares costs including depreciation billion guilders billion financial charges mln mln profit from participations mln mln extraordinary gain one mln nil note the company was not required pay corporation tax the book year thanks fiscal compensation possibilities the full company name koninklijke luctvaart maatschappij klm klm released provisional figures may these were net profit mln guilders mln operating revenues billion guilders billion reuter nat-gas pan alberta united gas settlement approved pan alberta gas ltd said its proposed settlement with united gas pipe line houston received unconditional approval the federal energy regulator commission pan alberta said the approved deal authorized terms two year interim contract amendment cash payments and transportation credits for pan alberta customers minimum yearly natural gas takes united and two year commodity price united will pay pan alberta producers about mln dlrs over the interim period and take least average mln cubic feet day gas pan alberta said reuter acq may won buy allied dey brothers stores may department stores said terminated agreement with allied stores corp buy from allied the four dey brothers stores syracuse may and allied said conditions necessary for the closing were not met may had planned make the acquisition expansion its sibley department store which operates syracuse rochester and buffalo reuter crude unocal raised crude oil postings cts bbl wti now dlrs bbl crude unocal ucl raised crude oil postings cts bbl unocal said raised its postings for crude oil cts barrel effective june the company said now posting west texas intermediate and west texas sour dlrs barrel unocal said its new light louisiana sweet posted price dlrs barrel the price move follows wave increases initiated sun yesterday reuter pet-chem reichhold rci raises waferboard resin prices reichhold chemicals inc said its reichhold ltd subsidiary has raised prices seven cent per pound powdered phenolic waferboard resins effective july due sharp increases the cost phenol reuter crude diamond shamrock drm raises crude postings diamond shamrock and said raised its crude oil contract prices cts barrel effective june the company said its new posting for west texas intermediate crude dlrs barrel the price increase follows similar moves several other companies reuter acq xerox xrx affiliate sell african unit xerox corp affiliate rank xerox ltd said signed definitive agreement sell its rank xerox south africa pty ltd affiliate altron group alrn for undisclosed terms xerox said the preliminary agreement sell the affiliate fintech altron unit had been reached march xerox said completion the sale awaits approval fintech shareholders and review the johannesburg stock exchange rank xerox south africa was founded wholly owned unit rank xerox the xerox affiliate that manufactures and markets xerox products the eastern hemisphere rank xerox said that the man workforce rank xerox south africa pct are black colored asian the company will become wholly owned unit altron reuter earn monolithic memories inc mmic qtr net qtr ended june shr six cts cts net sales mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net sales mln mln reuter crude dupont unit raises crude oil postings cts bbl effective yesterday earn applied solar energy corp solr qtr net qtr ended may oper shr profit three cts loss five cts oper net profit dlrs loss revs six mths oper shr profit ten cts loss cts oper net profit loss revs mln note oper data does not include extraordinary gain dlrs one per shr qtr dlrs four cts per shr six mths reuter earn convergent solutions inc csol qtr net march end shr profit cts loss two cts net profit loss sales avg shrs half shr profit cts profit nil net profit profit sales avg shrs note prior half net includes dlr tax credit reuter earn barricini foods inc qtr loss shr loss three cts loss three cts net loss loss sales avg shrs reuter trade european community criticises trade measures the european community accused the united states violating political commitment free trade through practices including tax imported gasoline and customs user fee ambassador tran van thinh made the formal charge the surveillance body the general agreement tariffs and trade gatt gatt spokesman david woods told reporters woods also said the was joined the united states criticising brazil for extending its list products for which import licenses have been temporarily suspended improve its balance payments the united states charged japan with violating gatt rules restricting imports agricultural products through import licensing system the united states asked for consultations with tokyo the issue tran charged that the trade measures contravened political commitment halt and reverse trade barriers pledged ministers punta del este last september when ministers established the four year uruguay round negotiate freer trade areas they set the gatt surveillance body monitor this commitment known gatt jargon standstill and rollback tran criticised washington for the superfund tax oil imports customs user fee and the removal special machine tool known category fsc from its government procurement list for reasons national security warren lavorel trade official defended the policies saying they did not violate gatt trade rules the surveillance body will send record today talks the trade negotiating committee which oversees the round decide any further action the charges the oil tax and customs user fee have already been the subject formal gatt dispute panels set outside the uruguay round rule the legality the practices the ruling gatt council yesterday adopted dispute panel report and ruled that the superfund tax oil imports breached trade rules called washington modify its legislation mexico and canada along with the european community brought the dispute the gatt last year reuter crude dupont unit raises crude oil postings conoco inc subsidiary dupont denemours said raised the contract price will pay for all grades crude oil cts barrel effective yesterday the increase brings conoco posted price for west texas intermediate dlrs barrel the west texas sour grade api now stands dlrs barrel light louisiana was also raised cts dlrs barrel conoco last changed its crude postings may reuter acq allegheny international sells three units allegheny international inc said has sold its chemetron railway products inc true temper railway appliances inc and allegheny axle units newly formed chemetron railway products inc for undisclosed terms said the new company was formed senior management the three railway product units and kleinwort benson group london reuter copper zambian copper industry hopes for steady output zambia copper mining industry hoping achieve and maintain production over tonnes year the next few years despite low world prices deteriorating ores and shortages mine inputs industry officials said but zambia decision abandon last may tough international monetary fund imf economic recovery program has introduced element uncertainty into plans restructure the ailing industry and boost profitability they said copper production the government controlled zambia consolidated copper mines zccm for the financial year ended march improved slightly about tonnes from record low tonnes are convinced that the end the financial year copper production could well over tonnes due greater availability spares and equipment zccm official said zccm officials said the production cobalt another strategic income earner will also tailored meet demand finished production was tonnes tonnes higher than the previous year and the best production achieved date protracted low world metal prices have badly hit the copper industry zambia the world fifth biggest producer mining monopolised zccm and accounts for about pct the country foreign exchange earnings production has also been seriously affected recent years equipment breakdowns deteriorating ore and shortages spare parts fuel and lubricants the tonnes output last year compared with peak output tonnes five year production and investment plan launched zccm being funded the european community the african development bank and the world bank the plan foresees the shutdown some seven mining and metallurgical units the grounds they are unprofitable zccm the second largest employer after the government has said intends lay off its workforce part the plan more than mln dlrs have far been channelled into the industry bid improve efficiency and profitability under the five year restructuring plan company officials said although reserves were being depleted zambia could continue produce copper beyond the end the century though lower levels production industry sources said zccm projected pre tax profit for the financial year ended march would around mln kwacha but with the current mineral export tax level being levied net loss likely registered zccm recorded net loss mln kwacha compared with net profit mln kwacha the year before under the foreign exchange auction system introduced zccm profits from its foreign exchange earnings rose the value the kwacha fell the dollar from just over two the dollar but may president kenneth kaunda abolished the auctioning system inspired the international monetary fund and announced zambia would pursue alone economic strategy based national resources zccm officials are still cautious over what effects the break with the imf will have the industry plans are still consulting see how the new measures will affect but too early say just how shall fare under the new situation peter hansen director operations and third the zccm hierarchy told reuters some analysts believe the new officially fixed exchange rate eight kwacha the dollar will hit zccm export profits most specialists have talked tell the break even point for zccm rate kwacha per dollar frederick chiluba leader the zambian congress trade unions said high production costs continue bedevil the zambian industry zambia mines copper relatively expensive rate cents per pound compared with cents the united states and under cents chile the industry also faces transport problems due zambia being landlocked the government confirmed this year had stopped sbending copper south through south africa over pct shipments some tonnes month are sent rail the tanzanian port dar salaam while tonnes via zimbabwe the mozambique port beira transport has often been hit shortages wagons spares and fuel reuter ship rio janeiro dockers strike over wages rio janeiro dockworkers went strike for indefinite period today demand wage increases spokesman for the dockers said the rio dockers did not get support from their colleagues santos brazil main port but the spokesman said they would not return work unless their demands were met earlier this week some dockworkers cancelled scheduled national strike pressure port officials give them wage increase and other benefits rio port spokesman said the halt would cause daily losses about dlrs reuter pet-chem fluor flr wins general electric contract fluor corp said won contract with general electric design construct and deliver modules for methyl chloride process addition the value the contract was not disclosed fluor said its applied engineering unit will construct modular sections and deliver them waterford silicone products division plant methyl chloride integral part silicone production reuter acq gencorp said agreement sell rko pictures terminated fuel tanzania raises fuel prices taxes budget the tanzanian government its second annual budget since embarking economic recovery program inspired the international monetary fund announced increases fuel prices and sales tax and higher levies government services finance minister cleopa msuya said the government expected spend billion shillings the financial year pct more than this year estimate revenue would provide billion shillings leaving deficit billion financed through domestic and foreign loans this year budget initially projected deficit only billion shillings but mid year the government had impose new taxes keep the deficit roughly target figure for the final deficit was avaialble the budget gave civil servants pct pay rise with effect from july compensate for inflation more than pct msuya said regular petrol would pct with similar increases the cost premium and kerosene diesel would rise pct the higher levies affect official transactions such road tolls vehicle transfers and various licence fees added reuter acq leaseway transportation ltc completes unit sale leaseway transportation corp said has completed the previously announced sale its leaseway puerto rico inc subsidiary caguas central federal savings bank for undisclosed terms the company said the sale satisfied condition for its proposed acquisition investor group led citicorp cci reuter coffee ibc details plans pay creditors the brazilian coffee institute ibc gave details its plans pay the companies that bought bags robusta coffee the london market its behalf last september ibc spokesman told reuters that mln dlr loan from the banco brasil would used pay five mln dlrs month june july and august creditors said auction coffee would raise additional money and added that reuter report june gave the wrong impression that the auction was necessary raise part the mln dlrs date has yet been set for the auction reuter acq magellan sets merger with balzac investments magellan corp said its shareholders approved the merger magellan with balzec investments inc privately held company based dallas magellan company without operations that was formed acquire operating entity said plans engage the development and marketing battery charger product owned balzac magellan did not disclose the terms the agreement following the merger balzac shareholders will hold pct the outstanding stock magellan the company said magellan said will the surviving corporation following the merger the companies said they expect the merger will occur after the declaration effectiveness amendment magellan registration statement relating its common stock purchase warrants and the underlying shares reuter acq gencorp says rko unit sale terminated gencorp said its agreement sell its rko pictures subsidiary management group has been terminated because the group could not raise the necessary financing the company said will again seek buyers for the unit and its library over films reuter ship rio janeiro dockers strike rio janeiro dockworkers went strike for indefinite period today demand wage increases spokesman for the dockers said the rio dockers did not get support from their colleagues santos brazil main port but the spokesman said they would not return work unless their demands were met earlier this week some dockworkers cancelled scheduled national strike pressure port officials give them wage increase and other benefits rio port spokesman said the halt would cause daily losses about dlrs reuter trade said unfairly protecting defense industry britain defence minister george younger said the was unfairly protecting its defence industry and this could lead british firms demanding counter measures younger told chamber commerce meeting that legislators were failing realise the true nature the two way street terms ideas technology and equipment british parliamentary report said that march british firms had been awarded just mln dlrs worth contracts for the strategic defence initiative compared with the billion dlrs britain had hoped secure the committee said technology export restrictions and selectiveness towards foreign contractors had denied british competitors more lucrative orders and largely excluded them from technological research for sdi younger said london had given companies contracts under conditions fair and open competition all ask for our companies given similar opportunities added new american legislation aimed curbing unfair subsidies was used exclude foreign suppliers would not surprising british firms pressed for retaliatory measures younger said reuter earn godfrey gdfy qtr may net shr cts cts net sales mln mln reuter strategic-metal pinnacle west capital pnw buys mineral rights pinnacle west capital corp said its malapai resources units bought the mineral rights for uranium mining about acres northern wyoming from westinghouns electric corp the property adjacent acre site the company already owns both facilities are expected full operation the early with annual production one two mln lbs uranium concentrates the company said the new site expected produce about lbs uranium its first full year production the adjacent property expected begin reuter cotton west texas cotton crop unscathed storm the west texas cotton crop was largely unscathed isolated thunderstorm that region last night that packed hurricane force winds crop and weather experts said there might have been some isolated storms but certainly nothing damaging said charles stichler extension agronomist with the agricultural extension service far west texas rumors damaging storm west texas helped the new york cotton futures market rally sharply this morning cotton for december delivery was cents higher cents midsession after peaking this morning cents what happened that the storm hit lubbock airport and when that happens everybody sees said dale mohler senior meteorologist with accu weather inc lubbock the heart the west texas cotton region which produces about pct that state crop the storm produced winds about mph that hurricane force but they were isolated just small portion the west texas area probably less than five pct mohler said doubt there was some damage but had hit july august when fruiting would underway would have been worse mohler said about pct the west texas cotton crop has been planted and the remainder could done the weekend weather remains hot and dry stichler said the temperature west texas since mid week has been about degrees but hot spell was sorely needed after far heavier than normal rainfall for several weeks said reuter earn rochester community savings bank rcsb second quarter ended may shr cts net mln six mths shr cts net note year ago per shr figures not available bank converted stock ownership april quarter and six mth net excludes dlrs cts share and dlrs cts share respectively for tax carryforwards qtr and six mth net excludes dlrs and dlrs respectively for tax carryforwards reuter acq pennwalt psm make acquisition pennwalt corp said has agreed principle acquire line fungicides insecticides and herbicidesand related manufacturing facilities from raffineries soufre reunies marseilles for undisclosed terms subject approval bothe boards and government authorities the company said the acquired products are sold mostly france for use grapevines wheat and sugar beets and sales are about mln dlrs annually reuter platinum african union objects planned matthey move south african trade union dispute with subsidiary britain johnson matthey plc over the company proposal move platinum refinery near johannesburg black tribal homeland the member mainly black chemical workers industrial union said fears the planned move the bophuthatswana homeland where south african unions are not recognised could lead job losses and affect wages mass dismissal last year the impala platinum holdings ltd ipla mines the tribal homeland sent world platinum prices rocketing the union said talks with management over the proposed move had broken down said earlier ballot refinery workers showed that most favoured striking over the move but added that final decision had been taken strike action the refinery processes all platinum metals rustenburg platinum holdings ltd the world largest platinum producer owned matthey rustenburg ltd joint subsidiary johnson matthey and rustenburg which turn owned mining group johannesburg consolidated investment ltd reuter acq leader development ldco merger approved leader development corp said shareholders the annual meeting approved the acquisition privately held clinton american corp and two related partnerships for common shares with the transaction accounted for pooling interests the company said clinton president daniel ryan will become president leader reuter acq crane acquires assets marley unit crane said acquired certain assets chicago heater inc wholly owned subsidiary the marley the terms the transaction were not disclosed chicago heater will intergrated with crane cochrane environment systems division the company said reuter fuel tanzania raises fuel prices taxes budget the tanzanian government its second annual budget since embarking economic recovery program inspired the international monetary fund announced increases fuel prices and sales tax and higher levies government services finance minister cleopa msuya said regular petrol would pct with similar increases the cost premium and kerosene diesel would rise pct msuya said the government expected spend billion shillings the financial year pct more than this year estimate revenue would provide billion shillings leaving deficit billion financed through domestic and foreign loans reuter interest canada bank rate rises pct canada bank rate rose marginally pct from pct last week bank canada said the bank rate set one quarter percentage point above the average yield the weekly issue day treasury bills this week yield was pct compared with the previous week pct tenders were accepted for billion dlrs day bills average price dlrs against dlrs last week the billion dlrs day bills were priced average dlrs against dlrs last week yield average pct against pct last week the mln dlrs day bills were priced average dlrs against dlrs last week yield average pct against pct last week tenders will received next week for billion dlrs day bills billion dlrs day bills and mln dlrs day bills reuter acq pengo pgo sell some wireline operations pengo industries inc said has agreed sell its wireline products manufacturing division fort worth texas wireline services division operations several locations and pengo international inc subsidiary john wood group plc for undisclosed terms the company said the wireline services operations being sold are lafayette houma and harvey alvin odessa and longview texas and moore okla pengo said its kuykenball slickline operation moore and surplus wireline equipment operations fort worth and cleburne texas will sold separately reuter acq magic years kids acquire three centers magic years child care and learning centers inc said signed letter intent acquire three profitable day care centers south central pennsylvania for total price dlrs the three privately owned centers had aggregate revenues dlrs with profits six thousand dlrs the company said the transaction scheduled close early july the company said reuter nat-gas brooklyn union seen hurt pipeline closure brooklyn union gas new york gas utility will see its gas costs sharply result transco energy decision close its pipelines transport spot gas sales energy industry analysts said brooklyn union the fourth largest gas utility the united states purchased pct its supplies the spot non contract market and the proportion spot supplies was estimated much higher the five months analysts said texas eastern pipelines tet the other competing pipeline deliver spot gas from producing areas the south closed its gate station for summer and brooklyn union has relied entirely transco for spot supplies the month may brooklyn union paid about two dlrs per mln british thermal unit for spot gas while contract gas costs four five dlrs per mln btu industry sources said transco announced yesterday would longer provide open access transport spot natural gas its customers for fear accumulating more take pay liabilities take pay contracts oblige pipelines pay producers for gas even delivery not taken its customers brooklyn union will continue receiving small amount supplies from minor fields under grandfather clause brooklyn union official said foster corwith gas analyst with dean witter reynolds said most the rising cost booklyn union will passed through rate payers while net effect the company will not known for several months because the time lag deferred earnings end users especially residential and commercial customers will end paying more for gas said because the closure takes place summer months when gas demand seasonal low the impact cash flow would small curt launer natural gas analyst with donaldson lufkin jenrette said the situation persists into winter heating season high cost gas could cut the company profits said gas utilities along eastern seaboard relying transco for spot gas such north carolina natural gas ncng piedmont natural gas pny will face the same high cost factor brooklyn union steve richards supply manager with end users supply system houston based natural gas brokering firm said but these companies are not unwitting victims the take pay dispute between transco and producers said distributors have turned deaf ear transco request for inventory charge which reserves the pipeline facility for spot gas delivered these companies said without spot supplies the high cost system gas will threaten drive away large customers capable shifting alternative fuels said absence any guidelines inventory charges from the federal energy regulatory commission the matter being negotiated between pipelines and customers richards said now that transco has refused transport cheap spot gas for them these distributors are likely more conciliatory the inventory charge said cool heads will prevail dlj launer said but may take while reuter alum reynolds metals rlm restart idle potline reynolds metals said plans restart the last idle potuction line its troutdale ore primary aluminum plant with the restart this metric tonne per year line reynolds said will operating pct its consolidated primary aluminum capacity tonnes per year reynolds said work will commence the potline restart the near future and expected that actual metal production will begin september one the company said the start was necessitated continuing strong demand for aluminum and dwindling worldwide inventories and that the metal needed supply reynolds various fabricating businesses reuter acq cbc bancorp acquired union planters cbc bancorp inc said will acquired the memphis based union planters corp upcm merger agreement details were not disclosed cbc which the holding company which owns cookeville citizens bank said has signed agreement which would merge cbc with union which has billion dlrs assets according cbc union reported shareholders equity nearly mln dlrs for the period ending march cbc said the merger will not affect citizens banks name management board directors employees reuter acq tie communications tie renews agreements tie communications inc said has renewed agreements sell its gte corp gte bell atlantic corp bel nynex corp nyn and west inc usw for two years the company providing small mid siezed key telephone systems gte and key systems hybrids and data star pabx systems the others reuter tin itc contests use documents court evidence the international tin council itc intervened high court hearing attempt prevent the presentation internal council documents evidence the intervention shearson lehman action against the london metal exchange over its ring out tin contracts likely have implications for other cases which the council involved following the collapse its buffer stock operations october itc delegates said the itc case being presented professor rosalyn higgins and expected take further one two days next week court does not sit tomorrow essence the council claiming that its status similar that foreign embassy and that its archives can therefore not used english court law the council ended its quarterly session today ahead schedule the meeting had been expected until tomorrow when the european community legal advisers were due attend but delegates reviewed the progress the various legal actions today otherwise the meeting was occupied with internal administrative matters delegates said the itc will continue operate with reduced staff after june following the two year extension the sixth international tin agreement well dealing with the ongoing litigation the council will continue with its statistical work and carry out some research studies although staffing the research department being cut one from two previously this week session the council elected philip sparkes australia first vice chairman for the producing members and heinz hofer switzerland second vice chairman for the consumers for the year from july future quarterly sessions are scheduled for october and december reuter alum reynolds metals restart idle potline reynolds metals said plans restart the last idle potline its troutdale ore primary aluminum plant with the restart this tonne year production line reynolds said will operating pct its consolidated primary aluminum capacity tonnes per year reynolds said work the restart will begin the near future and expected that actual metal production will begin september the company said the start was necessitated continuing strong demand for aluminum and dwindling worldwide inventories and that the metal needed supply reynolds various fabricating businesses reuter nat-gas allegheny algh forming subsidiary allegheny and western energy corp said was forming subsidiary market gas smaller users west virginia the company also said completed negotiations sell between and mln cubic feet gas per day large unspecified east coast utility interstate markets will become part the subsidiary operations the company said reuter acq gillette seen object global bidding war ronald perelman head revlon group inc rev may trying ignite bidding war for gillette that could draw some big international players and the process make lot money for himself wall street analysts said several hours before regularly scheduled board directors meeting gillette disclosed that perelman requested consent its board for offer least dlrs per share perelman needed the consent because agreed november not buy stock for years without permission think ronald perelman less interested gillette and more interested putting gillette into play because stands make ton money said andrew shore analyst shearson lehman brothers inc play term used wall street describe what happens when company becomes unwiling takeover target shore noted that according the agreement revlon gets paid there any acquisition gillette through november this year price higher than dlrs per share gillette rose three today following gain three yesterday the agreement would calculated the basis perelman previous holding mln shares adjusted for split for example deal between gillette and some other company dlrs per share would make revlon richer mln dlrs under the formula neither perelman nor his spokesmen returned telephone calls seeking comment revlon stands make substantial amount money someone else takes over gillette said analyst deepak raj merrill lynch and not saying that going happen but gillette undervalued stock with breakup value dlrs per share shore shearson lehman said there are couple reasons why perelman may not really interested acquiring gillette said perelman the process taking revlon private after acquiring control the cosmetics company two years ago probably wants concentrate improving revlon operations trying overhaul and improve the image the dearptment store business another reason that revlon has recently made two other acquisitions under those circumstances shore would not surprised some company such unilever plc procter and gamble decided take look gillette shore mentioned half dozen other potential buyers for gillette including sir james goldsmith hanson trust plc han rjr nabisco inc rjr american brands inc amb and ralston purina ral perelman trying put the company play said wall street arbitrageur gets share the upside the company sold another arbitrageur said expects gillette resist perelman overture can see the board consenting what has changed between november and now said another arbitrageur said was not sure what was going perelman never does anything without fair amount calculation said but added the gillette board has careful they just can say they sued shareholders gillette board was still meeting edt three and one half hours after the scheduled starting time according copy perelman letter released gillette would prepared sign defnitive merger agreement without any financing condition said citibank his lead lender and first boston inc his financial adviser reuter zinc minpeco lifts force majeure zinc ingot shipments from cajamarquilla spokesman strategic-metal trw inc trw sets pact with tektronix tek trw inc trw componenets international inc unit said set pact with tektronix inc triquint semiconductor unit jointly supply gallium arsenide devices for space applications part the agreement the two companyies are working together establish procedures produce class stringent military specification for space use gallium arsenide components triquint makes gallilum arsenide integrated circuits reuter zinc force majeure lifted cajamarquilla peru state minerals marketing arm minero peru comercial minpeco lifted force majeure zinc ingot shipments from the country biggest zinc refinery cajamarquilla spokesman said the spokesman said the problems affecting sulphuric acid and roaster plants that had halted production since may had been resolved however said production zinc ingots this year was expected fall around tonnes this year cajamarquilla from tonnes because the stoppage the refinery has optimum annual production capacity tonnes but its highest production was tonnes refined zinc ingots the spokesman said reuter money-supply assets money funds fell mln dlrs latest week billion iron-steel usx unit offers steel prices directory usx corp said its uss division has available comprehensive sheet steel selection and pricing system detailing the company full line products the company said was the first complete update years the new prices the book are effective after oct one the company said reuter copper inspiration cuts copper price cts inspiration consolidated copper subsidiary inspiration resources corp said lowering its base price for full plate copper cathodes cent cents effective immediately reuter earn agf management ltd six mths may net shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter earn data med clinical support dmcs qtr loss period ended may shr loss five cts loss cts net loss loss sales note full name data med clinical support services inc per share data adjusted for three for one stock split payable june the only sales reflected fiscal period are sales recorded subsequent the may acquisition the assets predecessor company data med reuter acq nova corp says considering takeover bid for dome petroleum acq carter hawley chh sets record date for vote carter hawley hale stores inc said has set june the record date for shareholders voting the company proposed restructuring its annual meeting the company has yet set date for the meeting but has said will held before the end august under the proposal carter hawley would split into specialty store company and department store company shareholders would get dlrs cash and share each the two new companies for each existing common share they hold the restructuring was announced december after carter hawley rejected buy out offer retail partners reuter acq allegheny sells three industrial units allegheny international inc said sold three its industrial units which served the railroad industry chemetron railway products inc senior management group allegheny terms the transaction were not disclosed included the sale were chemetron railway products true temper railway appliances inc and allegheny axle the company said the three units include plants throughout the the company said reuter acq nova nvaa considering bid for dome dmp nova corp considering takeover bid for dome petroleum ltd either alone part consortium nova chairman bob blair said are thinking about making offer dome amoco canada petroleum ltd the creditors blair told reporters before the annual meeting amoco canada unit amoco corp which has made billion dlr acquisition offer for dome there ongoing serious thought applied dome nova and husky but decision substance future action has been taken either company blair said nova owns pct husky oil ltd hyo blair also said that nova has made decision whether would want lead partner joint purchase dome added that some the discussions with other parties about dome included transcanada pipelines ltd trp but refused name the other participants reuter acq investment firm raises tvx tvxg stake wedge group inc houston investment firm said raised its stake tvx broadcast group inc shares pct the total outstanding common stock from shares pct filing with the securities and exchange commission wedge said bought tvx common shares prices ranging from dlrs share reuter acq group raises nash finch nafc stake group including members the sobey family nova scotia and empire company ltd said raised its stake nash finch shares pct the total outstanding from shares pct filing with the securities and exchange commission the group said bought nash finch common shares between april and june reuter trade canada ties seen worse without trade pact canadian ties could worsen the two nations are unable reach free trade pact according study published two nonpartisan public policy research groups the cato institute washington and the fraser institute vancouver said removing the remaining tariffs cross border trade would benefit both countries but cato chairman william niskanen added the two nations generally harmonious trade relations are probably not sustainable without new agreement the united states and canada whose cross border trade totaled about billion dlrs last year have been holding talks since last june pact end the few trade barriers remaining between their two countries the put deadline the talks october but both sides have said agreement likely despite tough bargaining remained niskanen said pact reached bilateral trade ties could deteriorate because congressional pressure president reagan implement trade laws more aggressively and this could hit some canadian trade practices noted canada seeking foreign investment its auto industry which could put strains the considerable bilateral free trade and canadian autos and parts niskanen also said the canadian government vulnerable resurgence economic nationalism which could restrict exports canada free trade pact backed president reagan and prime minister brian mulroney would open new markets for canada and enable its industries achieve economies scale which would also help widen exports worldwide said would also increase the gross national products both countries niskanen said the goal pact should end all tariffs within years lower subsidies exports set rules for trade services and investments end curbs government procurement and agree ways resolve trade disputes reuter gnp southern europe has strong domestic demand growth strong growth domestic demand was key feature the economies southern european countries though the growth seen slowing this year and next the organisation for economic cooperation and development said its semi annual report the oecd said portugal total domestic demand growth would decline from pct last year five pct and pct slower wage growth restrained private consumption turkey economy grew much faster than expected and domestic demand surged pct but this growth was expected halved five pct next year spain buoyant domestic demand led fixed investment had been the driving force behind rapid growth gross domestic product both fixed investment and private consumption were expected ease during but would still remain strong the oecd forecast that spanish imports would rise sharply next year reflecting strong demand entry the european community and declining competitiveness greece inflation was forecast turn downwards following increase early this year linked with the introduction value added tax and surge food prices due cold weather reuter gnp oecd says high wage deals harming nordic states high wage settlements nordic countries threaten cut exports and reduce the international competitiveness their industries the organisation for economic cooperation and development oecd said denmark the oecd said wage settlements concluded early were likely contribute marked deterioration competitiveness sweden competitive position was also seen risk from accelerating wages the oecd predicted that domestic demand would come under pressure from tight fiscal policy denmark well norway sweden and finland overall economic growth will vary the different countries between and the oecd semi annual report said after strong rise pct total domestic demand norway was seen falling pct and one pct the following year denmark was also expected see slump domestic demand the report said growth gross domestic product gdp was likely speed slightly sweden and finland and while declining denmark and norway iceland needs try harder implement its new economic strategy any more progress made towards sustained and balanced non inflationary growth the oecd said reuter earn mark work wearhouse mww qtr loss period ended may shr loss four cts loss three cts net loss loss revs mln mln note full name mark work wearhouse ltd reuter gnp oecd sees pct west german real gnp growth acq squibb sqb said not interested buying cetus robert fildes president and chief executive cetus corp ctus told reuters that squibb corp not interested buying cetus earlier the companies said squibb would buy from cetus five pct equity postion cetus for about mln dlrs this not attempt squibb become major majority holder cetus fildes told reuters interview squibb has not approached with any indication that they want acquire and wouldn interested that kind arrangement said fildes squibb could not reached comment the late comments fildes squibb cetus first pharmaceutical partner and the only one own equity position cetus eastman kodak and grace both have joint ventures with cetus but neither owns equity position the company said fildes cetus has venture with kodak develp diagnostic products and with grace develop agricultural products earlier squibb and cetus announced joint statement agreement principle form joint venture develop new biotechnology products several fields part the deal squibb will license several cetus anticancer agents including interleukin development squibb will sell the drugs only japan and other markets but not north american and western europe wouldn have done this deal had not been understood that cetus wants build its own fully integrated business north america and europe said fildes said squibb was the good partner because squibb has major joint venture japan and has sales capabilities its own that market fildes said cetus has shunned licensing arrangements with pharmaceutical companies because wanted build its own business many large corporations have invested small biotech firms but squibb investment cetus the first has made biotechnology fildes said that was attractive cetus because wanted partner that didn have relationship with large number other biotechnology companies fildes said his strategy was have partners non drug areas like diagnostics and agriculture but keep the biggest developments anticancer drugs ourselves fildes said the partnership with squibb would used broaden the company reach such big money making areas the cardiovascular anti infective and the anti inflammatory markets squibb also investming mln dlrs cetus research over the next five years squibb putting over mln dlrs research and development make happen while the equity position part the package simply demonstrate the seriousness this partnership said fildes reuter earn tri star pictures inc trsp qtr may shr four cts four cts net revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln note company changed its fiscal year from december the last day february thus results operations for the year ago period have been restated reflect this change current first quarter includes results operations loews theatre management corp which tri star acquired december reuter gnp fall canadian budget deficit slow finance minister michael wilson said tax reform will not affect his determination reign expenditures but his forecasts show slowing the decline the budget deficit the late responsible tax reform must fiscally responsible wilson said speech prepared for the house commons wilson estimated the deficit will fall billion dlrs the year ending march the same level forecast the february budget and the year ended this past march the deficit was expected have been one billion dlrs lower than the billion dlr shortfall originally forecast wilson said wilson said the current fiscal year higher than anticipated spending particularly farm income support programs will offset higher than anticipated revenues but finance department documents show the pace deficit reduction was expected slow temporarily fiscal and result lower oil and grain prices and the transition the reformed taxation system the deficit expected total billion dlrs fiscal and billion dlrs and then fall billion dlrs wilson was optimistic about the outlook for the canadian economy forcasting gross domestic product would expand pct this year and pct the economy grew actual pct inflation meanwhile expected stabilize around the current four pct level over the next two years reuter interest anz banking group says will cut prime rate pct from june interest anz banking group cuts prime rate pct the australia and new zealand banking group ltd anza said will cut its prime rate pct from effective june the cut takes the anz prime the lower end the range prime rates being offered australian trading banks the highest rate pct the cut follows announcements cuts yesterday citibank ltd pct from effective today and commonwealth bank australia pct from effective june reuter earn national semiconductor corp nsm fourth quarter shr profit six cents loss net profit mln dlrs loss mln sales mln mln avg shrs mln mln year shr loss cents loss dlrs net loss mln dlrs loss mln sales billion billion avg shrs mln mln note current year figure includes previously announced mln dlr restructuring charge figures include extraordinary credit from tax benefit mln dlrs quarter mln year earlier and mln for year mln year earlier the year net reflects mln dlr gain from cumulative effect accounting change reuter trade shultz warns asean looming trade problem secretary state george shultz warned members the association southeast asian nations asean they could longer rely increased exports the for growth given the importance exports particularly export manufactures all your countries you are going have work hard diversify your markets said while you may able maintain your current market share the you clearly will not able look the take major increases your exports added shultz told the foreign ministers brunei indonesia malaysia the philippines singapore and thailand the would cut its huge foreign trade deficit more rapidly than many now believed said asean looming trade problems would not necessarily stem from protectionist legislation now being contemplated congress but simply because the adjustments the economy will have make order service our large and growing external debt shultz said the deficit had resulted not from falling exports but from higher imports that had fuelled world growth reuter alum indonesia raises stake aluminium plant indonesia has increased its share billion yen aluminium smelter joint venture with japan from pct asahan project authority director suhud said the japanese export import bank said indonesia had raised its share indonesia asahan aluminium company capitalised billion swapping billion yen government loans the company for equity stake the japanese shareholders the overseas economic cooperation fund and companies are invest another billion yen raising capitalisation billion yen asahan reported total losses billion rupiah between and suhud said much the company billion yen debt had been caused falling tin prices and the appreciation the yen against the dollar aluminium sold dollars prices improved from dlrs tonne six months ago about dlrs today the plant supposed break even prices stay dlrs tonne sahud said the plant with capacity tonnes year would probably lose money again the plant situated north sumatra produces mostly for japan reuter alum japan approves aid for indonesia brazil aluminium japan cabinet approved plan help financially troubled aluminium ventures indonesia and brazil official the ministry international and trade industry miti said japan will invest billion yen indonesia asahan aluminium addition the billion yen already invested the company the government and private interests will equally share the additional investment said they will also provide equal shares billion yen new investment the albras amazon aluminium project brazil addition the billion yen already invested the japan export import bank will cut its rates loans asahan and albras about five pct from about seven pct the official said interest rates loans japan private banks the two projects are expected reduced around five pct from the current seven eight pct but agreement has yet reached industry sources said under the rescue scheme for asahan which billion yen has been invested indonesia will also extend another billion yen the company this will raise indonesia investment ratio about pct from the current pct the brazilian government has already agreed invest additional billion yen albras which investment now totals billion yen but its stake will not change from pct the official said the sources said the rescue programs for the two projects were larger than earlier expected reflecting japan desire help develop the economies indonesia and brazil and stabilise sources aluminium japan depends imports for more than pct its aluminium demand which totals some mln tonnes year they said reuter acq mitsui buys five pct stake chip maker mitsui and ltd mits paid mln dlrs early may for five pct stake zoran corp california based maker large scale integrated circuits lsi with computer graphic communications and medical applications mitsui spokesman told reuters said the two firms will form marketing company japan early next year although details the joint venture are not yet fixed mitsui expects last year billion yen japanese lsi market grow quickly zoran was founded and now has about employees said reuter trade japan june interim trade surplus narrows japan custom cleared trade surplus narrowed billion dlrs the first days june from billion year earlier the finance ministry said the june interim surplus compares with billion dlr surplus the same may period fob exports the first days june rose pct from year earlier billion dlrs while cif imports rose pct billion the average yen dollar rate used for the figures was yen against year earlier reuter earn itoh and ltd citt year ended march group shr yen net billion billion pretax billion billion operating billion billion sales billion billion reuter acq sainsbury says taking control shaw supermarkets for dlrs share acq sainsbury taking control shaw supermarkets sainsbury plc snb said agreed take control the shaw supermarkets inc through combination share purchases and tender offer dlrs share sainsbury bought about pct the stock said its subsidiary chene investments inc bought mln common shares from the controlling davis family yesterday dlrs share for mln dlrs lifting its stake pct tender offer for the outstanding shares will launched also dlrs share for maximum further cost mln the shaw board and the davis family has agreed accept the offer thus assuring sainsbury total holding pct the company had allotted mln new ordinary shares warburg securities ltd which said would sufficient finance about mln dlrs the maximum mln dlrs payable shaw operates chain supermarkets massachusetts maine and new hampshire which produced sales billiob dlrs and pretax profit mln the end had net assets mln dlrs last september sainsbury increased its stake shaw pct the year march reported rise pretax profit mln stg from mln sales that increased billion from billion sainsbury shares had fallen five pence before the announcement from last night close but were unmoved news the deal reuter earn isuzu motors ltd isum six months april parent shr loss yen profit interim div nil nil net loss billion profit billion current loss billion profit billion operating loss billion profit billion sales billion billion outstanding shrs mln mln reuter trade japan must try harder cut surplus minister japan must try harder reduce its trade surplus the yen will come under renewed upward pressure economic planning minister tetsuo kondo told press luncheon hoped japan could cut its current account surplus some billion dlrs year until reduced some billion dlrs the fiscal year ended march the surplus totalled billion dlrs about pct gnp the billion yen economic stimulation package the government unveiled late last month would help slash japan current account surplus five six billion dlrs said reuter tin thai smelter faces tin concentrate supply shortage thailand major tin exporter and producer thailand smelting and refining thaisarco said may unable meet all its overseas orders because insufficient supplies tin concentrates from thai mines local mines cut combined daily tin concentrate sales thaisarco royal dutch shell group unit less than tonnes earlier this month from previous tonne average commercial manager yoot eamsa ard told reuters said the cuts resulted from government decision let the temporary business and municipal tax reductions exported tin lapse june the taxes levied the tin mines rose pct this month from pct valorem over the past year the lower levels had been introduced last year temporary move aid the tin industry after prices collapsed late yoot said thaisarco had dig into its stocks meet large portion new overseas orders which were averaging tonnes per day result said thailand could fail fill some tonnes its tonne tin export quota allocated the association tin producing countries atpc for the year ending february reduced tin exports this year could cause the atpc allocate lower quota next year yoot said the supplies shortage should prove temporary however because the thai cabinet expected review mineral resources department proposal reinstate the low taxes late this month yoot said the department said thailand exported tonnes tin during january may compared with tonnes year ago reuter crude sri lanka plans renew abu dhabi oil contract ceylon petroleum corp cpc has decided renew its one year contract with abu dhabi for tonnes upper zakum crude oil cpc officials told reuters they said cpc made the recommendation the cabinet and now awaiting its approval cpc one year contract with abu dhabi expired may this year and wants the renewed contract begin june the government selling price delivery will determined the course the year last year shipments were three parcels tonnes each and four tonnes each cpc officials also said the company agreed with the egyptian government for the supply tonnes gulf suez crude for delivery two shipments this year the government selling price last year cpc bought tonnes gulf suez through itoh officials said plans buy tonnes basra light from iraq have not been finalised yet because several constraints cpc said could not accept tonne parcels and proposed lift tonnes eight shipments iraq national oil inoc told cpc red sea port where lifting was take place could not accept small ships inoc then proposed deliver eight shipments tonnes each cpc said inoc planned ship the oil indian port for delivery indian requirements later going colombo offload cpc needs but cpc considered this unsuitable cpc said had not received reply from inoc since december sri lanka imports all its annual needs mln tonnes this year plans buy tonnes the spot market compared with about mln tonnes last year reuter ship taiwan evergreen line public liner shipping specialist evergreen marine corp taiwan largest private company has applied the security and exchange commission public next month company spokeswoman told reuters she said evergreen had doubled its capital eight billion taiwan dlrs since last august the capital increase will boost our operations she said she said evergreen will use the funds raised from the stock market buy new ships and step its global services the spokeswoman said the company posted after tax profit more than one billion dlrs last year total revenues billion compared after tax profit billion revenues billion evergreen has placed newbuilding orders for three teu twenty foot equivalent unit fully cellular container ships with the state owned china shipbuilding corp for delivery late evergreen has fleet container vessels totalling more than two mln dwt the spokeswoman said reuter ipi dutch industrial production falls pct april dutch seasonally adjusted industrial production fell pct april compared with the previous month and was pct down the same period last year figures from the official statistics bureau cbs show the april index base stood march industrial production rose pct from february the unadjusted april index figure fell pct from march compared with pct rise march over february reuter cpi canada may consumer price index rises pct statistics canada said cpi canada consumer price index pct may canada consumer price index rose pct may base following pct rise april and pct rise may statistics canada said the may year year rise was pct compared with pct rise april reuter wpi german producer prices rise pct may west german producer prices rose pct may compared with april stand pct lower than may last year the federal statistics office said april producer prices fell pct from march and dropped pct from their levels year earlier the statistics office said producer prices for liquefied gas fell pct may from april and heavy heating oil prices declined pct while lead prices rose pct and silver prices increased pct reuter gas japan firms launch sales octane gasoline japanese oil companies are starting campaigns market octane gasoline meet growing domestic demand for higher quality motor fuel oil sources said ten companies plan offer the unleaded gasoline this summer starting with idemitsu kosan ltd june showa shell sekiyu shol introduced its formula shell octane gasoline the japanese market january this year formula shell has achieved strong sales japan despite higher price than regular octane gasoline which has prompted other oil firms offer rival product the sources said have received good response from consumers formula shell terms smoother ride and effective fuel consumption showa shell said shell product sells for yen per litre yen higher than regular gasoline and has already achieved pct share japan high octane gasoline market said high octane gasoline accounts for pct shell total gasoline sales japan added idemitsu said hopes raise high octane sales pct its total gasoline sales from about seven pct immediately after the launch its idemitsu nippon oil ltd npol said will launch its octane gasoline july aiming for increase high octane sales pct from six pct its total gasoline sales the rush compete for high octane gasoline market share has been spurred expectations that the government will lift gasoline production quotas and restrictions gasoline station construction the next two three years major oil companies are trying boost their gasoline sales network ahead the proposed lifting gasoline production quotas official major oil company said advisory panel the ministry international trade and industry miti recommended this week that the government press ahead with deregulation the oil industry including the lifting gasoline production quotas help oil companies increase their international competitiveness japan three biggest gasoline marketers nippon oil idemitsu and showa shell suffered supply shortages under the production quota guideline fiscal ended last march domestic gasoline demand during the year was pct from the previous year according miti report reuter acq bpcc planning sale packaging operations the british printing and communication corp plc bpl considering selling its specialist packaging and labelling operations spokeswoman said she gave dates prices for the transaction but said the units would sold negotiation she declined give any turnover profit figures for the packaging and labelling operations beyond saying that they were very profitable they formed self contained part the overall group she said analysts said the packaging and labelling division could sold for mln stg earlier this week group chairman robert maxwell also said expected float its mirror group newspaper subsidiary bought from reed international plc reed for mln stg the spokeswoman said that bpcc intended keep majority share the newspaper group was floated bpcc currently locked legal battles resulting from its attempt take over publisher harcourt brace jovanovich inc hbj earlier this week bpcc launched two for three rights issue raise mln stg and said the money raised would enable renew its assault harcourt has also expressed interest dutch publisher kluwer kluw reuter ship belgian one day strike hits transport shipping hour strike belgian public employees protesting against government pay offer disrupted transport and hit ferry services and shipping port and union officials said some cross channel ferry services from ostend were cancelled the local news agency belga said antwerp port authority spokesman said electricians came out support reducing ship movements trickle unions said ghent and other major belgian ports were also hit few trains were running and some early morning flights sabena belgian national airline were cancelled reuter ship china resumes ussr ship repairs after year gap china has resumed repairs soviet ships after year break caused the ideological split between the two countries the new china news agency said agreement resume the business was signed the two sides wednesday shanghai where three soviet commercial vessels were being repaired the china daily said the first two soviet ships repaired china since left the ports dalian and xingang last month yueran managing director china state shipbuilding corp ship repair department told the newspaper the soviet union lacked adequate repair facilities for the more than ships deployed the far east said china yards offered competitive prices guaranteed quality and prompt delivery reuter acq fidelcor ficr buys new england bkne stake fidelcor inc said has acquired substantial portion the assets bank new england corp lazere financial corp subsidiary for undisclosed terms the company said the transaction includes most lazere loan portfolio and other assets including lazere miami office reuter acq chrysler agrees acquire electrospace systems for mln dlrs interest top discount rate bill tender rises pct ship spain cargo firms hire dockers offset strike cargo handling companies said they were hiring twice the usual number dockers offset intermittent strike spanish ports spanish dockers began nine day strike wednesday which they only work alternate hours protest government plans partially privatize port services reuter acq chrysler tender for electrospace ele chrysler corp said electrospace systems inc agreed acquired under merger agreement which chrysler will tender dlrs share for pct the richardson texas based defense electronics contractor said total cost chrysler buy all the outstanding stock would about mln dlrs electrospace systems designs develops and installs communications and electronic systems and equipment for the specialized needs military and commercial customers worldwide chrysler said electrospace will help its gulfstream operations grow military and commercial aircraft sales but said there are plans merge gulfstream and electrospace rather they will operate sister companies said chrysler said its tender offer expected begin june and will managed first boston corp for the fiscal year ended april electrospace systems had earnings mln dlrs sales mln dlrs the company employs people about pct its sales were the military reuter crude opec president lukman expects short calm meeting opec conference president rilwanu lukman said expects next week ministerial meeting vienna brief and calm and that opec current price and production agreement may only need slight review expect the meeting vienna short and calm lukman who also nigerian oil minister told reporters here ahead his departure sunday for the conference which starts june already have agreement which may need only slight review lukman said the agreement reached long session opec ministers december last year pegged the group crude oil output mln bpd for first half fixed prices around dlrs barrel since then prices have risen from dlrs december just above the official opec levels with oil industry analysts firmly convinced the organisation will maintain the agreement keep the market stable myself believe that opec will tend take position strengthen the gains have made far lukman said declined say the current ceiling should maintained raised mln bpd for the third quarter and mln for the fourth provisionally agreed last december whatever decision arrive will guided our collective will keep the market strong said said non opec member norway which visited two weeks ago had pledged further cooperation with the group and this was significant for its members lukman said heavy destocking consumers early this year when opec fixed price regime came into effect and restocking now for the winter was responsible for current market strength reuter acq davis mining revises offer for becor bcw becor western inc said davis mining and manufacturing inc has amended its offer for the company becor said the cash portion the offer remains unchanged dlrs share but the principal amount debentures would increase dlrs from dlrs becor share the amended offer also includes dlrs face value the surviving corporation pct nonvoting cumulative preferred not included the previous offer and reduces the amount the surviving corporation common held present shareholders pct from pct becor western the amended davis mining offer suject confirmation certain due diligence information becor also said discussions continue with one other possible bidder which still has not been identified again the company said expects discussions with the other possible investor conclude shortly that time the board will evaluate all the then existing offers for becor added reuter acq mtech mtch has commercial shares mtech corp said has received shares commercial resources corp response its dlr per share tender offer for all shares the company said has extended the offer until july was have expired yesterday reuter earn micron technology inc dram qtr june four shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr loss dlrs loss dlrs net loss mln loss mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln reuter acq nat computer nlcs buy data card stake national computer systems inc said agreed acquire deluxe check printers inc dlx pct stake data card corp national computer said plans issue mln dlrs five year subordinated convertible debentures purchase the shares data card from deluxe completion the proposed transaction subject regulatory approval expected mid july said the debenture will bear increasing rate interest over its term with pct weighted average rate and will convertible into national computer common stock dlrs share said separately deluxe said its data card investment longer fits its business strategy deluxe has held interest data card since when provided funds for data card buy troy computer products corp november data card said planned sell its troy division reuter acq microsemi mscc acquires hybrid components microsemi corp supplier semiconductor products and assemblies said has acquired the operating assets hybrid components inc for mln dlrs cash microsemi said the purchase includes the fixed assets software inventories technology intellectual properties and other business operations hci the company said hci will continue operate its beverly plant subsidiary microsemi reuter trade reagan says trade bill faces veto present form president reagan said would veto house passed trade bill requiring mandatory retaliation for unfair trade reached its desk its present form statement white house meeting with senate republicans the legislation said would have choice but veto that bill its present form said the measure would move exactly the wrong direction towards high tariffs trade barriers trade distorting subsidies slow growth and crimped world markets and would destroy jobs reuter interest central bank warns excessive rate cuts bank england governor robin leigh pemberton said lowering interest rates too fast could jeopardise recent economic achievements the remarks prepared for delivery businessmen birmingham said prospective returns real investment are more favourable relative those financial assets than for good number years would surely foolish put that favourable conjuncture risk lowering interest rates prematurely excessively said might enjoy short term boost activity but the risk damaging return the uncertainty and acrimony high inflation added leigh pemberton said recognised there are some who would argue that interest rates are still too high and deter investment industry but should not forget that less than year ago were intervening support sterling and had some temporary difficulty persuading the markets that one pct increase base rates pct was sufficient tightening policy the time added base rate currently nine pct reuter earn american greetings corp agrea qtr net period ended may shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter earn american greetings corp agrea qtr net period ended may shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter earn texas utilities txu mos may net shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln rev billion billion avg shares mln mln reuter earn boston digital corp bost qtr net period ended april shr profit nil loss eight cts net profit loss sales year shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss sales mln mln note earnings each period include provision for unrealized loss marketable securities dlrs reuter acq colonial bancgroup clbga buys destin bank colonial bancgroup said agreed buy first national bank destin for undisclosed sum the company said approved the sale will mark its second move acquire florida bank said signed letter intent buy liberty bank pensacola april reuter acq chrysler has plans raise bid chrysler corp said has intention increasing its offer for electrospace systems inc ele chrysler agreed purchase the texas based defense electronics contractor tender offer dlrs share for total value about mln dlrs eletrospace shares closed yesterday the nyse have intention increasing the offer company spokeswoman said believe adequate and will accepted she said the proposed transaction was unanimously recommended the board directors and principal shareholders electrospace further she noted that the dlrs tender offer price pct above the price electrospace shares before april when put itself for sale reuter crude texaco canada raises crude oil postings canadian cts bbl light sweet now dlrs bbl interest lenders offer more fixed rate mortgages more lenders are offering homebuyers fixed interest rate mortgages under which the borrower makes the same monthly payment matter what happens other interest rates and with mortgage rates now their lowest levels years the loans have been snapped eager home buyers trying lock into cheap money the decision offer fixed rate loans industry officials said reflects the increasingly competitive nature the home mortgage business while fixed rate mortgages are uncommon the they were the mainstay the business the until only few years ago but the early interest rates soared lenders mostly savings and loan associations were earning rates low three pct year fixed rate mortgages they held their portfolios but had pay depositors rates high pct induce them retain their accounts result hundreds institutions collapsed were forced merge the survivors decided offer mortgages whose rates would move line with the cost funds very much have the example the thrifts mind said spokesman for abbey national building society explaining why his institution for the time being only offering variable rate mortgages the rash advertising solicit new business has helped homebuyers become even choosier about loans and lenders concede they are being forced undercut each other still more sharp cuts variable rate mortgages announced earlier this week the nation two largest building societies and national westminster bank plc reflect growing competition for new business officials all three institutions said the fixed rate mortgages offer carry interest rates even below those the variable rate loans course they are less profitable than other variable rate mortgages said spokesman for midland bank plc which earlier this year said earmarked mln dlrs for fixed rate new mortgage loans but said the bank willing offer less profitable loans because was just another way attract people our mortgage product trustee savings bank plc tsb was offering five year fixed rate mortgages pct earlier this year the mln stg that tsb set aside for the loans was exhausted within just few days according spokeswoman everybody loves under pct mortgage she said noting that within five days the bank loaned the equivalent pct its volume short the appeal fixed rate mortgages that they offer opportunity gamble the direction interest rates interest rates fall after the mortgage made the lender earning above average return assets but interest rates rise the homebuyer who has won the benefit cheap money household mortgage had planned offer year fixed rate mortgage after the june elections the assumption that conservative party victory would help money market rates fall further according duncan young managing director young explained that the company had planned protect itself against the chance rising interest rates buying complicated hedging instrument but money market rates have risen contrary expectations and the company has shelved its plans for the time being said money market rates were too high arrange both the mortgages and hedge profitably however said that when the household mortgage does make fixed rate mortgages likely securitise them this means bundling different mortgages together resemble bond and selling them investor for technical reasons securitisation simpler and more efficient with fixed rate rather than with floating rate mortgages the where fixed rate mortgages are popular again securitisation has provided the bulk mortgage money over the past few years reuter crude texaco txc canada raise crude oil postings texaco inc texaco canada said will raise postings for its edmonton swann hills crude canadian cts barrel effective june the company said the new posting for edmonton swann hills will dlrs barrel the price hike follows round crude oil price increases started late june sun the other major canadian crude suppliers raised prices june reuter reserves norwegian central bank reserves fall may norway central bank reserves totalled billion crowns may against billion april and billion may the central bank said its monthly report foreign exchange reserves totalled billion crowns compared with billion april and billion year ago gold reserves were unchanged from april mln crowns and also unchanged from the year ago figure central bank special drawing right holdings were billion crowns compared with billion april and billion may reuter ship high water extends rhine river blockage rising water levels the rhine caused heavy rain are delaying operation near karlsruhe raise two sunken boats which have blocked the river main navigation channel since early last week karlsruhe water authority spokesman said said two floating cranes were unable begin lifting the sunken tug orinoko and its lighter because the water level had reached centimetres and was forecast rise tomorrow was unable say when the operation might begin meanwhile high water cologne has forced vessels travel reduced speed water authority spokesman cologne said but water authority spokesman duisburg kms north cologne said vessels there were moving normally reuter acq greyhound lines agrees acquire remaining routes trailways corp acq greyhound agrees acquire trailways routes greyhound lines said agreed acquire the routes trailways corp greyhound said had petitioned the interstate commerce commission for authority acquire and operate trailways routes its buses and some its terminals and garages trailways has abandoned all service seven states the past year and more than half its sevice three other states the company said without intervention the collaspe trailways imminent said fred currey chairman and president greyhound reuter heat court upholds apex decision favoring nymex the court appeals for the second circuit upheld lower court decision dismissing suit apex oil against the new york mercantile exchange and several oil companies the court however ruled that apex oil could pursue anititrust and commodities market manipulation allegations against belcher oil unit coastal corp cgp apex oil primarily trading company charged that several companies including belcher and nymex conspired force deliver heating oil had sold the mercantile exchange knowing apex could not make full delivery the nymex ordered apex deliver four mln barrels heating oil sold via february heating oil contract apex eventually fulfilled this obligation but claimed damages richard wiener attorney for apex cadwalader wickersham and taft said the company has not yet decided whether pursue its case against belcher oil the nymex meanwhile has counterclaim pending against apex oil seeking unspecified amount attorney fees and mln dlrs punitive damages according nymex spokeswoman reuter ship rhine blocked for three more weeks salvager dutch salvage firm smit tak said may take some three weeks lift the swiss tug orinoko and its lighter pavo which sank days ago karlsruhe west germany blocking the rhine river smit tak which with its west german subsidiary harms bergung gmbh was commissioned the local water authorities raise the vessels said its lifting fleet was position and divers had made the first inspection smit still preparing its final salvage plan and said the work would begin sunday reuter acq stifel financial said received unsolicited merger proposal acq harcourt hbj mum reed reed rumors harcourt brace jovanovich inc officials were not available for comment market rumors that interested acquiring reed international plc reed officials first boston inc harcourt financial adviser declined comment wall street arbitrageur who owns harcourt shares said the rumors did not make much sense because harcourt has announced recapitalization plan ward off takeover attempt british publisher robert maxwell completely inconsistent with the recapitalization the only way they drop the recapitalization said calls harcourt seeking comment were not returned harcourt recapitalization will come under scrutiny court orlando fla monday the company has sought declaratory judgment convertibility debentures due light the recapitalization harcourt said statement this week that salomon brothers inc and mutual shares corp have intervened the case claiming ownership more than mln dlrs face amount the debenture addition british printing and communications corp headed maxwell owns mln dlrs face amount harcourt said salomon said filing with the securities and exchange commission today that has the debentures the court decides they should converted par value one dlr they could converted into mln shares harcourt asking the court rule the company not required issue common debenture holders who did not convert prior june eight increase reed shares london today was attributed brokers rumors harcourt interest and also rumors that maxwell might buyer but adviser maxwell new york said there basis think that reuter earn new england electric system nes five mths net five mths end may shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs mln mln reuter acq minnesota may consider anti takeover amendment minnesota governor rudy perpich considering calling special legislative session consider amendments the state anti takeover statute according the governor office spokesman for the governor said nothing will decided today but said the governor will evaluate later whether call special session the next few days the governor office said the possible action was triggered proposal dayton hudson corp which has been the subject takeover rumors spokesman for the governor said the company proposed several amendments perpich designed make any takeover attempt the state more difficult dayton hudson suggested amendments passed and instituted next friday the spokesperson said press reports minneapolis newspapers this morning quoted several legislators saying they were inclined support legislation that would help dayton hudson according governor spokesperson senate majority leader roger moe was quoted saying would inclined support any action that would help the company the spokesperson said robert vanasek the house speaker designate was quoted the minneapolis star and tribune saying are taking their dayton hudson concerns very seriously and are going what can help reuter acq boeing merger waiting period expires boeing said the hart scott rodino waiting period required connection with its pending tender offer for argosystems inc argi expired midnight june boeing began its dlr per share cash tender offer for the defense electronics firm june two reuter acq megavest acquire computer trade development megavest industries inc said has agreed principle acquire unlisted computer trade development corp exchange for mln shares its common stock the company said has about mln shares outstanding said computer trade had revenues about mln dlrs last year reuter sugar cold wet weather slows beet growth europe cold and wet weather northern western and central parts europe continued slow beet growth but plant density reported good most countries sugar statistician licht said temperatures were too low for the season and the rain has hampered field work and occasionally led water logged fields but eastern and southeastern europe warmer weather has boosted sugar beet growth weather the soviet union also allowed good beet development licht said sweden beet growth has been delayed although plant population reported regular and good cool and rainy weather slowed beet growth denmark and crop prospects are rated slightly below normal the united kingdom and ireland was rather cool with heavy rainfall places which has delayed beet growth france belgium the netherlands and west germany was mostly cool with frequent and often heavy rainfall which continued slow down beet growth and often made field work impossible austria was warm with some rainfall which was favourable for beet growth licht said czechoslovakia and poland was mostly warm favouring beet development but some heavy rain may have caused damage the european beet growing regions the soviet union was warm with showers over most areas and weather was generally good for the emergence and growth beets south eastern europe warm weather with some rainfall boosted beet development labour trouble threatens the beet crop spain disputes between the factories and the trade unions are threatening delay the start processing the southern areas where beets are maturing very early this year reuter acq first fbt reiterates speculation premature first city bancorp texas inc which soliciting bidders reiterated that premature speculate what course action will pursue following story today wall street journal that has attracted least three potential acquirers first city said the article was not confirmed the company and cautioned that there absotluely nothing say report beyond its statement the journal reported that among the bidders for first city was robert carney and robert abboud former chicago banker reuter earn chancellor corp chcr qtr march loss shr loss cts loss three cts net loss dlrs loss dlrs revs dlrs dlrs mths shr profit one dlr profit dlrs net profit dlrs profit dlrs revs mln mln reuter acq chevron chv cuts unc unc stake pct chevron corp said sold mln shares unc inc common stock june leaving with mln unc common shares pct the total filing with the securities and exchange commission chevron said sold the shares for dlrs each total mln dlrs under agreement had with unc the stock was sold underwriting syndicate managed dillon read and inc and donaldson lufkin and jenrette securities corp with the underwriters paying mln dlrs and unc paying mln said reuter acq safeway agrees severance for dallas workers the united food and commercial workers union said unlisted safeway inc has agreed provide severance pay about workers the dallas area resulting from the closure division last april the union said the total severance payment will about five mln dlrs said the division was closed result billion dlrs debt incurred from leveraged buyout last year the union said filed suit following the leveraged buyout protect the claims union members the leveraged buyout was implemented ward off bid dart group corp darta reuter trade african states agree regional tariff cuts fifteen countries eastern and southern africa have agreed cut tariffs regional trade pct every two years statement the preferential trade area pta which seeks create common market stretching from ethiopia the north lesotho the south said the governments would make the first tariff cut next year they would assess the impact the tariff reductions and work out new timetable for the complete elimination all barriers trade the year the pta set groups burnudi the comoros djibouti ethiopia kenya lesotho malawi mauritius rwanda somalia swaziland tanzania uganda zambia and zimbabwe pta sources said the agreement averted split between members wanting more progress towards free trade and weaker states concerned about the effects customs revenue the reductions cover only common list widely traded commodities and goods but pta sources said the organisation planned expand the list include items reuter acq galaxy gtv sell west texas assets galaxy cablevision said signed letter intent sell the assets its cable television systems west texas which serve about basic subscribers through nine cable television systems terms were not disclosed and the galaxy did not identify the buyer the company also said will make its first cash dividend cents per unit about august holders record june march galaxy completed public offering mln units for mln dlrs and acquired the assets cable television systems for about mln dlrs reuter acq north american communications weighs possible sale merger acq stifel financial receives merger proposal stifel financial corp said received unsolicited merger proposal from privately held laidlaw adams and peck inc for dlrs share cash for all its outstanding shares the proposal which expires july values stifel about mln dlrs stifel has about mln shares outstanding the company said its management and board directors will consider the proposal but have not set date meet said the proposal currently being studied goldman sachs and and legal counsel said conditions the proposal include obtaining necessary financing satisfactory completion due diligence investigation laidlaw and execution employment contracts with key employees designated laidlaw reuter money-supply canadian money supply fell mln dlrs week bank canada said crude oil prices strong ahead opec meeting crude oil prices are their highest level more than year ahead next week opec meeting even though most industry analysts not expect any policy changes from the session they said prices which have steadily climbed since the organization accord december have risen technical factors within the market and concerns about supplies because the iran iraq war which could disrupt deliveries from the gulf the benchmark crude west texas intermediate trading around dlrs the july contract new york mercantile exchange energy futures and the spot market that its highest level since january opec conference president rilwanu lukman who nigeria oil minister said friday expects the meeting vienna brief and calm and that opec current price and production agreement may only need slight review although most industry experts expect just reaffirmation the december agreement oil prices continue climb due desire hedge positions case any surprises analysts expect the higher prices continue until soon after the opec meeting that point barring any increased tension the gulf changes opec policies prices should begin easing opec will probably not anything hasn already agreed december because oil prices are firm said john hill vice president merrill lynch futures opec agreed december maintain official oil prices dlrs barrel and raise the group production ceiling mln barrels per day the third quarter and mln barrels the fourth quarter this agreement helped send prices sharply higher rising from dlrs barrel early december several opec members who are price hawks including iran algeria and libya will seek higher official price and reduction output and west texas intermediate crude continues trade above dlrs barrel there greater chance that opec will raise its official dlrs price said nauman barakat analyst smith barney harris upham and but most analysts expect the more moderate producers such saudi arabia block any changes policy the meeting will non event with change the official prices because opec and particular the saudis are committed stabilizing the market said rosario ilacqua analyst with rothschild however some analysts said opec may need hold meeting september evaluate market conditions overproduction opec will become real problem the fourth quarter when the quota raised mln barrels day and iraq pipeline through turkey brings another barrels the market each day said john lichtblau president petroleum industry ressearch foundation most expect saudi arabia oppose price increase this meeting but many look for increase year end dlrs offset the decline the dollar oil prices are denominated throughout the world dollars the currency declines producers receive less money for their oil the only real production restraint opec saudi arabia said sanford margoshes analyst shearson lehman brothers the second half the year expect the saudis not produce their mln barrel day quota and therefore act vehicle stablize the market and pave the way for two dlrs barrel price increase the december meeting said one uncertain factor the course the iran iraq war the wild card the increased tensions the persian gulf said frank knuettel analyst with prudential bache securites oil tankers taking oil from iraq and kuwait have been regular targets for iranian planes the reagan administration planning put kuwait tankers under the protection the flag with naval escorts extra oil inventories are needed during time crisis like this and just general nervousness over incident that could disrupt oil supplies drives prices knuettel said reuter acq times nyt buy gwinnett daily news the new york times said had agreement buy the gwinnett daily news evening newspaper published lawrenceville terms were not disclosed the company said gwinnett has weekday circulation about and sunday circulation about the new york times also said gwinnett county northeast suburb atlanta the fastest growing county the country the purchase agreement includes the forsyth county news published wednesday and sunday and the winder news weekly among other publications reuter acq reed says has comment harcourt rumours reed international plc reed said had comment make stock market rumors that harcourt brace jovanovich inc hbj may make bid for the company order escape unwelcome offers from robert maxwell british printing and communication corp bpcl spokeswoman for reed said earlier analysts forecasts that bid for reed will have about mln stg were totally unrealistic adding that its current market about billion stg reuter crude unocal ucl scraps fluidized bed boiler project unocal corp said told the treasury department that will not include fluidized bed combustion technology method for the more efficient burning solids its parachute creek oil shale project colorado due high costs under agreement with the now defunct synthetic fuels corp unocal said would study using the technology the oil shale plant return the company would have been eligible for mln dlrs loan gaurantees and price supports from the treasury department which took over the contract from the synthetic fuels corp unocal said unocal said its studies showed the cost for the fluidized bed combustion facility would have exceeded mln dlrs compared with original estimate mln dlrs the fluidized bed facility would have provided heat and electricity for the oil shale project unocal said last year fall oil prices and the loss investment tax credit under the tax reform act made the project uneconomical even with government price supports and loan guarantees unocal said the parachute creek oil shale plant produces about barrels per day crude shale oil unocal said reuter trade civil service strike delays trade figures civil service industrial action started early this month will delay the publication may overseas trade figures which had been due out next thursday trade and industry department statement said department spokesman said the figures will probably put back about month the june trade figures due late july will also delayed added reuter money-supply canadian money supply falls week canadian narrowly defined money supply fell mln dlrs billion dlrs week ended june bank canada said which plus daily interest chequable and non personal deposits fell mln dlrs billion dlrs and which plus other notice and personal fixed term deposits fell mln dlrs billion dlrs which non personal fixed term deposits and foreign currency deposits residents booked chartered banks canada fell mln dlrs billion dlrs chartered bank general loans outstanding fell mln dlrs billion dlrs canadian liquid plus short term assets rose mln dlrs billion dlrs and total canadian dollar major assets the chartered banks fell mln dlrs billion dlrs chartered bank net foreign currency assets fell mln dlrs minus billion dlrs notes circulation totalled billion dlrs mln dlrs from the week before government cash balances rose mln dlrs billion dlrs week ended june government securities outstanding fell mln dlrs billion dlrs week ended june treasury bills rose mln dlrs billion dlrs and canada savings bonds fell mln dlrs billion dlrs reuter platinum platinum demand estimated pct higher demand for platinum could reach mln ounces compared with estimated offtake mln chris clark platinum marketing director for johnson matthey plc said clark told meeting the minerals research organisation milton keynes foresaw ounce increase consumption for use autocatalysts currently the largest single application for platinum jewellery consumption set rise ounces clark predicted his speech the text which was released london today clark said his forecast allowed for only modest further increase investment buying and may well cautious said south africa was the most likely source additional supplies and will need increase output about ounces meet increased demand the capital investment required produce the additional output would around one billion dlrs and the political climate may make difficult raise the money said the soviet union whose exports have declined since the might increase sales the west about ounces clark said the very probability growth demand set against the massive investment required for expansion and that expansion only being viable south africa russia leads conclude that the price platinum will substantially underpinned the medium long term clark said reuter acq metro airlines mair make acquisition metro airlines inc said has agreed principle acquire privately held chaparral airlines inc for dlrs cash chaparral provides regularly scheduled service out dallas fort worth regional airport affiliated carrier amr corp amr and had revenues mln dlrs reuter earn telco systems inc telc qtr may loss shr loss cts loss five cts net loss loss sales mln mln avg shrs nine mths shr loss dlrs profit cts net loss profit avg shrs reuter acq altus bank alts fails reach agreement altus bank said has not been able reach definitive agreement buy horizon financial corp horizon funding and billion dlrs loan servicing from victor savings and loan association altus formerly known first southern federal savings and loan association earlier announced the signing letter intent make the acquisitions horizon financial and horizon funding both are units victor savings and loan association reuter earn mars graphic services inc wmd qtr may shr cts cts net sales avg shrs reuter acq marcade group inc mar buys europe craft marcade group said had agreed buy europe craft imports inc for combination cash and common stock the company said europe craft designs imports and distributes menswear and sportswear under the member only brand name the company said europe craft had sales mln dlrs last year marcade said this latest deal part ongoing acquisition phase reuter coffee european coffee trade proposes new quota formula european coffee roasters and traders have agreed propose new formula for calculating international coffee organization ico quotas dutch coffee trade association chairman chairman frits van horick said van horick who council member the european coffee federation was speaking the end the ecf annual meeting the new formula based six year moving averages and would give brazil the world biggest coffee producer unchanged quota for the remaining two years the current coffee agreement van horick said accepted the consumer and producer members the ico the formula could also basis for negotiating new agreement van horick said coffee quotas were suspended february last year when prices shot fears drought induced crop disaster brazil although prices are now considerably lower consumers and producers have been unable agree introduction brazil has been the most strongly against any change the formula because feared lower quota but our proposal leaves very little object van horick said the existing quota system far too rigid and does not reflect supply and demand reality said our formula builds flexibility into the system and will benefit almost everyone although full implications the new formula have still worked out initial estimates suggest countries such colombia kenya indonesia and costa rica would get slightly higher quotas while others such the ivory coast salvador and nicaragua would lose quota share van horick said because the proposal provides that future quota distribution must reflect current demand and actual supply should also prevent under shipment quota countries doing would automatically prejudice their following year quota the ico consumers accept our proposal stands least fair chance being accepted the producers the september meeting most whom are generally favour new quota formula van horick said the same time much will depend brazil attitude brazil increasingly isolated the producer side there frost damage its coffee crop over the next two months and most other producers favour our proposal might just get agreement van horick added reuter acq american communications nacs weighs sale north american communications corp said considering several options maximize shareholder value including possible sale merger corporate restructuring leveraged buyout trading the company stock was halted pending announcement the company which owns and operates cable television systems minnesota and wisconsin said retained communications equity associates its financial adviser explore alternatives reuter acq murphy oil said proposing acquire remaining pct canadian subsidiary alum alcan raises aluminum prices two cents alcan aluminum corp subsidiary alcan aluminium ltd said increased its primary aluminum prices two cents effective yesterday the new prices are cents for ingot and cents for extrusion billet the company said reuter acq primerica completes smith barney takeover primerica corp said completed the previously announced acquisition smith barney inc for mln dlrs cash primerica ich changed its name april from american can said smith barney harris upham and inc wholly owned smith barney inc will add more than domestic and overseas branch offices reuter acq king world kwp has financing for offer king world productions inc said will finance the repurchase its shares announced earlier today through cash hand and about mln dlrs bank borrowings for which has received commitments from first chicago corp fnb and bank new york the company today started tender offer for shares dlrs each and agreed buy more shares from members the king family and management who together own total mln shares all the shares being repurchased amount about pct king world stock reuter acq murphy oil mur acquire canadian subsidiary murphy oil corp said its board proposed reorganization which would acquire the pct common shares its canadian subsidiary not owned the parent under the proposal which would undertaken court approved plan arrangement shareholders murphy oil ltd calgary alberta canada would offered the option receive dlrs canadian share cash the equivalent market value common shares the parent company reuter acq investor sells pct rbi stake jeffrey neuman santa monica calif told the securities and exchange commission sold his entire industries inc stake shares pct the total outstanding neuman who transferred the stock nearly two years ago the tudor trust which trustee said the trust sold the entire stake private deal june dlrs share reuter acq fortune fin forf unit makes acquisition fortune financial group inc said its fortune savings bank acquired financial security savings and loan association branch sunrise fla terms were not disclosed the new fortune savings bank office had about mln dlrs deposits june meanwhile acquisition marine savings and loan association florida with four offices naples fla awaiting regulatory approval reuter acq group has pct american physicians amph group led far hills investors natalie and paul koether told the securities and exchange commission has acquired shares american physicians service group inc pct the total the koether group said bought the stock for mln dlrs for capital appreciation and may buy more the group also said paul koether met june with management representatives for talks that included the company business potential acquisitions for the company possible opportunities expand the company and the possibility koether being named its board the group did not say whether the talks resulted any agreements they have done several sec filings concerning other companies which they have had stake the koethers said they reserve the right take any actions which they deem appropriate maximize the value the shares but said they have current plans about taking any action while they may buy more american physicians shares the koethers also said they may decide sell some all the their stake the company reuter acq barco directors approve buyout offer from senior management acq irwin jacobs says holds less than five pct gillette earn costco wholesale cost qtr may net oper shr two cts three cts oper net sales mln mln nine mths oper shr six cts eight cts oper net sales mln mln note oper data does not include extraordinary gains from tax loss carryforwards dlrs one per shr dlrs one per shr qtr and dlrs four cts per shr dlrs four cts per shr nine mths reuter cocoa icco buffer stock manager buy tonnes cocoa monday june official acq sithe raise energy factors efac stake sithe energies said has signed agreement under which will increase its interest energy factors inc pct from pct now investing mln dlrs energy factors stock reuter acq barco brc board approves leveraged buyout bacro california said its board approved offer from its chairman kenneth donner and president michael donner purchase all the outstanding barco common shares dlrs per share leveraged transaction the donners currently own about pct the company outstanding shares barco said also said vice chairman david grutman and family members who own about pct barco shares have agreed sell their stock for the offering price reuter acq irwin jacobs has gillette stake investor irwin jacobs said has investment gillette amounting less than five pct the consumer products company stock jacobs who made his comment response enquiry did not comment further yesterday gillette rebuffed takeover proposal from revlon inc under agreement between the two companies revlon must have the permission gillette board before making offer shareholders the board declined grant that permission gillette has been the topic takeover speculation for several weeks its stock has traded heavily and arbitragers said they believe jacobs may not the only investor who has sizeable position the company reuter earn rapitech systems inc rpsy qtr loss april end shr losses not given net loss loss revs nine mths shr losses not given net loss loss revs reuter acq vrbb closes stock sale acquisition business brokers inc said closed the sale controlling interest its comon and preferred stock acquisition corp delaware corporation controlled investment group led robin relph london under the agreement dated april business agreed sell shares common stock and shares pct cumulative stock business said issued shares common stock and shares preferred stock with the remaining shares common listed within the next week days reuter acq microwave laboratories inc mwav qtr net april end shr cts eight cts net sales avg shrs year shr cts cts net sales avg shrs reuter lumber world bank loans uganda mln dlrs the world bank said has loaned uganda mln dlrs through the international development association ida the bank concessionary lending affiliate the ida loan will support project that hopes preserve the country natural forests and meet its demand for wood products rehabilitating uganda forestry management agency the bank said also said the project plans increase the area and management protected forests establish pilot wood farms and nurseries and rehabilitate soft wood plantations reuter sugar fairly hectic week raw sugar woodhouse says has been fairly hectic trading week raw sugar with china paying market levels for nearby shipments london trader woodhouse drake and carey said its weekly report july shipment thai raws traded china early the week fob levels equivalent points discount july new york futures said mid week saw these same sales covered the trade points discount enquiries for july sep raw sugars then filtered and here again traded values rose quickly from points premium new york july woodhouse said the western hemisphere both dominican republic and mexican nearby raws were bid points discount july new york and offered five points under but limited trading said all the action the past week has been the far east raws market whereas the whites market saw little fresh prospect nearby offtake whitehouse added reuter earn passport travel inc ppti qtr may net shr profit six cts loss one net profit loss rev mln mln six months shr profit eight cts loss one net profit loss rev mln mln reuter earn savoy industries inc savo qtr loss oper shr loss cts loss cts oper net loss loss sales mln mln avg shrs note operating loss excludes profit dlrs cts share from discontinued operations reuter trade latin caribbean nations oppose trade bills group latin american and caribbean nations formally opposed trade legislation pending congress saying would curb their exports slow development and hinder its ability repay foreign debt mario rodriguez montero president organization american states special committee trade said was aware the large trade deficit but added the region should not the one affected the trade bills said the causes the deficit were the strong dollar and the budget deficit and regrettable solve trade bill that would only serve private interests rodriguez made the comment news conference after two days meetings with officials trade bills now congress that are designed reduce the trade deficit which last year hit record billion dlrs congressional observers say the bills are aimed mainly japan taiwan south korea and few other nations with large annual trade surpluses with the united states mexico brazil and venezuela are the only latin nations with large trade surpluses last year with the united states but even mexico with the largest had surplus only billion dlrs against japan billion dlrs the european community has also opposed the bills rodriguez said the latin and caribbean nations backed the reagan administration opposition many the sections the legislation including those curb imports and require retaliation for foreign unfair trade practices told reporters the committee would likely mount campaign fight the legislation when comes for debate the senate floor expected next week rodriguez said the region needs trade continue development hope this need will not affected negatively trade legislation rodriguez said need keep the market opens especially the market obtain the necessary foreign exchange not only service the debt but also continue national development progress president reagan has said would veto any legislation termed protectionist and his aides now are mounting effort water down some the objectionable provisions the legislation asked whether reagan was ready cast veto rodriguez said yet the administration not veto frame mind reuter acq reed intl denies bid approach reed international plc reed denied rumours the stock market that was the target takeover bid and said had received approach view the increase our share price today want make clear that have not received any bid approaches reed chairman leslie carpenter said statement rumours that publisher harcourt brace jovanovich inc hbj might bid for reed paper and printing company pushed reed shares one stage today before they eased back the close against background widespread decline equity prices share market analysts said speculators were buying the stock belief that harcourt would bid for reed effort escape the unwelcome two billion dlr bid from robert maxwell british printing and communication corp bpcl such move would have made harcourt too big for bpcc take over analysts added they also said there was some speculation that bpcc bid for harcourt was unsuccessful could turn its attention reed reuter acq applied data adcc buy dateline applied data communications said agreed acquire privately held dateline technology inc redmond wash for undisclosed amount cash and stock dateline technology designs and sells high capacity high speed computer peripheral subsystems primarily for data storage applied data said reuter acq gulf and western ups interest network usa network today said has acquired time inc one third interest the network the network formerly joint venture between time gulf and western inc and mca inc mca said that gulf and western and mca who each previously held one third interest now will jointly own usa network basis terms were not disclosed usa network said usa network advertiser supported entertainment basic cable network reaching mln homes cable systems reuter acq tektronix tek begins dutch auction tender tektronix inc said began its previously announced dutch auction cash tender offer for mln its own common shares under the terms the offer the company will select single cash purchase price for the stock based the number shares tendered not exceed dlrs per share lower than dlrs per share tektronix said the company also said does not intend spend more than mln dlrs for the shares tendered further stated that the tender offer expires july eight unless extended reuter acq kay kay acquire specialty fastener firm kay corp said its balfour maclaine international ltd subsidiary signed letter intent acquire certain assets privately owned distributor specialty fasteners for about mln dlrs plus management incentives which did not disclose kay said the firm has annual sales about mln dlrs kay also said pursuing private placement debt securities for number corporate purposes reuter acq new england critical care necc buys npo new england critical care inc said completed its purchase npo therapies inc salt lake city the company said that npo therapies president and founder kelly mutchie has joined new england critical care regional vice president covering the western united states npo therapies provides home infusion therapy services reuter coffee colombia helpful but coffee quotas uncertain government trade official responsible for coffee policy said prospects for accord coffee quotas are still uncertain despite recent colombian efforts bridge differences between producers and consumers jon rosenbaum assistant trade representative just back from trade talks colombia said most producing countries now accept some sort standardized criteria must agreed reintroduce coffee quotas there one country which evidently still does not rosenbaum said obvious reference brazil which has been negative recently reintroduction quotas rosenbaum said because the stance brazil the outlook for agreement reintroduce coffee quotas the september international coffee organization meeting hard predict said that during the visit bogota held technical discussions with colombian officials while did not meet with jorge cardenas head the colombian coffee producers federation who was europe cardenas left positive letter rosenbaum said the cardenas letter responded letter last month which praised colombia for trying find compromise formula for the reintroduction quotas but outlined several concerns with the technical details the colombian plan rosenbaum could not reached later the day for comment new formula for calculating ico quotas agreed european coffee roasters and traders dutch coffee trade association chairman frits van horick said amsterdam the new formula based six year moving averages and would give brazil unchanged export quota for the remaining years the current coffee agreement the has said will not agree any coffee quotas unless objective criteria which reflect recent changes the coffee market are used set export limits reuter acq dayton hudson said told buyer stock not interested being acquired acq pacific basin acquire pct pacific basin development corp based vancouver british columbia said reached agreement buy pct pacific corp and its marketing arm for mln dlrs pacific also said expects earn three mln canadian dlrs for the year ended june and mln canadian dlrs for the year ended june former signetics corp unit assembles integrated circuits southeast asia and itself buying assembler pacific said expects earn over mln canadian dlrs per year when the acquisition completed reuter earn andersen group inc andr qtr may may shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss revs mln mln avg shrs reuter acq dayton hudson not interested acquisition dayton hudson corp letter employees said told aggressive buyer the company stock that does not want acquired dayton hudson spokeswoman would not identify the buyer but wall street sources said dart group corp darta was the company interested buying dayton hudson stock the wall street sources said the dart group expected soon file statement with the securities and exchange commission its accumulation dayton hudson stock according the letter company employess dayton hudson management has moved two directions fend off takeover according the letter chairman kenneth macke expressed the group buying its stock the company desire remain independent dayton hudson thursday night met with minnesota governor rudy perpich appealing for legislative help spokesman for governor perpich earlier said the governor expected later today recommend stiffening the state anti takeover law help the minneopolis retailer defend itself minnesota house speaker designate said the legislators would probably look language similar that contained indiana and new york law said any amendment proposed would probably designed thwart company from dismantling company for its own profit obviously dayton hudson people feel whatever statutes have would not protect them enough vanasek said reuter acq barnett banks bbf files against federal board barnett banks inc and home federal bank florida said they filed suit against the federal home loan bank board and the federal savings and loan insurance corp the companies said the suit asks jacksonville fla federal district court enjoin the enforcement interpretive rule adopted the fhlbb last year which seeks give jurisdiction over barnett proposed acquisition home the suit says this rule arbitrary and capricious reuter money-supply business loans fall mln dlrs june week fed says money-fx business loans fell mln dlrs business loans the books major banks excluding acceptances fell mln dlrs billion the week ended june the federal reserve board said the fed said that business loans including acceptances fell mln dlrs billion dlrs reuter acq judge rule monday burlington bur case manhattan federal court judge shirley wohl kram said she would rule monday whether grant request block dlr per share merger agreement between burlington industries inc and morgan stanely group inc the request bar the merger was made samjens acquisition corp partnership formed financier asher edelman and dominion textiles inc samjens has made hostile dlr per share takeover bid for burlington reuter acq saur sells assets reed international saur the german based publisher databases and legal and bilbiographic reference material said has sold all its assets the butterworth group division reed international plc reed for under mln dlrs saur said klaus saur president and owner the company will remain president saur operations munich london and new york reuter earn ael industries inc aelna first qtr net shr cts four cts net dlrs dlrs revs mln dlrs mln dlrs note the first quarter ended may reuter earn national video inc nvis year net shr four cts nine cts net dlrs dlrs revs mln dlrs mln dlrs note the fiscal year ended march reuter acq archer daniels adm denies rumor archer daniels midland denied report that interested acquiring international minerals and chemical corp igl have interest international minerals any its divisions spokesman told reuters had conversations with them usa today reported that archer daniels midland might seeking hostile takeover international minerals reuter earn kaufel group ltd kgl qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln reuter acq group cuts zondervan zond stake pct one several investor groups formerly associated with london investor christopher moran his unsuccessful bid take over zondervan corp last year said cut its stake the company less than five pct filing with the securities and exchange commission the group led investors lawrence altschul and james apostolakis said cut its zondervan stake shares pct the total from shares pct the group which earlier this month said sec filing wanted join with other groups maximize share values said sold shares between june and for mln dlrs the group had joined with the moran group which last year assembled combined pct stake zondervan during its unsuccessful takeover try last month the moran group broke and splintered into various factions moran himself withdrew from the takeover effort and last reported his personal stake pct group led miwok capital corp california broker with pct stake and another one led minneapolis stockbroker jeffrey wendel with pct have both made recent sec filings saying they are seeking agreements with other parties who may want seek control the company reuter acq new leader coming sec challenging era president reagan nominee top policeman for the nation securities markets will inherit agency challenged insider trading scandal wild stock price gyrations and host uncertainties stemming from the globalization financial markets david ruder year old republican law professor northwestern university evanston ill was named thursday the chairman the five member securities and exchange commission confirmed the senate expected will succeed john shad who left the agency earlier this week after record six years chairman become ambassador the netherlands the sec has been the limelight for the past year its investigators have probed into the most colossal insider trading scandal ever uncovered wall street the investigation which still active mushroomed recent months growing number well known traders and prominent investment banking firms have been charged with wrongdoing the pace the probe picked markedly november after ivan boesky one wall street most successful stock speculators agreed cooperate with government investigators and pay record mln dlrs penalties and illegal profits after being charged with insider trading but the agency also wrestling with vexing new phenomenon huge and rapid swings stock prices spurred computer driven trading strategies that span markets securities options and futures the price gyrations have combined with rising trading volumes bring unprecedented volatility some securities markets the same time the sec being pressed some lawmakers put stop abusive tactics corporate takeover contests unrelenting wave such takeovers steadily reshapes the corporate landscape and the agency being pushed and foreign exchanges intent expansion lay the regulatory groundwork for international securities marketplace which trading occurs across borders throughout the world around the clock such worldwide trading networks offer vast new investment opportunities but could strain the sec ability enforce securities laws and guard investors from fraud under the leadership shad the sec eased financial disclosure requirements for publicly traded companies eliminated many minor investor protection rules attempted spur competition among exchanges and streamlined the agency review hostile corporate takeovers shad who had been vice chairman the hutton investment banking firm brought wall street perspective the agency upon being named chairman line with the views other top administration officials favored marketplace determination takeover battles over new federal regulations the sec under shad also stressed prosecution insider trading violations over the corporate wrongdoing cases that topped the agency enforcement agenda during the administration president jimmy carter democrat securities lawyers and industry officials acquainted with ruder say the new chairman designate unlikely significantly alter the commission current priorities the sec currently has about employees most them lawyers and annual budget about mln dlrs though that figure likely will significantly higher next year the agency moves beef its enforcement staff the agency one the few the government that actually has taken more money than has spent the past few years because fees charges public companies investment banks and other securities firms regulates the sec structured independent regulatory agency meaning that its five commissioners are appointed the president fixed five year terms and protected from firing for policy differences alone law more than three commissioners may the same political party and the agency prepares its own budget request each year instead leaving this the white house established congress the sec traces its origins the great stock market crash which was attributed large part widespread trading credit and attempted market manipulations large investment firms the agency requires public companies and investment vehicles such mutual funds issue periodic reports their financial condition and disclose changes their condition any time they issue new securities requires brokers dealers and investment banks register with and comply with investor protection rules and polices exchanges and regulates trading practices its first chairman was joseph kennedy industrial magnate who was also the father john kennedy later become the nation president other former chairmen include william douglas who served from until his appointment the supreme court and william casey who served during president nixon first term and was reagan director the central intelligence agency until his death earlier this year reuter trade asks congress revise tariff categories the administration asked congress replace the tariff schedule with new system bring into line with international tariff categories trade representative clayton yeutter said the new system will add such items fiber optics and more accurately define new composites items not widely traded when the current schedule was devised some years ago yeutter said the harmonized system the new schedule called will change tariff categories and definitions meet the present day needs exporters and importers but they should pay about the same rates duties yeutter said american exporters will find far easier deal with one standardized worldwide system than the variety differing systems which they now face said the new system ended years multinational negotiations create the unified tariff schedule yeutter said government and business moves are based data from tariff schedules and the new system will improve knowledge trade flows and the quality decision making said nations pledged bring their standards under the new system with about half expected join the system january reuter acq service resources src unit cuts sorg srg stake group led chas young subsidiary service resources corp said cut its stake sorg inc shares pct the total outstanding common stock from shares pct filing with the securities and exchange commission young which yesterday withdrew its dlr share takeover proposal said its other group member sdi partners ltd partnership sold sorg common shares between june and dlrs each reuter earn dwi corp dwic qtr march net shr profit nil loss two cts net profit loss revs nine mths shr loss nil loss five cts net loss loss revs reuter acq firm has supreme equipment seqp stake towle and louis investment advisory firm told the securities and exchange commission has acquired shares supreme equipment and systems corp pct the total outstanding towle said bought the stock for investment purposes behalf its advisory clients reuter acq sico sic buy reichold rci unit assets sico inc said agreed principle buy the assets reichold chemicals inc sterling group which manufactures electrical insulation compounds and industrial resins and develops coatings for the electronics industry terms were undisclosed sico said acquired sterling group canadian assets february said the acquisition adds about mln dlrs its annual sales volume reuter acq investor group dumps silicon slcn stake group boston investors and investment partnerships told the securities and exchange commission sold its entire stake silicon systems inc shares pct the total outstanding the group which includes hlm associates hlm associates and their three general partners said sold the stock between april and june dlrs share the result investment decision reuter earn shirmax fashions ltd shx qtr net qtr ended may oper shr three cts cts oper net revs mln mln note latest qtr exludes writeoff dlrs from store renovation reuter acq group ups stake tandy brands tab pct group companies including chicago based coronet insurance and sunstates corp jacksonville fla real estate firm said raised its stake tandy brands inc shares pct the total filing with the securities and exchange commission the group said bought tandy common shares between may and june for dlrs addition the shares pct had held previously reuter acq gateway gmsi recinds offer for westworld gateway medical systems inc said has withdrawn its may offer acquire westworld community healthcare inc the company said remains interested acquiring the westworld hospitals and will attempt continue negotiations with westworld reuter coffee rio janeiro ibc estimates coffee crop mln bags earn bower industries inc qtr net shr profit six cts loss cts net profit loss revs reuter acq wpp group extending expiration its merger proposal jwt group until june acq joe franklin and assets development merge privately held joe franklin productions inc said entered into preliminary agreement merge with assets development corp public company terms were not disclosed the companies said they expected the merged group qualify for listing nasdaq reuter nat-gas tenneco become open access transporter natural gas acq dart group declines comment dayton hudson dart group corp darta said has comment reports the company has been accumulating shares dayton hudson corp dayton hudson said letter shareholders told aggressive buyer its stock that does not want acquired wall street sources have identified the buyer dart which earlier this year was thwarted takeover attempt for the now privately held supermarkets general corp reuter earn rise technology inc rtek qtr loss shr loss cts loss one net loss loss revs reuter acq wpp group plc extends its offer for jwt jwt wpp group plc said extending its dlrs share offer for jwt group inc until midday june the company temporarily extended the offer june but did not give expiration date its dlrs share offer for jwt which has been rejected jwt expires july reuter nat-gas tenneco tgt transport gas open access tenneco inc said tennessee gas pipeline its largest interstate natural gas pipeline will transport natural gas under the open access rules the federal energy regulatory commission ferc open access gas pipelines serve purely transport company moving gas from suppliers customers pipelines also transport its own gas customers earlier this week transco energy rejected the ferc guidelines saying would not offer open access until the regulatory body offers solution the exposure faces for gas has bought but could not sell the exposure faced the industry stems from take pay contracts under which pipelines bought gas long term contracts they could not sell the problem grew severe customers won cheaper sources gas because open access some industry analysts speculated earlier this week that tenneco might follow transco lead and close its pipelines open access because the take pay issue but tenneco today said open access one the steps ferc taking restructure the gas industry the ferc moving the industry through this restructuring now even before all transitional problems are solved spokesman said tenneco faces billion dlrs exposure under the take pay contracts but had specific figure for tennessee gas which runs miles pipelines from louisiana and texas new england remain convinced that the most critical transitional issue facing the industry take pay must resolved ferc the near future failure could have grave consequences for the industry continued ability provide its customers with reliable natural gas said tennessee gas transmission president thomas reuter acq maxicare maxi ends plans sell unit maxicare health plans inc said ended negotiations sell maxicare alabama complete health inc the companies said last week they had reached agreement principle for complete health purchase the health maintenance organization the largest alabama maxicare said the terms would not the best interests the heatlh care providers who have built the alabama hmo said now intends work with its health care providers alabama further develop the hmo reuter earn chiron corp chir qtr april loss shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss revs year shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss revs reuter earn methode electronics inc meth qtr net qtr ended april shr nine cts cts net revs mln mln year shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter gnp economy slowdown raises recession fears the economy faces lackluster growth and the risk recession this year the recent improvement exports should falter economists say growth will slow sharply the next months due weakness the key housing and auto sectors and could further hampered unless consumer spending picks they say these factors raise the question there enough strength keep the economy from tipping into recession said lyle gramley chief economist the mortgage bankers association and former federal reserve board official the commerce department said this week that the economy grew robust pct annual rate the first quarter but monetary official called weak report housing starts fell pct may and consumer spending rose weak per cent our two largest visible industries autos and housing are faltering but exports are picking some the slack martin mauro senior economist for merrill lynch economics told reuters gramley said worried that consumer spending may slow because inflation rising faster than real wages offset this exports must continue rise returning enough jobs the manufacturing sector boost personal income and consumption says expect see enough improvement real net exports keep recession from happening but close call gramley said federal reserve board governor martha seger told reporters that the apparent strength the pct growth figure was the result temporary buildup inventories that will not last and said the recovery was showing anemia seger said that with the recovery stumbling along the pace the economy and the lack robustness must factored into monetary policy possibly signal that the fed will accommodative most economists predict growth slower than the pct forecast the reagan administration for and warn that the dollar drops suddenly higher inflation will result and add the risk recession mauro said pct rise industrial production may came despite cutbacks output the auto industry where inventory overhang still exists says the boost production came from smaller industries like paper chemicals and lumber which have improved sales overseas due the drop the dollar they are not going enough for any kind surge economic activity but think they will keep out recession mauro said speech financial planners this week beryl sprinkel the chief white house economic adviser predicted the trade deficit will continue improve prospects for continued economic growth through and into are still quite favorable said but private economists raise concerns about resurgence inflation allen sinai chief economist shearson lehman brothers inc told congress this week that inflation would rise five pct this year and stay that level through after pct increase the rise coming from sharply lower dollar higher oil and energy prices and rising prices for services said the lesson history that once the inflation genie gets out the bottle continues persist said adding would like the fed tighten credit major factor affecting inflation the value the dollar which should continue fall and feed inflation says prominent international banker rainer gut chairman credit suisse told the national press club that the dollar downward trend against the yen and the mark will continue for years because the united states the world largest debtor nation the swiss banker said the economic indicators point further slackening activity and called naive the belief that the five year boom world equity markets will forever very difficult optimistic gut said reuter coffee brazil could export mln bags coffee ibc brazil coffee exports could amount mln bags this year because the excellent crop estimate mln bags ibc spokesman said said exports could surpass the average annual mln bags mark especially the final harvest conducted october and november confirms the crop over mln bags said the average limit errors for the official crop harvest could set five pct above below the first estimates officially published today said the ibc agreed with request producers for the institute ask the government for monthly indexation the guarantee minimum price reuter acq investment partnership ups facet fct stake charter oak partners connecticut investment partnership said raised its stake facet enterprises inc shares pct the total outstanding common stock from shares pct filing with the securities and exchange commission charter oak said bought facet common shares june dlrs each reuter interest uptrend remains intact for debt futures the six basis point rise the past month debt futures may extended next week series economic reports analysts said long the dollar holds firm interest rates have declined approximately basis points over the last month largely over indications that inflation not high people had feared and the narrowing trade balance nominal terms samuel kahan chief financial economist with kleinwort benson government securities said kahan said recent government reports have shown strength the economy during the first quarter but his concern whether the economy will sustain that strength the longer term weak economic growth could hurt the dollar which has become more important the direction debt futures than the beneficial impact interest rates sluggish economy the median trade expectations for tuesday consumer price index and durable goods reports are pct and down pct respectively meanwhile the eight billion dlr drop the money supply announced this week was surprising much larger than expected according kahan unless quickly reversed such trend will ensure that june growth will negative kahan said taken conjunction with and aggregates which kahan said have slowed crawl below federal reserve board annual targets the consequences could hint economic weakness down the road said based chart formations bond futures may poised for further gains although the advance has been slowed recently analysts said september bonds are almost six points since about may merrill lynch debt analyst jim duggan noted september bond futures climbed from the low month ago over mid june duggan said while follow through buying has aided the advance far and bouts short covering have prohibited slide through chart support the rally september bonds has been thwarted above the level the level formidable resistance and must taken out before this activity anything other than trading range market carroll mcentee and mcginley futures debt analyst brian singer said the dollar remains the key fundamental factor and the currency has made little headway late analysts said the critical variable remaining the market the value the dollar kahan said additional influences next week will possible developments ahead opec members meeting and the impact and size the budget deficit although these will not the forefront the market early next week kahan said looking ahead the treasury mini refunding auctions billion notes tuesday wednesday and thursday singer said the market will likely greet the results with little excitement however successful auction could prove turning point depending prevailing market psychology reuter interest shanghai bank standard chartered bank raise prime point pct money-fx venezuela probes alleged foreign exchange fraud banking authorities and police are investigating alleged fraud the second largest trading house the caracas free foreign exchange market finance minister manuel azpurua told reporters the superintendency banks and the technical and judicial police have both begun probes cambio guiara azpurua said friday night police said the owners the firm mario muggia and his brother luigi muggia have left venezuela cambio guiara operated part the parallel market which traders buy and sell dollars among themselves the venezuelan central bank june suspended the licences all foreign exchange operators the parallel market blaming their speculation for the constant rise the value the dollar here juan domingo cordero vice president the caracas stock exchange and the owner foreign exchange trading house said friday had begun legal action against cambio guiara for issuing him four checks without funds for total amount almost one mln dlrs the cambio guiara exchange house had operated venezuela for more than years reuter ship kuwait says has full gulf arab support kuwait whose shipping has come under repeated attack iran has the full support saudi arabia and other gulf allies senior government official said cabinet spokesman abdul aziz otaibi quoted the kuwaiti news agency kuna yesterday said foreign minister sheikh sabah ahmed sabah had told cabinet had found complete support this delicate phase during visits gulf cooperation council gcc states the gcc economic and military alliance which has generally supported iraq over iran comprises bahrain kuwait oman qatar saudi arabia and the united arab emirates reuter crude santos says has significant oil find santos ltd stos said had made significant oil discovery its mawson one well the moomba block the cooper basin south australia said the well flowed oil from sands average rate barrels per day from metres through choke santos said the well was cased and suspended pending further evaluation but said the proximity the discovery existing production facilities the gidgealpa south field would allow mawson one brought into production rapidly santos has pct stake the block delhi petroleum pty ltd has pct and south australian oil and gas corp pty ltd has pct reuter crude far east traders expect dlr oil january opec agreement limit output mln barrels per day bpd for the rest the year should boost spot prices and enable the group raise its official reference price dlrs barrel january from the current dlrs far east oil industry sources said fundamentally the market situation bullish and the official price will dlrs january japanese refiner said the sources said that spite over production opec members such iraq the united arab emirates kuwait and qatar demand should exceed supply the fourth quarter spot oil prices surged friday late trading the market anticipated opec agreement second half output early tokyo trade levels were firm dlrs for mideast dubai cargoes loading next month and dlrs for brent traders said they said they expect more foreign crudes sucked into the market the benchmark crude west texas intermediate wti trades around dlrs with wti dlrs refiners will import mideast and far east crudes and this will strengthen those grades further said japanese oil trader some tokyo traders were cautious about whether thu spot market has further upward potential the short term having risen strongly the opec news friday you could certainly argue that new york rose that basis there reason for prices again today said one international oil trader tokyo but think there any sign dip will bought back again pretty quickly added one oil industry analyst concurred there reason expect weak market from now said expected opec raise prices dlrs when meets december oil sources said spot prices are unlikely surge strongly the next few months due cheating some opec members and the likelihood that saudi arabia will act swing producer maintain steady prices iraq currently producing around two mln barrels per day compared its second half quota mln they said its export capability will rise mln bpd when new pipeline through turkey comes onstream around september qatar said achieving sales around bpd against its opec assigned quota discounting cents barrel from official prices the sources said iran the united arab emirates and kuwait are also cheating the opec agreement with over production and effective price discounts through counter purchases industry sources said but they mostly agreed that saudi arabia will unofficially act swing producer cutting production compensate for higher output other members boosting output spot prices rise too high too fast saudi arabia has floating oil stockpile mln barrels saudi arabia wants oil price stability the stockpile may utilized cool down the market rises too much oil industry analyst said reuter cocoa japan ratify international cocoa agreement japan will ratify the international cocoa agreement icca with effect from july and will renew its membership the international cocoa organisation icco foreign affairs ministry officials said they said japan would participate icco meeting july london revise icco buffer stock policy the icca has been effect since january government approval participate the icco was delayed parliamentary debate over the sales tax issue the officials said reuter acq willis faber says making agreed mln stg bid for stewart wrightson crude saudi oil company gets new acting governor the acting governor saudi arabia state owned oil company petromin jamal hassan jawa has retired his own request oil industry sources said they said ali ibrahim rubaishi head organisation planning petromin would take over acting governor jawa held the post since his predecessor abdul hadi taher left major oil industry shake last december the sources said rubaishi had not been expected hold the post permanently the government removed taher and oil minister ahmed zaki yamani from their posts late last year move which industry sources said was aimed coming grips with buyers oil market the two men had run the saudi oil industry for more than years industry sources said that despite huge resources saudi arabia had been unable mould oil marketing strategy tuned the competitive realities the glut hisham nazer who replaced yamani successfully led opec engineered return fixed oil prices dlrs barrel last december nazer believed reviewing saudi oil operations which could lead thorough overhaul the way saudi arabia does business the sources said the sources had said possible candidates for the governor job include prince abdul aziz ibn salman ibn abdul aziz who earlier ran research center saudi arabia university petroleum and minerals and former deputy planning minister faisal beshir they also list abdulla bakr president the university petroleum and minerals economist ali jonahi ahmed shinawi and zuheir masoud director jeddah islamic port reuter crude uae oil minister oteiba visits egypt agency uae oil minister mana said oteiba arrived alexandria last night for visit egypt the national middle east news agency mena said said oteiba who had just attended the opec ministerial meeting vienna would stay for several days but gave details non opec egypt has pledged restrain output support opec moves boost oil prices oil minister abdel hadi kandeel last week said egypt plans leave its oil production barrels per day unchanged for the next five years egypt able produce one mln bpd reuter acq willis faber bids for stewart wrightson willis faber plc wifl will make agreed mln stg offer for fellow insurance broker stewart wrightson plc joint statement said the offer would the basis three willis shares for every two stewart valuing each stewart share about willis already owns mln shares pct and has received acceptances from stewart directors for further shares full acceptance the offer would involve the issue mln new willis shares pct the enlarged total the companies said the proposed merger would bring together businesses that were largely complementary both believed the combination would permit more effective competition throughout the world and enahnce the service provided clients following the merger the two companies saw significant opportunities for growth brokerage income and considerable scope for improved operating efficiency willis shares were suspended friday when trading restarted they dropped sharply stewart wrightson shares rose gmt from suspension price reuter crude norway extends pct oil output cut ministry norway will extend its pct cutback planned north sea oil output support opec from july until the end this year oil ministry spokesman egil helle told reuters took very positive view the opec meeting vienna said the accord reached there means stability the oil market and shall continue making our contribution the cuts originally brought from february would probably officially approved july parliament helle said the ministry had written norway oil companies and would now discuss with them how best implement the cuts opec agreed this weekend vienna output ceiling mln barrels per day bpd for the rest and retained the fixed prices that were set its december accord based dlr per barrel reference point opec first half output ceiling was mln bpd and december pact had provisionally set third quarter ceiling mln bpd rising mln the fourth quarter norway which pumps around one mln bpd from its offshore fields previously said would continue its output curbs from planned production for the rest the year opec remained within its december accord output and prices norway oil production rose pct average around bpd since then has risen around one mln bpd and expected reach about mln bpd the pct cut from planned production implemented since february reduced norway oil output about bpd norway oil minister arne oeien currently iceland for meeting nordic ministers has made official statement the latest oil production cutbacks over the past year several other leading non opec producers including the soviet union mexico china malaysia and egypt have also pledged support for opec bid keep prices stable norway decided the initial round cuts following opec agreement last december which boosted oil prices around dlrs per barrel from around dlrs last december norway relies oil for about pct its total export earnings and was hit hard the collapse the oil price during the first half but firmer oil prices since then have brought some stability the economy and helped narrow the foreign trade deficit norway north sea neighbour britain has consistently refused cooperate with opec output cuts saying the producing oil companies set the levels production reuter acq brent buy lonrho division proposes rights brent walker group plc said had agreed buy the group companies comprising lonrho plc lrho metropole casino division together with freehold central london for mln stg payment will cash completion except for three mln stg payable december brent said also proposed raise about mln stg net through the issue mln convertible shares one stg each the shares can converted between and the rate four ordinary shares for every convertibles held full conversion the issued ordinary share capital the company would increase some pct birdcage walk ltd company controlled the walker family owns pct the shares and entitled mln convertible shares under the offer the trustees had indicated that intended sell enough the convertibles nil paid enable take the remainder brent would buy the casino companies and the freehold park lane london under the arrangements would also arrange for the repayment mln stg inter company debt brent walker shares firmed sharply the announcement from friday close while lonrho also firmed from reuter interest bank japan determined keep easy money policy the bank japan bought billion yen certificates deposit cds via repurchase agreements today show its determination maintain easy money policy central bank officials said today buying operation was designed seek announcement effect which would reassure the market the fact that have not changed our policy stance senior central bank official told reuters the bank also bought billion yen two month commercial bills smooth out tight credit conditions the interbank market today the officials said the central bank was concerned about growing market expectations higher interest rates which were part responsible for the recent plunge stock and yen bond prices the officials said but money traders said the market generally shrugged off the bank operation because was small and rate far below prevailing market rates the rate the key three month cds the primary market was pct while the bank bid was pct they said the bank bill buying operation also had little impact because was regarded routine operation they said the money traders said they regarded the central bank buying operation simply gesture live japan pledge guide interest rates lower and stimulate the economy did not expect the central bank ease its credit grip any further bank manager said adding that the prevailing market expectation higher rates will remain this the case the three month rate will stay above four pct for the time being said reuter interest bank japan sell billion yen bills the bank japan will tomorrow sell billion yen bills from its holdings help absorb projected money market surplus billion money market traders said the total billion yen will yield pct sales from money houses banks and securities houses day repurchase agreements maturing august the other billion yen will yield pct day repurchase accords maturing august the remaining billion yen will yield pct day repurchase agreements maturing august the repurchase agreement yields compare with the pct one month commercial bill discount rate today and pct two month bills they attributed the projected surplus mainly billion yen government tax allocations local governments and public bodies reuter cpi german june cost living pct above year ago may rise pct official earn ricoh ltd rict year ended march group shr yen net billion billion pretax billion billion operating billion billion sales billion billion note forecast for current year reuter interest uae central bank yields unchanged yields certificates deposit cds issued today the united arab emirates central bank were unchanged from those last monday offer the bank said the one month yield was set last week pct while two and three month cds also remained unchanged pct the six month yield was set seven pct reuter veg-oil presidency prepared drop oils and fats tax belgium current holder the european community presidency appears ready drop controversial oils and fats tax from this year hotly contested farm price package diplomats said discussion document prepared for today summit meeting leaders belgium proposed the called stabilising mechanism the subject further study and consultation with the community main trading partners the proposal for tax much ecus per tonne both imported and domestically produced vegetable and marine oils and fats has attracted storm international criticism the discussion document aimed preventing cash row the summit and breaking the deadlock this year farm price talks contained the first formal reference dropping the measure britain and denmark which assumes the presidency june have led the opposition the measure they are supported west germany and the netherlands and lesser extent spain although the paper was not universally welcomed diplomats said the proposal postpone consideration the tax for further six months was certain survive any redrafting reuter trade bangladesh trade gap widen bangladesh trade gap expected widen fiscal beginning july after the government relaxed restrictions some imports including luxury cars the country has set its export target for the year billion dlrs against imports billion dlrs compared with one billion dlrs export earnings and billion dlrs imports commerce minister mohammad abdul munim said the changes were aimed encouraging export oriented industries boost foreign exchange earnings and imports essential machinery and raw materials increase industrial production the government was easing procedures enhance incentives especially for exporters textiles and frozen food and importers industrial machinery and raw materials munim told reporters commerce ministry officials told reuters the import policy covered only commercial imports amounting billion dlrs imports capital machinery and foodgrains the government were not included the policy they added they said the country total import bill both commercial and other imports was expected reach billion dlrs the new year compared with billion dlrs the minister said ending restrictions imports cars and dropping pct sales tax small cars would not harm the economy munim said bangladesh feared further drop prices for its main export jute which will certainly affect our export earnings the coming year bangladesh jute exports fell mln dlrs from mln according official figures but munim said exports non traditional items which accounted for over pct total exports this year would play key role achieving the export target reuter alum china aluminium venture aims south korea china and australia victoria state signed joint venture contract for mln dlr aluminium processing plant china that will export south korea australian officials told journalists china has official direct trade government ties with seoul while maintains close links with north korea china international trust and investment corporation citic would have pct the equity bohai aluminium industries ltd the company build the rolling mill and extrusion plant the northeast china coast they said was china largest joint venture far they said joint venture opens the potential for penetrating markets that would not otherwise possible for china victoria state treasurer rob jolly said australian diplomat said citic was eager pursue south korean markets indirect trade between china and seoul growing but not officially publicised victoria aluvic ltd behalf the state government will hold pct equity stake the project which intended sister plant victoria portland aluminium smelter citic may agreed invest about mln dlrs portland the china based joint venture would process portland aluminium and aim sell aluminium products the domestic chinese market well for export jolly said the australian side investment was limited about mln dlrs but aluvic would have the right appoint key managers said australian officials said they hoped the goodwill generated their participation would lead further citic investment victoria the chinese group enjoys high level independence from peking central government and has extensive overseas investments reuter interest bank france cuts intervention rate pct from pct official trade remain divided over pasta dispute top level talks last week between the european community and the united states failed resolve dispute over pasta which may provoke new trade frictions next month diplomatic sources said the insists the complies with what regards unambiguous ruling from the world trade body gatt and dismantles export subsidy system which has led italy taking increasing share the pasta market the sources said the which currently provides subsidies around cents pound offered compromise last week talks brussels but that this was rejected the assistant special trade representative jim murphy has returned washington ahead theoretical july deadline for agreement set last august when the two sides resolved related dispute over restrictions citrus imports the diplomatic sources said the citrus issue could reopened the pasta dispute was not solved quickly was also possible the would reimpose pct tariff pasta lifted when the citrus row was settled but the two sides may agree extend the deadline for few days commissioners willy clercq and frans andriessen are due visit washington from july reuter interest bank france cuts seven day repurchase rate eight pct from pct official veg-oil farm ministers meet tomorrow after summit european community agriculture ministers will meet tomorrow evening after the end two day summit meeting heads government again attempt agree farm price package commission spokesman said added that tomorrow official journal will contain notice special agricultural measures purely technical nature which will come into effect july unless the ministers reach accord the spokesman declined detail these special measures but said they would not the sort dynamic moves which farm commissioner frans andriessen has said would take the case complete deadlock among farm ministers these moves would taken only tomorrow meeting ministers brussels again fails reach accord sources said andriessen thought prepared cut cereals prices seven pct and take other drastic action trade sources said farm ministers ended their last meeting june still split over the commission proposal for tax vegetable and marine oils and fats addition west germany said would veto plans for cereal price cuts and for change the green currency system earlier today diplomats said belgium the current holder the european community presidency appears ready drop the plans for the controversial oils and fats tax reuter crude extracts from opec communique following are extracts from the communique issued the conclusion the opec conference here the conference expressed satisfaction about the positive results the agreement signed december which opec established the system fixed price level dlrs per barrel supported opec production ceilings distributed into national production levels the conference noted that all market indicators including spot prices the market and netback values all opec crudes have been firming significantly thus consolidating the opec price structure defined the agreement the conference examined the supply demand outlook for the second half the year and decided that order secure continued firm prices the market opec production during the fourth quarter will equal that the third quarter mln barrels per day bpd distributed into the same national production levels were defined the above mentioned agreement for that quarter furthermore the conference decided establish committee five heads delegation monitor the price evolution the market relation the opec official prices order secure price stability around the opec price structure should there any significant change market prices the committee would immediately call for extraordinary meeting the conference with view deciding the necessary opec production levels during the second half the year which would secure the desired market stability the conference reiterated the necessity member countries strict adherence the agreement signed december both terms official price and national production levels for this purpose the conference decided establish committee three heads delegation undertake visits member countries order motivate them comply with the terms the agreement moreover the conference stressed the necessity the cooperation the oil producing exporting countries outside opec essential prerequisite for lasting market stability the conference therefore decided reinstate the group five heads delegation established the extraordinary meeting the conference april undertake the necessary contacts with those countries the conference observed the continued fall the value the dollar and agreed that the matter should studied and reported the next meeting the conference the conference discussed the appointment the secretary general and decided discuss the matter again its next ordinary meeting the conference extended the term office fadhil chalabi deputy secretary general for period one year from october the next ordinary meeting the conference will convened vienna december reuter interest poehl speaks against german interest rate cut bundesbank president karl otto poehl said west germany would badly advised lower interest rates and that believed the economy would continue recover after six month lull asked the newspaper bild sonntag lower interest rates could boost the domestic economy poehl said would badly advised forced further interest rate cuts this could under certain circumstances release new inflationary fears which would then more likely lead higher interest rates added poehl said germany had practically growth the past six months because the mark surge and the cold winter but since april statistics clearly show that the economy finds itself course growth said expect this development continue the coming months asked about his expectations european community trade war poehl said such event would disastrous for this reason europe must avoid everything used protectionist forces the pretexts added this includes eliminating existing restrictions the far possible protectionism not found only the reuter crude kuwait sees opec output over ceiling end year opec output for the second half including that iraq will above the official mln barrels per day bpd output ceiling agreed opec saturday kuwait oil minister sheikh ali khalifa sabah said iraq refused sign the pact which opec maintained its ceiling mln bpd for both the third and fourth quarters december opec set provisional fourth quarter level mln bpd now cut back the third quarter target ali told news conference that including iraq opec third quarter output will between and mln bpd while fourth quarter output will nearly mln bpd ali did not detail what effect thought these production levels would have prices iraq has official first half quota mln bpd rising mln the second half but has refused adhere and has recently been producing around two mln barrels per day exporting through pipelines saudi arabia and turkey iraq export capacity will further boosted when bpd oil pipeline via turkey comes stream about september iraq has been insisting quota equal its gulf war enemy iran which has quota mln bpd rising mln the second half ali said the position the bpd production from the neutral zone between saudi arabia and kuwait which has been supplied iraq war relief crude was fixed will not discuss there will not any change said ali said the conference which began thursday and ended saturday evening had been too short for all necessary problems adressed are overdoing holding too short meeting sweep lot under the carpet said ali said the problem price differentials between the prices various opec crudes had not been dealt with properly the meeting ali said the problem differentials real one would hate producing today light crude and that problem has not been dealt with properly light crudes are overpriced relative heavy crudes asked the issue differentials would raised the next opec meeting held vienna december ali said crudes are affected will raise the issue will not the work another minister kuwait own crudes range from medium heavy grades opec reintroduced fixed prices february with spread dlrs barrel between its lightest and heaviest crudes reuter crude iraq rejects new opec oil quota iraq has rejected its new opec production quota set vienna for the second half this year the official iraqi news agency ina reported quoted oil minister issam abdul rahim chalabi who returned sunday saying iraq will continue adhere its position considering itself not included the agreement last december iraq rejected its assigned first half quota mln bpd and demanded share equal the mln bpd quota set for iran its enemy the nearly seven year old gulf war the accord reached opec ministers vienna saturday set output ceiling mln bpd for the group members from july december raising iraq share mln bpd and iran mln reuter earn fraser and neave ltd frnm half march shr cents cents int div six cents same group net mln dlrs mln turnover mln note div pay aug register july says expects results for the second half year similar those the first half reuter earn mitsui real estate development ltd mrea year ended march group shr yen net billion billion current billion billion operating billion billion sales billion billion note the company said the pct increase group current profit from year earlier was mainly due drop two billion yen interest payments reuter bop german may current account surplus billion marks april surplus billion official trade german may trade surplus billion marks april surplus billion official earn tata iron and steel pre tax falls pct year march share rupees pre tax profit mln rupees billion net profit mln billion sales billion billion dividend pct same tax mln mln note full company name tata iron and steel ltd tata dividend payable shareholders aug reuter acq kraft kra completes buy quaker oat unit kraft inc said has completed the previously announced acquisition the anderson clayton foods division from quaker oats for mln dlrs cash reuter cpi french inflation confirmed pct may french retail prices rose confirmed pct may compared with pct rise april and pct may last year the national statistics institute insee said the rise took the year year inflation rate pct may from pct april and brought cumulative inflation over the first five months this year pct compared with pct for the same period reuter acq martin processing said accepts dlrs share bid from courtaulds plc acq frontier frtr buys malpractice business frontier insurance group inc said acquired the malpractice book business generated medical quadrangle inc and medical professional liability agency ltd producer medical malpractice coverage said the acquisition will enable all frontier medical malpractice coverage serviced internally reuter earn helene curtis industries inc qtr net period end may shr profit four cts loss cts net profit loss revs mln mln reuter earn groupe videotron ltee vdo nine mths net period ended may shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln reuter earn inter tel inc intla qtr may oper net oper shr three cts one oper net revs avg shrs six mths oper shr five cts two cts oper net revs mln mln avg shrs note earnings exclude gain from utilization tax loss carryforwards dlrs one share the quarter and dlrs two cts share for the six months reuter acq new generation products makes acquisition new generation products inc said has acquired pct ownership personal protection technolgies inc new generation said personal protection developing group personal care products which are effective killing variety viruses and bacteria contact for and export markets reuter earn town and country jewelry tnc first qtr net shr cts cts net dlrs dlrs revs mln dlrs mln dlrs note first quarter ended may the company full name town and country jewelry manufacturing corp reuter earn data architects inc dai qtr may net shr cts cts net dlrs dlrs revs mln dlrs mln dlrs six mths shr cts cts net dlrs dlrs revs mln dlrs mln dlrs reuter acq martin processing mpi accepts courtaulds bid martin processing inc said its board approved agreement acquired courtaulds plc cou for dlrs share the company said the transaction valued more than mln dlrs based its shares stock outstanding said courtaulds has privately agreed purchase majority martin common from trusts established julius hermes for dlrs share said courtaulds intends conduct tender offer for all the martin stock does not own beginning soon necessary documents are prepared reuter earn lifetime corp lft year march net shr cts net mln dlrs revs mln dlrs note the company said year ago figures are not comparable due its reverse merger last year reuter earn university genetics ugen qtr loss shr loss two cts loss four cts net loss dlrs loss dlrs revs dlrs dlrs nine mths shr loss cts loss cts net loss dlrs loss dlrs revs mln dlrs dlrs note the third quarter ended april reuter cpi annual inflation falls may the european community annual inflation rate fell marginally pct may from pct april the statistics office eurostat said prices the nation bloc rose pct may after pct april but the annual rate stayed below that the for the second month succession following the release figures showing inflation pct both april and may however eurostat said the was still beaten japan where prices were provisionally pct lower may than year earlier reuter acq bsn bsn has purchased macgregor mgs stock bsn corp said purchased macgregor sporting goods common stock recent open market transactions bsn said its position less than the five pct ownership which would require specific disclosure the company will continually review its position and may nelect increase decrease the number shares owned added reuter earn telecommunications network tnii year net shr cts cts net dlrs dlrs revs mln dlrs mln dlrs note the year ended march reuter earn hovnanian enterprises hov qtr may net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs reuter trade armistice eludes and spaghetti war talks between the european community and the united states have failed settle trade dispute over pasta commission spokesman said diplomatic sources said the dispute could provoke new trade friction unless was settled soon washington insisting that the comply with what regards unambiguous ruling from the world trade body gatt and cut export subsidies which have allowed italy take increasing share the pasta market the provides subsidies about cents pound pasta exports the spokeswoman said the talks foundered the question how much the subsidy should cut reuter acq utilicorp ucu unit buys stake power plant utilicorp united inc said its utilco group subsidiary completed the purchase pct interest westwood energy properties limited partnership for about mln dlrs the company said the partership building and will operate megawatt electric generation facility schuykill county penn scheduled begin commercial operation july said the pct interest was sold westwood funding corp wholly owned subsidiary combustion engineering inc csp westwood funding retains interest the partership and serves general partner said reuter gas exxon xon extends mid grade unleaded marketing exxon said extending marketing its mid grade unleaded gasoline exxon plus into the houston and dallas fort worth metropolitan areas beginning early next month exxon corp domestic subsidiary already marketing the octane unleaded gasoline along much the east coast introduces the third unleaded grade exxon noted longer offers leaded gasoline the market except some rural areas where leaded gaosline will made available distributors who have substantial need for the product serve customers whose equipment was designed for leaded fuel reuter acq coradian cdin stake acquired sage coradian corp said group led privately held sage equities group agreed buy pct interest coradian connection with the agreement the company said sold shares cts share said that addition common stock sage equities will receive warrants exercisable dlrs share reuter earn sikes corp ska qtr may net shr cts cts shr diluted cts cts net sales mln mln note share results reflect two for one stock split paid july eight reuter earn inter tel inc intla qtr may net shr four cts one net rev mln mln avg shares six months shr seven cts two cts net rev mln mln avg shares note qtr includes extraordinary gain dlrs one share while six months net includes gain two cts share reuter acq entertainment marketing demands crazy eddie shareholder list may pursue merger acq datacard datc adopts dividend rights plan datacard corp said adopted dividend rights plan response deluxe check printers inc dlx having agreed sell its pct interest datacard national computer systems inc nlcs datacard declared dividend distribution one preferred stock purchase right each outstanding share its common stock the dividend designed deter national computer other potential suitors from preventing datacard from evaluating all alternatives maximize shareholder value datacard said national computer told reuters june could make bid for datacard june datacard filed suit hennepin county district court minnesota block the sale the pct stake its stock national computer announcing the rights plan datacard said not designed deter takeovers that would consistent with the objective maximizing stockholders value all datacard stockholders the rights will not become exercisable until days after announcement that person group has acquired beneficial ownership pct more datacard common stock once exercisable each right would entitle holder buy share datacard series junior participation preferred stock for dlrs holders other than acquirer would entitled purchase for six months after the right becomes exercisable number shares the new preferred stock with market value equal twice the exercise price the rights the rights dividend distribution payable july shareholders record july reuter earn sheldahl inc shel qtr may net shr cts one cent net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts seven cts net revs mln mln note per share figures adjusted for three for two stock split paid april reuter acq federal resources fdrc acquires retailer federal resources corp said has acquired the capital stock and related real estate assets new generation inc regional consumer electronics specialty retailer terms the acquisition were not disclosed new generation has annual sales volume about mln dlrs federal resources said federal resources said will search for additional acquisitions including but not limited specialty retailers reuter acq entertainment may seek crazy eddie crzy enetertainment marketing inc and its president elias zinn have demanded list crazy eddie inc shareholders from the company and said they may pursue merger the edison electronics retailer filing with the securities and exchange commission zinn said the demand for the shareholder list was made june because may desire communicate with other crazy eddie shareholders regarding the affairs the company zinn and his firm which disclosed they hold pct stake crazy eddie common stock said they may acquire more shares through negotiated merger tender offer entertainment marketing was informed june shearson lehman brothers inc acting behalf crazy eddie that would provided with certain information about crazy eddie told the sec entertainment marketing houston based firm involved electronics wholesaling and televised home shopping sales proposed eight dlr share merger acquisition crazy eddie may and modified the proposal june include the possible participation crazy eddie management entertainment marketing told the sec expects meet with crazy eddie representatives the near future entertainment marketing also disclosed that retained drexel burnham lambert inc its financial advisor and investment banker light june announcement from crazy eddie that chemical bank would longer fund mln dlr credit facility with the company plus further declines the price its stock entertainment marketing and zinn said they are continuing evaluate their alternatives with respect their investment crazy eddie stock depending its evaluation the company including actions crazy eddie board and any possible third party bids for the company entertainment marketing and its president said they may hold their present stake the company sell some their shares purchase more shares the open market through private purchases connection with merger tender offer according the sec filing entertainment marketing and zinn bought their current holdings crazy eddie common shares between may and june dlrs dlrs share total about mln dlrs reuter acq cyclops cyl merger approved cyclops corp said shareholders approved previously announced merger the company with subsidiary dixons group plc said dixons held about pct cyclops stock following tender offer and other purchases earlier the year with the completion the transaction dixons will proceed pay dlrs share the remaining cyclops shareholders reuter zinc amax zinc raises dyecast alloy prices amax zinc division amax inc said increasing the price dyecast alloys three and five three cents effective immediately dyecast alloy three now cents while alloy five now cents the company said reuter acq vernitron vrn sets new record date vernitron corp said has set new record date july for shareholders entitled vote the proposed merger vernitron with holding corp the original record date was may vernitron said that currently expects the special shareholder meeting concerning the merger will held august following its tender offer november holding holds pct vernitron maker electromechanical components and related products and services reuter acq energas egas buy texas american tae unit energas said has agreed principle purchase western kentucky gas from texas american energy corp for mln dlrs cash plus assumptrion certain liabilities western kentucky gas distribution company which serves about customers towns and communities kentucky reuter acq gibraltar gfc buy thrift for mln dlrs gibraltar financial corp said its gibraltar savings unit has agreed principle buy first federal savings and loan ridgecrest for about mln dlrs cash the company said the actual price will determined the close based net book value may said first federal located kearn county northeast los angeles and has assets mln dlrs said the transaction subject definitive agreement shareholder and regulatory approval reuter acq winley buys land from holdings inc mdc winley home builders inc said completed land purchase agreement with holdings inc mdc for dlrs notes and preferred stock the company said bought lots colorado from richmond homes ltd unit return for dlrs promissory notes and dlrs preferred stock the company said has option convert winley preferred stock into pct winley common year reuter earn star classics inc scls qtr march net shr three cts two cts net rev avg shrs reuter acq gabelli firms have pct stake digiorgio corp may seek control earn cleopatra kohlique inc cleo year net year ended march shr three cts cts net revs mln mln reuter acq interstate bakeries ibc buys mexican food firm interstate bakeries corp said its royal american foods subsidiary agreed buy the assets landshire food products inc new mexico based producer packaged mexican food products terms the proposed transaction were not disclosed reuter earn federated group inc fegp qtr loss period ended may shr loss eight cts profit six cts net loss profit sales mln mln reuter acq gabelli firms hold digiorgio dig stake group firms led gabelli group inc told government regulators holds pct stake digiorgio corp common stock and said two partnerships making part the group may seek control the company filing with the securities and exchange comission the group firms said holds shares digiorgio common stock the total shares are held gamco investors inc and gabelli funds inc for investment purposes the group said gabelli rosenthal and partners and and partners which hold the remaining digiorgio common shares told the sec their purpose ultimately obtain control digiorgio contingent upon approval digiorgio according the sec filing previously reported gabelli and inc acting investment advisor group including gabelli rosenthal proposed june acquire all digiorgio common shares for per share price dlrs cash subordinated note with face value eight dlrs pct redeemable preferred stock and one common share the post buyout company the june buyout proposal which remains open until july also provides that key members digiorgio management and some its directors would invited remain with the firm and participate the group acquiring the company the proposal also subject due diligence review execution merger agreement arrangement financing and receipt government approvals all which gabelli and said could completed within days between april and june the entire group led gabelli group inc made net purchases digiorgio common shares dlrs dlrs share reuter acq unicoa merge into its united insurance unit unicoa corp said agreed merger with its wholly owned subsidiary united insurance america under the agreement each outstanding share unicoa common stock will converted into one share united common stock the agreement subject shareholder and regulatory approval teledyne inc tdy owns about pct unicoa outstanding shares shareholder meeting expected held august reuter earn hovnanian enterprises inc hov qtr earnings may end shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs note first quarter report reuter acq fed approves citicorp purchase some assets sears calif thrift acq health properties hrp buy properties health and rehabilitation properties trust said reached understanding purchase three nursing facilities mass and conn for mln dlrs from greenery rehabilitation group inc grgi the buildings will leased back greenery for initial term seven years subject renewal options for additional years health and rehabilitation properties said the transaction expected close before august reuter acq bsn bsn buys stake macgregor mgs bsn corp said holds less than five pct macgregor sporting goods the company said the stock was acquired through recent open market purchases and the stake does not require specific disclosure reuter acq vernitron vrn sets record date for merger vote vernitron corp said has set new record date for shareholders entitled vote the proposed merger vernitron corp with holding corp for july vernitron which manufactures electromechanical components and related products and services said expects that special meeting shareholders will held august vernitron said that holding holds pct vernitron resulting from tender offer november reuter acq fed allows citicorp cci sears thrift deal the federal reserve board said approved citicorp application purchase through its subsidiary citicorp savings oakland calif some assets and assume some liabilities sears savings bank glendale calif citicorp savings proposed assume two billion dlrs deposits and other liabilities and purchase billion dlrs assets branch offices sears savings the proposal involved less than one third the assets and liabilities sears savings owned sears roebuck and the fed said that generally has determined there were potentially adverse effects allowing affiliations banks and savings and loan associations although has allowed bank holding companies acquire some failing thrifts said citicorp proposal properly may viewed the permissible acquisition certain assets and liabilities and branches rather than the acquisition and citicorp savings the successor the failed fidelity savings and loan association has assets billion dlrs and operates branches california mainly the north sears savings has billion assets and branches predominantly southern california the application which was approved unanimously will not eliminate sears savings competitor the fed said reuter acq icn icn buys stake from eastman kodak icn pharmaceuticals inc said purchased the remaining shares viratek inc vira owned eastman kodak owned part previously announced program the company said paid kodak dlrs share mln dlrs previously announced icn also said authorized the additional purchase mln shares viratek common date icn said bought total about mln shares viratek including the shares purchased from kodak the company said now owns pct viratek result these transactions reuter earn rite aid corp rad qtr may oper shr cts cts oper net mln mln revs mln mln note quarter net excludes gain mln dlrs dlrs share for discontinued operations reuter acq maxtor corp mxtr buys private firm maxtor corp said bought privately held storage dimensions inc for undisclosed sum the company said storage dimensions incorporates maxtor high capacity inch winchester and optical disk drives into family data storage subsystems for ibm pcs xts ats and compatibles storage dimensions the creator speedstor software utility program that integrates high capacity disk drives into pcs maxtor said the purchase reflects its desire compete the high capacity segment the market reuter earn super rite foods inc srfi qtr may shr cts seven cts net revs mln mln reuter acq sec charges campeau allied stores with disclosure violations recent takeover acq group may support cardis corp cds buyout group companies controlled brookehill partners inc told government authorities may support buyout cardis corp way maximize the value the company stock filing with the securities and exchange commission the group disclosed that currently holds pct stake cardis common stock and said would likely support acquisition the company whole parts another party terming such move the most likely means for the company shareholders maximize the value their investment although the group characterized its cardis stock holdings principally for investment said intends contact third parties who might interested acquisition cardis los angeles based auto parts distributor the group added its has already had some contacts with others concerning the company but said understandings have been reached the cardis common shares continue offer opportunity for price appreciation the basis the company asset value and earnings momentum the brookehill group told the sec the group which currently holds cardis common shares consists new york based brookehill partners and its two subsidiaries brookehill equities inc brokerage and moore grossman and derose inc investment advisor walter grossmman edward moore and robert derose all new york each own one third interests brookehill partners since april members the brookehill group made net purchases cardis common shares approximately dlrs share the group told the sec may continue purchase additional cardis stock but also reserved the right sell its shares the company reuter acq caremark cmrk vote baxter bax merger caremark inc and baxter travenol laboratories inc jointly announced that caremark shareholders will vote july approve the previously announced merger with baxter the companies said caremark shareholders record june will entitled vote the meeting held newport beach calif pdt may baxter and carmark announced definitive agreement for baxter acquire carmark stock transaction valued mln dlrs reuter acq sec says campeau unit violated disclosure rules the securities and exchange commission charged allied stores corp with failing promptly disclose key steps was taking last september thwart takeover attempt campeau corp administrative complaint the sec said allied and its legal adviser failed promptly inform shareholders and the agency that had begun talks with youngstown ohio shopping center developer edward debartolo response campeau takeover offer campeau acquired allied for estimated billion dlrs jan following battle with debartolo sept day after allied disclosed that its board had urged rejection campeau sept tender offer for dlrs share allied began negotiating the sale six shopping centers debartolo the sec said allied legal advisor and director george kern who heads the merger and acquisitions group the new york law firm sullivan and cromwell decided against amending allied sec filing disclose the talks even though they had resulted sales price mln dlrs for the shopping centers said securities law requires takeover target companies promptly disclose such things the sale major assets the day after campeau increased its tender offer pct allied stock from pct and raised its bid dlrs share from dlrs sept allied and partnership headed debartolo began negotiating takeover deal aimed thwarting campeau the sec said kern again decided against disclosing the talks amended sec filing the agency charged allied first disclosure the debartolo takeover was made oct even though its board approved the merger oct and the merger agreement was executed oct the complaint said debartolo and campeau later engaged bitter battle for control allied with campeau winning out later october when bought block mln shares allied stock pct the total controversial move made only minutes after dropped its hostile tender offer the acquisition the additional pct which federal judge allowed completed gave campeau majority stake allied campeau bought the rest dlrs share the sec said had planned file court brief joining with allied charging that campeau had engaged illegal tender offer but the sec brief was never filed since the case was dropped following agreement between campeau and debartolo the administrative proceeding against allied and kern the sec asking for administrative order that they comply with reporting provisions securities laws the future although allied longer publicly traded since became subsidiary campeau still files annual and quarterly reports the sec because has outstanding debt reuter earn great country bank gcbk year may net shr cts net dlrs dlrs year shr dlrs net four mln dlrs mln dlrs assets mln dlrs mln dlrs deposits mln dlrs mln dlrs loans mln dlrs mln dlrs note the company does not give per share earnings converted from mutual savings bank stock savings bank january reuter acq allied signal ald completes unit sales allied signal inc said completed the sale seven businesses its electronics and instrumentation sector for billion dlrs cash and debt assumed the purchasers the company said last december its would sell the units mid did not identify the buyers the company said the proceeds will used reduce debt continue the company share buyback program and increase strategic investments its core businesses and other corporate purposes said the units sold were ampex corp amphenol prodcuts linotype group neptune international mpb corp revere corp and sigma instruments inc reuter acq cycare cycr buys control data cad unit cycare systems inc information processing systems company said purchased the assets control data corp medtec unit for undisclosed terms medtec provider patient accounting and scheduling systems for large scale group medical practices reuter acq becor bcw adjourn delayed holders meeting becor western inc said business will transacted the shareholders meeting scheduled for cdt tomorrow and the meeting will permanently adjourned definitive agreement transaction results from any the offers now pending for the company stock becor said date for new shareholders meeting will established reuter acq universal communication ucs sell assets universal communication systems inc said has tentatively agreed sell substantially all its assets for about mln dlrs cash and notes plus limited profit participation the company said the terms the sale have been approved its board and prime motor inns inc pdq owner about pct universal outstanding stock described the purchaser subsidiary company the communications field which one the largest corporations the company said the transaction involves the payment mln dlrs cash non interest bearing payment mln dlrs four equal instalments over four years and two promissory notes guaranteed affiliate the purchaser said mln dlr pct note payable four equal instalments over four years said mln dlr pct note due dec includes participation the profits the acquiring company universdal said the profit element can terminated with payments the purchaser either five mln dlrs six mln dlrs seven mln dlrs eight mln dlrs reuter acq union uel ends pact sell canbra cbf union enterprises ltd said its agreement sell its interest canbra foods ltd macluan capital corp has been terminated union said macluan failed make offer for union pct interest canbra before the june deadline union said longer bound the agreement and continuing seek buyer for the interest reuter acq ssmc ssm buy cutters exchange division ssmc inc said has executed letter understanding acquire the parts catalog division cutters exchange inc for undisclosed amount ssmc spun off from the singer smf year ago said that the parts catalog division wholesales parts and needles the industrial sewing trade the under the agreement key managers and employees the parts catalog division nashville tenn will relocate the ssmc facility murfreesboro ssmc said reuter interest end netherlands antilles tax treaty the treasury department said notified the netherlands that was terminating the income tax treaty applies the netherlands antilles and aruba the termination effective january the treasury said two sentence announcement the treasury decided end the treaty after negotiations between the united states and the netherlands over the past eight years had failed reach accord treasury spokesman said the decision means the sale parent companies eurobonds through netherlands antilles subsidiaries will longer free the pct withholding tax the spokesman said terminating the tax treaty with the netherlands antilles may cause bond issuers call the bonds early most have maturities years less and were issued before the spokesman said said the treasury did not expect the action have adverse effect issuers the bonds because the general decline interest rates means they will able refinance lower interest rates however the holders the bonds presumably will faced with lower yields reuter acq carolco pictures crc orbis agreement carolco pictures inc said signed letter intent exchange mln its shares for all orbis communications inc stock within the next days said the carolco shares used the exchange are valued dlrs share total value mln dlrs and will adjusted based the price carolco shares the closing date said orbis management will remain place for least three years reuter copper cipec studying copper market backwardation the paris based intergovernmental council copper exporting countries cipec closely studying the current backwardation world copper market prices but does not envisage taking corrective action present cipec sources here said the organisation executive and marketing committees reviewed the current market situation during series meetings here late last week but took major decisions the sources noted that the backwardation premium nearby supply over forward delivery dates back several weeks and the longest record unusual one official said but added cipec did not have any immediate recipe remedy the situation the meetings featured gathering the directors cipec regional copper development and promotion centres which are based europe japan india and brazil their main aim was prepare the ground for the annual ministerial meeting cipec which scheduled for zaire late september the last three ministerial meetings have been held paris keep down costs reuter earn canadian home shopping cws qtr loss shr loss cts net loss revs mln note full name canadian home shopping network ltd period ended april was company first quarter operations reuter copper outokumpu copper deal with iberica del cobre finland state owned mining company outokumpu said statement was entering spanish markets shareholder iberica del cobre manufacturer copper products outokumpu will acquire pct the shares the spanish company and company will set agent for outokumpu spain the deal awaits approval the spanish government iberica del cobre makes tubes rods rolled and drawn copper and alloy products and its sales tonnes output amounted billion pesetas outokumpu turnover was billion markka reuter earn concord fabrics inc cis qtr oper net period ended may oper shr cts cts oper net sales mln mln nine mths oper shr dlrs dlrs oper net sales mln mln note period ended june one note earnings exclude gain disposal discontinued operations dlrs nine cts share loss dlrs cts share the quarter and gain dlrs cts share loss dlrs cts share for the nine months earnings exclude losses from discontinued operations dlrs six cts share the quarter and dlrs cts share for the nine months reuter earn general public utilities gpu five mths net period ended may shr dlrs dlrs net revs billion billion note full name general public utilities corp reuter earn comtrex systems corp comx year loss year ended march shr loss three cts profit cts net loss profit sales avg shrs reuter acq seton sel directors approve merger agreement seton said its board directors unanimously approved agreement and plan merger providing for the merger seton with unit acquisition corp new jersey company seton said its board directors unanimously approved the merger meeting held today seton said the agreement and plan merger provides that all shares seton common stock not held acquisition corp its units will converted upon the merger into the right receive dlrs per share cash reuter acq giorgio dig evaluate gabelli offer giorgio corp said plans respond unsolicited recapitalization plan proposed gabelli and inc after the company its board and its investment bankers evaluate the proposal earlier gabelli said filing with the securities and exchange commission that holds pct stake digiorgio and that together with gamco investors inc may seek control the company addition june the gabelli group proposed acquire all giorgio common shares for combination dlrs per share cash subordinated note with face value eight dlrs and one common share the post buyout company the june buyout proposal remains open until july reuter gold gunnar gold ggg venture agreement gunnar gold inc said and mill city gold inc signed option and joint venture agreement with tyranex gold inc the tyranite gold property ontario gunnar said and mill city can earn pct interest tyranex option buy the tyranite gold mine spending five mln dlrs exploration development and feasibility studies said the companies may form joint venture partnership bring the mine full commercial production reuter earn data architects inc dai qtr may net shr cts cts net revs six mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter coffee dauster says consumers should keep out quotas consumer countries should not intervene the distribution coffee export quotas brazilian coffee institute president jorio dauster said distribution export quotas should the hands producers has been traditional dauster delegate the recent coffee symposium here told journalists when consumers want get involved talks are much more difficult the main consumer country the united states and main producer brazil failed reach agreement quota distribution when the international coffee organisation ico met february dauster said brazil role when the ico meets london september will support the world coffee pact defend its market share and argue for distribution quotas the hands producer countries have sacrificed great deal already said this year have crop mln bags have economic problems and are not position favours reuter gold gunnar gold venture agreement gunnar gold inc said and mill city gold inc signed option and joint venture agreement with tyranex gold inc the tyranite gold property ontario gunnar said and mill city can earn pct interest tyranex option buy the tyranite gold mine spending five mln dlrs exploration development and feasibility studies said the companies may form joint venture partnership bring the mine full commercial production reuter acq british petroleum completes standard oil merger british petroleum company plc has completed its merger with standard oil the srd raising its holding pct from pct said statement the acquisition was made through wholly owned subsidiary america inc took pct stake standard raising its stake pct and pct chairman sir peter walters will chairman america while robert horton vice chairman and chief executive officer with frank mosier president said further details would released july reuter earn thor energy resources thr year jan loss shr loss four cts loss seven cts net loss loss revs note full name thor energy resources inc reuter earn hei corp heic qtr march loss oper shr loss cts profit three cts oper net loss profit revs mln mln year oper shr loss nine cts profit cts oper net loss profit revs mln mln note revenues exclude medical publishing and retail operations the company decided dispose during the fourth quarter which had fiscal year revenues mln dlrs mln dlrs operating results exclude discontinued operations which had year loss dlrs profit dlrs reuter acq rte rte buys some emhart emh assets rte corp said completed the purchase the aluminum electrolytic capacitor business and related assets emhart corp for undisclosed terms reuter acq rochester rtc acquires canton telephone rochester telephone corp said completed the acquisition canton telephone and now operating the company terms the acquisition were not disclosed canton telephone serves about access lines northwestern pennsylvania and had operating revenues about dlrs rochester telephone said reuter acq san francisco not region hurt restructuring corporate mergers and acquisitions and around san francisco over the past seven years have had only modest effect the metropolitan area economy leading business backed organization said the bay area council group more than business firms said that study corporate restructuring nine county area found that san francisco itself had suffered some ill effects from corporate shake ups but that surrounding communities had not seventeen the fortune companies the area left due corporate restructuring between and but another firms were added the list ten the departing companies were based san francisco during the period only six located the city achieved fortune status ted hall council director and local managing director mckinsey and which conducted the survey said the study grew out concern that mergers and acquisitions had seriously hurt the economic climate northern california however hall said that only about jobs had been lost the region while more than new jobs were created during the period the same time said the region experienced greater rise per capita income and lower unemployment than the rest the united states and california council president george keller who also chairman and chief executive officer chevron corp told news conference that the region had difficulties persuading companies locate there because fragmented local political system but said that because the amenities living san francisco was the envy many chief executives other metropolitan area great place run business added but hell place business with government the study concluded that chevron which mergered with gulf oil would benefit the long run from the restructuring activity among the corporate headquarters lost during the period were crown zellerbach memorex southern pacific castle cooke and rolm companies that grew enough during the period make the fortune list included apple computer pacific telesis mckesson tandem computer leasing and amfac the study the management consulting firm said that partly due corporate restructuring the rate job growth san francisco has slowed since addition said that the loss corporate leadership had adversely affected some the bay area civic and charitable activities reuter acq wtc shareholders approve pittston pco buyout pittston said wtc international shareholders approved the acquisition the company pittston terms the transaction call for pittston exchange its own common shares for each outstanding wtc share pittston said wtc engaged domestic international air freight ocean and surface freight forwarding and consolidation and distribution services reuter acq home federal hfbf sets shareholder meeting home federal bank florida hfbf said has scheduled special shareholders meetng for july approve proposed changes the bank charter and merge with barnett bank inc barnett bank pinellas county home federal said the meeting approve definitive agreement signed may calling for each share home federal common stock exchanged for about dlrs market value barnett common stock the exchange would based conversion home federal shares not less than more than shares barnett stocks dlrs share home federal said the total market value the transaction would about mln dlrs home federal said notice the meeting and related proxy materials which has been filed previously with the securities and exchange commission and the federal home loan bank board were mailed june holders record june reuter crude chevron sea find may hold mln bbls analysts north sea oil find announced chevron corp chv chevron exploration north sea ltd may indicate new field with recoverable crude oil reserves mln barrels industry analysts said chevron said sidetrack well block the continental shelf tested barrels per day bpd api crude oil from the tertiary alba sand through three inch surface choke the estimated amount oil the alba field around mln barrels paul spedding stockbroker kleinwort grieveson and told reuters said industry estimates put the total reserves the field over one billion barrels but given the low gravity oil the recovery rate would expected around pct analysts said the results were encouraging but the potential difficulty operating and recovering oil the field was shown the fact that the first well had plugged and sidetrack drilled the field seems shallow and widespread which will require multi platform development recovery pushing costs christopher osborne stockbroker hoare govett said most analysts said that although the low gravity the oil found would require additional costs recovery the test well showed that flows well although the gravity oil the field seems low seems flow quite well and around mln barrels could recovered carol bell phillips and drew told reuters however chevron officials declined comment the analysts reserve estimates they said that without further research and drilling the area this summer they would not disclose any reserve figures analysts said that the field were declared commercial and developed there would ready local market for the heavy crude produced most refineries are now upgraded refine heavy oils and the price differentials between heavy and light crudes are lot narrower today osborne said chevron operates the block behalf companies which include british petroleum development ltd dsm hydrocarbons ltd enterprise oil tns ltd marathon int pet ltd and phillips petroleum ltd reuter acq arden group ardna plans issuer tender arden group inc said filed registration statement with the securities and exchange commission covering two issuer tender offers said one offer its directed its class common stock holders and another holders its pct debentures due march the planned offer for common stock holders calls for the company exchange either dlrs cash dlrs principal amount pct subordinated debentures due september one share new class common stock for each class share held arden group said also said the cash payment subject proration addition the company said plans offer exchange one dlr principal amount pct debentures due september for each outstanding one dlr principal amount pct debentures reuter acq lomas lnk shareholders approve acquisition lomas and nettleton financial corp said its shareholders approved special meeting the company acquisition equitable life leasing corp for mln dlrs equitable life leasing corp subsidiary equitable investment corp which owned the equitable life assurance lomas said the acquistion price will consist one mln cash mln shares the company common stock shares new series preferred stock and mln dlrs principal amount nine pct senior notes due the company added that the acquisition will close june reuter acq almi group acquires interest clearview baking almi group said its chairmen michael landes and albert schwartz and its vice chairman michael spiegler have acquired pct equity interest clearview baking corp for undisclosed terms dale mayo clearview president and chief executive officer will retain pct interest the company almi group said reuter crude ecuador produce above opec quota minister ecuador will produce crude oil excess its bpd opec quota during the second half this year energy minister fernando santos alvite told news conference ecuador plans produce bpd august rising bpd next january the minister said will producing more than the quota pay off the crude and products have been lent venezuela nigeria and kuwait and compensate for the crude have been unable produce during the past few months said earthquake damage pipeline sharply cut ecuadorean production from march may this year santos said the move had been explained fellow opec members during last week meeting vienna when increase ecuador quota bpd from was approved they understood our position and believe remain within the spirit the quota agreement said immediately before the march quake ecuadorean production was bpd with bpd exported while its production was down venezuela nigeria and kuwait loaned ecuador total mln barrels crude and four mln barrels products santos said reuter earn laidlaw transportation ltd ldmf third qtr shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln reuter earn morrison inc morr qtr may net oper shr cts cts qtly div cts cts oper net revs mln mln year oper shr dlrs dlrs oper net mln mln revs mln mln note operating net both periods excludes loss mln dlrs cts share from discontinued operations reuter acq wal mart wmt completes acquisition wal mart stores inc said has completed the acquisition super saver warehouse inc and super saver now wholly owned unit wal mart reuter acq kraft kra completes frostex acquisition kraft inc said completed the acquisition frostex foods inc for undisclosed terms kraft said last month had signed letter intent acquire the austin texas based foodservice distributor reuter earn precision target marketing ptmi qtr net qtr ended april shr profit one loss three cts net profit loss revs year shr profit four cts loss cts net profit loss revs note full name precision target marketing inc latest year and quarter includes extraordinary gains dlrs three cts share and dlrs one share reuter acq rte corp rte buys emhart corp unit rte corp said completed the purchase emhart corp united states aluminum electrolytic capacitor business for undisclosed sum the company said the capacitor business part emhart electrical and electronic group marketed under the mallory brand name the company said the product lines acquired had sales mln dlrs last year reuter earn seven oaks international inc qpon year net periods ended april shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs reuter acq united medical corp sells unit united medical corp said will sell its trotter treadmills inc unit the company said the sale line with its strategy refocusing its health care service business said had received interest from several parties but agreement has yet been reached trotter treadmills makes motorized treadmills for the exercise enthusiast and fitness club market said its sales for this year are projected over mln dlrs reuter veg-oil franco german parley fails unblock farm talks specially convened franco german meeting the sidelines summit leaders failed make any progress over farm price package that has deeply split the two former allies diplomats said the meeting was attended farm ministers and foreign ministers from both countries and french president francois mitterand his prime minister jacques chirac and chancellor helmut kohl west germany the stalemate over farm prices seen key providing solution long term settlement the community worst ever budget crisis the germans clearly not want budge aide chirac told reporters added the french prime minister was visibly angered the hour long meeting bonn and paris are diametrically opposed proposal for the brussels executive commission overhaul radically the complex green currrency system designed translate common farm prices into national currencies paris also supports move for oils and fats tax which west germany against along with britain denmark and the netherlands farm minsters are due resume negotiations the package which should have been agreed april deadline tomorrow diplomats said had been hoped that the summit could have injected fresh impetus into those talks the commission proposed its package save one billion dollars the ever rising farm budget the summit has been dominated lengthy talks moves alter the entire system financing the nation group and plugging billion dollar budget shortfall for reuter acq cycare systems inc cycr buys medtec cycare systems inc said bought control data corp cda medtec unit for undisclosed sum the company said medtec new client base could have significant impact long term revenues although expects minimal positive impact earnings the next six months said the assets purchased include processing agreements software maintenance contracts and the supporting software reuter acq bass led group has pct bell and howell stake for investment acq mcchip mcs acquire reserve holding mcchip resources inc said has agreed exchange its interest oklahoma oil and gas properties operated reserve exploration rexc for restricted reserve common shares the company said will have pct stake reserve outstanding shares result the exchange reuter acq bass group has stake bell and howell bhw investor group led robert bass fort worth texas said owns shares bell and howell common stock equal pct the company common stock outstanding filing with the securities and exchange commission the group said purchased bell and howell common shares between april and june dlrs dlrs share the stock was acquired for investment purposes the group said adding may purchase sell additional shares the future reuter ship reasserts plans for deterrent role gulf the united states responded apparent escalation iranian rhetoric with continued assurances that its expanded military force the gulf would play purely deterrent role can only emphasize that our role there deterrent that going assuring safety for american shipping and that that shipping not related the war itself state department spokesman charles redman told reporters was asked about iranian claims that the united states was moving towards the brink armed conflict with iran tehran radio quoted defence spokesman ali akbar hashemi rafsanjani telling visiting nicaraguan delegation yesterday the moment the united states moving towards the brink armed encounter with are not concerned about this and believe that the presence the war will make our nation even more serious are determined stand firm and will certainly win the united states disclosed last week was beefing its gulf fleet from seven warships and also sending the refurbished battleship missouri patrol just outside the strategic strait hormuz entrance the gulf the buildup ties with plans escort kuwaiti oil tankers which have been registered fly the american flag and gain naval protection against iranian attacks asked about the iranian rhetoric white house spokesman marlin fitzwater said won have any comment response the iranian statements our position has been made clear about the status events the gulf want end the war with winners and losers and any activities statements that tend prolong the war increase hostilities are not helpful welcome redman said could not independently confirm reports that iran has offered halt attacks gulf shipping reuter earn hartmarx corp hmx qtr may net shr cts cts net sales mln mln six mths shr cts cts net mln mln sales mln mln reuter acq cxr cxrl torotel trtl settle suit cxr telcom corp and torotel inc agreed principle settle pending litigation regarding the sale torotel former halcyon communications inc unit cxr march the two companies said joint statement the agreement calls for cxr pay torotel dlrs exchange for return mln dlr note and five mln cxr common shares valued mln dlrs the companies said june cxr filed the suit san francisco federal court charging that the mln dlr price paid for halycon was excessive torotel said also said that suit cxr asked for seven mln dlrs damages along with unspecified punitive award reuter acq cablevision systems cvcc buys stations cablevision systems corp said bought cable television systems six dutchess county communities from dutchess county cablevision associates ltd the company said the acquisition the new systems will add its presence new york said will add subsribers its subscriber base reuter acq austec ail complete purchase private firm austec international ltd said its north american unit austec inc completed the purchase privately held ryan mcfarland corp for undisclosed sum the company said the two units combined are expected have net revenues about mln dlrs ryan mcfarlnad develops cobol and fortran language compilers for the micro mini and mainframe computer markets austec international based melbourne australia ryan mcfarland located rolling hills estates calif reuter acq tecsyn international terminates takeover talks with investor group acq campeau says not part sec proceeding campeau corp said not involved the securities and exchange commission administrative proceeding against allied stores corp which campeau acquired the end last year statement the company said the sec action involves events that occurred prior campeau acquisition allied relating the alleged failure allied make certain disclosures consequently campeau not subject the procedings reuter acq fortune systems fsys approves unit sale fortune systems corp said its shareholders approved the sale its computer hardware business sci technologies inc the transaction expected close this week its annual meeting fortune said shareholders also voted change fortune name tigera inc its principal subsidiary tigeral corp reuter acq tecsyn tsna terminates takeover talks tecsyn international inc said terminated takeover discussions with based investors group after the group was unable establish access funds complete the proposed transactions contrary previous assurances tecsyn previously said and its controlling shareholders accepted principle proposal from the group offer nine dlrs share for pct tecsyn outstanding shares the investor group also planned invest mln dlrs private placement four mln non voting tecsyn common shares the company said reuter acq goodyear sell stake toyobo petcord goodyear said selling its pct interest toyobo petcord ltd japan its partner the venture toyobo reuter earn washington scientific wsci qtr net shr cts two cts net sales six mths shr cts cts net sales mln mln note full company name washington scientific industries inc second quarter ended june seven reuter acq gencorp inc says sell general tire continental gummi for mln dlrs crude venezuela budget sees dlrs oil price venezuela government tomorrow presents budget proposal for billion bolivars based upon oil price dlrs per barrel finance minister manuel azpurua said azpurua told reporters after cabinet meeting the new budget projects ordinary income billion bolivars and extraordinary income billion oil revenues are expected produce billion pct the total the finance minister said the oil revenue projection based average price dlrs per barrel venezuelan oil through the first half has averaged dlrs per barrel according the state oil company petroleos venezuela reuter acq gencorp sell general tire gencorp inc and continental hanover west germany jointy announced they signed agreement for continental buy gencorp general tire inc subsidiary for mln dlrs cash under the agreement the companies said continental will acquire general tire including its related domestic and foreign operations and gencorp will retain liability for the medical benefits retired general tire employees who retired before november the sale expected completed before november one and subject meeting certain conditions continental europe second largest tire producer last year the company had sales billion dlrs with billion dlrs generated its tire operations last year general tire had operating profits mln dlrs sales billion dlrs and gencorp had operating profits mln dlrs sales billion dlrs gencorp spokesman rip tilden said the company will retain about mln dlrs liability for its former general tire employees under the agreement tilden said gencorp will use the proceeds from the sale reduce its billion dlr debt april gencorp sucessfully thwarted takeover partnership formed afg industries inc afg and wagner and brown with restructuring program that included the purchase pct mln shares its common dlrs share for total billion dlrs part the restructuring gencorp also said planned sell its tire business the bottling operations its rko general inc subsidiary and rko remaining broadcast properties focus the company aerospace and automotive components businesses tilden said gencorp expects realize about mln dlrs after tax proceeds the end result sale several pieces the nonbroadcast assets the company including general tire the price paid for general tire would not cause reevaluate that estimate said tilden general tire employs people worldwide and has four tire manufacturing plants the and one canada statemnet william reynolds gencorp chairman said the sale general tire represents critical accomplishment our plan restructure gencorp reynolds also said gencorp previously announced sale its other businesses are proceeding satisfactorily among the pieces gencorp empire that remain sold are its rko bottling operations gencorp agreed sell rko khj station walt disney dis for mln dlrs that deal awaits approval the federal communications commission gencorp also received dlrs after tax from the sale rko wor reuter earn advanced institutional aims year loss shr loss cts profit cts net loss mln dlrs profit dlrs revs mln dlrs mln dlrs note the year ended march the company full name advanced institutional management software inc reuter acq kellwood kwd buying three companies kellwood said signed definitive agreement acquire robert scott ltd inc david brooks ltd inc and andrew harvey ltd dedham mass terms were not disclosed combined sales the three companies were over mln dlrs said the deals are expected completed july kellwood said reuter acq robins says rorer group merger proposal merits further consideration acq digital communications dcai buys fox unit digital communications associates inc said agreed with fox technology inc foxt buy its fox research inc unit for cash payment and the assumption liabilities around mln dlrs the company said part the agreement includes payment additional mln dlrs based the performance the unit the year following the closing the company said the deal expected closed mid august fox research develops makes and markets local area networks for personal computers reuter acq robins qrah consider rorer offer robins said its board has concluded that the merger proposal submitted rorer group inc ror merits further consideration the request the board rorer has agreed extend until edt july its deadline for response from robins after rorer announced its second bid for the company last thursday analysts forecast that the robins family which holds control the company would vigourously oppose any merger but the analysts added that robins desire emerge independent from two years bankruptcy proceedings may thwarted some robins shareholders who perceive merger more expedient way dealing with the company dalkon shield related liabilities after failed first attempt earlier this year rorer latest merger plan calls for share swap worth about mln dlrs rorer would also set two trusts cover the estimated billion dlrs liabilities deal with about claims women who suffered maladies from the use the dalkon shield interuterine device reuter acq citicorp cci savings extends california reach citicorp has extended its reach into the california market with citicorp savings acquisition sears roebuck sears savings bank branches bringing its presences branches communities citicorp savings said thrift industry analysts said the move approved the federal reserve board today plus for citicorp and shows its serious intent penetrate the california market the acquisition mostly extends citicorp reach into southern california where the branches are located citicorp savings was predominantly northern california this marks our first major expansion california particularly the south said citicorp savings president edward valencia statement thrift industry sources said they not see major near term impact the southern california thrift market but expect citicorp more aggressive competitor than sears was that market believe they will better competitor than sears said james stutz executive vice president home federal savings and loan association hfd based san diego banking industry sources said the move viewed groundwork establish citicorp throughout the california market well before the law change that will allow operate bank the state they said citicorp likely convert the branches banks that time the near term however analysts said with seven billion dlrs assets citicorp savings still not major force the thrift market against such large california thrifts home federal great western financial corp gwf ahmanson and ahm golden west financial gwd and great american first savings bank gta reuter acq contel ctc unit sales seen analysts contel corp telecommunications equipment unit the most likely candidate for sale the atlanta based telecommunications company wall street analysts said executone the top the list said one analyst referring contel loss riden telecommunications equipment unit the question who would take added the company forecasting pct drop operating earnings over last year said late today that reviewing all operations effort aimed maximizing long term stockholder value analysts also said contel federal systems division which has been hit with several executive defections may also put the block contel officials declined comment the possibility selling any operations however the company indicated statement that was closely evaluating the telecommunications and federal systems units reuter earn royal gold and silver corp rgs six mths net shr profit two cts loss two cts net profit loss revs mln nil note period includes dlr extraordinary gain reuter acq cdc life sciences lsi stake sold canada development corp cdc said agreed sell its pct interest cdc life sciences inc caisse depot placement quebec the provincial pension fund manager and institut merieux french biological laboratory company for mln dlrs said the caisse and institut merieux will each buy mln common shares the company for dlrs share said following the transaction the caisse will hold about pct cdc life sciences canada development said the purchasers not plan acquire the remaining publicly held shares reuter acq cyclops cyl holders approve dixons merger dixons group plc said shareholders special meeting cyclops corp approved the previously announced merger cyclops with dixons under the terms the merger dixons said the remaining public cyclops shareholders are receive dlrs share dixons also said the previously announced sale cyclops steel and nonresidential construction businesses former alleghany corp subsidiary expected completed june after the sale cyclops will retain its specialty retailing business and change its name silo inc said dixons reuter acq ste genevieve ups offer for sullivan sum ste genevieve resources ltd said increased its cash takeover bid for sullivan mines inc shares dlrs share did not give the original bid the offer for minimum five mln common shares and maximum six mln shares the company said gave further details reuter grain soviet grain meeting unlikely this summer prospects appear slim for summer meeting between and soviet officials before the two countries enter the final year their bilateral grains agreement agriculture department officials said the two sides usually try meet each new year the agreeement approaches although the last meeting was delayed last february however any delay this year should not endanger the fifth year the grains agreement that extends through september usda officials said will difficult pull together the people for the meeting during july aide usda undersecretary daniel amstutz said since the last meeting was only around four months ago the next talks could still couple more months said there has been grain industry speculation that the usda will offer moscow another wheat subsidy during the next marketing year but usda officials said even consultations were held soon subsidy offer would probably not made doubt that there would any subsidy offer this summer before the next agreement year begins usda source said citing limited subsidy funds and uncertainties about next year crops said there are too many variables now would uncharacteristic make offer now under the nonbinding pact moscow has agreed purchase minimum nine mln tonnes grain per year soviet and officials normally meet the summer before the start new agreement year discuss grain quality shipping logistics and production outlooks reuter acq credit says will buy kraft inc and financial corp earn wall and redekop corp wrk three mths net shr five cts one net revs mln mln note period ended april reuter acq justice opposes quick greyhound trailways merger the justice department said asked the government proceed cautiously plan allowing the nation two largest intercity bus companies merge their operations move one the firms said may derail the deal justice opposition quick federal approval bid greyhound lines inc take immediate control trailways corp prompted greyhound threaten brief filed with the interstate commerce commission icc drop the merger plan greyhound officials told reuters late today the company hoped for icc action the merger tomorrow greyhound lines will forward with the transaction only permitted assume immediate unconditional control trailways operations and integrate them with its operations greyhound said filing with the icc the federal regulatory agency which has the final say over mergers interstate bus companies but justice had said earlier filing with the icc that wanted the agency move slowly the plan and turn down greyhound request begin operating trailways immediately the department has just begun receive relevant information trailways financial condition and the process assessing the correctness the company allegations acting assistant attorney general charles rule said comments submitted the icc greyhound announced june that wanted the icc let begin operating trailways immediately while continuing evaluate the merger for possible antitrust problems greyhound said would pay mln dlrs for many trailways terminals buses and garages the two companies said papers filed with the icc that trailways could collapse matter days they said trailways owed suppliers more than six mln dlrs with another six mln dlrs due june the suppliers they said could force trailways into bankruptcy any time trailways also owes consortium banks mln dlrs and the consortium has threatened call the loan trailways fails pay the interest due june they said reuter acq allied signal ald sells schlumberger slb allied signal inc and schlumberger ltd jointly announced that schlumberger had acquired allied signal neptune international unit terms weren disclosed atlanta based neptune which makes water meters and flow measurement equipment had sales last year mln dlrs reuter earn lennar corp len qtr may shr cts cts net revs mln mln six mths shr dlrs cts net mln revs mln mln reuter acq digital dcai acquire fox foxt unit digital communications associates inc dcai said has entered into agreement acquire substantially all the assets fox technology inc fox research inc subsidiary the company said will assume about mln dlrs fox liabilities with provision for further mln dlrs based the future financial performance fox during the one year period following the closing the deal said the acquisition subject approval fox shareholders and expected close mid august reuter tea state control pct pakistan tea imports pakistan announced new tea import policy saying pct imports will future made through the state trading corporation pakistan tcp commerce minister mahbubul haq said television broadcast that more than one third the remaining pct allocated the private sector would permitted come from any one country the new policy was announced some three months after the government suspended import licences and ordered inquiry into tea purchase policy traders said the move was designed put pressure kenya which provided some pct pakistan mln kilo annual tea imports buy pakistani manufactured goods exchange liptons and brooke bond two units britain unilever plc control pct pakistan hard pack tea market traders said haq who also planning minister was outlining new three year trade policy from the start financial july reuter acq general electric buy kraft kra unit general electric credit corp said agreed buy all the capital stock kraft inc wholly owned subsidiary and financial corp terms the acquisition were not disclosed and with assets more than one billion dlrs one the leading companies involved the leasing fleets cars according credit jim ahtes spokesman for credit outside public relations firm manning selvage and lee inc emphasized that the terms the acquisition had not yet been approved reuter acq iep lifts ultramar and ogelbay norton stakes industrial equity pacific ltd iep the hong kong listed unit brierley investments ltd brya said has lifted its stakes british oil company ultramar plc umar and firm ogelbay norton iep told the stock exchange now holds mln ultramar shares representing pct the issued capital holds shares ogelbay representing pct the delaware based company other details were available reuter jobs japan may unemployment record pct pct april official jobs japan unemployment rises record pct may japan seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose record pct may the worst level since the government started compiling unemployment statistics the government management and coodination agency said the may rate surpassed the previous record pct marked set january and april this year was also sharply from pct year earlier unadjusted may unemployment totalled mln people from mln april and mln year earlier agency official blamed industrial restructuring and the strong yen for the rise unemployment the seasonally adjusted male unemployment rate may rose record pct surpassing the previous record pct set july this compares with pct april and pct year earlie unadjusted male unemployment totalled mln from year earlier the female unemployment rate may was unchanged from april record pct year ago the rate was pct unadjusted female unemployment rose the yen appreciation continued affect employment manufacturing industries and the total employed may fell pct from year earlier mln reuter money-fx miyazawa says still supports louvre accord japanese finance minister kiichi miyazawa said the group seven nations still support the louvre accord stabilise currencies also told news conference following cabinet meeting that the group five and not have any plans meet for talks the finance minister further said that overseas stock market plunges will not lead freefall the tokyo stock market there special worry about the stock market tokyo added miyazawa said the tokyo stock market should not gravely affected the downturns markets new york and london because there clear sign economic recovery japan and stability exchange rates asked the had contacted japan after the stock market plunge new york miyazawa said there was not any contact reuter money-fx miyazawa says baker remarks were aimed just reaffirming louvre agreement money-fx baker remarks aimed confirming accord miyazawa japan finance minister kiichi miyazawa said that remarks treasury secretary james baker sunday that some nations were not abiding the spirit the louvre accord were just aimed reaffirming that agreement the agreement cooperate stabilising currencies was reached paris february this year the finance minister made the remark news conference which followed morning cabinet meeting reuter crude venezuela sees flat oil price despite attack world oil prices would remain stable despite the attack against iranian oil platforms and growing tension the gulf venezuelan energy minister arturo hernandez grisanti said monday described the situation extremely tense but said gulf military activity would not significantly affect prices because supply and demand were roughly equal demand for opec crude the final quarter was mln barrels per day bpd and the group members were now pumping above mln bpd told news conference hernandez grisanti said the supply demand balance was precarious and prices were danger falling from their current average about dlrs per barrel overproduction continued three four members the nation organisation petroleum exporting countries were overproducing exaggerated manner above their assigned quotas said opec overall ceiling mln bpd reuter money-fx dollar follows wall street japanese will divest the dollar goes the way wall street japanese will finally move out dollar investments serious way japan investment managers say the japanese the dominant foreign investors dollar securities have already sold equities but the dollar falls steeply which did not happen yesterday japanese investors will definitely try withdraw significant funds from shares said akira kawakami deputy manager nomura investment trust and management ltd international investment department unstable lower dollar would also affect japanese investment bonds japan interest rate differentials which currently look wide enough mean nothing the absence dollar stability said kawakami bonds could benefit due gloomy economic picture following the estimated huge losses stocks major institutional and individual investors said the effect should rule out any interest rate rise but most japanese investors bonds are still wiating see the dollar really stable said the dollar was holding firm above yen tuesday morning although japanese investors sold huge amounts stocks new york yesterday most are still looking for chances lighten their stock inventories hiromitsu sunada manager meiji mutual life insurance international investment department said their sales helped send wall street stocks down points the market biggest percentage drop since investment stocks and bonds difficult considering the dangers said katsuhiko okiyama deputy general manager and chief adviser yamaichi securities ltd fixed income securities marketing group japanese investment home could start pick once markets have stopped reacting wall street the managers said the tokyo yen bond market likely stabilise one two weeks which what investors have been waiting for the bottom for yen bonds should around pct yield for the pct bond they said the basic background which has supported the stocks and bonds markets has not changed said norio okutsu assistant general manager nikko securities bond department but new outflows funds the will decreasing however this was already evident three months ago said reuter cocoa asian cocoa producers expand despite critics asian cocoa producers are expanding output despite depressed world prices and they dismiss suggestions the london market that their cocoa inferior leading cocoa producers are trying protect their market from our product said spokesman for indonesia directorate general plantations happy about our long term future malaysian growers said they would try expand sales asia and the united states malaysian cocoa was not suitable for european tastes they were responding comments london traders that large tonnages unwanted cocoa beans from malaysia indonesia and papua new guinea png were helping depress cocoa prices london traders said the asian cocoa was considered unsuitable for western palates because acrid odour and high level free fatty acids siew kee the chairman malaysia cocoa growers council said malaysia should expand its sales asia and the united states did not produce type suitable for western europe spokesman for the png cocoa industry board said the london market was mistaken linked png cocoa with high acid malaysian and indonesian beans when the market declining buyers seize anything talk down prices the spokesman said said that png could sell whatever cocoa produces png exported tonnes cocoa the cocoa year ending september which nearly pct was exported west germany pct the and the rest the netherlands and britain the indonesia spokesman agriculture ministry official who wished not identified said indonesia had problem with quality and would continue expand sales described criticism the quality indonesian beans trade politics and said jakarta traditional links with dutch buyers meant did not have any difficulty with exports indonesia and malaysia asia two biggest commodity producers are expanding cocoa output and are both outside the international cocoa organization icco officials have said malaysian production expected total tonnes calendar this from tonnes partly because the end three year drought sabah the country largest cocoa growing area production indonesian cocoa beans tripled tonnes calendar from tonnes output projected rise tonnes from tonnes this year young trees mature both malaysia and indonesia are low cost producers and traders said they could last out low prices longer than west african countries according one kuala lumpur trader world prices would have fall another ringgit per tonne about stg make cocoa production malaysia uneconomic some traders believe the main quality problem with harvesting and fermentation techniques one trader said malaysian cocoa virtually indistinguishable from west african output treated the same way but this not possible the larger malaysian estates reuter crude malaysia advised raise crude oil output malaysia national oil company petronas has advised the government raise crude oil output barrels day bpd from current bpd senior company official said have the capacity produce the amount rastam hadi petronas vice president for upstream sector said the government will announce its decision friday when unveils the country budget malaysia raised output this month current levels from bpd after reviewing the world oil market may malaysia cut output bpd from response call opec boost prices reuter money-fx sumita welcomes west german joint confirmation louvre accord money-fx sumita welcomes japan agreement louvre bank japan governor satoshi sumita said welcomed monday and west german joint confirmation their commitment the louvre accord sumita said statement that world stockmarkets were excessively concerned about the economic future the bank japan will continue adhere system policy coordination based upon the louvre accord february said the accord called for stability foreign exchange rates exchange rates generally are regaining stability and the economies industrialised nations are heading for steady recovery said reuter money-fx new zealand will continue firm monetary policy the reserve bank new zealand said there was evidence suggest the fall share prices had affected financial stability and would maintain its firm monetary policy governor spencer russell said statement the central bank did not accept arguments that the battle against inflation should now take low second priority after the sharemarket plunge russell said the bank had two statutory responsibilities implement the government monetary policy bring down inflation and ensure the financial sector stability unless the bank directed otherwise the firm monetary policy will continue because very much the national interest that said and there yet evidence available the bank suggest that the fall share prices has affected the stability the financial sector the barclays share index fell record points tuesday decline pct reuter money-supply japan september plus money supply rises pct year year aug cotton tanzanian cotton threatened lack storage about tonnes harvested raw cotton may spoiled rain tanzania northern shinyanga region because stored the open crude village sheds radio tanzania reported the cotton worth one billion shillings cannot moved ginneries the region because most mill warehouses are full many mills are not working because lack spare parts added agriculture ministry officials have forecast cotton harvest about tonnes down from reuter interest aquino says manila watching interest rates closely president corazon aquino said the philippines was closely monitoring interest rates the wake monday record drop wall street and steep declines manila and other asian stock markets will monitor these developments closely and will continue hope that they not precipitate large declines economic activity around the world aquino told meeting major philippine business groups the philippines trading country the world economy depends the continued health and growth both the world economy and the world trading system she said the manila stock exchange composite index plunged points pct the midday close depressed the record point fall the dow jones industrial average monday the philippines addition large borrower nation affected developments interest rate levels around the world and will carefully monitor the impact these developments interest rates gold and commodity prices aquino said welcome the statements from world leaders that urge calm the present difficult situation she added reuter money-supply japan money growth stay pct official growth japan plus certificates deposit money supply the october december period not expected accelerate but will remain high levels between and pct senior bank japan official said the central bank will keep watch high growth liquidity because this factor that may cause rises prices goods said the september growth pct year year announced earlier today should not taken implying that the money supply has started expand very rapidly said august the rate increase was pct reuter jet bangladesh tenders for two mln barrels petroleum bangladesh petroleum corp said floated international tender for imports two mln barrels jet kero superior kero and high speed diesel for shipment during january june said the offer for the petroleum products would open until gmt november reuter interest poehl says german and international interest rate rises are cause for concern ship iranian tanker reports sighting mine gulf iranian shuttle tanker reported spotting floating mine the central gulf tuesday about miles west lavan island regional shipping sources said the khark iii owned the national iranian tanker gave the position the mine degrees minutes north east there was indication measures being taken against the mine which iranian territorial waters reuter acq faber open for offers morgan grenfell stake willis faber plc wifl chairman and chief executive david palmer said the company would consider any bid for its pct shareholding morgan grenfell group plc mgfl but had not yet received any offers will entertain any approaches told reuters reply questions following press speculation earlier statement faber said that offer were received for its stake the merchant banking group would considered its merits reuter acq corby distilleries expand canada corby distilleries ltd pct owned allied lyons plc alld subsidiary hiram walker goodman worts buy the spirits business mcguinness distillers ltd toronto for mln canadian dlrs mcguinness producer and marketer spirits and also has exclusive agencies for some imported wines and spirits the sale subject the approval the bureau competition policy michael jackaman president and chief executive officer hiram walker and allied vintners said the acquisition excellent one both commercially and financially reuter interest poehl says rate rises are cause for concern rises west german and international interest rates are cause for concern and the bundesbank has interest higher capital market rates bundesbank president karl otto poehl said consider the interest rate increase that has occurred here and internationally problem and cause for concern poehl told investment conference would like stress that the bundesbank has interest higher capital market rates said shortly after poehl spoke the bundesbank announced tender for securities repurchase pact fixed rate pct previous tenders over the last month interest rate have seen the allocation rate these facilities rise pct last week pact from the last fixed rate tender late september the bundesbank reduction the key allocation rate from pct was heralded monday repeated injections money market liquidity between and pct these moves cap interest rates followed meeting between poehl finance minister gerhard stoltenberg and treasury secretary james baker monday frankfurt officials said afterwards the three men had reaffirmed their commitment the louvre accord currency stability over the weekend criticism baker the tightening west german monetary policy had prompted sharp fall the dollar speculation that louvre cooperation had ended but the dollar rallied news monday meeting nervous trading trade above marks tuesday poehl said that the recent rise interest rates was not due central bank policy but markets expectations and currency developments commenting the inflationary expectations poehl said you have get the root the problem you have pursue policy which reveals that there are grounds for such fears the inflationary fears were unjustified and exaggerated said poehl rebuffed recent criticism west germany saying the bundesbank had made substantial contribution international cooperation interest and monetary policy the bundesbank has tolerated overshooting its money supply target arousing criticism from other quarters said today still have lower interest rates than the end quite the contrary other countries where interest rates have risen substantially more poehl said this had taken into account when considering recent rises repurchase pact allocation rates which were due rising international money market rates that had spilled over into the german market said poehl expressed surprise that financial markets had far ignored improvements the deficits the adjustment process the trade balance definitely underway said noting that this was not noticeable absolute figures the spectacular improvement the budget deficit had also attracted little attention said reuter acq lawson says share offer going ahead chancellor the exchequer nigel lawson said the government was going ahead with this month flotation british petroleum plc shares despite the collapse international stock markets are going ahead because the whole issue has been underwritten had underwritten because there always risk this sort thing happening lawson said bbc radio interview lawson remarks came renewed selling the london stock market took shares down further well below the price set for the around seven billion stg issue lawson said the economy fundamentally sound and added that stock markets had reflected that recently profoundly believe the market system the best way for securing economic prosperity but that does not mean say the markets are infallible advice small investors remain calm there absolutely reason not lawson said reuter interest tokyo stock plunge could force easier money policy plunging tokyo stock prices will prevent the bank japan from raising its discount rate and could even force ease monetary policy the collapse continues government and private economists said rise interest rates now would only serve spark further selling shares that could ultimately have major deflationary impact the real economy they said although bank japan officials have consistently maintained that they had plans raise the pct discount rate many the markets have thought otherwise fears rise the discount rate were fanned the central bank apparent decision last week countenance higher rates commercial bills dealers said but today stock market collapse prices fell nearly pct means that the bank japan would hard pressed raise the discount rate now despite its concerns about renewed outbreak inflation dealers and economists said japanese government bond prices rose sharply today the markets concluded that the stock market collapse precluded the central bank from carrying out the widely rumoured discount rate increase senior government economist suggested that both the and japan needed ease monetary policy now prevent further drop new york and tokyo stock prices they need support the stock and security markets said but bank japan officials said they saw need change policy for the moment although one admitted that the central bank may have rethink its strategy tokyo stock prices continue plunge during the rest the week both government and bank japan economists agreed the economy better placed now cope with the deflationary impact plunging stock prices than was few months ago with the economy recovering strongly the steep drop stock prices not likely put major dent consumer and business confidence one government economist said there will some impact the real economy but won that big said another individuals are not heavily invested stocks their own although they participate through trust funds and other investment vehicles and while many manufacturing firms turned financial market investments for profits during last year economic downturn the recent rebound has allowed them refocus their attention their core businesses said paradoxically the pick the economy that partly blame for the stock market collapse companies have shifted funds away from financial investments increase inventories and step capital spending one government economist said deciding what response make the steep stock price drop the bank japan must first determine whether prices will continue fall further and then decide they pose greater economic danger than the threat higher inflation one central bank official said that will least take couple days not weeks said reuter alum sept daily ave primary aluminium output tonnes tonnes ipai alum grounded british bauxite vessel refloated orinoco the british bulk carrier envoy which ran aground the orinoco river october was refloated without lightening october lloyds shipping intelligence service said the envoy tonnes was carrying cargo tonnes bauxite from brazil cuba reuter money-supply september rises pct pct bank england money-supply september sterling bank lending billion stg official money-fx stoltenberg says meeting with baker underscored monetary cooperation money-fx stoltenberg says baker meeting underscores accord west german finance minister gerhard stoltenberg said the meeting monday with treasury secretary james baker underscored the determination the and west germany continue close cooperation stabilise foreign exchange rates stoltenberg told news conference the statement released yesterday monday after the private meeting emphasized our determination continue the close economic cooperation regarding foreign exchange stabilization and monetary policy stoltenberg said that baker and bundesbank president karl otto poehl had very constructive discussion and had all reached positive evaluation the louvre accord during their meeting monday stoltenberg said initial contacts with several european counterparts showed that they shared this view expect the declaration our unified position have positive effect said noted that the dollar firmed again late trading after the outcome the baker meeting was published reuter rubber inro council meeting adjourned until thursday council meeting the international natural rubber organization inro has been adjourned until thursday tomorrow malaysian national holiday officials the organisation said the main issue the talks which opened here yesterday has been the inro buffer stock and the manner which the buffer stock manager should continue sell rubber after the current international pact for the commodity expires october they said the deadline for the start the new pact january buffer stock manager aldo hofmeister has been mandated continue selling rubber during the interim period other issues discussed include ratification the new accord the officials said only malaysia the pact producing and consuming member countries had ratified the new agreement the beginning this month the meeting due end thursday reuter money-fx louvre accord vital germany stoltenberg west german finance minister gerhard stoltenberg said the louvre accord was vital west germany stoltenberg told news conference given west germany unusually high dependence world trade and exports vital for west germany continue its constructive contribution trusting international cooperation the basis the louvre accord some monetary analysts have speculated that inflation conscious bundesbank vice president helmut schlesinger may have been leading the central bank course tighter monetary policy stoltenberg due attend routine bundesbank meeting thursday west berlin declined forecast what any policy decisions the bundesbank might take reuter money-fx stoltenberg does not rule out central bank intervention stabilize currencies money-fx further marked dollar fall would burden trade deficit stoltenberg money-fx stoltenberg declines comment possible changed targets for currencies money-fx stoltenberg declines comment currency zones west german finance minister gerhard stoltenberg declined comment whether unpublished target zones for currencies agreed last february louvre accord had been changed result the meeting monday with treasury secretary james baker was asked about target zones news conference bonn stoltenberg referred statement released after monday meeting which said continuing cooperation was aimed promoting currency stability current levels this was the same formula used the text the louvre accord noted reuter money-fx stoltenberg does not rule out intervention west german finance minister gerhard stoltenberg said could not rule out the possibility central bank intervention support currencies asked news conference whether central banks were prepared intervene defend currencies said cannot rule out the use any instrument which leads foreign currency stability however added that the end was market forces which prevailed reuter crude iran says raid caused mln dlrs damage attacks two iranian oil platforms the gulf both which were still blazing caused damage estimated mln dlrs tehran radio quoted iranian oil minister gholamreza aqazadeh saying the rigs one which was heavily shelled four american destroyers monday were still burning almost hours after the attack and could cause widespread pollution the gulf the minister told news conference tehran said the reshadat rigs miles east bahrain international waters were the final stages reconstruction after attack iraqi jets last year reuter crude indonesia says will extend oil contracts indonesia told the oil industry tuesday will extend contracts producing blocks and improve the investment climate but wants see increased expenditure exploration return president suharto opening speech the indonesian petroleum association said indonesia was ready extend contracts held foreign oil companies producing areas order boost investment the petroleum industry the government indonesia has basically approved extending production sharing contracts under the present laws suharto said apart from that the government will keep improving the investment climate order accelerate the development the petroleum industry said indonesian energy minister subroto told the association was aware that the oil industry needed assured that contracts blocks expiring within the next years would renewed before they would invest further exploration all have heard this morning the president fully aware this situation subroto said the government has already made the political decision entertain this time problem inviting the existing producers continue their activities indonesia albeit selective basis indonesia one the members opec must find new oil reserves remain exporter the next decade oil industry sources say subroto said the government was also working ease other problems including granting easier terms for remote areas deep water conditions but subroto said relations with oil companies were two way and that they should step expenditure oil exploration now that the oil price had recovered president suharto said wanted see greater transfer technology indonesian companies and more help from the oil industry for the regions which companies operated abdul rachman ramly the president state oil company pertamina has said that budgeted exploration and production expenditure for all oil companies indonesia was forecast fall billion dlrs calendar from billion pertamina has production sharing joint operation contracts with foreign oil companies subroto said speeding necessary approvals for field operations was government priority there had been misunderstandings between the government and the oil industry certain areas such when field designated commercial and thorough evaluation was being made said the government wanted finalise contract extensions soon practical and urged the industry the meantime maintain its exploration drive subroto said indonesia needed the companies maintain exploration efforts even their contract was due expire within years this need itself some sort guarantee that will soon have come with extension agreement eleven major contract areas are due come for renewal between and industry sources said extension the contracts the blocks has involved detailed negotiations but far extension has been granted subroto told reporters afterwards that contract extensions would selective based how much capital would invested reuter earn musicland group inc tmg qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs mln nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs mln note company pct owned primerica corp reuter housing sept housing starts rose pct mln permits fell pct mln earn applied biosystems inc abio qtr sept shr cts cts net sales mln mln reuter acq plum holding inc starts hoilly sugar hly bid plum holding inc said has started its previously announced offer purchase common shares holly sugar corp dlrs each newspaper advertisement the firm said the offer proration period and withdrawal rights expire november unless extended the offer which has been approved the holly board and followed merger which remaining shares are exchanged for cumulative redeemable exchangeable preferred stock conditioned receipt least shares which would give plum two thirds interest and the receipt financing reuter housing housing starts rose pct september housing starts rose pct september seasonally adjusted annual rate units the commerce department said august housing starts were unchanged from july levels units instead being down pct previously reported the increase september housing starts was the largest since pct gain starts december commerce department officials said the rate which permits were issued for future construction fell pct september seasonally adjusted units from units august permits had risen pct august from july levels units before seasonal adjustment permits rose september from august housing starts before adjustment rose september from august the seasonally adjusted rise starts included pct increase september single family unit starts from august single family starts had fallen pct august from july levels multi family starts rose pct september seasonally adjusted units after pct increase august the department said permits for single family units fell pct last month seasonally adjusted units after pct august rise multi family permits were pct september units after falling pct august housing starts september were down pct from seasonally adjusted units september permits were pct below the september level units reuter earn nalco chemical corp nlc qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln sales mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln sales mln mln reuter earn stepan scl qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net sales mln mln reuter earn convergent inc cvgt qtr net shr profit four cts loss cts net profit loss mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln note net includes tax credits dlrs quarter and dlrs nine mths nine mths results restated for pooled acquisition bidtek inc reuter reserves german net currency reserves rise mln marks billion week earn tribune trb qtr net shr cts dlrs net revs mln mln avg shrs nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net revs billion billion avg shrs note per share earnings include daily news severance charges cts share the quarter and cts share for the nine months net income includes non recurring gains dlrs share the quarter and dlrs share the nine months and five cts share daily news severance charges reuter earn great western financial corp gwf qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln reuter earn printronix inc ptnx qtr sept net shr profit cts loss cts net profit loss sales mln mln avg shrs half shr loss cts profit cts net loss profit sales mln mln avg shrs note half net includes pretax gain dlrs from sale option buy facility backlog mln dlrs mln dlrs end previous quarter and mln dlrs end prior year second quarter reuter acq gaf gaf purchase pct stock gaf corp said its board has authorized the repurchase from time time seven mln its common shares about pct for cash open market purchases private transactions the company said repurchased shares under april authorization buy back three mln shares and authorization for further repurchases under the old program has been withdrawn yesterday gaf said group led chairman samuel heyman has decided reconsider its offer acquire gaf gaf said revised offer the group still possible reuter earn dow chemical dow qtr net shr dlrs cts net sales billion billion avg shrs nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net sales billion billion avg shrs note earnings include loss mln dlrs one share the quarter from early extinguishment debt earnings include losses the nine months mln dlrs two cts share mln dlrs four cts share from early extinguishment debt reuter earn thrifty rent car system inc tfty qtr june end shr cts cts net revs mln year shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter acq computer memories cmin delay merger computer memories inc said its board has decided take additional time evaluate the impact litigation the proposed acquisition hemdale film corp computer memories said plans adjourn its annual shareholders meeting scheduled for october after convened one purpose the meeting consider the transaction the company explained computer memories said hemdale agrees with this course action reuter interest chemical bank cuts prime rate pct from pct effective immediately earn shearson lehman brothers holdings she qtr shr cts net mln dlrs mln dlrs revs billion billion nine mths shr dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion note full name shearson lehman brothers holdings inc company went public may reuter interest marine midland bank cuts prime rate pct from pct effective immediately interest chemical chl marine midland cut prime chemical bank and marine midland banks inc said they are cutting their prime lending rate pct from pct reversing increase that they announced just last week the reduction effective immediately other major bank had followed the lead chemical and marine midland preferring keep their prime rates pct while they waited see what course money market rates would take following monday record fall wall street stock prices money market rates fell sharply tuesday investors ploughed proceeds into short term instruments and the federal reserve said prepared provide liquidity support the economy and the financial system eurodollar deposit rates london fell much percentage point treasury bill rates fell much half point after falling between and basis points monday and the fed funds rate dropped pct from monday average pct speculation even surfaced discount rate cut calm the markets dealers said reuter earn sears roebuck and qtr net shr dlrs cts net revs billion billion avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net billion mln revs billion billion avg shrs mln mln reuter earn prime computer inc prm qtr sept shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln reuter earn ryder system inc rdr qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs billion mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion note share after preferred dividends reuter earn schlumberger ltd slb qtr net shr nil loss cts net loss mln revs billion billion avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr profit cts profit cts net profit mln mln revs billoin billion avg shrs mln mln note qtr includes mln dlrs for continuing operations which includes mln dlrs after tax gain sale company investment compagnie luxembourgeoise telediffusion qtr and nine mths net includes loss mln dlrs cts share for discontinued operations and mln dlrs cts share for extraordinary gain qtr and nine mths net includes loss mln dlrs cts share from continuing operations mainly for employee layoff costs oilfied services sale small electronic business and unfavorable lease comitments nine mths net also includes loss mln dlrs from discontinued operations due completion previously announced sale fairchild semiconductor business extraordinary item mln dlrs relates award from iran claims tribunal from iran seizure sedco inc drilling business prior its acquisition schlumberger qtr and nine mths net also includes discontinued operations loss mln dlrs from fairchild semiconductor offset mln dlrs gain from favorable settlement litigation with data general reuter earn wells fargo and wfc qtr net shr profit dlrs profit dlrs net mln mln nine mths shr loss dlrs profit dlrs net loss mln profit mln assets billion billion loans billion billion deposits billion billion reuter earn baxter travenol labs bax qtr shr net shr cts cts net mln mln sales billion billion avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net mln mln sales billion billion avg shrs mln mln note results include caremark inc from august caremark acquisition reduced nine months net five cts offset three gain from the sale securities third quarter net excludes gains from discontinued operations mln dlrs four cts gain from sale discontinued operations mln dlrs dlrs and charge from early repayment debt mln dlrs cts nine months net excludes gains from discontinued operations mln dlrs cts gain from sale discontinued operations mln dlrs dlrs and charge from early repayment debt mln dlrs cts reuter earn lamson and sessions lms qtr net oper shr profit cts loss cts oper net profit loss revs mln mln nine mths oper shr profit cts loss cts oper net profit loss revs mln mln note net excludes losses from discontinued operations dlrs quarter and dlrs nine mths nine mths net excludes gain dlrs from cumulative effect pension accounting change net excludes tax credits dlrs quarter and dlrs nine mths reuter earn kraft inc kra qtr sept net shr cts cts net sales billion billion nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net sales billion billion avg shrs note earnings include loss from discontinuedoperations mln dlrs cts share the quarter and gain mln dlrs cts share the nine months reuter earn ust inc ust qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln reuter coffee coffee import reporting system questioned voluntary compliance system for monitoring coffee imports under quotas viewed skeptically many the coffee industry said analysts and trade sources many sectors the trade including large roasters and importers are adamant against voluntary compliance because the past which was subject tremendous irregularities became matter the trade monitoring each other one analyst said monday national coffee association newsletter said the office trade representative will implement voluntary compliance system temporarily because legislation monitor imports tied the congressional trade bill under the arrangement milar one coffee importers would voluntarily present needed documents the government until congress approves the monitoring authority but coffee arrives without valid certification will still allowed entry while many believe producers will not seek add the overburdened stock situation the others believe some will ship outside the quota requirements lieu monitoring controls trade sources said last time there was lot false information submitted customs which resulted lot indictments and fines customs spokesman said customs can good job when given the tools but when its hands are tied doesn have the authority demand form documents tracking merchandise from source destination said many see true test whether producers and importers will abide the quota system key seeing whether there are any teeth the quota agreement said one major roaster last time had gentleman agreement the trade did not act gentleman said another analyst adding without the need submit documents the ball will the producers hands some feel that importers will take advantage the voluntary compliance due development two tier market which non member countries buy coffee big discount many fear that dealers will buy coffee destined for non member countries discounts and then bring into the falsely labelled according customs officials several green coffee importers confessed that they had imported coffee fraudulently after buying for non member destinations forging landing certificates and then relabelling navy beans there that much discrepancy between prices for one country and another producers may teted get rid their stocks coffee selling non member nations and circumventing the quota provisions said paine webber analyst bernie savaiko still others believe that producers will not hard pressed aggravate the overburdened coffee stock situation the the near term would naive suggest that any agreement would not have some share connivance but think the voluntary system seemed suffice and coupled with the fact that have much coffee don think that poses that much threat one trader said reuter earn smithkline beckman corp skb qtr net shr dlrs cts net mln mln revs billion mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion note qtr and nine mths net includes charge mln dlrs nine cts share and mln dlrs cts share for the interest expense for share repurchases nine mths net includes charge mln dlrs cts share for early retirement program and withdrawal contac cold remedy from the market due tampering reuter earn union camp corp ucc qtr sept shr cts cts net mln mln sales mln mln nine months shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln sales billion billion reuter earn newell nwl qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net sales mln mln note net income excludes preferred dividends mln dlrs the quarter and mln dlrs the nine months compared with dlrs and dlrs reuter acq circle express terminates planned acquisition overland express earn first valley corp fivc qtr net shr cts cts net nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln reuter earn avon products inc qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln sales mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln sales billion billion avg shrs mln mln reuter earn springs industries inc smi qtr oct three shr cts cts net mln sales mln mln nine mths shr dlrs cts net mln mln sales billion billion note share adjusted for two for one stock split april reuter acq circle express cexx ends overland over buy circle express inc said negotiations its proposed acquisitions overland express inc and privately held continental training services inc have been terminated mutual agreement the company said the recent declines stock prices have made unlikely that the transactions could qualify tax free reorganizations reuter earn marsh and mclennan cos inc mmc qtr net shr dlrs cts net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs mln mln reuter earn central illinois public cip qtr net springfield ill oct shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net revs mln mln note central illinois public service full name company reuter earn sundstrand corp sns qtr net shr cts dlrs net sales mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net sales mln billion reuter acq crazy eddie crzy amends shareholder rights crazy eddie inc said its board directors amended the company shareholder rights plan moves said were designed preserve stockholder protection and provide flexibility the plan yesterday crazy eddie agreed not oppose slate candidates its board proposed the committee restore stockholder value shareholder group led the oppenheimer palmieri fund and entertainment marketing inc that has been seeking oust current management crazy eddie said the new amendments limit future amendments the plan modify the definition continuing directors and permit amendment termination the plan with the consent the company shareholders there are continuing directors office the approval least three such directors cannot obtained the company also said approved certificate designation with respect its mln shares authorized but previously undesignated and unissued shares preferred stock and adopted employee stock ownership plan crazy eddie also that requested that the shareholder group make commitment not take the company private until crazy eddie has had chance recover from current financial difficulties committment that the group rejected crazy eddie said will hold its annual shareholders meeting november reuter earn huntington bancshares inc hban qtr net shr cts cts shr diluted cts cts net mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs shr diluted dlrs dlrs net mln mln avg shrs mln mln note share adjusted for july pct stock dividend results restated for pooled acquisitions net includes loan loss provisions dlrs dlrs quarter and mln dlrs mln dlrs nin mths reuter earn weirton steel corp qtr net mln mln revs mln mln nine mths net mln mln revs mln mln note company does not report per share earnings privately owned concern net amounts reported are before taxes profit sharing and contribution employee stock ownership trust reuter earn domtar inc dtc qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs not given nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs not given reuter earn general signal corp gsx qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion reuter earn mellon bank corp mel qtr net shr profit cts profit dlrs net profit mln profit mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr loss dlrs profit dlrs net loss mln profit mln avg shrs mln mln assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans billion billion note net includes loan loss provisions mln dlrs mln dlrs quarter and mln dlrs mln dlrs nine mths net includes pretax gains sale securities mln dlrs mln dlrs quarter and mln dlrs mln dlrs nine mths reuter earn musicland group inc tmg qtr net sept shr cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs mln mln note effective september primerica corp owned pct musicland common shares reuter rubber reagan sends int rubber agreement senate president reagan sent the five year international natural rubber agreement the senate for approval reagan said the accord designed stabilize rubber prices without disturbing long term market trends and foster expanded natural rubber supplies reasonable prices continues buffer stock not more than tonnes established agreement this will used defend regularly adjusted price range and will financed equally importing and exporting members the agreement reuter veg-oil lyng says india food aid package not ready the united states and india have not yet agreed food aid package help the drought stricken asian country agriculture secretary richard lyng said lyng told reuters interview that the two countries have been discussing package but that did not expect the specifics the offer announced during indian prime minister rajiv gandhi visit here this week have been talking about the potential needs that india might have for both their commercial market and purchases needs well the possibilities assistance lyng said this point there detailed plan program the amounts what commodities are uncertain but have indicated the indians that stand ready assist whatever way they deem most valuable said there has been speculation trade circles that usda would offer india subsidized vegetable oil under the export enhancement program and donate surplus corn under section amended law lyng indicated the two countries have been unable agree the mix concessional and commercial aid and that washington would prefer the package include something other than donated food the indians are capable purchasing lot taking care themselves india country that has come long way its ability produce food and they have great pride that lyng said the united states obviously with the surpluses still have many commodities would like share the import business the indians and then have some always compassion for the people india and would like cooperate with them said lyng said had plans meet with indian officials during gandhi visit here adding just don know anything that might announced specifically asked the ball was the indians court said yes gandhi leave washington tuesday evening reuter earn melville corp mes qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs billion billion nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion reuter earn bolt beranek and newman inc bbn qtr net ended sept shr cts cts net sales mln mln note share adjusted for july two for one stock split reuter earn dominion resources inc qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs mln mln reuter earn inter regional financial ifg qtr oper net oper shr cts cts oper net revs mln mln nine mths oper shr cts cts oper net revs mln mln note earnings exclude gain from utilization tax loss carryforwards dlrs cts share loss dlrs cts share the quarter and gains dlrs cts share dlrs cts share the nine months earnings exclude losses from discontinued operations dlrs dlrs share the quarter and dlrs five cts share the nine months reuter earn gte corp gte qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs billion billion nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion note share results restated for for stock split january net both periods includes business repositioning gains mln dlrs five cts share and gains from early retirement programs mln dlrs cts share nine months net also includes pre tax charge mln dlrs for gte share special write off sprint which reduced after tax net mln dlrs cts share net both periods includes business repositioning gains mln dlrs cts per share reuter cpi african consumer inflation falls september south african year year consumer price inflation september fell pct from pct august central statistics office figures show the monthly rise the all items index base was pct september after edging august year ago the index stood and year year consumer price inflation pct reuter earn west usw qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln dlrs revs billion billion nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion reuter earn kelsey hayes canada ltd kel nine mths net shr cts dlrs net sales mln mln reuter earn rockefeller center properties inc rcp qtr shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln reuter earn aritech corp arit qtr oct two shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln note qtr and nine mths revs includes sales adt inc mln dlrs and mln dlrs qtr and nine mths includes sales mln dlrs and mln dlrs reuter earn southold savings bank sdsb qtr net shr cts net nine mths net assets mln mln loans mln mln deposits mln mln note per share figures for and nine mths not available bank converted stock form company april reuter earn constellation bancorp cstl qtr net shr cts cts net nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln reuter money-fx louvre reaffirmation not enough analysts and west german reaffirmation support for the louvre accord cannot cure the fundamental problems bedevilling the world economy which lie behind the current collapse stock markets london economists said there going have some acknowledgement that the dollar going allowed slip said richard jeffrey hoare govett not there going continued fear that when pressure emerges the dollar the fed will forced tighten this throws the economic abyss recession the with obvious knock effects the rest the world but some economists added that wall street crash which dragged other major markets down with may help curb the very problems that sparked the turmoil namely world inflation fears and the massive and persistent trade deficits there benefit from pct fall wall street some sort resistance inflation worldwide said geoffrey dennis brokers james capel echoing comments from other london and tokyo analysts lower personal wealth from lower stock prices and fears further falls should dampen credit growth curbing inflationary pressures and import demand the they say such considerations may helping bond markets resist the equity crash according mike osborne kleinwort grieveson would suicidal for any government the context what happened the last couple days jack their interest rates added stocks surged after news chemical bank cut its prime lending rate half point pct tuesday and fed chairman alan greenspan pledged support for the financial system the news eroded the most immediate fears that the stock collapse would spill over into the economy via banking crisis for example thus precipitating recession also helped the dollar rally sharply high marks from european low but economists said today whiplash moves not have long term significance and that markets should try keep the underlying fundamentals mind the united states has been able live borrowed time the effect this crash produce slower economic growth not recession contains good news and provides more realistic assessment the economy said capel dennis but added that markets are still very much danger the liquidity doesn disappear all doing disappearing from the equity markets dennis noted david morrison goldman sachs international said world market turbulence will exacerbated the group seven leading western nations confirms base for the dollar implied west german finance minister gerhard stoltenberg remarks that intervention support currencies still last week dollar fall was partly triggered expectations that the germans were more worried about the money supply impact such intervention than maintaining currency stability but rigid adherence dollar ranges would bad said morrison the louvre accord fundamentally misconceived stabilise the dollar too high level wrong said reuter ship new container cranes arrive tanzania port two large container cranes donated the danish international development agency danida have arrived dar salaam where they will help increase the port cargo handling capacity port officials said the two new container cranes join one danish container crane already installed the port which important trade outlet for tanzania zambia malawi and eastern zaire five more cranes from finland are due arrive soon increasing the container terminal handling capacity units per year from present the officials said reuter interest credit policy seen steady despite bank data unexpectedly heavy billion stg surge september sterling bank lending unlikely nudge the bank england towards tightening monetary policy long sterling remains its present robust state economists said acute crisis confidence equity markets over the past two days will any case subdue personal consumer credit demand which has largely been behind growth lending the normal course events the markets would have been extremely worried about that figure noted peter spencer economist with credit suisse first boston after initial dip reaction the bank lending data which compared won stg august rise government bonds gilts soared investors continued flee from plummetting equities into the relative security government securities equity markets dropped sharply the news touching day low the ftse index after the data before staging recovery sterling held its buoyant tone throughout money market rates similarly calm response resumed the slightly easier trend earlier the morning after little more than token blip the figures came out noting that such huge rise credit extended banks would under other circumstances have prompted market fears rise clearing bank base rates from the current pct with the financial markets doing what they doing that the last thing the bank england would want spencer said the monetary situation clearly very bad but long sterling firm the authorities are unlikely put rates said kevin boakes chief economist greenwell montagu gilt edged boakes pointed rise the narrow money measure pct year year from august pct growth which said must cause some concern the treasury but the fact that overall broad money growth has slowed down rather encouraging sign noted paul temperton economist with merrill lynch capital markets pointed fall the year year growth rate the broad money aggregate pct september from august pct was concern about credit growth which prompted the bank england engineer one point rise bank base rates pct early august caution endorsed subsequently news massive billion stg july rise bank lending temperton noted that particular focus bank worry that period had been the behaviour asset markets housing and equities were the key two asset markets influencing consumer behaviour said the light the precipitous falls equity markets the past few days there will almost certainly straightforward impact consumer spending and retail sales temperton said almost certainly can look forward slower growth consumer borrowing the equity shakeout continues added think the stock market has decided that the bank lending figure thing the past are talking about very serious panic and flight quality spencer said treasury official said that was important look all the monetary information not just the bank lending adding that monetary aggregates were growing much more slowly than bank lending senior banking sources noted that the surge bank lending was evidence the continuing recent trend fairly heavy personal sector borrowing figures from the banking information service showed personal sector lending clearing banks rose billion stg september after mln stg august rise much the rise reflected quarterly interest payments reuter reserves taiwan foreign exchange reserves hit record high taiwan foreign exchange reserves bouyed rising exports have hit record high and are likely soar billion dlrs the year end central bank officials said tuesday central bank governor chang chi cheng told reporters the reserves totalled about billion dlrs compared with about billion the same time last year and billion october declined elaborate senior bank official who declined named told reuters the reserves were likely reach billion dlrs the end the year the surge reserves the result our trade surplus and recent purchases dollars the local interbank market chang said taiwan trade surplus hit record billion dlrs the first nine months compared with billion year earlier official figures show vice economic minister wang chien hsien said the surplus will rise about billion dlrs the end the year about pct the surplus will come from the island trade with the united states chien said taiwan trade will reach billion dlrs this year compared with billion last year its exports are expected total billion and imports billion against exports billion and imports billion last year reuter interest bank france says leaves intervention rate unchanged pct earn louisiana pacific corp lpx qtr net shr dlrs cts net mln mln sales mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln sales billion billion reuter rubber scrap crepe rubber prices firat colombo auction scrap crepe prices firmed good shortcovering demand the colombo rubber auction brokers said one brown was traded rupees per cents from last rates while other grades also showed improvements the rise was attributed shortage rubber available manufacture this type latex crepe prices were unchanged with the best one selling rupees crepe one was traded and crepe two rupees sheet was firm previous weeks with rss averaging rupees against previously the total quantity rubber offered the sale was tonnes reuter earn olin corp oln qtr net shr cts cts net mln revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion reuter crude norway boosts oil output pct september norway september oil output rose pct mln barrels per day bpd from bpd august according reuter survey firms operating here operators said the sharp rise reflected higher output several norway biggest fields and resumed production fields shut down for days august for the ekofisk field rescue project industry analysts said the increase did not exceed norway voluntary move curb pct planned growth its oil output move designed back opec led efforts stabilise oil prices limiting supplies world crude markets norway not opec member decided june extend the production restraints enforced since february all its north sea fields for the rest the year oil minister arne oeien said last month expected norway would extend into its policy slowed production growth the biggest increase was seen the ekofisk field which pumped bpd september against bpd august field operator phillips petroleum norway inc said ekofisk and the nearby valhall and ula fields which use the ekofisk pipeline were shut down for most august while phillips raised ekofisk platforms counter seabed subsidence petroleum development norway ltd operator the ula field said september output rose bpd after dropping bpd august because the shutdown valhall operated amoco norway flowed bpd last month compared with bpd august the company said september production was also sharply higher the statfjord field norway pct share statfjord which extends into the british north sea sector was bpd against bpd august operator den norske stats oljeselskap statoil said norway pct share the murchison field which like statfjord extends into the british sector yielded bpd september slight bpd decrease from the previous month norwegian partners the british operated field said statoil boosted output its gullfaks field bpd september compared with august norsk hydro operator the oseberg field said test output the field from the mobile production ship petro jarl totalled bpd last month down sharply from bpd august hydro said the drop was caused failure bring stream second well cutting september production just two days reuter earn bristol myers bmy qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln sales billion billion nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln sales billion billion note share adjusted for two for one stock split reuter earn xyvision inc xyvi qtr september shr cts cts net revs six mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln note qtr and six mths net includes dlrs and dlrs for tax credits qtr and six mths net includes dlrs and dlrs for tax credits reuter interest first republic bank dallas cuts prime rate pct from pct effective today earn perkins family restaurants pfr qtr shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter earn first american bank for savings famb qtr shr cts cts net nine mths shr dlrs not given net mln note company went public july net includes loan loss provisions dlrs dlrs quarter and dlrs dlrs nine mths net includes pretax gains sale assets dlrs dlrs quarter and dlrs dlrs nine mths reuter earn arkansas best corp abz qtr net shr diluted cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr diluted cts dlrs net mln revs mln mln reuter earn fireman fund corp ffc qtr net shr dlrs cts net mln mln revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion note realized investment gains net taxes for qtr and nine mths were mln dlrs and mln dlrs respectively realized investment gains for qtr and nine mths were mln dlrs and mln dlrs respectively company repurchased mln shares its stock during the qtr reuter earn hutton group inc efh qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion note net for includes mln from discontinued opers mln after tax gain sale hutton insurance group and mln extraordinary gains from utiliazation loss carryforward net included mln from discontinued opers and extraordinary credit mln from utilization loss carryforwards reuter acq bastian technologies says has five pct cosmo communications may seek control acq service corp srv dumps capital southwest stake service corp international said its investment capital corp unit sold its entire pct stake capital southwest corp cswc common stock and longer holds any capital southwest shares filing with the securities and exchange commission investment capital said sold shares capital southwest common stock since september dlrs dlrs share reason was given for the recent sales reuter earn manufacturers hanover corp mhc qtr net shr profit dlrs dlrs net mln mln nine mths shr loss dlrs profit dlrs net loss billion profit mln note qtr includes previously reported gain mln dlrs mln after tax capturing excess pension funds nine mths include billion dlr addition loan loss reserves qtr mostly for shaky ldc debts reuter earn coca cola enterprises inc cce qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs mln mln note results include acquired bottling companies from dates acquisition pro forma basis all acquisitions had been place from the start the period company earned dlrs four cts per share mln shares outstanding with revenues mln dlrs for quarter and earned mln dlrs cts per share same number shares and revenues billion dlrs for nine mths reuter earn ball corp bll qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net sales mln mln reuter earn bankers trust qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln nine months shr loss dlrs profit dlrs net loss mln profit mln avg shrs mln mln assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans billion billion note nine month loss reflects mln dlr increase loan loss provisions without the tax benefit third quarter net income would have been mln dlrs pct mln dlrs from the third quarter non interest income totaled mln dlrs the third quarter pct mln dlrs largely due increased income from foreign exchange trading fees and commissions foreign exchange trading income totaled mln dlrs mln from year ago provision for loan losses the third quarter was mln dlrs versis mln year previously september the provision for loan losses jumped billion dlrs from mln the same time last year reuter acq trans world airlines said carl icahn withdraws acquisition offer earn telecommunications inc qtr net shr profit cts profit cts net profit mln profit mln revs mln mln nine mths shr loss cts profit dlrs net loss mln profit mln revs billion billion note per shr reflects payment preferred dividends results include loss eight cts shr prior nine mths from discontinued operations latest nine month results include one time charge dlrs share relating sprint revenues exclude those for sprint joint venture with gte corp gte reuter earn bristol myers bmy qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln sales billion billion nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln sales billion billion note share adjusted for two for one stock split reuter earn gander mountain inc gndr qtr sept net shr cts cts net sales mln mln reuter acq bastian technologies mulling cosmo csmo bid new york based bastian technologies corp said acquired five pct stake cosmo communications corp and considering move seek control the company secure role its affairs bastian technologies believes that with the appropriate management policies and business strategies the company can once again become profitable and maximize for all shareholders the underlying value their company bastian said filing with the securities and exchange commission bastian said alternatives being considered include attempt acquire cosmo through merger tender exchange offer seeking influence the company management and policies and seeking representation cosmo board directors through proxy contest otherwise bastian said may contact third parties regarding its intentions toward cosmo adding intends request meeting with cosmo representatives discuss its investment cosmo stock bastian currently holds cosmo common shares five pct the total outstanding the shares were purchased from nasta international inc nas october for about mln dlrs bastia said reuter earn snap tools corp sna qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net sales mln mln reuter iron-steel bethlehem steel says raising steel sheet prices dlrs short ton earn nycor inc nyco qtr net shr loss two cts profit two cts net profit profit revs mln mln nine mths shr profit one cent profit cts net profit profit revs mln mln note qtr and nine mths includes gain dlrs one cent per share and dlrs six cts per share respectively from utilization tax loss carryforward qtr and nine mths includes gain dlrs one cent per share and gain dlrs six cts per share respectively from utilization tax loss carryforward nine mths includes loss dlrs cts per share from early extinguishment debt reuter acq icahn drops bid for twa twa trans world airlines inc said chairman carl icahn has withdrawn his proposal acquire the twa shares does not already own due the deterioration market conditions under the proposal icahn would have paid for each twa share dlrs cash and dlrs face amount pct subordinated debentures due twa said icahn reserves the right make subsequent proposal some future date the same terms different terms reuter earn american savings bank fsb abny qtr net shr primary dlrs dlrs shr diluted dlrs dlrs net mln mln nine mths shr primary dlrs dlrs shr diluted dlrs dlrs net mln mln assets billion billion loans billion billion note qtr and nine mths includes gain dlrs and mln dlrs respectively from utilization net operating loss carryforward qtr and nine mths includes gain dlrs and mln dlrs respectively from utilization net operating loss carryforward full name company american savings bank fsb new york reuter acq brands soda completes acquisition and brands inc said completed the acquisition vernors inc from united brands cash and stock transaction worth valued about mln dlrs reuter earn washington post wpo qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln note net both periods includes gains mln dlrs dlrs share from sale interest detroit cellular telephone company and mln dlrs cts share from sale interest sportschannel cable programing network reuter earn banc one corp one qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans billion billion reuter earn warner communications inc wci qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs cts net mln mln revs billion billion reuter earn aristech chemical corp ars qtr net shr cts cts qtly div cts cts prior net mln mln revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln note dividend payable december shareholders record october reuter earn apple bank for savings appl qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln assets billion billion deposits billion billion note qtr and nine mths includes gain dlrs cts per share from utilization tax loss carryforward qtr and nine mths includes gain dlrs cts per share and dlrs dlrs per shr respectively from utilization tax loss carryforward reuter iron-steel bethlehem steel sets steel price increases bethlehem steel corp said prices for steel sheet products will increased dlrs ton effective january the increases will affect certain non contract spot transactions and will achieved through reductions competitive discounts the company said transaction prices for contract accounts which have duration six months more will also increased commensurate levels percentage increases were not immediately available prices for flat rolled steel sheet used automobiles appliances and other products vary widely between about and dlrs ton the company said was taking the actions restore sheet transaction prices more equitable levels many cases prices are still lower than those attained said bethlehem also said that response changing market conditions and potential inflationary pressures efforts will made mininize the number and the duration firm price contracts reuter earn kellogg qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs billion mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion note nine month earnings include nonrecurring loss mln dlrs eight cents share from purchase mln dlrs principal amount the company mln dlr pct debentures due february reuter money-fx poehl says chances for exchange rate stability are good money-fx balladur has had contact with ministers french finance minister edouard balladur has been contact with several finance ministers from the group seven leading industrial countries particular west german finance minister gerhard stoltenberg discuss the crisis world markets finance ministry sources said they did not say whether the contacts had led concerted action the markets merely exchange views but they added that french ministry officials were continuing the contacts exchange views market performance reuter acq lasmo canada merge with onyx petroleum lasmo exploration canada ltd subsidiary london scottish marine oil plc lsml merging with onyx petroleum exploration ltd lasmo said the merger made onyx buying lasmo exploration share swap new company lasmo canada inc will formed lasmo will control pct the equity worth some mln canadian dlrs based the current onyx share price the new company will have proven reserves mln barrels oil and billion cubic feet gas lasmo said reuter earn regal beloit corp rbc qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net sales mln mln reuter earn burndy corp bdc qtr oct net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter earn first florida banks ffbk qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln assets billion billlion loans billion billion note qtr includes securities after tax gain dlrs cts share reuter earn mays inc mays qtr july net shr profit seven cts profit cts net profit profit revs mln mln year shr profit cts loss cts net profit loss revs mln mln note year results include extraordinary credit dlrs cts per shr due utilization tax loss carryforward fiscal nonrecurring income items totaled qtr includes dlrs cts per shr extraordinary charge due duction utilization tax loss carryforward nonrecurring income items totaled three mths three mths nonrecurring income for year included pretax gain dlrs sale company leasehold glen oaks store dec the company discontinued operations that unit jan nonrecurring income for three and months included for settlement litigation and gain dlrs surrender leaseholds the month period also included refund prior year real estate tadxes reuter earn alliance financial corp alfl qtr net shr cts cts net nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net reuter earn metropolitan federal mftn qtr net qtr ended september shr cts cts net assets billion billion deposits mln mln loans mln mln reuter earn altos computer systems alto qtr net period ended september shr cts cts net mln mln sales mln mln reuter earn jannock ltd qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln reuter earn yellow freight system yell qtr net shr cts cts qtly div cts cts prior net mln mln revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion note full name yellow freight system inc dividend payable november record november reuter earn raleigh federal savings bank rfbk qtr shr cts net mln nine mths shr cts net note company converted stock ownership july reuter earn florida employers insurance flaef qtr shr cts cts net nine mths shr cts cts net note full name company florida employers insurance reuter earn first oak brook fobba qtr net shr cts cts net nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net note full name first oak brook bancshares inc reuter earn united service advisors inc usvsp qtr qtr ends sept shr profit seven cts loss two cts net profit loss revs avg shrs reuter earn wolohan lumber wlhn qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln nine mths shr seven cts cts net sales mln mln reuter money-fx poehl sees good chances for currency stability bundesbank president karl otto poehl said there were good chances for exchange rate stability the chances for exchange rate stability are good told reporters reuter earn taunton savings bank tsbk qtr net shr cts cts net nine mths shr dlrs net assets mln mln deposit mln mln loans mln mln note nine mths per share figures not available because bank converted stock form june reuter acq gordon make bid acquire pagecorp pgoa gordon investment corp said plans make offer acquire all pagecorp inc class and class shares for dlrs cash per share the bid conditional upon examination gordon the business and affairs pagecorp during the days ending december the proposed offer would condition upon ainimum number shares being tendered gordon said did not say what the minimum will meanwhile pagecorp said agreed grant gordon option purchaser class shares dlrs per share which exercisable only gordon makes the acquisition bid before december any third party begins takeover before december pagecorp also said all class shareholders have agreed deposit their class shares gordon proceeds with its offer reuter earn trillium telephone tlm qtr net shr profit seven cts loss dlrs net profit loss revs mln mln six mths shr profit eight cts loss dlrs net profit loss revs mln mln avg shrs note trillium telephone systems inc reuter earn trans national leasing inc tnls year loss shr loss cts profit cts net loss profit revs reuter coffee ibc seeks export details set coffee quotas the brazilian coffee institute ibc has given shippers until close business thursday submit details past export performance order that individual quotas can allocated ibc spokesman said told reuters ibc president jorio dauster has confirmed acceptance national coffee policy council cnpc proposals establish individual export quotas based pct export performance pct stocks and pct auction shippers can choose their best period consecutive months between april and september used for calculating the export performace portion the ibc will total all the figures calculate each shippers participation and use this basis for allocation individual quotas the ibc spokesman said said the ibc has already settled with the sao paulo mercantile exchange how the auction system will operate shippers can bid premium over the contribution quota payable coffee exports and the succesful bidder will add this premium the contribution quota when submits his export sales declaration form auctions will not start until after the opening export registrations the spokesman could not say when this might but trade sources said announcement could come the end the week opening registraions from monday meeting has been set for tomorrow brasilia the cnpc export marketing committee establish system for allocating the pct export quotas based stock levels the spokesman added system individual export quotas being reestablished brazil previous system was abandoned ensure shipments are kept line with the country ico quota reuter earn elmira savings bank fsb esbk qtr net shr cts cts net nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net assets mln mln deposits mln mln loans mln mln note nine mths includes gain dlrs cts per share from utilization operating loss carryforward qtr and nine mths includes gain dlrs cts per share and dlrs dlrs per share from utilization operation loss carryforward reuter earn golden valley microwave gvmf qtr net period ended september shr cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs nine mths shr cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs reuter earn home federal savings rockies hrok qtr shr cts nil net nine mths shr dlrs cts net assets mln mln note full name company home federal savings and loan association the rockies reuter earn westport bancorp inc wbat qtr net shr cts cts net nine mths shr cts dlrs net reuter veg-oil copa urges tax vegetable proteins the european community farmers pressure group copa has urged farm ministers agree tax vegetable proteins similar the oils and marine fats tax which has already been proposed the commission copa president hans kjeldsen told news conference tuesday had also urged ministers seek similar mechanism for cereal substitutes was speaking after meeting farm leaders with the danish foreign and agriculture ministers who currently chair meetings their colleagues kjeldsen said taxes the products concerned would help the budget problems and would provide some price stability for producers this would turn help the market position for certain crops which the net importer such oilseeds peas and beans but for which the commission now proposing severe output restrictions minority ministers opposed oils and fats tax imported and domestically produced oils and marine fats succeeded blocking the idea during this year annual price fixing however the commission has said maintains its proposals for tax kjeldsen said copa had urged the ministers pursue international negotiations farm trade with the aim bridging the gap between and world prices reuter earn ohio edison oec qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs mln mln reuter earn new york state electric gas corp nge qtr oper shr cts cts oper net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths oper shr dlrs dlrs oper net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln mths oper shr dlrs dlrs oper net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs mln mln note nine month and month operating net excludes charges mln dlrs and mln dlrs reflecting disallowed costs utility pct share nine mile point number two nuclear power plant and the abandoned jamesport nuclear project respectively the charges resulted nine month share loss dlrs and month share loss dlrs reuter earn citicorp cci qtr net shr profit dlrs profit dlrs net profit mln profit mln nine mths shr loss dlrs profit dlrs net loss billion profit mln note net nine mths includes provision for possible credit losses billion billion net qtr includes provision for possible crit losses mln mln assets billion billion loans billion billion deposits billion billion qtr reflects previously announced aftertax gain mln from recognition pension plan over funding and mln tax benefits from the three billion provision net write offs qtr totaled mln mln and year date billion mln reuter earn coleman inc cln qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net sales mln mln avg shrs note data restated for changes method accounting for pensions reuter acq jacobs sells stake gillette minneapolis investor irwin jacobs said sold the stake held gillette after deciding that could not force gillette accept dlr share takeover bid made revlon group inc rev revlon bid expired last week after being repeatedly rejected gillette jacobs had earlier considered waging proxy fight over gillette jacobs told reuters sold the gillette stake which called substantial but under five pct few weeks ago over period several days said sold the stock profit but did not disclose the selling price gillette stock was morning trade off the high reached after revlon announced its bid jacobs said sold his gillette stake based investment decision surely did not see this happening said monday stock market free fall gillette spokesman said the mpany had comment jacobs said and fellow investor carl pohlad continue hold stake allegheny international inc august they disclosed securities and exchange commission filing that they had acquired shares pct allegheny and would consideer seeking control the company reuter acq transamerica buy sedgwick sdwk unit transamerica corp transamerica insurance said signed definitive pact buy pct interest sedgwick group plc river thames insurance transamerica will buy mln newly issued class shares river thames for dlrs per share sedgwick wil retain pct interest river thames which property liability reinsurer the agreement subject shareholder approval expected close the end the year the company said river thames reported net premiums written mln dlrs reuter earn intermec corp intr qtr sept net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs six mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs reuter earn homestead financial corp hfl qtr net shr cts cts net nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net avg shrs note prior nine month figures include extraordinary after tax loss mln dlrs cts per share reuter fuel global petroleum gnr ups heavy fuel prices global petroleum corp said had raised the contract prices for heavy fuel oil from cts one dlr per barrel effective today the company said pct fuel oil one dlr barrel dlrs barrel they said pct fuel oil cts dlrs barrel global raised one pct fuel oil cts dlrs barrel the company raised pct fuel cts dlrs barrel global raised pct fuel oil cts dlrs barrel reuter earn silvercrest corp slv qtr sept net shr cts cts net revs mln mln note current qtr figures include tax loss carryforward credit dlrs credit dlrs reuter interest donald regan says should ease credit supply donald regan president reagan former chief staff said the government should loosen the money supply try keep interest rates down and try reduce the federal budget and trade deficits avoid recession think what have face now trying preserve our economy the one time chairman merrill lynch and inc mer said interview the abc television network got loosen money got keep interest rates down can afford let them that means going have work our twin deficits both the budget deficit and the trade deficit regan said certainly wouldn tighten money this particular moment regan said when asked about the prospects for recession following monday price drop wall street think that they were that they create the same conditions that did they choked off the money supply and what happened went into major recession think that the one thing got avoid right now regan also called the government impose restrictions program trading think that that exacerbated exaggerated this decline and think something that they must stop said reuter earn ahmanson and ahm qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln avg shrs assets billion billion loans billion billion deposits billion billion reuter earn jwp inc jwp qtr net shr cts cts net mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs cts net mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln reuter earn peoples savings bank pebw qtr net shr cts not given net nine mths shr dlrs not given net note company went public october reuter earn texas eastern corp tet qtr net shr profit three cts profit cts net profit profit mln nine mths shr profit dlrs loss cts net mln loss mln note qtr and nine months includes profit mln dlrs and loss mln dlrs from discontinued operations earnings per share are reported after payment preferred stock dividends subsidiaries reuter crude phillips raises crude oil prices phillips petroleum corp said raised the contract price will pay for all grades crude oil cts barrel effective oct the increase brings the company postings for the west texas intermediate and west texas sour grades dlrs barrel phillips last changed crude oil postings sept reuter earn meditrust sbi qtr net shr cts cts net revs avg shrs mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln revs mln avg shrs mln reuter earn health images inc himg qtr net shr profit five cts loss four cts net profit loss revs nine mths shr loss cts loss cts net loss revs mln note nine mths includes charge dlrs for exchange officer and director shares junior subordinated stock for shares common stock and year warrant purchase shares common stock dlrs per share reuter earn preston corp ptrk qtr net shr four cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts dlrs net revs mln mln reuter acq commerce dept opposes foreign takeover ban commerce undersecretary michael farren opposed language the trade bill before congress limit foreign takeovers companies anything that would serve have chilling effect foreign investment going cost jobs and economic growth farren said before congressional coittee house and senate negotiators are ironing out differences trade bills passed both chambers once the negotiators reach agreement the bill will sent president reagan for his signature reuter earn contrans corp css qtr august net shr cts cts net revs mln mln year shr cts dlrs net revs mln mln note share figures for year are after payment preferred share dividend and include unspecified extraordinary items reuter earn stanadyne inc stna qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln reuter earn mercantile bankshares corp mrbk qtr net shr cts cts net mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln note net includes pretax securities gains dlrs dlrs quarter and dlrs dlrs nine mths net includes loan loss provisions dlrs dlrs quarter and dlrs dlrs nine mths reuter ship pentagon says warships begin escorting gulf tanker convoy south from kuwait earn allegheny ludlum corp als qtr net shr cts not given net not given revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs not given net mln not given revs mln mln note year ago per share and net income not available company recapitalized december after became new reporting entity for financial reporting purposes reuter earn atlantic research corp atrc qtr net shr primary cts cts shr diluted cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr primary dlrs dlrs shr diluted dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln reuter earn services inc qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs nine months shr cts cts net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs note results not include september acquisiton denny inc reuter earn santa energy partners sfp qtr loss shr loss cts loss dlrs net loss loss mln revs mln mln avg units mln mln nine mths shr loss cts loss dlrs net loss loss mln revs mln mln avg units mln mln note full name sante energy partners reuter earn general development corp cdv qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs reuter acq group lifts stake smith international sii group firms led hong kong based industrial equity pacific ltd said increased its stake smith international inc common stock shares pct the total outstanding from about pct filing with the securities and exchange commission the group said bought smith common shares between october and dlrs dlrs share reason was given for the recent purchases reuter tin tin council allowed appeal use documents britain highest court has decided the international tin council itc can appeal over the use itc documents court actions november the house lords will decide and what extent itc documents whether circulated not are admissible court evidence lawyers working the legal tangle left from the october collapse the tin market said this hearing likely last few days wednesday the court appeal will link the outstanding itc cases that have far reached and single set hearings could begin early january they added the house lords ruling the use itc documents will referred back the action two shearson lehman companies against the london metal exchange although the underlying case not expected resumed until mid the court appeal hearings include action between brokers and cases brokers and banks against the itc and the member governments the tin council action taken brokers seeking both the winding the itc and placing into receivership will also covered the court appeal legal schedule reuter crude iran soviets hold talks oil exchange deal iran and the soviet union have provisionally agreed hold talks possible exchange iranian crude oil for finished soviet oil products official spokesman said tuesday gennady gerasimov chief the soviet foreign ministry information directorate told reporters the agreement had been reached during visit moscow last week iran oil minister gholamreza aqazadeh gerasimov said date had been set for the talks which would also study the possibility soviet technical assistance for iran oil industry reuter earn west inc usw qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln sales billion billion avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln sales billion billion avg shrs mln mln reuter coffee ico executive board meet early november the international coffee organization ico executive board hold meeting november its first since export quotas were introduced early this month ico spokesman said the session for the first time under the chairmanship bruno caron france will review the market situation and the operation quotas november the six exporters making the ico board management the promotion fund will review its program for the year oct sept and items left over from november six nation working group will consider stock verification papua new guinea reuter acq guinness completes unit sales worth mln stg guinness plc guin said has completed the sale subsidiaries martin ctn group plc and drummonds pharmacy group plc total consideration was mln stg subject adjustment final audit which expected add mln stg guinness said martins has been sold panfida ltd australian investment company and drummonds macarthy plc reuter earn north side savings bank nsbk sept shr cts cts net year shr dlrs cts net note year excludes dlrs for tax credits qtr and year excludes gain dlrs and dlrs respectively for tax credits per share amounts caclulted from april septebmer the date bank conversion stock ownership reuter trade lyng defends export subsidy program agriculture secretary richard lyng said the united states will continue its policy subsidizing farm exports regain lost markets until there global agreement end such subsidies interview with reuters lyng also acknowledged was troubled the prospect that the export enhancement program eep could prove indispensable boosting exports that the would have difficulty abandoning yes troubled with that little bit said there question about the longer you feed the calf the cow the longer wean recent months usda has offered subsidies growing list commodities increasing number countries lyng called and european community export subsidies just plain nonsensical long term policy and said saw end the expansion the eep sure there end the expansion but are doing this accomplish our goal which regain the markets that lost keep our products competitive and let those particularly the european community who are convinced are the worst offenders terms the export subsidization that are prepared continue this until can come some agreement put end said reuter earn athey products corp atpc qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln nine mths shr dlrs cts net revs mln mln reuter earn nature sunshine products inc amtc qtr shr cts cts net revs avg shrs nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs reuter earn legg mason inc qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs six mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs reuter crude soviet oil output target mln tonnes the soviet oil production target for has been set mln tonnes rise eight mln tonnes over this year planned output oil minister vasily dinkov announced the figure tuesday the supreme soviet the country nominal parliament said new development strategy fuller use oil deposits and better housing and pay for oilmen had allowed upsurge the oil industry after three years stagnation which began late last year the soviet union produced mln tonnes oil slightly short the target mln january september figures released the weekend showed soviet oil output the first nine months this year mln tonnes the target million dinkov said the soviet union would develop new oil deposits the coming year called for speedier geolog prospecting across the country spur the oil industry the supreme soviet convened monday endorse the budget and plan the session expected end tuesday reuter earn dyncorp dyn qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths oper shr cts cts oper net revs mln mln note nine mths net excludes dlr charge from antitrust litigation reuter earn frozen food express fexp qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs cts net revs mln mln note full name company frozen food express industries inc reuter earn astrocom corp acom qtr net shr loss four cts profit four cts net loss profit revs nine mths shr loss three cts profit seven cts net loss profit revs reuter acq ericsson sells office machine division telefon ericsson eric said would sell its office machinery unit with turnover two billion crowns norway norska design funktion ericsson information systems which the unit part said statement decision would reached november about when the norwegian firm would take over the operation price was given for the deal eis managing director stig larsson said the deal would allow eis concentrate voice and data communication products reuter earn armor all products corp armr qtr sept shr cts cts net revs mln mln half shr cts cts net revs mln mln note affiliate mckesson corp mck reuter acq goodman fielder has pct ranks hovis goodman fielder ltd goow australia said statement that had acquired mln ordinary shares ranks hovis mcdougall plc rhml rhm bringing its stake the company pct mln ordinary shares goodman said has intention making full bid for the company and would not contemplate doing over the next six months the absence material change the circumstances ranks rhm said regards the stake build hostile move which unwelcome and not the long term interest shareholders reuter earn multibank financial corp mltf qtr net shr cts cts net avg shrs nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln avg shrs reuter earn usp real estate investment trust uspts shr eight cts cts qtly div cts cts prior net nine mths shr dlrs cts net note and nine mths includes net gain sale assets dlrs cts share and dlrs respectively dividend payable november shareholders record october reuter earn lincoln financial corp lfin qtr net shr cts cts net nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net assets billion bilion deposits billion billion loans billion mln note figures restated reflect pooling interests transactions with angola state bank and shipshewana state bank and october three for one stock split reuter money-fx lawson says west german row was unnecessary chancellor the exchequer nigel lawson said the recent dispute between the united states and west germany over economic policy was responsible for much financial turmoil and that should never have happened said television interview the dispute had fanned fears breakdown the cooperation which important between finance ministers the major nations said the dispute was row which should not have happened and agreed that much the blame lay with treasury secretary james baker who had publicly criticised west germany for having raised its key interest rates reuter earn republic american corp rawc qtr net oper shr cts cts oper net avg shrs mln mln nine mths oper shr dlrs cts oper net mln mln avg shrs mln mln note net excludes realized capital gains dlrs quarter and mln dlrs nine mths reuter earn kent electronics corp kec qtr sept net shr cts seven cts net revs avg shrs nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln avg shrs reuter earn qms inc aqm qtr oct net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs year shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs reuter earn petite academy inc lpai qtr net shr cts nine cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln note share adjusted for stock dividends reuter earn teleconcepts corp tcc qtr net shr profit cts profit one net profit profit sales avg shrs nine mths shr profit cts loss cts net profit loss sales mln avg shrs backlog reuter earn wells fargo and wfc raises quarterly div qtly div cts cts pay jan record dec reuter earn petrolane partners lpg qtr loss shr loss five cts profit six cts net loss mln profit mln revs mln mln nine months shr profit one dlrs profit cts net profit mln profit mln revs mln mln note results are pro forma form partnership became public march previous results reported from texas eastern corp tet petrolane inc domestic division reuter earn valero energy corp vlo qtr loss shr loss dlrs loss dlrs net loss mln loss mln revs mln mln nine mths shr loss cts loss dlrs net profit mln loss mln revs mln mln note all periods toher than qtr are pro forma note qtr includes mln dlrs share after tax loss from discontinued operations mainly from sale assets oil and gas exploration and production subsidiary september qtr also includes extraordinary mln dlrs cts share for planned redemtion company pct subordinated debentures nine mths net includes loss mln dlrs dlrs share for discontinued operations per share loss after deducting for preferred stock dividends nine mths net also includes after tax gain mln dlrs dlrs per share for formation valero natural gas partners qtr includes after tax loss from discontinued operations mln dlrs share reuter earn american filtrona corp afil qtr shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net revs mln mln note qtr includes charge dlrs cts share for relocation costs for phase out some operations reuter acq stanadyne stna purchases ambac stake stanadyne inc said has acquired substnatial majority ambac outstanding stock from ail corp the successor united technologies corp utx diesel systems division for undisclosed terms addition purchase majority the brescia italy based company stanadyne said acquired minority interest ambac operation headquartered columbia reuter earn family steak houses florida inc ryfl shr four cts two cts net revs nine mths shr cts seven cts net revs mln avg shrs mln reuter earn ecolab inc ecl qtr oper shr oper shr cts cts oper net revs mln mln nine mths oper shr dlrs dlrs oper net mln mln revs mln mln note results include restructuring and non recurring charge cts share restructure chemlawn acquired april and other recent acquisitions results exclude gain sale discontinued operations mln dlrs dlrs share qtr results also exclude income from discontinued operations dlrs nine mths dlrs two cts qtr and dlrs cts nine mths reuter earn merchants national corp mchn qtr net shr cts cts net mln nine mths shr cts dlrs net mln note nine mths net reflects mln dlr addition latin american loan loss provision reuter interest lawson says interest rate prospects unchanged chancellor the exchequer nigel lawson said the collapse british share prices this week held implication far for domestic interest rates said television interview that there nothing the events the past few days increase the upward pressure interest rates sterling has far stayed solid during the crisis backed strong economic fundamentals and pct bank base lending rates analysts said lawson comments followed another frantic day london financial center where british shares closed pct down the day reuter earn loral corp lor qtr sept shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln six mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln backlog billion mln note year ago qtr and six mths included after net charge about four cts per shr representing the difference between gain the sale securities and the write off certain nonrecurring costs addition the six mths includes mln dlr gain the sale unit and one mln dlr writedown minority interest investment results for the qtr and the six mths current year include loral systems group formerly goodyear aerospace acquired march reuter earn citizens and southern corp csou qtr net shr cts cts qtly div cts cts prior net mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln avg shrs mln mln note nine mths net includes special mln dlr loan loss provision nine mths net includes mln dlr charge for settlement suit dividend pay dec record nov reuter earn alex brown inc absb qet sept end primary shr cts cts diluted shr cts cts net revs mln mln primary avg shrs diluted avg shrs nine months primary shr dlrs dlrs diluted shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln primary avg shrs diluted avg shrs note results are pro forma assuming that company was public throughout company became public feb reuter earn banctexas group inc btx qtr oper loss oper shr loss dlrs loss dlrs oper net loss loss avg shrs nine mths oper shr loss dlrs loss dlrs oper net loss loss avg shrs assets mln billion deposits mln mln loans mln mln note july company completed recapitalization with injection mln dlrs cash mln from the federal deposit insurance corp and mln dlrs raised through stock rights offering qtr and nine mths exclude gain mln dlrs realized primarily from early settlement debt connection with the recapitalization and three mln dlr loss investment securities qtr and nine mths exclude mln dlr gain investment securities nine mths excludes gain mln dlrs from sale subsidiary bank and shr and avg shrs restated for one for reverse stock split number shrs outstanding sept was reuter earn gotaas larsen shipping corp gotlf qtr shr cts cts net mln revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln reuter acq science accessories seas ends purchase talks science accessories corp said has ended talks acquiring privately held owl electronics laborarories inc because could not reach satisfactory terms reuter earn greater new york savings bank grtr qtr shr cts net nine mths shr net mln mln assets billion billion note year ago per shr amts not available bank converted stock ownership june qtr and nine mths has mln and mln dlrs for tax credits and nine mths mln and mln dlrs for tax credits reuter earn consolidated fibres inc cfib qtr net qtr ended sept shr cts cts net sales mln mln reuter earn computer task group inc tsk qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs reuter earn simpson industries inc smps qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln nine mths shr cts dlrs net sales mln mln note figures include dlr gain eight cts share from discontinued operations reuter earn network systems corp nsco qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln reuter earn pittsburgh and west virginia qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine months shr cts cts net revs note full name pittsburgh and west virginia railroad reuter earn national micronetics inc nmic qtr qtr ended september shr profit two cts loss cts net profit loss revs reuter earn public service enterprise peg qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs one billion billion avg shrs nine months shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs months shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs note full name public service enterprise group inc all results reflect three for two stock split effective july reuter earn and foods inc food qtr oct net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs reuter acq total capital acquires dunhill compact total capital corp said acquired dunhill compact classics inc for unspecified amount stock the surviving company will controlled dunhill principals total capital said dunhill makes compact discs reuter earn american business products inc abp qtr oper shr cts cts oper net sales mln mln nine mths oper shr dlrs dlrs oper net sales mln mln note net both periods excludes dlr special charge reuter earn bemis bms qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net sales mln mln reuter earn tolland bank fsb tobk qtr net sept end shr cts net six months shr cts net assets mln mln note company became public dec reuter earn western north america wsn qtr loss shr loss cts loss dlrs net mln loss mln revs mln mln nine mths shr loss dlrs loss dlrs net loss mln loss mln revs mln note qtr includes loss dlrs for mobilization costs associated with two offshore drilling rigs qtr includes charge mln dlrs for write down oilfield services equipment and offshore drilling rigs reuter earn coachmen industries coa qtr net shr loss eight cts profit six cts net loss profit sales mln mln avg shrs nine mths shr profit cts profit cts net profit profit sales mln mln avg shrs reuter earn diamond crystal dslt qtr sept net shr cts cts net sales mln mln six mths shr cts cts net sales mln mln note full name diamond crystal salt reuter earn kmw systems corp kmw qtr net sept end primary shr five cts eight cts diluted shr five cts eight cts net revs primary avg shrs diluted avg shrs note results includes tax credit dlrs reuter acq owens illinois extends brockway brk offer owens illinois inc said its subsidiary dlr share cash tender offer for all the outstanding common shares brockway inc has been extended midnight october the offer had been scheduled expire midnight october owens illinois said that oct common shares about pct the outstanding shares brockway have been tendered said and brockway are preparing responses the previously announced request for additional information from the federal trade commission under the hart scott rodino act the owens illinois subsidiary which began the tender offer september will not able buy brockway common shares until days following owens illinois compliance with the ftc request other conditions reuter ship senate cuts off stall tactics gulf bill confronted new hostilities involving forces the gulf the senate voted end republican stalling tactics and limit debate measure that could give congress larger role gulf policy the measure however does not require president reagan comply with the war powers act does related senate bill the controversial war powers act could require pullout forces from the gulf the senate voted stop filibuster and limit debate hours bipartisan measure that requires reagan report congress gulf policy within days and calls for resolution passed the house and senate the situation the volatile waterway days later the resolution could about any gulf related issue including expression support disapproval for reagan policy protecting kuwaiti tankers from iran the waterway the pentagon said the protected convoy began moving through the gulf early tuesday reuter earn ingersoll rand qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs nine months shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs note all results reflect five for two common stock split payable the form stock dividend payable july results include gains from retroactive adoption new accounting rules for pension jan mln and mln dlrs for third quarter and nine month periods respectively company redeemed its outstanding preference stock dlrs convertible series sept reuter earn sjw corp sjw qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net revs mln mln reuter crude ruled out attack iranian silkworms military planners ruled out iran silkworm missiles target the retaliatory attack mounted monday for fear being drawn more deeply into the iran iraq war defense and middle east experts said naval forces destroyed offshore oil platform and raided another what the administration called measured and appropriate response iranian silkworm missile attack last friday flagged tanker kuwaiti waters private analysts generally agreed that going after the rig rather than onshore economic military target such silkworm launch sites reflected careful bid washington limit the political military and diplomatic fallout both home and the gulf simply demonstrated the united states will take military action when they iran take military action norman polmar defense analyst and author said said hitting the platforms had spared iran the embarrassment casualties its own soil possibly avoiding escalating spiral attack and counterattack addition minimized the risk forces and the potential embarrassment any losses including aircraft that could have been shot down had they taken part attack anthony cordesman author new book the iran iraq war said the united states apparently chose limited target keep alive the possibility that secretary general javier perez cuellar might still persuade iran accept security council call for ceasefire want the peace initiative work there any chance all said adding that the action made clear tougher steps would follow iran attack gulf shipping targeting oil rig albeit one said the pentagon have been turned into military command post washington also sent message that might willing attack iran economic lifeline pentagon officials said the platform had been used base for iranian raids against shipping the lower gulf have chosen military target but also have shown iran that are willing interfere with its oil exporting capabilities cordesman said predicted the united states would respond any future major iranian challenges hitting iran naval base bandar abbas the straits hormuz followed mining the approaches iran oil export terminal kharg island defense secretary caspar weinberger said monday the united states did not seek further confrontation with iran but will prepared meet any escalation military action iran with stronger countermeasures reuter earn adobe resources corp adb qtr net shr loss two cts loss cts net profit loss revs mln mln nine mths shr profit cts loss dlrs net profit mln loss mln revs mln mln note qtr and nine mths includes gain dlrs five cts per share and mln dlrs cts per share respectively from net operating loss carryforward qtr and nine mths includes loss dlrs cts per share and loss mln dlrs cts per share respectively from payment preferred dividends qtr and nine mths includes loss dlrs cts per share and mln dlrs cts per share respectively from payment preferred dividends reuter earn kenner parker toys inc kpt qtr oper oper shr dlrs cts oper net mln mln revs mln mln nine mths oper shr dlrs dlrs oper net mln mln revs mln mln note qtr and nine mths oper net excludes gains from tax loss carryforwards dlrs and dlrs respectively qtr and nine mths oper net excludes tax carryforward gains dlrs and dlrs respectively reuter earn tennant tant qtr net shr cts cts net sale mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net sales mln mln reuter acq welbilt welb acquires food handling systems welbilt corp said acquired food handling systems inc dallas producer commercial ovens conveyers and proofer systems terms the transaction were not disclosed food handling which also produces equipment for the commercial baking industry was privately owned richard shumway mesa ariz and vic ferrara dallas both whom will remain with the company the company has manufacturing facilities dallas and phoenix reuter earn laurentiis entertainment deg qtr loss period ended august shr loss cts profit cts net loss profit revs mln mln six mths shr loss dlrs loss seven cts net loss loss revs mln mln note full name laurentiis entertainment group inc reuter earn albany international corp aaica qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln reuter earn american business products inc abp qtr shr cts eight cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net revs mln mln note qtr and nine mths includes loss dlrs cts per share from unspecified extraordinary item reuter earn allied bancshares inc albn qtr loss shr loss dlrs loss dlrs net loss mln loss mln nine mths shr loss dlrs loss cts net loss mln loss mln note qtr and nine mths includes loss mln dlrs and mln dlrs respectively for loan loss allowance provision qtr includes gain mln dlrs from tax benefit reuter earn central banking system inc csys qtr net shr cts cts net nine mths shr dlrs cts net loans mln mln deposits mln billion assets billion billion reuter crude outer continental shelf sale postponed outer continental shelf oil and gas lease sale number the beaufort sea tentatively schedualed for january has been postponed the department interior said alan powers chief the minerals maanagement service for the department said the delay have more time study the effects drilling noise whale migrations powers said the state has asked for additional noise data for the sale area off alaska north slope new date has not been set but will likely sooner than next march powers said some blocks encompassing about mln acres are involved the proposed sale the area between three and miles off the northern coast alaska the artic ocean between the canadian border and degrees west longitude reuter earn seacoast banking corp florida sbcf shr cts cts net nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net reuter earn coeur alene mines corp cour qtr net shr profit cts loss cts net profit loss revs mln avg shrs nine mths shr profit cts loss cts net profit loss revs mln avg shrs reuter earn strathcona resource srh qtr aug net shr profit two cts nil net profit loss revs nine mths shr loss one loss four cts net loss loss revs mln mln note full name strathcona resource industries ltd reuter earn corporate software inc csof qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln avg shrs nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs note includes extraordinary credit six cts per shr qtr and cts per shr nine mths reuter earn susquehanna corp sqn qtr net shr cts seven cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln note net includes loss from discontinued operations two cts per shr qtr and cts per shr nine mths reuter crude ecuador cepe names new head the state run ecuadorean state oil corporation cepe has named jaime sanchez valdivieso its new general manager replacing carlos romo leroux cepe spokesman said the spokesman told reuters sanchez year old civil engineer who formerly headed cepe administration and finances division romo leroux resigned last week for personal and family reasons the spokesman said reuter nat-gas brooklyn union buy gas from shell oil brooklyn union gas said has contracted purchase mln cubic feet natural gas per day from shell oil royal dutch shell group subsidiary brooklyn union said the long term contract will cover about pct its total supplies spokesman said shell and the utility agreed not disclose the length the contract the price the gas which described competitive with market sensitive escalation formula brooklyn union said the gas from shell oil will replace about pct the gas previously supplied transco energy inc transcontinental gas pipe line corp subsidiary the utility said transcontinental will transport the gas being purchased from shell oil possibly beginning soon november reuter acq amex says bear stearns bought specialist unit the american stock exchange said previously reported that bear stearns and bsc has purchased damm frank and specialist unit the amex trading floor amex said the unit which trades stocks and options small comparison other specialist units the personel and operations remain the same the exchange added the price was not disclosed specialist unit authorized stock exchange deal agent for other brokers keep stable market one more particular stocks reuter earn dinner bell foods inc dinb qtr sept shr dlrs seven cts qtly div cts cts prior qtr net sales mln mln note net includes pre tax gain dlrs from termination retirement plan for salaried employees and dlrs charge for reorganization costs dividend payable november holders record november two reuter earn petrolane partners lpg qtr loss shr loss five cts profit six cts net loss profit nine mths shr profit dlrs profit cts net profit mln profit mln note year ago results are pro forma since the company was created march the transfer master limited partnership all domestic assets petrolane inc liquefied petroleum gas division reuter earn eastek corp estk qtr sept loss shr loss cts loss four cts net loss loss revs not available note the company made its initial offering march and before then had been development stage company sales were posted reuter earn american capital management aca qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln note company full name american capital management and research inc reuter earn and foods inc food qtr net oct end shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs nine months shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs reuter earn regency electronics inc rgcy qtr net period ended september shr profit one loss three cts net profit sales mln mln reuter acq dinner bell dinb leverage buy out dropped dinner bell foods inc said the talks concerning proposed leveraged buy out the company have been terminated spokesman said the group led joseph grimes director the company and rober kill has withdrawn their proposal acquire the company stock for dlrs share the company also said its board determined the previously postponed annual meeting will held january five reuter earn quaker oats oat qtr sept net shr cts cts net mln mln sales billion mln avg shrs reuter trade ecuador posts mln dlr mth trade deficit ecuador posted trade deficit mln dlrs the first eight months compared with surplus mln dlrs the same period central bank figures show ecuador suspended oil exports which made pct the value its total exports for five months this year after earthquake march shattered the country pipeline the central bank said the value exports from january august stood billion dlrs and imports billion dlrs net international monetary reserves declined mln dlrs end september from mln dlrs end september reuter earn industries inc qtr net shr profit two cts loss cts net profit mln loss mln revs mln mln nine mths shr loss cts loss dlrs net profit mln loss mln revs billion mln note net income per share after deductions for mandatory preferred stock dividends and income from the chemical operations not attributable common stockholders qtr and nine mths includes gain eight cts per share for the partial redemption series preferred stock which will paid from the net earnings the chemicals operations nine mths includes loss mln dlrs from write down petroleum service assets and other restructuring costs reuter crude amoco raises most crude postings cts today wti dlrs acq pan sets pacific satellite stake sale johnson geneva said has agreed buy pan corp pct holding their joint venture company pan pacific satellite corp for undisclosed terms johnson geneva said pan divested owership the project part corporate restructuring plan but will continue provide engineering services contract basis johnson geneva said the buy out was accomplished through onpraise ltd hong kong company controlled johnson geneva chairman michael johnson funds have been provided onpraise increase the satellite company working capita reuter earn ifr systems inc ifrs qtr sept net shr cts cts net sales reuter acq telex adopts shareholder rights plan telex corp said its board adopted shareholder rights plan which will allow shareholders purchase one common share for two dlrs hostile group acquires pct more the company however the company said the plan will not triggered purchases pursuant the dlrs share tender offer commenced october unit tlx partners group controlled new york financier asher edelman said the rights will distributed one for one basis all shareholders october and may redeemed before they become exercisable five cents per right the company said the rights will expire the later february next year days from the date they become exercisable said the plan was intended protect stockholders against any attempt take unfair advantage the recent decline stock prices use abusive tactics such market accumulations which would interfere with its ability maximize stockholder value the rights become exercisable any person group acquires pct more the company common stock other than through all cash tender offer for all outstanding shares dlrs per share said the rights will also not become exercisable the company acquired group under agreement made with its board spokeswoman told reuters the company would have official response edelman bid friday oct reuter gold sphinx mining spnxf finds gold sphinx mining inc said leased mining claims alaska could produce revenues between mln dlrs and mln dlrs from gold reserves the range the value the reserves attributed the wide range grade estimates the ore the company said feasibility study put the grade ounces per cubic yard while subsequent exploration work proved that areas higher grade gravel ounces yard exist sphinx said the claims are located miles northwest fairbanks reuter earn alcan aluminium ltd qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion note net for current qtr included non operating costs mln income mln qtr net nine mths included non operating costs mln nine mths income mln nine mths prior year earnings per shr and average number shrs outstanding have been restated reflect for split which became effective may for purposes comparability following the reorganization july net figures including those for are reported before preferred dividends reuter earn john hanson savings jhsl qtr net sept end shr profit cts loss six cts net profit loss assets billion mln reuter crude amoco raises crude prices amoco corp said raised the contract price will pay for most grades crude oil cts barrel effective today the company said the increase brings its posting for west texas intermediate dlrs barrel west texas sour degrees api was raised dlrs the light louisiana sweet grade was also increased cts dlrs barrel amoco said wyoming southwest sweet colorado western and two utah grades oil black wax and yellow wax were unchanged the company last changed its crude oil postings september reuter pet-chem olin oln pont complete plant olin corp said construction was completed mln dlrs chlor alkali plant owns jointly with pont nemours the company said the plant which located niagara falls new york will begin operations december the plant which has ton per day capacity will operated pont the company said reuter earn minnetonka corp minl qtr net periods end sept shr cts cts net sales mln mln weeks shr cts cts net sales mln mln reuter earn electronic tele communications qtr loss shr class loss three cts profit cts shr class loss seven cts profit eight cts net loss profit sales nine mths shr class profit five cts profit cts shr class loss three cts profit cts net profit profit sales note full name electronic tele communications inc etcia reuter earn schering plough corp sdg qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln sales mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln sales billion billion avg shrs mln mln reuter ship saudi role gulf praised officials saudi arabian crown prince abdullah bin abdul aziz was thanked the reagan administration for his country close and closed mouthed cooperation with washington the gulf senior official said the saudis are being very cooperative would nice the saudis would more public but their real estate said the official who asked not named declined describe what sort help the saudis were providing saying that saudi officials are reluctant acknowledge their role the gulf where the united states has stationed forces protect shipping lanes the prince met vice president george bush monday after naval forces attacked offshore iranian oil platforms what washington said was retaliation for iranian attack ship moored off kuwait and flying the flag asked the start the meeting how felt about the attack the prince who here official visit replied believe what the united states has done their responsibility superpower the senior official said his remark was endorsement the attack reuter crude texaco unit raises crude oil prices texaco inc said raised the contract price will pay for most grades crude oil cts barrel effective october the company said the increase brings its posting for the benchmark grade west texas intermediate dlrs barrel the west texas sour and light louisiana sweet grades were also raised cts and dlrs barrel respectively texaco last changed its crude oil postings september reuter acq chase acquires mln dlr revolving credit the chase manhattan bank unit the chase manhattan corp cmb said acquired portfolio about consumer revolving credit accounts from atlantic financial federal atlf valued mln dlrs the company said the acquisition makes chase the second largest issuer credit card and other unsecured consumer credit loans outstandings now exceed billion dlrs the company said the company said the portfolio accessed checks similar chase advantage credit product reuter earn republic american corp rawc qtr net shr cts cts net net premiums mln mln avg shrs nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln net premiums mln mln avg shrs reuter acq reser fine foods inc private reser fine foods inc said certain directors and officers who currently represent about pct the company stock plan take reser private through cash buyout the company said the group plans offer dlrs per share for the pct its stock currently outstanding reuter earn laclede steel lcld qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln nine mths shr dlrs cts net sales mln mln reuter earn redlake corp qtr sept net shr profit five cts loss nine cts net profit loss revs six mths shr profit cts loss five cts net profit loss revs reuter acq bank new york reaffirms terms for irving the bank new york corp said reaffirmed the terms its offer for irving bank corp despite the drop the bank new york share price bank new york spokesman said the offer still stands have not changed our offer bank new york spokesman said irving would not comment how the drop the market affects its position the bid whether would buy back any its own shares earlier this month irving rejected the bid inadequate and said wanted retain its independence late september bank new york offered dlrs per share cash for pct irving for the remaining pct offered exchange shares its shares for one irving share that time the stock purchase portion was worth close dlrs per share but now that portion worth dlrs per share for net price dlrs one analyst said according the prospectus offer shareholders may tender for all cash all shares first come first serve basis analysts were mixed about how the stock price drop would affect the acquisition gets the irving shareholders they would approve but irving hopes the offer won the shareholders said mark alpert banking analyst with bear stearns cos inc and the market saying the deal won through alpert said the transaction looks highly unlikely completed present irving wouldn with the offer dlrs share then they won lower price another analyst said the analyst also doubted that bank new york could afford retain its original offer however industry sources were more uncertain about prospects for the deal with irving price low bank new york offer will look good irving shareholders said michael flores consultant bank earnings international consulting firm the drop irving share dlrs per share which about dlr drop from the beginning last week increases the chance that bank new york will succeed flores said analysts said that the drop bank stock prices likely depress the level mergers and acquisition the banking industry bank takeovers are less likely because banks can use their own stock make acquisitions because their share price too depressed alpert said since only banks can buy another bank the only other possible acquirors would foreign bank alpert said the market drop the stock acquirors got clobbered more than the acquirees another analyst said reuter earn kollmorgen corp kol qtr net shr profit cts loss cts net profit loss revs mln mln nine mths shr loss eight cts loss cts net loss loss revs mln mln note qtr and nine mths includes gain dlrs three cts per share from utilization tax loss carryforward reuter earn farm fresh inc ffsh qtr net shr one cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter earn first republicbank frb corp qtr loss shr diluted loss cts net loss nine mths shr diluted loss dlrs net loss note comparisons because company was formed june through merger republicbank corp and interfirst corp nine mths includes previously reported provision mln dlrs second quarter for possible losses ldc loans reuter acq dart group said will not solicit proxies attempt acquire dayton hudson acq dart said sold mln dayton hudson shares expects sell rest holding trade brazil sept trade surplus highest the year brazil september trade surplus was the best far this year totalling billion dlrs compared with billion dlrs august and mln dlrs september last year banco brasil foreign trade department cacex director namir salek said news conference september exports were billion dlrs slightly down from billion dlrs august imports september amounted billion dlrs against billion dlrs august salek said the accumulated surplus the jan sept period was billion dlrs compared with billion dlrs similar period coffee accounted with mln dlrs exports from mln dlrs august and mln september salek said the cacex director said expected the country trade surplus average mln dlrs the remaining three months the year estimating the year overall surplus reach billion dlrs from billion dlrs worth exports and billion dlrs imports attributed the good surplus exports manufactured and semimanufactured goods mentioned car exports which accounted alone with sales mln dlrs the jan sept period against mln dlrs similar period reuter interest reagan says there room for further declines interest rates acq group lifts airlease fly stake pct group firms led group inc psg said increased its stake airlease ltd depositary units representing limited partners interest units pct the total outstanding from previous figure approximately units pct filing with the securities and exchange commission the group said bought airlease units between july andf october dlrs dlrs share reason was given for the recent purchases reuter earn continental information systems corp cny shr cts cts net revs mln mln six mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln note qtr end august per share amounts adjusted for pct stock dividend paid june two reuter earn tenera ltd tlpzz qtr net shr cts cts net revs nine mths shr cts cts net revs million million reuter interest reagan sees room for interest rate declines president reagan said was pleased with the actions some banks reduce their prime lending rates today and said sees room for further decline interest rates believe there room the market for further decline interest rates reagan said statement left the white house visit his wife nancy bethesda naval hospital reagan statement followed meeting with his top economic advisers reagan said remains concerned about the market but that actions taken the federal reserve have helped interest rates are down across the spectrum reagan said specifically pleased that the bond market strong and that foreign exchange markets are stable reagan said reuter earn atlantic american corp aame qtr net shr profit seven cts loss cts net profit loss revs mln mln nine mths shr profit cts profit cts net profit profit revs mln mln note qtr and nine mths includes gain dlrs cts per share and dlrs cts per share respectively from realized gains investments qtr and nine mths includes gain dlrs one cent per share and dlrs three cts per share respectively from realized gains investments qtr and nine mths includes charge cts per share from strengthening reserve for casualty claims reuter earn trinity industries inc trn qtr sept shr six cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln six mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln reuter earn dart group drops dayton hudson takeover bid dart group corp darta affiliate madison partners said that given current market conditions has dropped its takeover bid for dayton hudson corp the company said sold mln its mln shares dayton hudson stock said intends sell the rest its dayton hudson shares current market levels would suffer mln dlr aftertax loss its holding spokesman said dart said will not solicit authorization call meeting dayton hudson shareholders dart had offered buy dayton hudson for dlrs per share valuing the minneapolis based retailer billion dlrs that offer was rejected the company following the selloff takeover stocks last week and the market decline this week dayton hudson stock closed today off dart holdings amounted just under five pct dayton hudson dart spokesman said the mln shares were sold the market today reuter acq metropolitan mony make offer for metex metropolitan consolidated industries inc said will make tender offer for all any the outstanding shares common stock metex corp mtx not currently held under option metropolitan for dlrs per share the company said the offer will subject securing satisfactory financing metropolitan currently owns about pct metex common and holds options purchase about additional pct metex common stock metropolitan said the offer will made later than october reuter earn bii enterprises bii nine mths aug net shr cts cts net mln mln sales mln mln note bii enterprises inc reuter crude artillery shells said fall kuwait border artillery shells from exchange fire between iran and iraq fell kuwait northern border tuesday but caused casualties the kuwait news agency kuna said quoting defense ministry official there were rumors world oil markets tuesday that iran had fired shells oil camp northern kuwait retaliation for attacks iranian oil platforms the gulf monday several shells fell random manner the northern border the country the official told kuna seems these shells arose from exchange fire between iran and iraq one was wounded and there were losses diplomats said shells from the nearby iran iraq warfront had the past fallen the northern kuwaiti desert senior kuwait petroleum corporation official had earlier told reuters was unaware any attack against kuwaiti oil installations reuter earn zero corp zro quarter net shr cts cts net revs mln mln six mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln reuter earn sealed air corp see qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln reuter trade may end additional sanctions against japan the united states may lift additional mln dlrs trade sanctions against japan later this month reagan administration officials said president reagan imposed mln dlrs sanctions japanese goods last april for its failure honor agreement end dumping semiconductors the and third country markets and open its home market goods the move raised tariffs pct from about five pct japanese color television sets hand held power tools and portable computers reagan lifted mln dlrs the sanctions last june after japan ended selling the semiconductors the market below production costs semiconductors are the small silicon chips used for memory and recall purposes wide variety computers the administration officials said commerce department monitors showed that japan was ending its dumping the semiconductors third countries where they had been taking sales away from american made semiconductors they said was likely the mln dlrs sanctions would lifted the end the month the united states and japan remain odds over opening the closed japanese markets goods and japanese officials reviewed japan compliance with the agreement earlier this week the periodic reviews are continue and the remaining sanctions stay force the officials said until japan full compliance with the semiconductor agreement reuter lumber canadian pacific unit studies pulp mill cip inc wholly owned canadian pacific ltd considering building pulp mill texas which would use kenaf fibre instead wood cip president cecil slenniken said interview the kenaf plant member the hibiscus family and was artificially developed several years ago the plant which has been grown southern texas reaches height feet three months and said produce better quality newsprint than wood pulp cip official said slenniken said the company has commissioned studies for tonne capacity pulp mill which would use the fibre but would need partners begin the project are not yet ready commit the hundreds millions dollars would take for such project slenniken said said cip has been using the pulp trial basis make newsprint containing pct kenaf fibre and pct softwood fibre its trois rivieres quebec plant cip canada second largest newsprint producer recently launched mln canadian dlr newsprint mill gold river british columbia which due begin producing metric tonnes per year fall reuter earn california first bank cfbk qtr net shr cts cts net avg shrs nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net avg shrs assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans and leases billion billion reuter acq trace products trce merger agreement suspended trace products inc said its stock swap merger agreement with privately held central point software has been suspended indefinitely because uncertainty the stock market trace products which manufactures diskette and tape duplication equipment for software publishers had earlier agreed acquire portland ore based central point for mln shares its common stock reuter earn rpc energy services inc res qtr sept shr profit one cent loss cts net profit loss revs mln reuter earn brenton banks brbk qtr oper net oper shr cts dlrs oper net nine mths oper shr dlrs dlrs oper net note results exclude extraordinary gain from net loss carryforward dlrs cts qtr dlrs cts qtr and dlrs cts nine months results include mln dlr gain from termination defined benefit pension plan reuter money-fx reagan says committed louvre accord president reagan said the united states remains committed the louvre accord which the seven major industrial nations agreed stabilize currency exchange rates the united states remains committed the louvre agreement reagan said statement following meeting with his top economic advisers reagan said the united states japan and west germany had all reaffirmed their commitment coordinate economic policies reagan said japanese prime minister designate noboru takeshita said telephone conversation tuesday morning that his takeshita top priority was maintain stable economic relations with the united states reagan noted that treasury secretary james baker met with west german financial officials and reaffirmed their commitment the louvre agreement they reaffirmed our agreement coordinate economic policies provide for non inflationary growth and stable exchange rates reagan said reuter acq group lifts stake suave shoe swv pct shareholder group including entregrowth interational ltd auckland new zealand said lifted its stake suave shoe corp common stock shares pct the total outstanding from previous figure approximately shares pct filing with the securities and exchange commission the group said bought suave shoe common shares open market transactions between october and dlrs dlrs share reason was given for the purchases reuter earn budget rent car corp bdgt qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs cts net mln revs mln mlln note resutls restated pro forma basis reflect comparable treatment budget leveraged buyout september and initial common stock offering may reuter earn uspci inc upc qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter earn somerset bancorp inc somb qtr net net nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net assets mln mln note per shr data qtr not disclosed reuter earn cpt corp cptc qtr sept loss shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss revs mln mln reuter earn the chariot group inc cgr qtr net shr cts two cts net revs mln avg shrs nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln note all per shr data adjusted reflect pct stock dividend distributed qtr reuter earn comshare inc csre qtr sept loss shr loss cts profit cts shr net loss profit revs mln mln reuter earn marine corp mcrp qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans billion billion reuter acq southland slc targeted sec investigation southland corp said was told the securities and exchange commission ordered private investigation into southland stock trading and statements made the company this year southland has been advised that the commission has issued private order investigation concerning the trading southland stock during various times and the issuance various public statements southland southland said proxy statement shareholders southland did not elaborate the sec order investigation and company officials could not reached for comment late tuesday the sec has long standing policy against confirming denying the existence investigations the proxy statement filed with the securities and exchange commission required for november shareholders meeting called approve the previously announced acquisition southland company controlled southland chairman john thompson and members his family earlier this year group led thompson acquired majority ownership southland through dlrs share tender offer for mln shares southland common stock the merger approved common stock still outstanding will converted into the right receive dlrs share cash plus fraction share preferred stock reuter earn continental information systems cny qtr qtr ends aug shr cts cts net revs mln mln six mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln note full name company continental information systems corp reuter earn family dollar stores inc fdo qtr aug shr cts cts net revs mln mln year shr cts dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln reuter earn alfa corp alfa qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net mln revs mln mln note per shr amounts are after giving retroactive effect for for split effected pct stock dividend which was paid june net includes net realized investment gains nine mths and qtr net includes net investment income mln mln nine mths and qtr reuter earn invitron corp invn qtr sept net shr eight cts cts net revs note invitron went public october seven reuter earn squibb corp sqb qtr net shr dlrs cts net mln mln revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion note per shr amounts reflect the for split shareholders record june for qtr and nine mths exchange rate fluctuations had favorable sales impact mln dlrs and mln dlrs respectively net nine mths includes income from discontinuing operations mln nine cts per shr and income mln dlrs four cts per shr qtr reuter acq edelman group committed telex bid tlx partners group led asher edelman does not see any problems with its dlr per share bid for telex corp shearson lehman official advising the group said several other takeover proposals have crumbled following declines financial markets leading speculation that edelman might also drop his offer telex fell earlier today carl icahn dropped his bid take trans world airlines inc twa private and dart group corp darta said abandoned plans acquire dayton hudson corp both cited market conditions nothing fundamental has changed with the company the stock price has changed but the company hasn changed there reason for change said daniel good head shearson lehman merchant banking things are proceeding planned and fully expect that the time have pay for the shares the financing will place good said shearson has agreed provide bridge financing mln dlrs for the edelman group reuter earn national corp cpn qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln reuter earn great american first savings gta qtr net shr primary cts dlrs shr diluted cts cts net mln mln nine mths shr primary dlrs dlrs shr diluted dlrs dlrs net mln mln assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans billion billion reuter trade canada seeks five year farm reform plan canada will propose the new round international trade talks that most trade distorting farm subsidies phased out over five year period trade minister pat carney said agricultural subsidies and trade barriers have created vicious circle which continues cause problems overproduction and low commodity prices carney told the house commons carney was outlining the government new position the farm trade problem that was tabled tuesday geneva the multilateral talks under the gatt general agreement tariffs and trade while few details were released carney said the government would also pressing for improvement market access and new measures ensure countries not erect artificial barriers under the canadian proposal all countries would have ensure that domestic policies and programs address the specific needs their farm sectors not distort trade government background paper said furthermore assessing the trade impact programs credit could given countries which effectively control the output farm products the papers said reuter earn smithkline beckman corp skb qtr net shr dlrs cts net mln mln revs billion mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs mln mln note results include mln dlr reduction operating income for the relaunch contac reuter acq first commercial fcob acquire citizens bank first commercial bancorp said will acquire the three branch citizens bank roseville stock swap the value the agreement will based citizens adjusted book value year end and the trading price first commercial stock citizens book value was about mln dlrs the end the third quarter according the bank counsel guy gibson under the agreement citizens shareholders could also trade their stock for five year debenture issued first commercial terms the debenture have not been established reuter acq united artists uaci suspends merger talks united artists communications inc and united cable television corp said they have indefinitely suspended negotiations proposed merger their companies previously announced the companies cited combination extraordinary market conditions and unresolved terms the merger contributing the action reuter earn the dexter corp dex qtr net shr cts cts net mln revs mln mln nine months shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln reuter earn washington mutual savings bank wamu qtr net shr cts cts net nine mths shr dlrs dlr net mln mln avg shrs mln mln assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans billion billion reuter earn trinity industries inc trn qtr net sept end shr six cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs six months shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs reuter acq southmark purchase national self national self storage said has sold nine storage facilities southmark corp for mln dlrs national self developer storage space for business records said the purchase includes nine storage facilties national self also said and southmark plan two year facility expansion program south florida and across the country reuter money-fx miyazawa says still strongly supports louvre accord trade says canadian israeli pacts should spur trade trade representative clayton yeutter said monday that the free trade agreements with canada and israel should help pave the way for liberalizing the global trading system said the canadian and israeli pacts will not set back worldwide reform efforts under the general agreement tariffs and trade gatt some critics feared but help them the gatt talks began year ago punta del este uruguay liberalize the global trading system and include trade agriculture and services such banking yeutter made his remarks israeli trade meeting marking the second year their bilateral accord the canadian pact signed two sides two weeks ago has yet been approved the congress and canadian parliament the two free trade agreements fta would gradually remove tariffs and other barriers cross border trade goods and many services yeutter said the aftermath the canadian and israeli pacts other countries have realized that they want continue have access the world largest market they had better get serious about improving the gatt the pact with israel said gradually increasing shipments both ways and the canadian pact will substantially increase the gross national products both countries yeutter also said the canadian and israeli pacts should serve important precedents for progress gatt yeutter said increasing trade one the keys enhanced political and economic stability around the globe said stronger gatt will enhance prosperity not only for advanced industrial nations but also for other countries that need increase trade order better their standards living yeutter added was important not risk the progress made the israeli and canadian trade pacts resorting protectionism was referring trade legislation pending congress that would force the united states take retaliatory actions against nations with large trade surpluses with the united states the countries practiced unfair trade the legislation was prompted growing trade deficit that hit billion dlrs last year and still rising yeutter said the pressures for congress act were hard resist but the pending legislation would undermine president reagan efforts liberalize the world trade yeutter renewed the threat white house veto said president reagan will veto any bill that contains serious flaws and believe that veto would sustained reuter crude arco arc chief sees energy crisis dwindling global crude oil reserves and the lack any major new discoveries recent years will send the world into energy crisis the former atlantic richfield chairman robert anderson said going come sooner than anyone thinks anderson told reporters after addressing houston business lunch believe going see change the world oil markets two three years because oil becoming harder find anderson who retired from arco last year form hondo oil and gas said world oil consumption approaching mln barrels day but current excess capacity cushion about mln barrels day will rapidly disappear you looked around the world you could not scrape one mln barrels day shut production outside the middle east said soon going right back where were and anderson predicted that world oil prices would end about dlrs barrel and continue gradual climb there way prices can stay flat because there isn enough supply said there have been major oil discoveries for the past years alaska prudhoe bay oil reserves the last major world discovery has already produced about five billion barrels oil more than half its estimated reserves said reuter crude venezuela backs increase ecuador opec quota venezuela will back ecuador bid raise its opec quota above barrels per day bpd because justifiable demand venezuelan energy minister arturo hernandez grisanti said monday told reporters the country deserved higher quota compensation for the five months was forced suspend oil production when its main pipeline was destroyed earthquake last march for this five month period ecuador did not exercise its right produce bpd said should recognize ecuador right increase its quota there basis justice that country petition added however the quota increase should gradual avoid harming the market added hernandez grisanti said understood ecuador would formally submit the request for higher quota the next ministerial conference the organization petroleum exporting countries opec opening december vienna reuter earn capitol bancorp capb qtr net shr profit dlrs loss dlrs net profit loss nine mths net profit profit note latest and prior nine month per share amounts not given reuter earn potash america inc nine mths loss shr loss dlrs nil net loss mln profit sales mln mln note per share after payment preferred dividends reuter earn jepson corp jeps qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net mln mln sales mln mln avg shrs mln mln note qtr per share reflects issuance two mln shares initial public offering nine mth results include extraordinary gain dlrs cts reuter acq fifth third fitb merge with and fifth third bancorp and and bancorp said they reached preliminary agreement merge and bancorp has assets mln dlrs and the parent company citizens heritage bank the companies said the agreement calls for each the about one mln shares and bancorp exchanged for one share fifth third bancorp based its financial expectations fifth third said the dilution per share earnings for the merger will negligible reuter earn banking center tbcx qtr net shr cts net nine mths shr cts net mln note year ago per share amounts not available bank converted stock ownership august amounts include operations burgdoff realtors acquired during december and other operations reuter money-fx lawson welcomes reaffirmation louvre accord chancellor the exchequer nigel lawson welcomed monday the reaffirmation the and west germany the louvre accord aimed stabilising currencies his office said lawson had welcomed the outcome meeting between treasury secretary james baker bundesbank president karl otto poehl and west german finance minister gerhard stoltenberg frankfurt after the meeting bonn finance ministry spokesman quoted stoltenberg saying was confident that foreign currencies could stabilised around current levels the meeting came after baker criticised west germany for increasing key interest rates saying they were not line with last february louvre accord reuter earn sun state savings sssl qtr net shr cts cts net avg shrs nine mths shr cts dlrs net avg shrs loans mln mln deposits mln mln assets mln mln note full name sun state savings and loan association reuter earn california water service cwtr qtr shr dlrs dlrs net revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net revs mln mln note curent nine mth figures include mln dlr cts per share gain resulting from change accounting method for unbilled revenues reuter acq great atlantic gap withdraws dechamps bid the great atlantic and pacific tea inc said withdrew its offer acquire delchamps inc dlch for dlrs share about mln dlrs which was made earlier this month michael rourke and vice president said the company withdrew the offer because delchamps did not respond favorably and because market conditions would not comment whether and would make another offer acquire delchamps reuter earn american fructose corp afc qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net mln revs mln mln note qtr and nine mths includes loss dlrs and dlrs four cts per share from repurchase and retirment debt reuter acq great atlantic and pacific tea said withdrew its offer buy delchamps inc ship italy worried rising tension after gulf attack italian prime minister giovanni goria told the cabinet monday was worried about the increased tension the gulf but said america retaliation against iran had been limited statement issued after cabinet meeting said goria had been informed the united states that would take action against iranian target the gulf but had not known beforehand that the action would involve attack oil platform the prime minister expressed his concern over the possible consequences increased tension the gulf the same time recognizing the limited character the american military reaction the attacks has suffered the past few days the statement said goria said italy own ships were far from the platform the time the attack and the fleet had been advised follow events with caution italy has sent eight ships including three frigates and three minesweepers the gulf protect italian merchant shipping there reuter earn belo corp blc qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln reuter acq media general mega family wont sell shares media general inc chairman tennant bryant said his family would not sell its controlling share block would impossible for investor group led giant group ltd gain control the company the investor group which includes barris industries brrs recently reported that acquired pct stake media general class shares and might seek control bryant said the company class stock elects only pct the board with the remaining pct being elected class shares two thirds which are controlled the bryant family trust which has intention selling its shares reuter money-fx bonn confident maintaining currency stability treasury secretary james baker met west german finance minister gerhard stoltenberg and bundesbank president karl otto poehl frankfurt monday bonn finance ministry spokesman said after the meeting the spokesman quoted stoltenberg saying was confident that foreign currencies could stabilised around current levels the meeting came after baker criticised west germany for increasing short term money market interest rates had said the rise was not line with the spirit the louvre accord aimed stabilizing the dollar last february the meeting had been arranged last week the spokesman said baker stoltenberg and poehl had agreed pursue the policies agreed under the louvre pact with reference currency stability and monetary policy earlier monday the bundesbnak injected liquidity into the west german money market move which money market dealers interpreted attempt the west german monetary authority curb interest rate rises the spokesman described monday talks which called private very positive reuter crude iran foreign minister tells cuba gulf situation iranian foreign minister ali akbar velayati here two day official visit informed cuban foreign ministry officials monday the tense situation the gulf diplomatic sources said they said the envoy trip followed from tuesday visit nicaragua could linked possible mediation the non aligned movement the seven year old iran iraq war but they ruled out any prominent cuban role velayati could not reached for comment the attack abandoned iranian oil rig monday which tehran vowed avenge reuter earn cleveland cliffs inc clf qtr net shr loss nine cts loss dlrs net profit loss mln revs mln mln nine mths shr loss dlrs loss cts net loss mln loss mln revs mln mln note qtr includes loss mln dlrs non recurring after tax charges due almost entirely the company recent buyout its tilden mine debt obligations nine mths includes loss mln dlrs pre tax charge reduce the carrying value the company land drilling rigs nine mths includes pre tax gain mln dlrs sale uranium reserves nine mths includes pre tax gain mln dlrs sale iron ore interest western australia reuter earn cade industries inc cade qtr net shr three cts two cts net sales mln mln nine mths shr six cts cts net sales mln mln order backlog mln mln note figures include gain mln dlr cts share from life insurance proceeds reuter earn abitibi price inc aib qtr oper net oper shr cts cts oper net mln mln revs mln mln nine mths oper shr dlrs dlrs oper net mln mln revs billion billion note prior nine mths and qtr excludes loss mln dlrs due discontinued operations reuter acq partnership increases gull gll holdings gary associates which said previously may seek control gull inc said increased its stake gull common stock shares pct the total outstanding from previous figure approximately shares pct filing with the securities and exchange commission gary associates said made net purchases gull common shares dlrs dlrs share gary associates made mention possible takeover attempt its report the sec reuter earn signet banking corp sbk qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr cts dlrs net mln avg shrs mln mln assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans billion billion reuter crude unocal ucl raises crude oil posted prices unocal corp said raised its posted prices for most grades crude oil cts barrel effective october the move brings the price the company will pay for the benchmark grade west texas intermediate and west texas sour dlrs barrel the price was last changed september unocal said reuter earn american management systems amsy qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln note full name american management systems inc reuter acq media general says giant group affiliates have pct class common stock money-fx delors calls for meeting european community commission president jacques delors called for swift convening meeting the countries following the instability today trading world money and stock markets told press conference here should meet discreetly and quickly delors said the dollar were fall further against the mark levels around the european monetary system would undergo test fire delors said the current problems the markets had been caused excessive growth financial trading excessive deregulation and the failure the fundamentals the world economy adapt themselves quickly enough changing circumstances said was profoundly unjust blame recent increases west germany reuter money-fx treasury baker meets west german minister treasury secretary james baker met west german finance minister gerhard stoltenberg and bundesbank president karl otto poehl today west germany and agreed support the louvre pact the treasury department said the treasury described the meeting very positive private meeting frankfurt west germany which had been agreed upon last week the parties agreed continue economic cooperation under the louvre agreement and its flexible application including cooperation exchange rate stability and monetary policies the treasury said the treasury said baker and stoltenberg are consulting with their colleagues and are confident that this will enable them foster exchange rate stability around current levels the louvre pact agreement between the group seven leading industrial countries including the united states and west germany promote currency stability baker was scheduled visit scandinavia and belgium this week and the department earlier refused release details his travel itinerary citing security considerations reuter earn scicom data scie qtr sept net shr cts cts net revs note full name scicom data services ltd reuter earn acc corp qtr net shr profit three cts profit nine cts net profit profit revs nine mths shr loss cts profit cts net loss profit revs mln mln reuter earn westport bancorp webat qtr net shr cts cts net nine mths shr cts dlrs net note company would not provide assets deposits and loans figures reuter earn gateway federal savings gatw qtr net shr cts not given net not given nine mths shr dlrs not given net not given note full name gateway federal savings and loan association latest qtr includes tax credit dlrs cents share latest nine mths includes tax credit dlrs dlrs figures not given company went public june reuter earn kmw systems corp kmws qtr sept shr five cts eight cts net revs note qtr includes gain dlrs four cts per share from tax gain reuter crude arco arc raises crude oil postings cts atlantic richfield arco oil and gas said increased contract prices for crude oil cts barrel effective today arco said the cts increase brings its posted price for west texas intermediate the benchmark grade dlrs barrel the price west texas sour was increased dlrs light louisiana sweet was raised dlrs the price was last changed september reuter earn polaroid corp prd qtr sept shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion note net adjusted account for the recent for split the company common qtr includes seven cts per shr gain due net after tax foreign currency exchange effect reuter earn morrison knudsen corp mrn qtr loss oper shr loss dlrs profit cts oper net loss mln profit mln revs mln mln nine mths oper shr loss dlrs profit dlrs oper net loss mln profit mln revs billion billion note qtr and nine mths excludes loss mln dlrs dlrs per share and loss mln dlrs dlrs per share respectively from discontinued real estate operations qtr and nine mths include loss dlrs one cent per share and gain dlrs three cts per share respectively from discontinued operations reuter money-fx treasury baker met west germany stoltenberg today agreed support louvre pact earn westport bancorp webat qtr net shr cts cts net nine mths shr cts dlrs net note company would not provide assets deposits and loans figures reuter crude arco raises crude oil prices cts barrel today wti acq pepsico unit pep lifts calny stake taco bell corp unit pepsico inc said increased its stake calny inc common stock shares pct the total outstanding from previous figure approximately shares pct filing with the securities and exchange commission taco bell said bought calny common shares october and dlrs share reason was given for the recent purchases reuter acq macyro group myo buys companies groupe macyro inc said agreed buy two quebec construction wholesalers nap dumont ltd and nap transport cie ltd for mln dlrs macyro said the two companies operate the construction material electiricty plumbing hardware and locksmithing sectors and had sales mln dlrs last year reuter earn cts corp cts qtr oper net oper shr profit cts profit seven cts oper net profit profit revs mln mln nine mths oper shr profit dlrs loss cts oper net profit loss revs mln mln note period ended september results exclude extraordinary gain from net loss carryforward dlrs three cts shr the qtr and dlrs cts the nine mths nine mth results exclude earnings from discontinued operations dlrs dlrs reuter money-fx german finance ministry confident maintaining currency stability around current levels spokesman earn amca international ail qtr loss shr loss two cts loss dlrs net profit loss mln revs mln mln nine mths shr loss cts loss dlrs net loss loss mln revs mln mln note full name amca international ltd results dlrs latest qtr earnings include pension refund mln dlrs representing loss two cts per shr after payment preferred dividends reuter earn valley capital corp vccn qtr net shr dlrs cts net nine months shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans mln mln reuter money-fx german finance ministry confident maintaining currency stability around current levels spokesman crude military leader predicts iranian response william crowe chairman the joint chiefs staff predicted iran will retaliate for the strike against its oil platform though said iranian options were limited they will determined they will not easily deterred and let stress for you that our commitment there not going risk free casualty free said the most likely iranian response would involve terrorism the laying mines they obviously will look for ways that are probably more line with the silent hand than what they have tried thus far crowe told american stock exchange conference declined comment reporter query whether favored stronger move against iran than that ordered the president carried out the operation that was decided upon and carried out with enthusiasm and think was professionally and well done crowe said reuter earn specialty composites corp spcm qtr net shr cts nine cts net revs nine mths shr cts cts net revs note qtr and nine mths includes tax gain dlrs and dlrs respectively qtr and nine mths includes tax gain dlrs and dlrs respectively reuter earn bulcan corp bul qtr net shr five cts seven cts net revs nine mths shr five cts dlrs net revs mln mln reuter earn chemed corp che qtr net primary shr cts cts diluted shr cts cts net revs mln mln primary avg shrs diluted avg shrs nine months primary shr dlrs dlrs diluted shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln primary avg shrs diluted avg shrs note third qtr results exclude extraordinary dlr gain from termination pension plan nine month results include dlr gain from june sale national sanitary supply common stock initial offering reuter earn waltham corp wlbk qtr net shr cts cts net nine mths shr cts net assets mln mln loans mln mln deposits mln mln note nine mths per share not available because bank did not convert stock form until may reuter earn national banc commerce nbcc qtr shr cts cts net avg shrs nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net avg shrs reuter earn edac technologies corp edac qtr net shr three cts two cts net sales mln mln nine mths shr seven cts cts net sales mln mln order backlog mln mln note figures include life insurance proceeds mln dlr cts share reuter earn autotrol corp autr qtr net shr profit cts loss cts net profit loss sales nine mths shr profit cts loss dlrs net profit loss sales mln mln note data restated reflect operations discontinued earnings exclude loss from discontinued operations dlrs cts share the quarter and dlrs cts share for the nine months reuter earn stratus computer inc stra qtr net shr cts cts net rev mln mln nine mos shr cts cts net rev mln mln reuter acq gulf and western acquire british company gulf and western inc publishing unit simon and schuster said agreed principle acquire woodhead faulkner publishers ltd british based publisher professional and consumer books for undisclosed terms upon completion the proposed transaction woodhead faulkner will become part simon and schuster international group which the includes simon and schuster trade books and prentice hall academic texts simon and schuster said that woodhead faulkner will continue publish under that name the company will continue under the direction martin woodhead who will report henry hirschberg president simon and schuster international group woodhead faulkner founded publishes international banking finance and investment books reuter earn cnb bancshares inc cnbe qtr net shr cts cts net nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net reuter earn national sanitary supply nssx qtr shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs reuter earn eastern utilities associates qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs reuter trade plan high level trade talks the european community willing offer limited concessions the united states one two major issues which threaten poison their trade relations next year commission spokesman said said the offer would made meeting later this month between trade representative clayton yeutter and external relations commissioner willy clercq farm commissioner frans andriessen told agriculture ministers meeting luxembourg that the willing make some temporary arrangements lighten the impact exports plan ban the sales meat from animals fed with growth hormones the spokesman said washington has said will take trade reprisals the proceeds with the ban from january and european countries not quickly cut back what sees unfair subsidies the makers their airbus airliner which are harming manufacturers claims the hormones ban has scientific basis and will rob mln dlrs worth exports year diplomatic sources said the yeutter clercq meeting will take place london and will also involve the aerospace ministers france britain west germany and spain the countries involved the airbus project reuter acq simon and schuster acquire woodhead faulkner the for undisclosed terms acq ccr video cccr gets offer takeover talks ccr video corp said received offer enter into negotiations for intercep investment corp vancouver acquire controlling interest the company through tender offer ccr said the negotiations would determine the terms under which the ccr board could support intercep tender offer additional details were not immediately available reuter acq ccr video sayst received offer negotiate takeover intercep investment corp acq brown disc buy rhone poulenc rhon unit brown disc products inc unit genevar enterprises inc said has purchased the ongoing business trademarks and certain assets rhone poulenc brown disc manufacturing unit for undisclosed terms rhone poulenc french based chemical company under the agreement rhone poulenc will supply magnetic tape and media products brown disc products reuter earn consolidated freightways inc cnf qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net revs billion reuter earn rochester telephone corp rtc qtr net shr cts cts net mln revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln reuter earn south carolina national corp scnc qtr shr cts cts net mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln assets billion billion loans billion billion deposits billion billion reuter earn marine corp mcor qtr net shr cts cts net nine mths shr cts cts net note earnings per share reflect initial public offering common shares march and for stock splits january and june reuter crude statoil awards veslefrikk oil field contracts norwegian state oil company den norske stats oljeselskap statoil signed contracts worth total billion norwegian crowns connection with the development the veslefrikk oil field statoil said moss rosenberg verft stavanger has been awarded contract convert the the drilling platform west vision floating production platform the work completed the summer aker verdal has been awarded contract for the engineering purchasing and construction the steel jacket for the wellhead platform also completed statoil said reuter acq treasury confirms sale ahead the british treasury confirmed that the sale british petroleum plc will ahead planned despite monday stock market crash which forced below the share set for the billion stg issue the government are not considering terminating the offer the offer has been fully underwritten treasury spokesman said the issue which remains open until october was fully underwritten last week when the issue price was set shares closed down the share index crashed record points more than pct reuter earn harman international hiii qtr sept shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs note full name company harman international industries inc reuter money-fx german banker calls for special monetary meeting finance ministers from major industrial nations should hold special meeting deal with the dollar sharp decline helmut geiger president the west german savings bank association said geiger told reuters finance ministers should meet soon take confidence building measures limit the damage caused the dollar fall separately geiger told bild newspaper interview released ahead publication tuesday that the lower dollar which had been artificially talked down officials would damage west german exports and cost jobs reuter earn the banking center tbcx qtr net shr cts net nine months shr cts net mln assets billion billion deposits mln mln note company converted stock savings bank aug results include operations realtech realtors which was acquired results include operations burgdorff realtors acquired december cornerstone mortgage acquired july centerbank mortgage acquired july and center capital corp formed august reuter acq calmat czm sues industrial equity calmat said filed suit los angeles superior court against industrial equity pacific ltd against certain its affiliates and against ronald langley president industrial equity north american operations the company said its sut charges that langley missapropriated material non public information acquired his capacity calmat director and used the information for the benefit industrial equity according its more recent amendment its schedule industrial equity owned about pct calmat stock october calmat said said industrial has also stated that intends pursue possible business combination the near future reuter trade reagan calls for vigilance certain exports president reagan said the commerce department should vigilant preventing the flow strategic technology from reaching the the soviet union and other communist countries was speaking the swearing william verity secretary the commerce department verity said the should make certain that militarily sensitive high technology does not wind communist nations but also said the must reduce the list products nontechnological nature thereby allowing manufacturers increase exports and jobs reuter earn watts industries inc watta qtr sept shr cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs mln mln reuter earn moniterm corp mtrm qtr oper net oper shr profit cts nil oper net profit profit sales nine mths oper shr profit cts loss four cts oper net profit loss sales mln note earnings exclude gains from utilization tax loss carryforwards dlrs seven cts share the quarter and dlrs cts share for the nine months reuter earn erie lackawanna inc erie qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net total income nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net total income reuter earn quantum corp qntm qtr sept net shr cts cts net sales mln mln six mths shr six cts cts net sales mln mln reuter earn termiflex corp tflx qtr sept net shr five cts seven cts net sales note backlog three mln dlrs june reuter acq durakon drkn make acquisition durakon industries inc said has entered into definitive agreement acquire dfm corp maker bug and gravel protective shields for trucks and cars for undisclosed amount cash and debentures retroactive september one reuter acq atlantis agh may bid for charter crellin crtr atlantis group inc said bought shares charter crellin inc common stock pct the total outstanding and may seek control negotiated transaction filing with the securities and exchange commission atlantis said has informally discussed business combination with charter crellin management but the company said has not held negotiations with charter crellin and does not intend initiate further discussions pending development specific proposals atlantis said will continue purchase additional charter crellin shares private open market transactions depending range factors including the market price the stock atlantis said bought its charter crellin common stock open market transactions between september and october dlrs dlrs share for total about mln dlrs reuter acq allwaste alws make acquisition allwaste inc said has agreed principle acquire privately held firm that performs interior cleaning services for tank trailers for common shares said the firm which did not name earned about dlrs pretax for the first nine mons the company said closing expected october reuter earn travelers real estate trat qtr net shr cts cts net revs nine mths shr cts cts net revs note full name travelers real estate investment trust reuter earn new york times nyt qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln nine months shr dlrs dls net mln mln revs billion billion reuter earn safeguard health sfgd qtr net shr cts five cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln note full name safeguard health enterprises inc reuter acq henley heng ends talks with sante henley group inc said ended talks with sante southern pacific corp concerning the possible acquisition sante southern pacific transportation subsidiary the company also said reviewing its investment santa southern pacific light sante announcement that recieved several bids ranging from mln dlrs more than one billion dlrs for its southern pafific transportation subsidiary henley said held discussions with sante concerning the acquisition henley bankers leasing and financial corp and certain sante transportation and real estate assets henley said began talks with sante after announced its restructuring program august previously disclosed henley made necessary filings under the hart scott rodino antitrust improvement acts permit henley increase its investment sante pct the outstanding common stock from pct henley said that depending prevailing conditions including price and availability sante stock substantial developments affecting sante other investment and business opportunities available henley henley may additional sante shares sell all part its investment sante reuter earn mercury savings and loan msl qtr loss shr loss cts profit cts net loss profit nine mths shr profit cts profit dlrs net profit profit note full name mercury savings and loan association reuter earn burnham service corp bsco qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs cts net revs mln mln reuter acq texas american bancshares txa sell unit texas american bancshares inc said agreed sell its texas american bank levelland unit first american bancorp inc for about mln dlrs cash texas american said regulatory approval ofthe transaction expected december and the sale will close shortly thereafter once the sale completed the unit name will change first american bank texas the unit reported total assets mln dlrs juen reuter acq supermarkets general sgl sells drug stores supermarkets general corp said agreed sell super drug stores and distributors the nine existing and two unopened stores are located maryland virginia and upstate new york and are operated under the pathmark super drug trade name the company said terms the transaction were not disclosed the nine existing stores generated approximately mln dlrs supermarkets general total sales billion during the six month period ended aug one and distributors operates discount drug stores michigan ohio illinois indiana and wisconsin reuter earn erc international inc erc qtr net shr cts nine cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln note qtr and nine mths include loss dlrs cts per share and loss dlrs cts per share respectively from discontinued operations reuter earn painewebber group inc pwg qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs reuter crude venezuela says opec oil output ver mln bpd caracas oct the current opec oil production above mln barrels per day bpd and this level threatens the precarious equilibrium the oil market venezuelan energy and mines minister arturo hernandez grisanti said monday told reporters three four countries out opec members were mainly responsible for the overproduction but declined identify them opec production ceiling for the second half mln bpd the venezuelan minister said opec production reached peak this year when went over mln bpd august hernandez grisanti together with the oil ministers nigeria and indonesia met the heads state six mideast gulf countries earlier this month urge opec members comply with assigned production quotas said some the countries which were complying venezuela indonesia libya algeria ecuador saudi arabia and iran hernandez declined say whether the three four countries said were overproducing bordered the mideast gulf reuter acq atlantis group tells sec seeks negotiated purchase charter crellin acq dynascan dyna completes management buyout dynascan corp said completed the sale its industrial electronic products group and expects recognize about mln dlr pretax gain the transaction the fourth quarter said the group was sold october for mln dlrs maxtec international corp privately held company created the company management team said the purchase price was mln dlrs cash and mln dlrs five year notes plus warrants buy pct the stock maxtec dynascan said the group was projected provide about pct its consolidated sales reuter acq henley group reviewing investment santa southern pacific acq henley group said ended talks buying southern pacific from santa southern acq renta inmobiliaria seeks cannon group can assets spanish property firm renta inmobiliaria negotiating buy the property assets media company cannon group inc can renta finance director jose luis sanchez said sanchez told reuters that renta chairman juan antonio robles was currently the negotiate the deal but declined give other details interpart luxembourg based holding company chaired italian financier giancarlo paretti payed around billion pesetas july acquire pct stake renta inmobiliaria the spanish daily newspaper pais said the cannon property assets sought renta included the elstree film studios britain and chain movie theaters europe and the reuter crude southland slc unit raises crude oil prices citgo petroleum corp subsidiary southland corp said raised the contract price will pay for all grades crude oil cts barrel effective oct the increase brings citgo postings for the west texas intermediate and west texas sour grades dlrs barrel while light louisiana sweet now priced dlrs citgo last changed crude oil postings sept reuter acq group sells most stake ccx inc ccx shareholder group including far hills attorney natalie koether said reduced its stake ccx inc common stock shares less than one pct the company common stock outstanding from previous stake about ten pct filing with the securities and exchange commission the group said sold ccx common shares october four dlrs share the group gave reason for the sales reuter acq orion has pct twin disc tdi stake orion capital corp said acquired shares twin disc inc common stock pct the company common stock outstanding filing with the securities and exchange commission orion capital said the stock represents favorable investment opportunity current market prices open market transactions between august and october orion capital subsidiary bought twin disc common shares dlrs dlrs share the entire pct stake was purchased cost mln dlrs orion capital told the sec reuter crude venezuela sees oil stability despite gulf attack venezuelan energy minister arturo hernandez grisanti said foresaw market stability the price crude despite growing tension the gulf augmented the military attack iranian oil platform told news conference the market continues stable despite all the military action the gulf reuter earn european american bancorp qtr net net nine mths net mln mln note company owned consortium european banks reuter acq northeast savings nsb adopts rights plan northeast savings said its board adopted shareholder rights plan designed protect the company from coercive takeover tactics and bids not fair all sharholders under the plan the board declared dividend one share purchase right for each the northeast common shares held record november two the company said initially the rights are not exerciseable rights certificates are not distributed and the rights automatically trade with northeast shares the company said however days following the acquisition pct more northeast common shares shares days following the commencement tender offer for pct more northeast shares the rights will become exerciseable and separate rights certificates will distributed the company said the rights will entitle holders northeast common shares purchase additional shares exercise price dlrs share the company said the company said that the event certain triggering events described the rights plan holders the rights other than acquiring person will entitled acquire northeast common shares having market value twice the then current exercise price the rights also the event northeast enters into certain business combination transactions holders the rights will provided right acquire equity securities the acquiring entity having market value twice the then current exercise price the rights the company said northeast said will entitled redeem the rights one cent per right until the occurence certain events reuter earn kaufel group ltd kfl qtr aug net shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln reuter acq national guardian natg acquires alarm firm greenwich conn national guardian corp said acquired pacific fire extinguisher which specializes installation fire and burglar alarms the operations acquired the transaction have total revenues excess mln dlrs the company said separate announcement the company said expects record revenues approximately mln dlrs for for the company had revenues mln dlrs national guardian revenues for the first six months were approximately mln dlrs compared about mln dlrs the year ago period reuter acq ccr video cccr talks being acquired ccr video corp said has received offer enter into negotiations for intercep investment corp acquire controlling interest through tender offer the company said the negotiations would determine the terms under which the ccr board directors could support the intercep tender offer gave further details reuter earn first boston inc fbc qtr net shr primary dlrs cts shr fully diluted dlrs cts net mln mln revs mln mln nine mths shr primary dlrs dlrs shr fully diluted dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion mln reuter bop italy shows september overall payments surplus italy overall balance payments showed billion lire surplus september against deficit billion august provisional bank italy figures showed the september surplus compared with shortfall billion lire september for the first nine months the overall balance payments showed deficit billion lire against billion deficit the same period the central bank said italy one billion dlr eurobond launched last month contributed september surplus reuter acq willis faber not selling morgan grenfell stake willis faber plc said its pct holding stockbrokers morgan grenfell group plc mgfl was not for sale the insurance broker issued statement reply recent press speculation which said was part inaccurate and undesirable willis faber has not received any offers for its stake morgan grenfell said adding that offer would have considered its merits willis faber stake morgan grenfell has been very successful investment said reuter earn travelers realty income triis qtr net shr cts cts net revs nine mths shr cts dlrs net revs note full name trust travelers realty income investors reuter earn society for savings bancorp socs qtr shr cts cts net nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln assets billion billion deposits billion billion note nine mths includes gain dlrs nine cts per share from utilization prior year net operating loss carryforwards note qtr and nine mths include loss dlrs one cent per share from unspecified extraordinary item qtr and nine mths includes gain dlrs cts per share and dlrs cts per share respectively from utilization net operating loss carryforwards full name company society for savings bancorp inc reuter earn progressive bank inc psbk qtr net shr cts cts net nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net reuter earn washington water power wwp qtr loss shr loss cts profit two cts net loss profit revs mln mln nine mths shr profit cts profit dlrs net profit mln profit mln revs mln mln reuter earn bellsouth corp bls qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs billion billion nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net billion billion revs billion billion avg shrs mln mln note share adjusted for three for two stock split february reuter earn rte corp rte qtr net shr profit cts loss cts net profit loss sales mln mln nine mths shr profit dlrs profit cts net profit profit sales mln mln note figures include five mln dlr cts share charge for electronics restructuring and mln dlr charge from early retirement mln dlrs long term notes reuter earn comerica inc cmca qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans mln mln reuter earn joseph light saj qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net revs mln mln note per share adjusted for three for two stock split effective june joseph light and power full name company reuter earn trw inc trw qtr net shr dlrs cts shr diluted dlrs cts net mln mln sales billion billion nine mths shr dlrs dlrs shr diluted dlrs dlrs net mln mln sales billion billion avg shrs mln mln avg shrs diluted mln mln reuter money-fx balladur urges respect louvre accord french finance minister edouard balladur said the group seven industrial countries should respect pledges monetary policy made the february louvre accord currency stability have strengthen the cooperation between the seven major industrial countries and remind ourselves the pledges made the louvre told journalists they were not simply pledges maintain currency stability but also conduct certain type economic and monetary policy added reuter grain soviet grain target indicates output recent announcements from moscow next year grain production targets indicate that the soviets are estimating this year grain crop mln tonnes agriculture department analysts said usda projecting the soviet crop mln tonnes but some earlier estimates from soviet officials were that the grain crop could match the record mln tonnes moscow outlined its economic targets for monday putting the grain harvest goal mln tonnes analyst soviet agriculture usda noted that recent article izvestia said soviet grain production planned mln tonnes more than expected this year this indicates that their own estimate for mln tonne grain crop the analyst said calculating moscow crop estimate usda used the mln tonne production goal well mln tonne figure published soviet economic journal this month usda production estimate mln tonnes reflects range mln tonnes usda source said late season rains damaged soviet crops slowed harvest progress and lowered soviet production analysts said while the earlier this month soviet agriculture official viktor nikonov predicted that the grain crop would good better than last year mln tonne harvest member nikonov party commented that although mln tonnes grain were the fields harvest problems would bring the final crop down around mln tonnes reuter interest canada mln dlr bill issue yield average pct official money-fx fed johnson says louvre accord still vital federal reserve board vice chairman manuel johnson said the louvre accord still healthy but said the united states and west germany must work out differences over their respective roles fulfilling the accord the louvre accord has worked very well terms stabilizing exchange rates said response question during american stock exchange conference here said exchange rates have been stable far result the accord reuter acq hanna hnm acqure pms consolidated hanna said has reached definitive agreement purchase pms consolidated privately owned manufacturer colorants for the plastics industry hanna said the purchase which subject certain conditions scheduled close around the end october hanna announced last august that was negotiaitons purchase the company headquartered somerset pms reported over mln dlrs revenues its last fiscal year which ended may reuter cpi fed johnson sees easing inflationary fears federal reserve board vice chairman manuel johnson said the inflationary expectations the financial markets have eased since the fed last half point increase its discount rate pct have seen the kind expectational forces develop think that been satisfied with since our last discount rate move johnson said fed chairman alan greenspan has said the most recent discount rate increase september was largely aimed quelling inflationary fears financial markets which said were largely unfounded reuter crude ample supplies limit strike oil price impact ample supplies opec crude weighing world markets helped limit and then reverse oil price gains that followed the strike iranian oil platform the gulf earlier monday analysts said december loading rose dlrs cents before falling around later unchanged from last friday fundamentals are awful said philip lambert analyst with stockbrokers kleinwort grieveson adding that total opec production the first week october could above mln bpd little changed from september levels peter nicol analyst chase manhattan bank said opec production could about mln october reuter and international energy agency iea estimates put opec september production mln bpd the attack was retaliation last friday hit kuwaiti oil products tanker flying the flag the sea isle city was struck missile believed iranian kuwaiti waters and was the first hit flag commercial vessel the seven year iran iraq war the owned liberian flag tanker sungari was hit the area thursday also believed struck iranian missile refiners were not significant purchasers physical oil monday result increased gulf tension following the attack analysts said they said closure the strait hormuz through which around eight mln bpd passes isnlikely because not the interests the iran they said any threat oil supplies would stem from increase the number tanker attacks part widening gulf hostilities analysts said but they saw the strike limited reply iranian missile attacks with some describing responsible geoffrey pyne analyst stockbrokers phillips and drew said was impressed the sensible response the has thought carefully about what would correspond iranian agression they have proved the iranians that any further action will met with like for like response today action the was not escalatory pyne said kleinwort grieveson lambert said the strike was responsible retaliation with the apparently indicating iran that could increase the severity its attacksf iran chose raise the level conflict chase manhattan nicol took different view however said was unable see what the had achieved arab states such kuwait and saudi arabia whose interests the supposedly defending will feel less secure result the attack and fear some sort iranian retaliation the initial upward market move this morning reflected strong speculative reaction rumours attack which was thought one stage have been against iranian missile launchers the faw peninsula close kuwait analysts said the later downtrend followed confirmation navy attack iranian oil platform the defence secretary caspar weinburger market operators were able evaluate the situation the gulf the basis confirmed fact and finding less serious than first thought took profits taking prices lower analysts and traders said reuter earn total research corp fiscal net june end shr four cts net revs avg shrs reuter acq communications and cable ccab buys stake communications and cable inc said acquired about pct the outstanding shares imnet corp privately owned company that designs makes and services proprietary image storage and retrieval systems terms were not disclosed reuter acq baltek btek buys ecuadorian plant baltek corp said has acquired shrimp packing plant ecuador for undisclosed terms the company said the acquisition will result tripling its ecuadorian shrimp sales about three mln pounds annually reuter earn gendex corp xray qtr sept net shr nine cts six cts net sales six mths shr cts cts net sales avg shrs mln mln note net includes tax credits equal one cent the quarter and two cts the six months reuter earn ben and jerry homemade inc bjic eight mths shr cts cts net sales mln mln note company released results connection with filing for class common stock offering reuter money-fx balladur urges respect louvre accord french finance minister edouard balladur said the group seven industrial countries should respect pledges monetary policy made the february louvre accord currency stability have strengthen the cooperation between the seven major industrial countries and remind ourselves the pledges made the louvre told journalists they were not simply pledges maintain currency stability but also conduct certain type economic and monetary policy added balladur comments came after treasury secretary james baker said sunday that the would have examine the louvre accords the light the rise west german short term interest rates balladur was one the main architects the louvre accord and has invested considerable political capital defending them reuter acq banctexas btx sell affiliate banctexas group inc said has signed definitive agreement sell its banctexas sulphur springs affiliate group local investors led gene watson for cash amount equal book value the time the sale subject regulatory approvals the unit had assets mln dlrs september banctexas said plans concentrate its primary market the dallas area reuter earn talman home federal tlmn qtr oper net oper shr cts not available oper net nine mths oper shr cts not available oper net assets billion billion loans billion billion deposits billion billion note operating net excludes tax credits mln dlrs cts share the quarter and mln dlrs cts the nine months period nine months operating net excludes prepayment penalties early retirement loans dlrs talman home federal savings and loan association chicago full name company reuter acq allwaste alws acquire firm allwaste inc said entered into agreement principle buy tank cleaning privately held company that cleans tank trailers exchange for about mln shares allwaste common allwaste said that tank cleaning earned about one mln dlrs before taxes last year and had about mln dlrs pre tax income for the nine months ended september reuter earn northeast savings nsb qtr net loss shr loss dlrs profit dlrs net loss profit six mths shr loss cts profit dlrs net profit profit mln assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans billion billion note six mths per share includes preferred stock dividend payments reuter earn marine corp mcor qtr net shr cts cts net nine mths shr cts cts net reuter money-fx fed johnson says louvre accord alive but cites german differences money-fx balladur urges respect pledges monetary policy louvre accord earn pioneer standard electronics inc pios qtr periods ended september oper shr cts six cts oper net sales mln mln first half oper shr cts cts oper net sales mln mln note operating net excludes losses from discontinued operations dlrs three cts share quarter and dlrs seven cts share half reuter earn citizens financial group inc citn qtr shr cts cts net nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln assets billion billion note prior year amounts restated reflect for stock split effective may reuter earn irwin magnetic systems inc irwn qtr net period ended sept shr nine cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs note figures include tax credits dlrs three cts share reuter grain senate panel votes limit county loan rate changes starting with crops earn bench craft inc sofa qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net sales mln mln note share adjusted for three for two stock split february reuter earn cityfed financial corp ctyf qtr loss shr primary loss eight cts profit cts shr fully diluted loss eight cts profit cts net profit profit mln nine mths shr primary profit cts profit dlrs shr fully diluted profit cts profit dlrs net profit mln profit mln assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans billion billion note nine mth figures include gain dlrs from cumulative effect accounting change qtr and nine mth figures also include gain mln dlrs from sale real estate investment property qtr and nine mths earnings per share reflect payment dividends company two series preferred stock amounting mln dlrs reuter earn caterpillar inc cat qtr net shr profit dlrs loss cts net profit mln loss mln revs billion billion nine mths shr profit dlrs profit dlrs net profit mln profit mln revs billion billion reuter coffee colombia opens coffee registrations ldn trade colombia has opened export registrations for november coffee shipments trade sources said further details were available reuter earn dense pac microsystems inc dpac qtr period ended august shr profit one loss one net profit loss sales avg shrs six mths shr nil loss nine cts net profit loss sales avg shrs reuter earn newhall investment properties nip qtr shr dlrs cts net nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln note current quarter figures include gain mln dlrs property sales gain mln prior year quarter current nine month figures include gain mln dlrs property sales gain mln dlrs reuter earn aspen ribbons inc arib qtr net sept shr seven cts five cts net revs reuter earn lsi lighting systems inc lyts qtr net qtr ends september shr cts cts net revs reuter trade house speaker denies trade bill hurt stocks house speaker jim wright dismissed charges that the trade bill before congress contributed the fall stock prices wall street that utterly ridiculous the texas democrat told reporters treasury secretary james baker and other administration officials over the weekend pointed the pending legislation which they brand too protectionist key factor the record setting drop reuter earn roto rooter inc roto qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter earn city savings bank meriden csbm qtr shr cts not given net nine mths shr one dlr not given net note company went public september reuter earn home federal savings bank georgia hfga qtr net shr cts cts net nine mths shr cts dlrs net reuter earn international telecharge inc itil qtr shr loss five cts loss eight cts net loss loss revs avg shrs nine mths shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss revs avg shrs reuter earn spectramed inc spmd qtr net shr profit seven cts net profit profit sales mln mln nine mths shr loss net loss protit sales mln mln note current nine month figures include extraordinary loss mln dlrs cts per share resulting from costs associated with restructuring prior quarter and nine month per share figures not applicable because company began operations october with the acquisition gould inc gld medical products group reuter earn inc marc qtr sept net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs half shr cts cts newt revs mln mln avg shrs reuter earn chambers development inc cdv qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln avg shrs mln nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs mln reuter earn voplex corp vot qtr loss shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss revs mln mln nine mths shr profit six cts loss cts net profit loss revs mln mln reuter crude security council calls talks after gulf attack the security council was called private meeting monday for consultations following the united states attack iranian oil platform meanwhile spokesman said that far knew report the council and secretary general javier perez cuellar the action had not been received from the americans washington president reagan said the united nations was being informed the attack under the provision the charter regarding notification actions taken under the right self defense the spokesman francois giuliani said perez cuellar had comment the attack taken response iranian action against american owned tanker last week but was trying find out what actually happened calls iran commission elicited response reuter earn united savings and loan unsa qtr net sept shr cts net six months shr cts net assets mln mln deposits mln mln loans mln mln reuter acq baring unit sets fund for management buy outs baring capital investors ltd bci unit the merchant bank baring brothers and ltd said has raised mln european currency units ecus which will invested management buy outs and development capital opportunities the and continental europe the funds were raised through bci first such fund the baring euaring european capital trust from investors nine european countries expects raise another mln ecus soon through french fund and fund for investors bci was set last year baring brothers advise buy out and development capital investors bci said the new fund structured guernsey based unit trust which will listed the luxembourg stock exchange will advised bci and managed company owned jointly barings and the management bci individual investments are expected range between one and mln ecus and are likely concentrated the germany and france bci said its aims are invest established companies principally family companies with succession issues and corporate spin offs reuter money-fx seen fighting keep currency pact international monetary officials will rush paper over the deep cracks that have appeared the louvre accord currency stability prevent dollar free fall and calm turmoil world capital markets economists and currency traders said don think the louvre dead because breaks acrimonious way the potential outcome rout the dollar higher interest rates and collapsing stock markets the group seven interest calm things down said douglas madison corporate trader bankamerica corp weekend television interview treasury secretary james baker sharply criticised recent rise west german money market rates and said the eight month old louvre pact foster exchange rate stability needs reviewed his comments rocked the currency markets and helped send the already fragile and overseas stock markets into tailspin the dollar lost more than two pfennigs the about marks and about one yen yen the dow jones industrial average slumped more than points one stage and treasury bonds dropped about points reuter earn tons toys inc tons qtr aug loss shr loss five cts loss eight cts net loss loss sales avg shrs reuter earn anchor financial corp afcx qtr net shr cts cts net nine mths shr cts dlrs net note share reflects issuance common shares december reuter earn photronics corp phot half aug net shr cts cts net sales avg shrs reuter ipi french industrial production fell pct july august from june insee data earn hometown bancorp inc htwn qtr net shr profit five cts profit seven cts net profit profit nine mths shr profit cts loss four cts net profit loss avg shrs reuter earn fidelity federal savings and loan ffed shr cts cts net nine mths shr cts dlrs net note nine mths net includes loss dlrs sale securities and nine recurring charge dlrs for write off fslic secondary reserve reuter acq crazy eddie crcy won oppose slate crazy eddie inc said its board will not oppose the slate nominees proposed for election the board the committee led entertainment marketing inc and the oppenheimer palmieri fund crazy eddie said its board not endorsing but will simply refrain from opposing the emi palmieri nominees the board also said will ask representatives the committee restore shareholder value begin acquainting themselves with the business and affairs the company promptly possible that end the committee representatives will invited advance the annual meeting examine the company financial records monitor its operations and join company officers meetings with the company suppliers bankers and key personnel crazy eddie said the board said that continue oppose the emi palmieri group would only increase the expenses the company create further uncertainty among its suppliers customers and employees and result deterioration moral among company personnel further release from the company will follow said reuter earn horizon bancorp hzb qtr net shr dlrs cts net mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln reuter earn society for savings bancorp inc socs qtr hartford conn oct shr cts cts net nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln reuter earn acc corp qtr net shr profit three cts profit nine cts net profit profit revs avg shrs nine mths shr loss cts profit cts net loss profit revs mln mln avg shrs reuter earn first union real estate investments fur net qtr oper shr cts cts oper net revs mln nine mths oper shr cts cts oper net mln mln revs mln mln note net excludes capital gains dlrs dlrs quarter and dlrs dlrs nine mths reuter earn federal mogul corp fmo qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln sales mln mln note qtr results include extraordinary loss extinguishment debt dlrs cts shr reuter earn usacafes usf qtr net shr cts cts net revs chainwide sales mln mln nine mths shr dlrs cts net revs mln mln chainwide sales mln mln avg shrs reuter earn acme electric corp ace qtr oct two shr cts four cts qtly div eight cts eight cts net revs mln mln note qtr adjusted for five pct stock dividend pain march qtly dividend payable december seven shareholders record november nine reuter earn nbi inc nbi qtr loss sept end shr loss cts loss three cts net loss loss revs mln mln avg shrs note first quarter results include gain from repurchase debentures that had been discounted below market value reuter earn avx corp avx qtr oct three net shr profit cts profit three cts net profit profit revs mln mln avg mln mln nine mths shr profit cts loss cts net profit mln loss revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln reuter earn stratus computer inc stra qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net mln revs mln mln reuter acq sosnoff reduces caesars world caw stake new york investor martin sosnoff said reduced his stake caesars world inc common stock shares pct the company common stock outstanding from about pct sosnoff who tried unsuccessfully acquire caesars world earlier this year said filing with the securities and exchange commission that sold caesars world shares october and dlrs dlrs share sosnoff said holds his caesars world stock primarily for investment purposes also said reserves the right alter his intentions any time reuter acq crazy eddie inc says won oppose slate entertainment marketing earn myers industries inc mye qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln note earnings per share adjusted for for stock split distributed september reuter earn victoria banckshares inc vict qtr net shr profit two cts loss dlrs net profit loss mln nine mths shr profit cts loss dlrs net profit loss mln reuter earn interstate securities inc qtr sept shr cts cts qtly div cts cts prior net revs mln mln year shr cts dlrs net revs mln mln note qtly div payable december shareholders record november reuter earn pancho mexican buffet inc pamx qtr net sept end shr cts cts net vcs revs mln mln avg shrs year shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs fiscal net both periods includes charge dlrs adjust premium reserves for workers compensation and liability insurance claims reuter earn franklin electric inc fele qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net sales mln mln note tax credits added cts third quarter net and cts nine months net compared with credits cts and cts the respective periods reuter earn altus bank alts qtr net oper shr three cts cts oper net nine mths oper shr dlrs dlrs oper net note operating net excludes extraordinary gains dlrs four cts share dlrs cts share quarter and dlrs cts share dlrs cts share the nine months reuter earn kennametal inc kmt qtr sept net shr cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs mln mln reuter earn computer consoles inc ccs qtr net oper shr profit four cts profit cts oper net profit profit revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths oper shr profit cts loss cts oper net profit loss revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln note net excludes tax credits dlrs quarter and dlrs nine mths net both perioods includes charge one mln dlrs from restructuring computer products division reuter earn omnicare inc ocr qtr net shr profit five cts loss one net profit loss revs mln mln nine mths shr profit cts profit cts net profit profit revs mln mln note qtr net includes after tax charge dlrs for sale reliacare inc nine mths net includes charge dlrs cts share for sale reliacare and inspiron hospital products division nine mths net also includes aftertax earnings dlrs dlrs share for american medical international inc ami contracts which expired july reuter cpu industrial capacity use rate pct september unchanged from august earn dime savings bank dime qtr net shr dlrs net mln mln nine mths shr dlrs net mln mln assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans billion billion note full name dime savings bank new york per share figures not available bank converted stock form august qtr and nine mths includes gain mln dlrs and mln dlrs respectively from utilization net operating loss carryforwards qtr and nine mths includes gain mln dlrs and mln dlrs respectively from utilization net operating loss carryforwards qtr and nine mths also includes charge dlrs for the early extinguishment debt net tax benefit reuter acq hal roach hrsi robert halmi rhi merge robert halmi inc said and hal roach studios inc signed definitive agreement merge stock swap value mln dlrs based october closing prices the company said the agreement calls for the holders common stock hal roach exchange their shares one for one basis for shares the combined company said holders robert halmi common will exchange their shares two and one half for one basis for shares the combined company the company said the swap will tax free the company also said qintex ltd pct owner hal roach common stock has agreed use the company the exclusive vehicle for its media and entertainment investments the company said the company said qintex subsidiary also agreed supply minimum mln dlrs line credit the new company which shall used with qintex approval for financing new hri products the company said that under the definitive agreement qintex division will have the right purchase pct the new company the open market private transactions tender offer but will not purchasing warrants bring its ownership pct the new company qintex subsidiary has not achieved this ownership within one year after the completion the merger the subsidiary will have the right two years thereafter request that hri commence rights offering hri stockholders the company said regarding the potential rights offering qintex subsidiary will act standby purchaser the company said the transaction subject the approval both company shareholders the receipt certain tax approvals and the continued employement robert halmi and robert halmi the company said robert halmi who currently chairman and chief executive officer robert halmi inc will chairman the new company and david evans current president and chief operating officer hal roach will become chief executive the company said reuter earn piccadilly cafeterias inc picc qtr net sept end shr cts cts net sales mln mln reuter acq system software ssax completes acquisition system software associates inc said completed its previously announced acquisition admin edp pty ltd for cash and small amount stock admin edp sydney australia full service software sales and services firm reuter earn first michigan bancorp fmbc qtr net shr cts cts net nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net reuter earn countrywide transport cwts qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs note full name countrywide transport services inc reuter earn software services america inc ssoa net shr four cts five cts net revs reuter earn keycorp key qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln avg shrs mln mln note previously reoprted amounts restated for earnings first northwest bancorp acquired pooling interests july reuter earn allied signal inc ald qtr oper net oper shr dlrs cts oper net mln mln revs billion billion nine mths oper shr dlrs dlrs oper net mln mln revs billion billion note qtr and nine mths includes after tax mln dlr cts share gain for increase equity union texas petroleum holdings inc for initial public offering nine mths net includes after tax gain mln dlrs cts share sale remaining interest the henley group inc and other related transactions which was partly offset after tax loss mln dlrs cts share for repurchase high coupon bonds nine mths also excludes mln dlrs for estimated net gain disposal discontinued operations march including linotype group amphenol products ampex corp amounts restated exclude sales and expenses discontinued operations qtr and nine mths oper net excludes operating income mln dlrs and and mln dlrs for discontinued operations nine mths includes mln dlrs cts share after tax gain for reversion surplus pension funds end and third quarter average shares outstanding were mln and mln outstanding after deducting dividends accured preferred stock end and nine mth period average shares were mln and respectively after deducting for preferred stock dividends reuter acq corby distilleries cdl buy heublein unit corby distilleries ltd said has agreed buy toronto based mcguinness distillers ltd from heublein inc for about mln dlrs move which corby expects add significantly domestic earnings heublin subsidiary grand metropolitan plc gmhl corby said mcguinness will remain seperate business unit with seperate sales force mcguinness markets liquers brandy and other liquors and has entered the fast expanding wine cooler market corby said corby said expects benefit from mcguinness succesfull introduction schnapps and coolers and its strength traditional market sectors heublein said the sale does not include mcguinness calona wines ltd canadian wine company heublein said will still represented canada gilbey canada inc reuter reuter earn burr brown corp bbrc qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net sales mln mln reuter earn temple inland inc tin qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion mln reuter earn universal furniture ltd ufurf qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine months shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln note all share and per share data have been adjusted reflect pct stock dividend distrition april and the public offier two mln shares ofthe company june reuter earn schulman inc shlm qtr aug net shr cts cts net sales mln mln year shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln sales mln mln note share adjusted for february three for two split prior year results restated reuter crude usx unit hikes crude oil posted prices marathon petroleum company subsidiary usx corp said lowered posted prices for crude oil cts with effective date october the increase brings posted prices for west texas intermediate and west texas sour dlrs barrel each south louisiana sweet was increased dlrs barrel several indepndent oil companies such permian corp and coastal corp cgp said they had moved prices effective last friday the day sun sun announced cts barrel increase dlrs barrel reuter earn bearings inc ber qtr net sept end primary cts cts diluted shr cts cts net revs mln mln primary avg shrs diluted avg shrs reuter earn chemical waste management inc chw qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln mln reuter crude marathon raised crude posted prices cts barrel effective october earn air products and chemicals inc apd qtr net oper shr cts cts oper net mln mln sales mln mln year oper shr dlrs dlrs oper net mln mln sales billion billion avg shrs mln mln note results restated for discontinued engineering services operations prior year net excludes losses from discontinued operations dlrs quarter and dlrs year fiscal year net excludes dlr charge from early debt retirement fiscal net includes special charges mln dlrs quarter and mln dlrs year from worgroce reduction costs revaluation south african investment reversal investment tax credits and othe items reuter money-fx transatlantic row imperils louvre accord dealers the louvre accord currency stability which has maintained uneasy calm currency markets since last february appeared serious danger today transatlantic dispute over west german interest rates came the boil foreign exchange dealers said but the dollar slid against the mark and world stock and bond markets plunged officials the major industrial countries played down the dispute bilateral problem between the united states and west germany and insisted that the currency pact was still alive treasury secretary james baker sparked the market fears when attacked the rise west german short term interest rates that not keeping with the spirit what agreed recently earlier this month washington baker said television interview sunday was referring the meetings finance ministers from the group seven leading industrial nations which reaffirmed the pact under the louvre accord west germany and japan who both have large trade surpluses pledged boost their economic growth take more exports from the while the agreed stop talking the dollar down however baker said saturday that while the louvre agreement was still operative the west german interest rate move would force the examine the accord the foreign exchange market has been told baker that going hammer germany has just declared all bets are off terms currency cooperation chris johns currency analyst ubs phillips and drew london said but bank japan official took much more sanguine view telling reuters that the exchange market apparently reacting too much and anyone who sold the dollar the baker comment will regret later french finance minister edouard balladur who hosted the louvre meeting was the only one the finance ministers respond directly baker remarks called for faithful and firm adherence all the major industrial countries the louvre accords both their letter and spirit neither the west german finance ministry nor the british treasury commented the row but japanese finance ministry official said that despite frustration over higher interest rates abroad this does not represent its readiness scrap the basic framework the louvre accord frankfurt wilhelm christians joint chief executive west germany largest bank deutsche bank said that following recent meetings with baker believed that the was still committed the accord move which the market interpreted possible gesture reconciliation the bundesbank added short term liquidity the west german money market pct monday down from the pct level which injected medium term liquidity last week the bank france also stepped into the french money market hold down rates injecting short term liquidity pct after rates rose close eight pct reuter acq northview novc plans sell company northview corp said reached agreement principal covering the acquisition the company privately held calmark financial corp the agreement calls for northview make self tender offer for all its outstanding stock price dlrs per share cash calmark headquartered los angeles develops manages and syndicates real estate northview also said reuter earn union national corp unbc qtr net shr cts cts shr diluted cts cts qtly div cts cts prior net nine mths shr dlrs dlrs shr diluted dlrs dlrs net mln mln avg shrs mln note dividend pay dec record nov reuter acq corby distilleries ltd buy heublein mcginness distillers for mln canadian dlrs earn amcast industrial corp acst qtr loss aug shr loss cts profit cts net loss profit revs mln mln avg shrs months shr profit cts loss dlrs net profit loss revs mln mln avg shrs note results include pretax restructuring provisions mln dlrs and mln dlrs for and respectively reuter interest fed arranges three day system repos the federal reserve entered the government securities market arrange three day system repurchase agreements spokesman for the new york fed said federal funds were trading pct the time the direct injection temporary reserves dealers said reuter earn datacopy corp dcpy qtr net shr profit three cts profit one net profit profit revs nine mths shr loss six cts profit two cts net loss profit revs note prior qtr and nine mth figures include extraordinarycredits dlrs and dlrs respectively reuter acq media general meg holders may seek control shareholder group led barris industries inc brss said acquired pct stake media general inc class common stock and may seek seek contorl the company filing with the securities and exchange commission the group said holds shares media general commons stock purchased total cost about mln dlrs addition the possible bid for control the group said may purchase additional media general shares possibly seek one more seats the company board directors through proxy contest bid for control media general would subject recapitalization possible restructuring and possible changes the charter documents and laws the company said the group said had held discussions with third parties gauge their interest joining the shareholder group but agreements were reached talks with third parties are expected continue the shareholder group said between october and barris industries bought shares media general class common stock dlrs dlrs share open market transactions and another shares privately reuter acq skii buy califora ski area ltd and goldmine ski associates inc said they reached agreement calling for buy goldmine california ski area for approximately mln dlrs which owns killlington and mount snow ski resorts said the california ski area located the san bernardino mountains the company said plans invest approximately mln dlrs into the ski area the next few years reuter acq allegis aeg westin sets news conference sale westin hotels and resorts subsidiary allegis corp said will hold press conference october near san francisco discuss the pending sale the hotel chain allegis allegis has said that plans sell westin buyt has not announced that deal has been set reuter gold sweden boliden open saudi arabian gold mine mining group boliden said had agreed with saudi state agency general petroleum and mineral organisation petromin open gold mine saudi arabia exploit one the world richest deposits the metal boliden spokesman goran paulson told reuters the swedish group would responsible for the technical side the operation and would have control over the product itself said one option under discussion for refining the gold ore would ship boliden ronnskar copper smelter northern sweden paulson declined give figure for the deal but said was strategically important since increased boliden presence saudi arabia representatives from petromin have visited ronnskar already see saudi arabia the expansion area the future said the new mine which being developed mahd adh dhahab the west the country and should open the first half would have annual output about kilos gold smelted from around tons ore said boliden already owns pct gold ore deposit saudi arabia but the new venture will the first saudi mine open modern times this breakthrough for boliden sales mining technology and knowhow said the group chief executive kjell nilsson reuter earn american republic bancorp arbc qtr net shr profit cts profit nine cts net profit profit avg shrs nine mths shr profit cts loss cts net profit loss avg shrs reuter acq cal fed income cfi buys two shopping centers cal fed income partners said has acquired two shopping centers for total price mln dlrs the company said bought best plaza shopping center pleasanton calif for mln dlrs and bristol place shopping center santa ana calif for mln dlrs reuter earn firstier financial inc frst qtr net shr dlrs cts net nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln reuter earn southwest bancorp swb qtr loss shr loss primary cts profit cts shr loss diluted cts cts net loss profit avg shrs nine mths shr loss primary cts profit cts shr loss diluted cts cts net loss profit avg shrs loans mln mln deposits mln mln assets mln mln note prior qtr and nine mth figures include operating loss carryforward gains dlrs two cts per share and dlrs four cts per share respectively reuter acq shamrock capital completes central soya sale shamrock capital limited partnership led shamrock holdings inc said completed its sale central soya inc ferruzzi agricola finanziaria italy under terms the sale agreement which was announced september ferruzzi acquired all the equity central soya and assumed subordinated term debt about mln dlrs transaction valued about mln dlrs reuter earn martin marietta qtr net shr dlrs cts net mln mln revs billion billion nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion note qtr and nine mths includes one time after tax charge mln dlrs cts share for previously announced anticipated sale the fourth quarter investment equatorial communications amounts restated increasing net four cts share for change pension expense accounting backlog september was billion dlrs which company said was record reuter money-fx stoltenberg assumes cooperation will continue the west german government assumes that the commitment international monetary cooperation which was renewed washington last month will continue finance ministry spokesman quoted finance minister gerhard stoltenberg saying stoltenberg statement was reaction criticism rises west german interest rates voiced treasury secretary james baker over the weekend reuter acq barris ind says leads group with pct media general may seek control earn neiman marcus group inc nmg qtr aug loss shr not given net loss mln profit revs mln mln six mths shr loss mln profit mln revs mln mln note company recently spun off from carter hawley hale stores inc chh current year net both periods includes mln dlrs pretax charges from carter hawley hale restructuring reuter earn deluxe check printers inc dlx qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln note nine month earnings include nonrecurring gain nine cents share from sale the company data card investment reuter acq transamerica unit buys reinsurance unit transamerica insurance group the main property liability insurance operation transamerica corp said signed definitive agreement acquire newly formed insurer commerical risk underwriters insurance from clarendon group ltd transamerica said the unit which will renamed transamerica reinsurance will initially capitalized about mln dlrs transamerica said the acquisition represents its first move into specialty treaty reinsurance the company said about members clarendon will join transamerica part the acquisition which expected close november and subject various regulatory approvals reuter acq industrial equity has pct triton oil group firms led hong kong based industrial equity pacific ltd said acquired shares triton oil corp common stock pct the company common stock outstanding industrial equity pacific which controlled brierley investments ltd bryw and which has applied with antitrust regulators buy pct triton common stock said the current pct stake was acquired for investment purposes the company said informed triton its present good faith intention buy more than mln dlrs worth triton stock said also told triton may depending market conditions acquire pct more and possibly pct the voting securities triton said received clearance buy pct the stock september industrial equity pacific reported bought shares triton common stock october dlrs share reuter sugar sugar factory closes due shortage beet british sugar plc was forced shut its ipswich sugar factory sunday afternoon due acute shortage beet supplies spokesman said responding reuter inquiry beet supplies have dried ipswich due combination very wet weather which has prevented most farmers the factory catchment area from harvesting and last week hurricane which blocked roads the ipswich factory will remain closed until roads are cleared and supplies beet build again this the first time many years that factory has been closed mid campaign the spokesman added other factories are continuing process beet normally but harvesting remains very difficult most areas ipswich one sugar factories operated british sugar processes excess tonnes beet year out annual beet crop around eight mln tonnes despite the closure ipswich and the severe harvesting problems other factory areas british sugar maintaining its estimate sugar production this campaign around mln tonnes white value against mln last year the spokesman said british sugar processes all sugar beet grown the the sugar beet processing campaign which began last month expected run until the end january sugar factories normally work hours day seven days week during the campaign october pct the sugar crop had been harvested little different the same stage last year when pct had been lifted since then however very wet weather has severely restricted beet lifting harvesting figures for the week october are not yet available reuter earn home savings bank brooklyn hmsb qtr shr cts not given net mln nine mths shr dlrs not given net mln mln note company went public november net both periods includes dlr pretax gain sale branches net includes securities and loan sales loss dlrs pretax gain dlrs quarter and gains dlrs dlrs nine mths and loan losxs provisions dlrs dlrs quarter and dlrs dlrs nine mths reuter money-fx stoltenberg says assumes monetary cooperation will continue earn mci communications corp mcic qtr net shr eight cts six cts net mln mln revs mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net mln mln revs billion billion note qtr and nine mths include pre tax gains from antitrust settlement dlrs and dlrs respectively qtr includes pre tax gain mln dlrs from sale mci airsignal subsidiary and after tax extraordinary loss mln dlrs from early redemption pct subordinated notes reuter earn sterling drug inc sty qtr net shr dlrs cts net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs mln mln note figures restated reflected change accounting methods related pension expenses reuter earn fpl group inc fpl qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs mln mln mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs mln mln reuter interest french week bill rate rises pct from bank france acq multifoods imc files suit against bregman international multifoods corp said filed suit charging bregman partners and its affiliates unlawfully planned acquire control the company suit filed district court international multifoods said bregman partners and its affiliates who reportedly hold pct the company shares tried induce multifood management join them effort take the company private and give controlling interest bregman partners bregman partners include the interests the belzberg families canada the complaint also discloses that each occasion multifoods management rejected the group overtures multifoods asking bregman group divest its shares open market sales manner not further disrupt the market place according the suit the suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages amount determined addition multifoods seeking stop bregman partners from acquiring any more stock voting the shares reportedly owns the suit said according multifoods the actions proposed bregman partners would prevent shareholders from realizing the full benefits the company restructuring the past three years multifoods has substantially altered its domestic business mix divesting its consumere foods operations and emphasizing growth selected segments the foodservice industry reuter earn and qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs billion billion nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net billion billlion revs billion billion note full name american telephone and telegraph note prior quarter and nine mth net reduced mln dlrs two cts per share for estimated costs reduce workforce and consolidate various facilities prior qtr and nine mths include pretax gain mln dlrs from damages paid republic iran and pretax gain mln dlrs from change company ownership ing olivetti spa after tax these gains added mln dlrs six cts per shr net income prior qtr and nine mth results were previously restated reflect change depreciation methods that reduced net income mln dlrs cts per share reuter earn gordon jewelry corp gor qtr aug loss shr loss cts loss cts net loss loss revs mln mln year shr loss dlrs profit dlrs net loss mln profit mln revs mln mln note year includes charge mln dlrs pre tax for inventory valuation allowance year also includes charge mln dlrs from discontinued operations reuter money-fx west germany still committed louvre accord west german government sources said bonn remained committed the louvre accord stabilise currencies which was struck leading western democracies paris last february over the weekend treasury secretary james baker criticised recent rises west german short term interest rates and said such developments were not the spirit the louvre pact said the agreement may have examined the sources said the west german interest rate rises had seen the context interest rate developments worldwide reuter interest fdic seidman says higher rates could harm banks federal deposit insurance corp chairman william seidman said would concerned about the impact banks further sharp rise interest rates however seidman attending the american bankers association convention said did not expect rates rise much higher and said the outlook for the economy and for banking was sound the potential for greater interest rate rises gives concern see nothing right now the outlook that causes believe rates are going much higher that the economy not sound seidman told news conference reuter money-fx fed seen adding reserves via system repos the federal reserve expected enter the government securities market supply reserves the banking system via system repurchase agreements economists said most economists said the fed would execute three day system repurchases meet substantial need add reserves the current maintenance period although some said more aggressive add via overnight system repos was possible federal funds opened pct and remained that level late this morning compared with average effective rate pct friday reuter earn standard products spd qtr sept net shr cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs mln mln note share adjusted for august five for four split reuter earn bankeast corp benh qtr net shr cts cts net nine mths shr cts dlrs net mln reuter earn dallas corp dls qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln nine mths shr cts cts net sales mln mln reuter earn anchor glass container corp anc qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln nine mths oper shr dlrs dlrs oper net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln note nine mths net exclude dlr gain from reversion pension assets net both periods includes pretax charge dlrs from amortization goodwill reuter earn middle south utilities inc msu qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs billion billion nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion reuter acq industrial equity make proposal calmat czm industrial equity pacific ltd hong kong based investment firm leading group holding pct calmat common stock said intends submit calmat proposal for possible business combination filing with the securities and exchange commission industrial equity pacific did not disclose details the proposal but said would delivered calmat the near future industrial equity pacific does not intend remain passive investor calmat the firm told the sec its sec filing industrial equity pacific said its president north american operations ronald langley met with calmat officials october discuss acquisition the company premium over the market price calmat stock industrial equity pacific added considering launching tender offer for calmat stock making merger proposal the company but said has not decided whether will pursue calmat acquisition non negotiated basis industrial equity pacific which currently holds mln calmat common shares said also evaluating the company recently adopted shareholder rights plan and its potential effect calmat and possible acquisition proposals made the company between october and industrial equity pacific bought shares calmat common stock dlrs dlrs share total about mln dlrs reuter acq oregon steel buys kaiser napa valley plant kaiser steel corp plant napa calif has been purchased oregon steel mills for mln dlrs the privately owned portland company said the transaction was approved the bankruptcy judge denver who hearing kaiser steel chapter reorganization case james mccaughey former vice president sales for kaiser has been named general manager for the plant which will called napa pipe corp oregon steel said reuter earn unisys corp uis qtr net shr primary cts cts shr diluted cts cts net mln mln revs billlion billion avg shrs primary mln mln avg shrs diluted mln mln nine mths shr primary dlrs dlrs shr diluted dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs primary mln mln avg shrs diluted mln mln note earnings per share for have been restated reflect for split effective july results for three and nine mths includes results from july sperry corp acquired sept with net income reflecting ownership sperry about pct for the months july and august and pct for the month sept revenue for periods reflects reclassification revenue divested sperry operations other income with effect net income reuter earn woburn five cents savings wobs qtr net shr cts cts net assets mln mln deposits mln mln loans mln mln note full name company woburn five cents savings bank reuter earn first federal savings fcht qtr net shr cts qtly div eight cts eight cts prior net assets mln mln deposits mln mln loans mln mln note per share figures not available because bank converted stock ownership dec dividend payable dec shareholders record nov full name company first federal savings and loan association chattanooga reuter crude coastal cgp raises oil posted prices coastal corp said that effective october had raised posted prices for crude oil cts barrel the increase brings west texas intermediate dlrs barrel and west texas sour dlrs barrel sun sun announced that would make cts barrel increase late friday bringing wti dlrs barrel and traders said that other oil companies could expected increase prices reuter crude tass denounces attack iran adventurism the official soviet news agency tass denounced attack iranian oil drilling platform the gulf monday military adventurism and said would bring dividends the reagan administration tass commentator mikhail krutikhin said the administration had embarked adventurist path order deflect attention from the scandal which the united states sold arms iran and the profits were diverted nicaraguan rebels the confrontation fact now what obvious that the latest military adventure will not bring political dividends the american administration krutikhin said soviet leader mikhail gorbachev and foreign minister eduard shevardnadze abruptly left parliamentary session earlier monday sparking diplomatic speculation that they were concerned with urgent matter foreign affairs soviet officials have previously criticized the united states for sending naval forces into the gulf saying their presence serves increase tension moscow officially neutral the war between iran and iraq major arms supplier iraq but has also sought broader contacts with iran the last year krutikhin said the united states has undertaken act armed aggression against iran the probability which has long been spoken washington officials reuter ship world telecoms watchdog relaxes car phone rules the international telecommunications union which regulates communications worldwide decided the end five week conference allow mobile phone systems linked with satellites telecommunications officials said until now car phones have been linked with land stations and have been limited mainly urban areas the new ruling will make easier for calls made from remote regions the meeting which finished over the weekend also decided allow radio determination satellite system which would enable fleet owners trace within about metres the movements their lorries cars ships around the world reuter earn international research irdv qtr payout qtly div nine cts nine cts prior qtr pay nov record nov note full name international research and development corp reuter earn rohm and haas roh qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln sales mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln sales billion billion reuter acq industrial equity tells sec will send calmat proposal for business combination acq idc services idcs holders offered dlrs idc services inc said new company will begin cash tender offer october acquire all idc outstanding common for dlrs share the company said the offer being made under definitive agreement reached with the new company idc acquisition corp formed apollo partners ltd and investment clients equitable capital management inc the agreement calls for the acquisition idc for about mln dlrs idc acquisition will also tender for all idc outstanding nine pct convertible subordinated debentures idc said the merger agreement also provides for payment equivalent amount respect employee stock options cancelled the merger part the transaction the company said granted idc acquisition option acquire pct the company outstanding shares for dlrs per share said the planned tender offer subject several conditions including the tendering over pct the company outstanding stock mim holdings ltd mima substantial shareholder idc has agreed will not buy any additional idc shares until february seven and has granted idc acquisition right first refusal any idc shares sells during that period the company said said apollo partners was recently organized three former senior viacom inc via executives terrence elkes george catell and kenneth gorman reuter earn monsanto mtc qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net sales billion billion nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net sales billion billion note figures include mln dlrs cts share net gains from facilities and businesses sold shut down impaired and other non recurring income and expenses reuter crude coastal said raised oil postings cts barrel october wti now dlrs acq industries icx may sell aerospace unit industries inc said its board approved second major step the reorganization and restructuring the company implement the plan sharpening its strategic focus consumer goods and services the company will give serious consideration the sale its pneumo abex its aerospace and defense company can realize price which will return maximum value shareholders pneumo abex had operating income mln dlrs sales mln dlrs said will use the proceeds any asset sale invest new high return businesses the consumer goods and services field the company said authorized program repurchase between mln dlrs and billion dlrs common stock from time time when conditions warrant also said will begin immediate cost reduction program cust annual operating expenses mln dlrs spokesman said the cost reduction program involved across the board cuts rather than specific about targeted areas board earlier approved plan spin off the company illinois central gulf railroad shareholders the company other major subsidiaries are pet inc pepsi cola general bottlers midas international corp and hussmann corp reuter earn georgia gulf corp gglf qtr net shr dlrs cts net mln sales mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln sales mln mln reuter earn financial corp america fin qtr loss shr loss dlrs profit cts net loss mln profit mln avg shrs primary mln mln avg shrs diluted mln mln nine mths shr primary loss dlrs profit dlrs shr diluted loss dlrs profit dlrs avg shrs primary mln mln avg shrs diluted mln mln net loss mln profit mln assets billion billion loans billion billion deposits billion billion note net includes fslic sepcial assessment loss qtr and mln mln nine mths net includes gain from sale mortgage backed securities and loans mln mln and mln mln nine mths net includes gain from sale investments qtr and nine mths net includes provision for losses and discounts mln mln qtr and mln mln nine mths nine mths included write off fslic secondary reserve mln reuter acq arnox arnx still merger talks with txl arnox corp said special committee its board continuing talks with txl corp the terms txl offer acquire arnox dlrs per share said txl has arranged preliminary financing reuter earn morgan and inc jpm qtr net shr profit dlrs profit dlrs net profit mln profit mln nine mths shr loss cts profit dlrs net loss mln profit mln assets billion billion loans billion billion deposits billion billion note nine mths include previously reported mln dlr addition loan loss reserve qtr for ldc debts reuter trade cairns group said influential trade talks australian minister for trade negotiations michael duffy said his country and third world commodity producers have formed effective lobby group against farm export subsidies and market access restrictions duffy told press conference the cairns group major agricultural producers which australia and thailand belong has emerged important third force any multilateral trade talks there doubt that the cairns group being seen third force reckoned with both inside the general agreement tariffs and trade and other international trade negotiations said duffy here three day visit after talks the united states the european community and latin america said considerable progress has been made the group towards fighting costly protectionist policies pursued developed countries the minister said the commission new farm trade paper will recognise the heavy financial burdens imposed its common agricultural policy and its future expansion said the reagan administration has also displayed determination resist the currently strong protectionist sentiment the congress reuter acq ibc interstate bakeries ibc bid oversubscribed ibc acquisition corp said received about interstate bakeries corp shares response its tender offer for shares that expired october and will purchase about pct the shares tendered said final proration factor should announced and payment for shares start october ibc made interstate management first boston inc fbc and george braun and reuter acq oregon steel buys kaiser napa valley plant kaiser steel corp plant napa calif has been purchased oregon steel mills for mln dlrs the privately owned portland company said the transaction was approved the bankruptcy judge denver who hearing kaiser steel chapter reorganization case james mccaughey former vice president sales for kaiser has been named general manager for the plant which will called napa pipe corp oregon steel said reuter acq carson pirie crn start proxy mailing carson pirie scott and said plans start mailing proxy materials stockholders connection november special meeting which holders will asked consider previously announced agreement with greyhound corp under the agreement greyhound will acquire merger three the company foodservice operations dobbs international services dobbs houses and carson international the transaction approved carsons said its stockholders will receive dlrs cash and one share common the new carson pirie scott and for each share held reuter earn home savings bank hmsb qtr net shr cts net mln nine mths shr dlrs net mln mln assets billion billion deposits billion billion loans billion mln note qtr and nine mths per share figures not available because bank converted stock form nov reuter acq woolworth completing tender offer woolworth and said that shares armel inc aml common stock were tendered and accepted for payment woolworth under the terms the previosuly announced cash tender offer which expired midnight edt october addition woolowrth said armel shares have been tendered subject guaranteed delivery woolowrth said result the tender offer and options which has exercised purchase armel stock fww acquisiton corp woolworth unit today expects own about pct amrel outstanding stock woolworth said the percent owns does not include class shares armel which were tendered will purchased pursuant the options previuosly announced fww will now proceed with the cash merger which all shares armel other than those held fww woolworth will entitled receive dlrs per share woolworth said expects consummate the deal later this year armel specialty retailer broad line athletic and leisure footwear accessories and other sportswear reuter earn plains petroleum plp qtr net shr cts cts net revs nine mths shr cts cts net revs mln note fasb adopts accounting changes then qtr per share results will restated cts and cts share for nine mths reuter earn wells gardner corp wga qtr net shr profit three cts loss two cts net profit loss revs nine mths shr profit cts loss nine cts net profit loss revs mln mln reuter acq prospect group has pct brinkmann brik new york based prospect group inc prosz said acquired shares brinkmann instruments inc common stock pct the scientific instrument maker common stock outstanding filing with the securities and exchange commission prospect group said bought the brinkmann shares open market transactions between august and october dlrs dlrs total mln dlrs prospect group said bought the stock establish significant minority equity interest the company but does not intend seek control brinkmann the present time prospect group said will review its investment objectives regarding brinkmann warranted market conditions the company performance and other factors including discussions with brinkmann management reuter acq industries says will consider possible sale its aerospace business acq warner wci has pct berkey inc bky stake warner communications inc said its warner communications investors inc unit acquired stock and warrants representing shares berkey inc common stock the equivalent pct the company common stock outstanding filing with the securities and exchange commission warner communications investors said paid about one mln dlrs berkey september acquire shares berkey series convertible preferred stock the preferred stock convertible into berkey common shares and warrants buy another shares warner communications and its subsidiary said the berkey stock held investment which they will review and evaluate from time time reuter earn american cyanamid acy qtr net oper shr cts cts oper net mln mln sales billion mln nine mths oper shr dlrs dlrs oper net mln mln sales billion billion avg shrs mln mln note share data restated reflect pct stock dividend distributed june operating net both periods excludes additional gain mln dlrs cts share associated with sale formica brand products group business nine month operating net includes pre tax gain mln dlrs equal about cts share from sale jacqueline cochran businesses reuter earn tandy corp tan qtr sept net shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln reuter earn bell atlantic corp bel qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion billion avg shrs mln mln reuter earn wang laboratories inc wanb qtr sept shr profit cts loss cts net profit mln loss mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln note prior year net includes five mln dlr tax credit reuter earn brockway inc brk qtr net shr cts cts net mln sales mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln sales mln mln note share adjusted for december three for two split reuter acq telex may seek other purchasers telex corp said its board has directed management and financial advisor drexel burnham lambert inc investigate possible alternatives the tender offer asher edelman tlx partners for all telex shares that may include seeking other purchasers for telex the company said the board october meeting decided defer until board meeting later this week recommendation the edelman offer and said the board expects make recommendation october reuter acq ibc acquisition gets shares tender buy pct ipi soviet union sets pct industrial output growth soviet planning chief nikolai talyzin told the supreme soviet parliament industrial output planned rise pct from planned pct the first nine months this year industrial output rose pct talyzin said national income the nearest soviet equivalent gross national product planned rise pct against planned pct this year said grain production planned mln tonnes compared with planned mln this year the soviet union produced mln tonnes grain and the soviet press has said heavy rain has affected the harvest this year talyzin said the soviet plan stressed the engineering industry which kremlin leader mikhail gorbachev has described sector where rapid modernisation essential the soviet union compete effectively world markets certain difficulties have arisen this year the machine building industry the economy not receiving considerable amount the equipment that requires said talyzin who heads the state planning committee gosplan soviet data show the machine building industry which makes machine tools instruments and other engineering goods increased output pct the first nine months this year against the same period this well below the pct rise planned for the industry for all talyzin said the ruling politburo concluded recent meeting that improvement economic performance depended large extent conserving resources better large scale measures are planned save resources said finance minister boris gustev told the supreme soviet defence spending would total billion roubles the same announced last year talyzin said the kremlin also had decided increase spending next year medical services education pensions and social insurance schemes said state expenditures these fields would reach billion roubles billion roubles more than had originally been envisaged the five year plan reuter acq idc services agrees acquired for dlrs share apollo partners group acq management group has restaurant majority restaurant associates industries inc said the management group led chairman martin brody and president max pine through october had received class and class shares response its tender offer for all shares dlrs each giving thema majority each class shares the company said the tender has been extended until november reuter earn xidex corp xidx qtr sept net shr cts cts net sales mln mln note prior year net includes gain dlrs from sale shares seagate technology corp sgat reuter earn calfed inc cal qtr net shr dlrs dlrs diluted shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln nine months shr dlrs dlrs diluted shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln reuter earn security pacific corp spc qtr net shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine months shr cts dlrs net mln mln avg shrs mln mln note prior period data have been restated include pooling interest basis the august acquisition rainier bancorporation reuter earn phelps dodge corp qtr net shr dlrs cts net mln mln revs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs billion mln note qtr net includes about dlrs after tax extraordinary gain retirement debt reuter earn crane qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net mln mln revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln note figures reflect the adjustment for for split may net for nine mths includes cumulative effect change accounting for gain pension assets reversion mln cts shr reuter acq telex corp investigate alternatives tlx partners bid may seek other purchasers earn lotus development corp lots qtr net shr cts cts net mln sales mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths shr dlrs cts net mln mln sales mln mln avg shrs mln mln note share adjusted for february two for one split reuter earn southwest bancorp swb qtr loss oper shr loss cts profit cts oper net loss profit avg shrs nine mths oper shr loss cts profit cts oper net loss profit avg shrs note net excludes tax loss carryforwards dlrs quarter and dlrs nine mths quarter net includes dlr tax credit net both periods includes dlr addition loan loss reserves due mostly one out state real estate transaction reuter earn gatx corp gmt qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs nine mths shr dlrs dlrs net revs mln mln avg shrs note earnings include loss from discontinued operations dlrs cts share the quarter and gain dlrs cts share for the nine months reuter earn microsoft corp msft qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln revs mln mln reuter earn cms energy corp cms qtr net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs nine mths shr dlrs cts net revs billion billion avg shrs note data restated for adoption new accounting standard relating pensions nine month earnings include mln dlr after tax writeoff the qtr portion the assets the company midland nuclear project reuter acq shamrock completes central soya sale ferruzzi shamrock capital said has completed the sale cental soya inc ferruzzi agricola finanziaria the holding company for the ferruzzi group ravenna italy shamrock capital limited partnership led shamrock holdings inc the roy disney family company under the agreement announced last month ferruzzi acquired all the equity and assumed subordinated term debt about mln dlrs transaction valued about mln dlrs reuter earn curtice burns foods inc cbi qtr net qtr ends sept shr cts cts net revs mln mln note qtr figures exclude effect tax reform act which retroactively reduced earnings from cts cts per shr reuter earn lindberg lind qtr net shr profit cts profit eight cts net profit profit sales mln mln nine mths shr loss cts profit cts net loss profit sales mln mln avg shrs note earnings the qtr were reduced dlrs cts share from charge reflecting elimination transfer certain product lines and operations the company racine wis foundry reuter acq shamrock completes central soya sale ferruzzi shamrock capital said has completed the sale cental soya inc ferruzzi agricola finanziaria the holding company for the ferruzzi group ravenna italy shamrock capital limited partnership led shamrock holdings inc the roy disney family company under the agreement announced last month ferruzzi acquired all the equity and assumed subordinated term debt about mln dlrs trction valued about mln dlrs reuter crude weinberger says forces attacked iranian oil platform acq cable and wireless restructures units cable and wireless plc cawl said its subsidiary hong kong telephone ltd would cease listed company following the restructure the company hong kong units earlier today the company announced that hong kong telephone and cable and wireless hong kong which the territory government has pct stake would become subsidiaries newly formed holding company hong kong telecommunications exchange for the cable and wireless hong kong capital hong kong telecommunications will issue billion new shares cable and wireless plc cable and wireless far east ltd that subsidiary now holds the group pct stake cable and wireless hong kong and about pct telephone will issue additional billion shares the goverment that will leave the cable and wireless group with pct stake hong kong telecommunications the government pct and nine pct public hands but that will reduced early next year after placement pct the issued shares hong kong telecommunications both cable and wireless and the government reuter acq gaf gaf group reconsiders buyout bid gaf corp said the management group led chairman samuel heyman intends reconsider its proposal acquire gaf september the group offered dlrs cash and dlrs principal amount pct junior subordinated debentures due for each gaf share heyman owns about gaf mln shares outstanding letter the committee independent directors formed consider the offer heyman said will have modify the terms the offer continue the bid due rising interest rates and financial market conditions heyman said the considerable time that has elapsed since our original proposal was submitted the credit and financial markets have experienced extraordinary and almost unprecedented deterioration the present time the average interest rate the financing which proposed raise connection with the acquisition has increased since the original proposal approximately basis points said the group intends promptly review all available options including the revision its offer reflect current market conditions reuter bop korea current surplus seen near bln dlrs south korea national news agency yonhap said this year current account surplus will near billion dlrs amid signs continuing high world demand for the country cheap cars and electronic goods bank korea officials would neither confirm nor deny the yonhap forecast saying only that the bank would issue its own figures later the week yonhap said the january september surplus the current account which covers trade goods and services totalled billion dlrs this already exceeds the seven billion dlr ceiling for the whole that the government set june during talks with the international monetary fund aimed averting too rapid revaluation the won against the dollar the agency said the september surplus was billion dlrs from mln august and mln year earlier exports october could relatively modest due many public holidays but the end this year the surplus will well over nine billion dollars close ten yonhap said the sharp rise the september surplus came from resumption export deliveries delayed strikes the previous month more than companies including car manufacturers electronic and electric firms were hit labour unrest between july and september the south korean government originally targeted five billion dlr current account surplus this year but had raise this seven billion reflect startling first half export boom confirmed the soaring current account surplus seemed certain trigger tougher pressure from the united states which recorded billion dlr trade deficit with seoul last year government economists said the government trying stem protectionist pressure home has called south korea open more markets american goods and revalue the won faster the won was fixed against the dollar monday representing pct gain far this year reuter earn ply gem industries inc pgi qtr net shr cts cts shr diluted cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs mln avg shrs diluted mln mln nine mths shr cts cts shr diluted cts cts net mln sales mln mln avg shrs mln avg shrs diluted mln mln reuter money-fx deutsche bank chief says louvre pact still intact deutsche bank joint chief executive friedrich wilhelm christians said believed the louvre accord currency stability was still intact christians told news conference met treasury secretary james baker the last two weeks after short term german interest rates had risen twice sure that with marks the dollar still within the louvre agreement not see that the accord has been terminated christians said was responding questions about comments baker who said the louvre accord was still operative but criticised rises west german interest rates reuter acq gaf corp said management group reconsider acquisition proposal earn emulex corp emlx qtr sept net shr cts cts net revs mln mln avg shrs mln mln reuter earn lyphomed inc lmed qtr net shr cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs nine mths shr cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs note earnings adjusted for three for two stock split paid june reuter crude shipping sources say unidentified jets raid iranian oil platforms southern gulf earn intellicorp inai qtr sept loss shr loss nine cts loss cts net loss loss revs avg shrs note current year net includes charge dlrs from amortization previously capitalized software costs capitalized product development costs dlrs dlrs reuter earn owens and minor inc obod qtr net shr cts cts shr diluted cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs avg shrs diluted nine mths shr dlrs cts shr diluted cts cts net sales mln mln avg shrs avg shrs diluted reuter earn trinova corp tnv qtr net shr cts cts net mln mln sales mln mln avg shrs mln mln nine mths oper shr dlrs cts oper net mln mln sales billion billion avg shrs mln mln note nine mths net includes mln dlr provision for restructuring but excludes mln dlr gain sale discontinued glass business and dlr gain from discontinued operations quarter orders mln dlrs mln dlrs backlog mln dlrs mln dlrs reuter ship pentagon has information iran attack rumors defense department spokesman said had information london oil and stock market rumors that the united states had launched retaliatory strike against iran for attack friday that damaged shi don have anything major randy morger said have information all president reagan said sunday had already made decision the response friday iran attack but would not say what the decision was defense secretary caspar weinberger said saturday the attack flagged ship kuwaiti waters friday was almost certainly iran silkworm missile some the rumors the london markets were that the united states had launched offshore strike against iranian missile installations reuter crude south yemen plans oil export pipeline mees south yemen planning major oil pipeline system completed months time start exports initial rate barrels per day bpd the middle east economic survey mees said mees said government approval for the export pipeline followed visit aden high ranking delegation from the soviet union which will help south yemen construct the line the engineering studies for the pipeline are nearly finished and construction expected start early next year the industry newsletter said the pipeline will run about kms miles from shabwa oilfields coastal terminal bir ali the gulf aden mees said mees said the soviet firm technoexport which developing oilfileds for south yemen has substantially increased its initial reserve estimates and recommended pipeline with eventual bpd capacity the discovery commercial quaotities oil was confirmed technoexport earlier this year three structures the shabwa region the northwestern part the country kms east north yemen alif oilfield reuter acq trafalgar house buys builder for mln dlrs trafalgar house plc traf said has acquired the entire share capital capital homes inc the for mln dlrs cash capital homes builds single family homes the washington area and also active land developer both for its own use and for sale other builders the financial year end february capital recorded pre tax profits mln dlrs turnover mln dlrs from the sale homes capital has land bank some units and the current year the company expects sell homes trafalgar house said reuter money-fx balladur insists maintenance louvre accords french finance minister edouard balladur issued firm call for the continued faithful application the louvre accords currency stability all major industrial countries balladur responding weekend remarks treasury secretary james baker that the would take another look the accords said firmly desire faithfull and firm adherence all the major industrial countries the louvre accords both their letter and spirit sunday baker said last week rise short term west german interest rates was not keeping with the accords the louvre accords agreed paris last february called for stability among the major currencies after prolonged dollar slide the accords were reaffirmed the group seven finance ministers washington last month but baker said the weekend that the west german rate rise was not keeping with the spirit what agreed what really saying that they should not expect simply sit back here and accept increased tightening their part the assumption that somehow are going follow them added reuter ship iran warns against raising tension gulf iran warned the united states monday against exacerbating the gulf crisis saying would endanger american interests tehran radio monitored the british broadcasting corporation said spokesman for iran war information headquarters was responding officials remarks about taking military action against iran the radio also quoted iranian foreign ministry spokesman saying iran would respond decisively any aggressive measure the united states the radio said the spokesman made the statement following the attack kuwaiti ship under the flag and comments american officials carrying out retaliatory action against iran the spokesman said any military aggression against iran will certainly the beginning extensive clash the persian gulf and amidst this our principled policy confront any act which escalates tension reuter bop norway current account deficit norway current account showed billion crown deficit for the first seven months against billion crown deficit for the same year ago period the central bureau statistics said north sea oil and gas revenues rose pct billion crowns the january july period compared with billion the first seven months reuter money-fx bonn ministry has comment baker remarks the west german finance ministry declined comment weekend criticism treasury secretary james baker recent west german interest rate increases baker said the would examine the february louvre accord stabilise currencies reached leading industrial democracies the rise west germany short term interest rates was not the spirit agreement these nations washington which reaffirmed the louvre pact said finance ministry spokesman asked for official ministry reaction baker remarks said could make comment reuter ship animal feed ship fire again chinese port the cyprus vessel fearless tonnes which was fire grounded then towed yantai china august had all its cargo reloaded but the cargo the hold caught fire october the fire was put out with salt water and water from the hold has spread over most the cargo some water also the hold bottom patching was reported complete but only the starboard wing tank has been pumped out and remains dry the engine room flooded about three metres the ship was originally loaded with tonnes animal feed reuter cpi philippine inflation predicted rise the philippine inflation rate will rise pct from pct the government implements employers association recommendation for pct increase the peso minimum daily wage this month economic planning secretary solita monsod said the government own proposal for across the board daily pay rise six pesos for non agricultural workers and eight pesos for agriculture workers would push the full year average higher pct she told the senate last week the pct rise the minimum wage recommended the employers confederation the philippines ecop the ecop proposal would push the year year inflation rate pct december compared with the predicted pct the government recommendation implemented solita said both were proposed last month annual inflation for was forecast four pct the national economic and development authority early this month the first three months the year inflation was negative and pct respectively rising and pct april may and june the national statistics office said the annual inflation rate rose pct june pct july and and pct august and september respectively the national statistics office said attributed the acceleration higher fuel and water prices the government six and eight peso wage increases would displace workers monsod said bringing the number unemployed mln pct the population reuter sugar soviet sugar consumption home brewing grows sharp rise soviet sugar consumption since the start the kremlin anti alcohol drive indicates home brewing costing the state billion roubles lost vodka sales pravda said the communist party newspaper said sugar sales had increased one mln tonnes year enough turned into two billion bottles moonshine current vodka prices roubles bottle said this meant illicit alcohol consumption had reached the equivalent billion roubles year annual revenues from vodka sales before the may anti alchohol decree official statistics show reduction consumption vodka but this deceptive statistic does not count home brew pravda said the epidemic first engulfed the villages and has now also firmly settled into cities where the availability natural gas running water and privacy has made much easier kremlin leader mikhail gorbachev launched the anti alcohol campaign shortly after taking office march first step improving soviet economic performance which had been seriously hurt drunkenness among the working population reuter acq equiticorp holding guinness reaches pct equiticorp holdings ltd equw now owns has received acceptances representing pct the issued ordinary share capital guinness peat group plc gnsp equiticorp said statement equiticorp offer for guinness peat became unconditional october when had pct and closed october reuter money-fx banks extend trading halt lebanese pound lebanon bankers association said extended its suspension trading the lebanese pound for two more working days study ways stem the currency collapse the central bank did not post the rate the pound the dollar and other currencies monday the pound closed thursday the dollar compared with wednesday close association sources told reuters friday suspension trading for two working days was continued monday for two more days study proposals reinforce the pound the association which comprises commercial banks east and west beirut halted trading friday chaotic market after the pound crashed four record lows the week the pound hit the inability lebanon religiously and ideologically divided government end years civil war has lost more than pct its international value this year reuter crude statoil places north sea veslefrikk field orders den norske stats oljeselskap statoil stat operator norway north sea veslefrikk oil field has placed field development contracts totalling billion crowns with two domestic yards the company said statement moss rosenberg verft subsidiary kvaerner industrier kvio won billion crown contract convert statoil semisubmersible rig west vision floating production platform and build the deck for separate fixed well head platform placed the field said statoil said aker verdal unit aker norcem amvo won mln crown contract design and build the well head platform tonne steel substructure stand metres water next the converted rig statoil said using floating production unit rather than fixed platform would cut construction time enabling field partners bring veslefrikk stream late several months earlier than previously planned veslefrikk with estimated recoverable reserves mln barrels oil and billion cubic feet gas located west bergen statoil estimates the field total development cost including drilling billion crowns planned daily output barrels oil and mln cubic feet gas veslefrikk oil will landed via the nearby oseberg field pipeline the sture crude terminal near bergen its gas will fed into the statpipe line which gathers gas from norway statfjord gullfaks and oseberg fields partners the field are statoil the operator with pct share unocal norge pct deminex norge pct norsk hydro nhy nine pct and svenska petroleum pct reuter acq cable and wireless details merger units cable and wireless plc cawl said will merge its hong kong telephone ltd telh and cable and wireless hong kong ltd units into new holding firm called hong kong telecommunications ltd under the merger telephone shareholders will receive two telecommunication shares par value cents for each telephone share par one dlr telephone shareholders other than the cable and wireless group will receive warrants one for five basis entitling them acquire from cable and wireless plc within five years one telecom share dlrs each the cable and wireless plc group now holds some pct telephone also owns pct cable and wireless hong kong while the hong kong government holds the balance trading telephone shares was suspended october the shares last traded dlrs reuter earn tdk group net pct nine months nine months ended august group shr yen yen group shr per ads net billion billion pretax billion billion sales billion billion company full name tdk corp tdk reuter earn tdk group net pct three months august third quarter ended august group shr yen group shr per ads net billion billion pretax billion billion sales billion billion company full name tdk corp tdk reuter acq cable and wireless merge two units into new telecommunication operation money-fx balladur insists maintenance louvre accords french finance minister edouard balladur issued firm call for the continued faithful application the louvre accords currency stability all major industrial countries balladur responding weekend remarks treasury secretary james baker that the would take another look the accords said firmly desire faithfull and firm adherence all the major industrial countries the louvre accords both their letter and spirit sunday baker said last week rise short term west german interest rates was not keeping with the accords the louvre accords agreed paris last february called for stability among the major currencies after prolonged dollar slide the accords were reaffirmed the group seven finance ministers washington last month but baker said the weekend that the west german rate rise was not keeping with the spirit what agreed what really saying that they should not expect simply sit back here and accept increased tightening their part the assumption that somehow are going follow them added reuter rubber rubber stock manager says quality acceptable international rubber organisation inro buffer stock manager aldo hofmeister said tests had shown the quality rubber stock was acceptable but acknowledged that some consumers were now wary buying have said all along that the rubber holding well from condition and quality standpoint rubber stored proper conditions does not deteriorate told reuters telephone interview the quality buffer stock rubber sold since entered the market september would discussed inro council meeting which opened here today said tokyo traders said friday they had little interest buying rubber from the inro buffer stock because possible poor quality hofmeister began selling rubber when prices exceeded the may sell level cents per early last month inro five day moving average was quoted cents october said the quality five six year old rubber stock was uppermost consumers minds have received good interest for the rubber understand the japanese concern many consumers want try the rubber before they carry buying said hofmeister said inro rubber was stored different locations producing and consuming nations adding all warehouses used were suitable for long term storage selling buffer stock rubber had levelled off during the past week days and this could reflect wait and see attitude buyers said consumers are holding back from buying additional amounts until they test out the rubber their tests are positiive they are likely buy more hofmeister said could reduce the offer price buffer stock rubber stimulate interest but inro did not want depress prices artificially hofmeister declined comment japanese trade estimates that had sold around tonnes kuala lumpur and new york since september but said japanese traders were position have idea the quantity had sold noting that traders overall had put buffer stock sales between and tonnes the question sales from the original tonne buffer stock expected the main topic the council meeting which scheduled end thursday the current international rubber pact expires october the deadline for the new pact start january and hofmeister has been mandated continue selling rubber during the interim period reuter trade philippine trade gap widens january august the philippines trade deficit widened mln dlrs the eight months end august from mln dlrs the same period the national statistics office said said exports the eight month period rose billion dlrs from billion while imports rose billion dlrs from billion year earlier the country trade deficit totalled mln dlrs reuter sugar new zealand imposes sanctions against fiji new zealand has imposed sanctions against fiji response that country change status republic acting prime minister geoffrey palmer said the sanctions will end all military cooperation and cut economic aid new zealand will also not renew agreement which supports the price fijian sugar when expires march the loss aid and sugar supports will cost fiji about mln dlrs year palmer told reporters after cabinet meeting that the government had asked high commissioner rod gates return from suva for discussions about other possible measures won reacting further until these discussions with the high commissioner and the prime minister have been held palmer said the sanctions were approved the cabinet soon after colonel sitivene rabuka staged his second coup september implementation was postponed the hope that rabuka might turn back from declaring republic palmer said the cabinet was happy with the statement from commonwealth leaders vancouver that fiji membership the commonwealth had lapsed prime minister david lange hawaii his way home from vancouver reuter coffee uganda plans export roasted coffee europe uganda plans export roasted coffee europe the end prominent local businessman said sendi said sunday that uganda ministry industry supports his plan build factory roast grind and pack local coffee for export construction will start december and the factory should ready next october said the marketing ministry has authorised the coffee marketing board supply his company unipack with tonnes beans year for processing and export sendi also told reporters had negotiated mln french franc loan from the banque industrielle afrique oriental paris uganda the world fifth largest coffee producer and expects produce about tonnes this year market sources say roasted coffee exports will benefit uganda economy they will not included the mln bag export quota assigned the country under the latest international coffee agreement addition the value roasted coffee should substantially higher than that unroasted beans they said the the biggest buyer ugandan coffee most which used produce instant coffee reuter crude iran soviet union swap crude refined products the soviet union has agreed supply iran with refined oil products exchange for barrels per day crude iran national news agency irna said irna monitored nicosia quoted oil minister gholamreza aqazadeh saying his return tehran from moscow that the agreement was part protocol economic cooperation signed during his visit the amount crude delivered the soviet union might double bpd later said aqazadeh said the two sides agreed conduct feasibility studies for pipeline take iranian crude from fields southern iran the black sea through the soviet union iran pursuing the pipeline project protect part its oil exports from iraqi air attacks the gulf irna made mention natural gas exports the soviet union which aqazadeh had said would discussed before left for moscow iran lost most its refining capacity early the gulf war and now imports several hundred thousand bpd refined products aqazadeh said soviet refined products would delivered the caspian sea ports anzali and nowshahr neka near the caspian and jolfa north west iran reuter acq chase corp makes offer for entregrowth chase corp ltd chca said will make offer for all fully paid shares and options entregrowth international ltd does not already own chase property investment firm said holds pct entregrowth its vehicle for expansion north america said agreements are being concluded give beneficial pct interest the offer for the remaining shares one chase share for every three entregrowth shares and one chase option for every four entregrowth options chase shares closed friday dlrs and the options entregrowth closed dlrs and options cents chase said the offer for the remaining pct entregrowth worth mln dlrs involved the issue mln chase shares and mln chase options chase chairman colin reynolds said the takeover would allow entregrowth concentrate north american operations with access chase international funding base and stronger executive team said there also would benefits from integrating new zealand investment activities chase said the offer conditional receiving accptances for least pct the shares and options reuter ship japan india conference cuts gulf war risk charges the japan india pakistan gulf japan shipping conference said would cut the extra risk insurance surcharges shipments iranian and iraqi ports minimum three pct from pct october said surcharges shipments all break bulk cargoes non iraqi arab ports would reduced pct from conference spokesman declined say why the move was taken time heightened tension the gulf reuter ipi soviet industrial growth trade slower the soviet union industrial output growing slower pace than and foreign trade has fallen central statistical office figures show figures the communist party newspaper pravda show industrial production rose pct the first nine months against pct the same period foreign trade the same period fell pct from the period exports fell pct and imports dropped pct foreign trade the nine months totalled billion roubles separate import and export figures were not given one factor affecting industrial growth was the introduction new quality control plan western economists said last year calculations industrial output included all goods irrespective quality under the new plan introduced line with soviet leader mikhail gorbachev drive modernise the economy special inspectors have the right reject goods they consider below standard pravda said mln roubles worth defective goods were rejected the nine month period the figures also showed that october there were more than cooperative enterprises employing over people more than were employed the private sector pravda said without giving comparative figures the promotion the cooperative and private sectors the economy has been important part the modernisation campaign with measures introduced recently allow the setting small shops private basis labour productivity rose pct the first nine months against pct growth january september but western economists said they treat soviet productivity figures with caution they are more broadly based than the west which measures worker output over given period pravda said there were mln people the soviet union october the january september period mln people were employed rise pct the same period last year average earnings were roubles month against roubles year ago reuter gold six killed south african gold mine accident six black miners have been killed and two injured rock fall three underground south african gold mine the owners said sunday rand mines properties ltd one south africa big six mining companies said statement that the accident occurred saturday morning the east rand proprietary mines ltd mine boksburg east johannesburg company spokesman could not elaborate the short statement reuter