COMPANIES

• Call hold: Govt to rethink BSNL-MTNL merger
• STAR to revamp ad sales ops
• No shock therapy for reforms: PM
• Mphasis BFL's Q2 net up 61% to Rs 10 cr
• Whirlpool retains No. 1 slot, but firms remain downbeat
• Telco’s HI sales vault 32% to 45,598 units
• Ranbaxy not to shift OTC sale to FMCG stockists
• Kinetic Engineering steps into used bikes segment
• Indian Airlines saves $7.5 mn on lease rental dip
• Alstom keen on India for global sourcing base
• Bajaj Auto plans to drive up export volumes
• Maruti to improve productivity, reduce cost
• Indigenous LPG kit for small cars launched
• New Holland launches new series of tractors
• 6-day week again at MICO plant
• Kodak UK's open offer closes today
• Tax assn wants Govt to defer new depreciation rates
• Pharmacia clears VRS for Abbott head office staff
• Indo Rama's spun yarn business to be demerged - Lenders approve restructuring scheme
• Elque Polyesters' promoters keen to shed entire stake
• Berger to buy Snowcem paints business - Due diligence process to be taken up soon
• Citibank Overseas buys 10 pc more of e-Serve
• Alopa, ARRIS sign pact
• Damocle's sword hangs over Hindustan Photo - BIFR deadline for revival plan is Oct 16
• Mysore Lamps can be turned around: Union
• Smaller PSUs being lined up for divestment

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

• Asia set for a bumpy ride, India to improve in '03
• Deutsche Telekom to axe another 4,500 jobs
• Bush wins end to West Coast lockout
• Bush intervenes in port lockout

GENERAL

• Antony settles for minor power tariff hike
• ‘Mkt access must guide non-farm talks’
• GoM suggests cut in fertiliser subsidy
• Dumping duty on Chinese caustic soda

BANKING AND FINANCE

• RBI lists out early warning signals to arrest NPA slide
• BoR inks pact to sell Birla Sun Life insurance products
• Sundaram Home to leverage SFL strength for Rural push
• IDBI Bank incentivises home loan balance transfer
• Allahabad Bank plans to expand in south
• ABN-Amro to upgrade dealing room
• Re gains 4 paise; gilts rise
• Andhra Bank cuts home loan rates
• Insurance pool system goes
• PSB's loan scheme for medical practitioners
• Lending curbs on banks may spur term money market
• Allahabad Bank to merge subsidiary
• No move now to raise cap on voting rights in banks

CAPITAL MARKET

• Dow crashes 215 points at close
• Bear domination
• IndusInd Bank official deposes in CSE case
• VSF sales to rescue Grasim results
• Funds active in auto stocks
• DSQ plummets
• Tech stocks fall on profit-booking
• SEBI to introduce straight through processing
• Two-wheeler stocks have a good ride

PEOPLE

• Two Americans share economics Nobel