COMPANIES

• LG sets up Rs 40-crore fund for ICC World Cup marketing
• Orchid on the prowl, targets acquisitions in formulation biz
• NPIL board approves merger with GBDFC
• STAR India not to hike rates, wants more subscriber declarations instead
• HPCL, Gail to set up JV for fuel marketing in Andhra
• German firm plans to buy 20% in Insilco
• Nestle seeks government nod to extend pact with parent
• Birla Sun Life set to tap pension segment by '02
• Sharp, L&T tie up for hi-tech office products
• Sahara malls to screen Inox multiplexes
• Cyrus to quit MTV for JWT
• Phaneesh to float BPO firm
• Deepak Roy to take over Diageo's IMFL business
• OIL in pact with Venezuelan firm for exploration
• Loan subsidies to states to hit PFC bottomline
• Invensys to expand IDC; mulls BPO centre

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

• UK watchdog fines Hasbro for price-fixing
• Saudis may sell US investments, says report
• Former hostages sue Moscow over theatre siege

GENERAL

• EOU body for restoration of income tax exemptions
• EU wins cotton trade case against India
• Delhi Declaration to be signed during Putin visit
• A-I gets nod to acquire 17 aircraft
• Petrol, diesel price set to be cut today

BANKING AND FINANCE

• RBI allows PNB to cut stake in PD arm to 30 per cent
• KPMG plans training in anti-money laundering provisions
• IDBI Bank stops sale of Tata AIG products via ATMs
• United India inks pact with South Indian Bank
• BoI to outsource HR systems
• IIBI to service own bonds
• Union Bank cuts PLR
• Bonds fall on profit-taking
• Canara Bank cuts long-term deposit rates

CAPITAL MARKET

• HDFC Mutual launches ATMF service
• Heavy selling in Grasim
• Sustained buying lifts second-rung techs
• Sensex closes 8 points up
• Sebi allows 500 firms on derivatives list
• Cefuroxime booster for Ranbaxy
• Pantaloon Retail jumps on `Big Bazaar' growth hopes
• SEs allowed to expand derivatives segment
• Keep off L&T stocks, Sebi tells Grasim
• Allahabad Bank listed at Rs 2.70 premium on BSE