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Corporate Economy Expressions Markets Leisure 24 January 1998   Call rates zoom to 100 per cent All rates zoomed to 100 per cent on Friday with banks rushing to borrow to cover their short-term requirements. The overnight market opened at a high of 65-75 per cent and shot up to 100 per cent in the morning session itself before closing at 75 per cent in a day of high demand for short-term funds amid an extremely tight liquidity position.   BSE scraps 25-paise tick on specified-group scrips In an attempt to meet market standards and facilitate jobbers, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has decided to do away with the rigidity of imposing a tick size of 25 paise on A group stocks. However, stocks valued at over Rs 200 will continue to attract a tick size of 25 paise. Ambi moots prescription to prod primary market into life The Association of Merchant Bankers in India (Ambi) has made a novel recommendation to help revive the primary market. The association has suggested that any company planning to tap the market should issue convertible debentures instead of equity shares. Banks scrambling for retail depository accounts Banks have stepped up efforts to get more and more retail depository accounts opened with them following the introduction of compulsory demat trading for institutions from January 15. HDFC Bank has written to all its account holders in Mumbai inviting them to open depository account with it. The new generation private sector bank will soon extend the service to other metros also.   Depository working group to review paperless trading The Securities and Exchange Board of India's (SEBI) depository working group will be meeting in the first week of February with a view to review the progress of the depository and trading in dematerialised shares. The trading in the dematerialised section is still to gain momentum, there are signs that trading will improve. FISE seeks waiver of TGF as pre-condition for demat trading In an attempt to speed up the switch over to demat trading on regional exchanges, the Federation of Indian Stock Exchanges (FISE) has decided to initiate a dialogue with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to waive the trade guarantee fund (TGF) as a pre-condition. FISE believes there is no correlation between demat trading and TGF, since the pay-in and pay-out are being routed through the clearing houses and closely monitored by the exchanges.     Precious metals decline; groundnut oil weak   Inter-connected exchange to start operations in May   Poor sentiment strikes a blow to Lunar New Year rally prospects   DSP Merrill expects long-term gains in India   ITC-Threadneedle lifts 1 per cent exit load on High Interest fund   Mumbai bourse bid to plug capital-adequacy loophole   Punjab National Bank hikes PLR   Showcause notice to Hiten Dalal   Ganesh Benzoplast   Downturn in plastics unlikely to dent earnings   Market Round-Up   FISE seeks demat trading on all bourses   Power Grid defers $50m external debt plan   Erosion in prices likely to continue   Crisil downgrades PCDs of Hindustan Development   Head for the dollar, says market   Market Briefing