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Corporate Economy Expressions Markets Leisure 24 February 1998   Reserve Bank steps in as rupee dips to 39.26 The Reserve Bank of India on Monday intervened in the spot market as the rupee fell below 39 again the dollar. The rupee weakened to 39.22/26 after opening at 38.96/98, on a day marked by heavy buying from State Bank of India.   Asian currencies slump as G7 meet disappoints Asian currencies slipped in early Monday trade after a meeting of G7 finance ministers failed to announce new moves to bolster the currencies. Analysts say foreign exchange markets were disappointed by the statements from the G7 ministers, even though little was really expected from the meeting. Speculators swoop down on bank stocks in anticipation of mergers With speculation rife on mergers and acquisitions in the banking industry, punters have trained their guns on bank stocks. This can be discerned by the sharp increase in the volumes of most banking scrips on the Bombay Stock Exchange. Unfazed by Barclays' denial, European stocks surge London stocks were buoyant in early trading Monday on prospects of new mergers and buy-outs and a good performance on Wall Street. The FT-SE 100 index of key shares was up 22.2 points from its Friday close at 5,774.4.   Sensex surges 61 points as tension over Iraq diffuses With the prospects of a US-led strike against Iraq receding, there was a marked improvement in market sentiment at the local bourses on Monday which saw the 30-share BSE Sensitive Index surge by 61.10 points to close at 3,478.40. However, most of the FII buying was restricted to the specified counters. NSE wants brokers to be pro-active;to further empower settlement panel In a bid to decentralise its structure, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) has decided to further empower its committee on settlement issues (Cosi) by routing all the procedural aspects of settlements through this 25-member, broker-dominated body.     Results, takeover rumours drive Merind scrip   Book profits at higher levels today   Tata Power   Yen dips against dollar as G7 rails Japan's economic policy   Market Roundup   Jakarta still undecided on currency board   Asian markets close mixed amid G7 criticism of Japan   LIC, UTI buying lifts turnover in demat segment turnover   LIC MF's Dhanvarsha (11) mops up Rs 40 crore   Brokers association to help market Shriram Investment's OTC counter