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Corporate Economy Expressions Markets Leisure 28 February 1998   Bank of America hikes PLR to 18.5% Bank of America on Friday raised its prime lending rate by two percentage points to 18.5 per cent. The bank is planning to review its PLR on a weekly basis keeping in mind the volatile liquidity scenario.   Takeover hawks feast on low-priced scrips It's hunting season for corporate predators. A host of leading companies can fall prey to the M&A game being played in corporate India. The timing could not have been more opportune for raiders. The current market value of these companies is at their 10-year low; their scrips are available at steep discounts to their book values and asset per share. Coupons firm up in private placement Signalling a further hardening of interest rates in the private placement market, two public sector undertakings -- Krishna Bhagiya Jal Nigam Ltd (KBJNL) and Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board -- are offering 15.75 per cent for five-year papers. This is the highest coupon offered on a five-year paper in recent times. Market to gain strength; traders may open long positions On Friday, February 27 1998, the BSE Sensex closed at 3622.22 points. As compared to the close of the previous week the Sensex closed at 3622.22 points. As compared to the previous week the index staged a smart appreciation of 145 points.   Investors get much-awaited exit option from Rs 800cr M&A game The last fortnight has seen a flurry of mergers and acquisition (M&A) activity which adds up to a whopping Rs 800 crore. A string of friendly and hostile bids have given a host of small investors the opportunity to exit just when they had got disillusioned with the prolonged bearish phase in the market. BOLT share at 33% of BSE's turnover Trading on the Bombay Stock Exchange On-line Trading System (BOLT) has reached 33 per cent of total trading, according to BSE president M G Damani. Of the total 104,073 trades on the exchange on Thursday, 32,629 trades were transacted through the BOLT.     Panel to frame takeover response norms for FIs   Dena Bank undercuts Syndicate interest rate   Book profits at higher levels today   Companies must create shareholder value the Nucor way   Ride the rath yatra to profits   Tata Power   Junk bond king Milken hit with new SEC case   Response to Sandvik AB open offer stands at 90%   Market is set for a frenzy   Asian stock markets build on currency gains   Market to gain strength; traders may open long positions   BSE breaks new ground, allows trading in OTC scrip Aryan Pesticides   Sri Vishnu Cements scrip rises on open offer hopes   Sensex jumps 51 points as rally continues   Attractive valuations make Marico Industries a good long-term bet   17 DPs to waive maintenance charges   Inter-connected exchange plans 100-scrip index, badla trading   BPL scrip spurts on better discounting   Market to gain strength; traders may open long positions   Crisil puts Merind, Wockhardt debt plans under rating watch   Daunting task ahead for Magnum Triple Plus   A value fund with investments in most favoured sectors   Japan financial markets hope for bolder economic stimulus steps   Fund Update   HK Monetary Authority denies interference in markets so far   Market Round-up