Rs 10 notes: The RBI has said that it will be issuing Rs 10 notes in the Mahatma Gandhi series bearing the signature of the RBI governor, Bimal Jalan, with capital letter R inset. Besides this change, the words "Mahatma Gandhi" have been incorporated instead of "MK Gandhi" below the Mahatma's portrait. Except for these two changes, the design of the notes to be issued is similar in all respects to that issued in the Mahatma Gandhi series.

Four-day fixed-rate repos: The RBI has announced a four-day fixed-rate repos in government of India dated securities on June 4, 1998, for parties holding SGL and current accounts with it in Mumbai. The repos rate has been fixed at 6 per cent. Payment by applicants will be on June 4, 1998, and the repurchase by the RBI on June 8,1998.

Crisil downgrades Wipro Finance debt issue: Crisil has downgraded the BBB+ rating assigned to the Rs 3.09-crore non-convertible debenture issue of Wipro Finance to BB+. It has also downgraded the company's fixed-deposit programme to FB+. Besides, it has downgraded the company's Rs 30-crore short-term debt programme to P4 from P2 earlier.

BoB register of shareholders: Bank of Baroda has said that the register of shareholders and the share-transfer register will remain closed from June 21 to July 30 for the payment of dividend, if any, declared for the financial year ended March 31.

Crisil downgrades Electrex debenture plan: Crisil has downgraded the Rs 20-crore non-convertible debenture programme of Electrex (India) Ltd to the default category from triple-B on account of the company's default in its debt-service obligations. The rating agency has also downgraded the Rs 5-crore floating rate bond issue of Punjab Alkalies and Chemicals to double-B from A.

14-day treasurybills auction: The RBI has announced the auction of the 14-day treasury bills for a notified amount of Rs 100 crore. The allocation to non-competitive bidders will be outside the notified amount at the bank's discretion. Tenders should be submitted in the prescribed form on Friday and payment by successful biders will be on Saturday.

Crisil removes Wockhardt debt plans from rating watch: Crisil has removed the Rs 60-crore commercial paper programme and the Rs 100-crore non-convertible debenture issue of Wockhardt Ltd from rating watch. The CP issue has been reassigned a P1+ rating, while the NCD issue has been reassigned the double-A rating. The ratings factor in the proposed acquisition of Merind Ltd which is expected to change the financial risk profile of the Wockhardt group in terms of gearing levels, interest coverage ratios and operating margins.

Corporation Bank schemes for gold exporters: Corporation Bank is planning to introduce a few schemes targeted at gold jewellery exporterssoon. The bank is already operating two schemes for outright sales and consignment sales for which the main clients are jewellery exporters. The bank recorded a turnover of Rs 1,065 crore in the gold business as on March 31, 1998, and earned an income of Rs 6 crore. The main centres of operations were Ahmedabad, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ernakulam and Mangalore.

Canara Bank NPA target: Canara Bank has targeted to reduce its non-performing assets to less than 6 per cent of its total credit portfolio by March 1999 from the current level of 8.25 per cent. The bank has also strengthened its credit appraisal and monitoring systems to achieve its future NPA target. It had an NPA level of 10.41 per cent in September, 1997.

DSE clearing banks: Bank of Punjab and Punjab & Sind Bank have jointly been appointed as clearing banks for the DSE following the inability shown by Canara Bank -- DSE's existing clearing bank -- to offer relatively attractive terms for undertaking this assignment in thecoming years.

IIBI offers multi-option bonds: The Industrial Investment Bank of India has lined up an offer of multi-option bonds, the fourth in the series, targeted principally at commercial banks, provident funds and non-banking finance companies.