M&A deals worth $1 bn sealed in '99 first half
Merger and acquisition transactions worth $1 billion were announced during the first half of 1999, with DSP Merrill Lynch heading the list of advisors with deals worth $106 million under its belt.

Government likely to miss fiscal deficit target, says PNB Gilts
The Government is likely to miss its target of cutting the fiscal deficit to 4% of gross domestic product in 1999/2000 (April-March) from 4.5% the previous year, securities firm PNB Gilts said.

TN, Kerala cement firms slug it out as prices dip
Cement prices in Tamil Nadu (TN) and Kerala are under pressure following steep fall in prices in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh (AP).

  `Gold scheme's success hinges on amnesty'
  Traders refuse to abide go cotton board's demand-supply projections
  ICICI, Citibank elected to Fedai management panel
  Steep hike in petro goods rates
  Project goods and machinery imports see sharp dip in Q1
  Sidbi offers sops to Hanover Fair-bound SSIs
  Australian firm to bid for West Bengal's hospital waste treatment project
  Railways may bag Nepal-Calcutta cargo business
  Newsmaker
  Foodgrains target fixed at 210 mt for 99-2000
  There is no public support for divestment, says GVR
  Bihar minister quits, joins JD(U)
  Voters in West Bengal look askance at frequent polls
  Christian body in northeast calls for selective voting
  Split in NDA ranks may see Cong through
  Two sons of Jatland wrestle for supremacy
  EC rejects charge regarding fake ballot papers
  Direct fight between Cong and HVC
  Briefing
  BJP leaders' own loyalty to country in doubt -- Sonia
  Executive Briefing
  Reserve Bank kicks off debate on freeing savings deposit rates
  FIPB clears Russian Space Agency, Ab Moller plans