US to ban private bank loans to India, Pakistan
The Clinton administration is completing executive orders to ban private bank lending to the governments of India and Pakistan but will seek to minimise the effects on other banking operations. Two executive orders that could be issued before the end of the week would prohibit US banks from extending loans and credits to the governments in New Delhi and Islamabad but would not restrict lending to the private sector.

New panel to overhaul Companies Act
The government yesterday decided to constitute a high-powered committee to drastically overhaul the Companies Act while withdrawing the pending Companies Bill introduced in Parliament by the United Front government. The Department of Company Affairs (DCA) is preparing a cabinet note for this purpose. As many measures like the buy-back of shares are included in the Companies Act, the government is said to be keen to speed up the move.

Panels to rework Exim policy
The Union Commerce Ministry will set up two high-powered panels to fine-tune the working of the new export-import policy and iron out problems faced by exporters with government officials, Commerce Minister Ramakrishna Hegde said yesterday. The move formed as part of the ministry's effort to `de-bureaucratise' the country's export initiative.

  Bizbits
  Rupee, stocks stage recovery
  PM asks FM to stem Re slide
  Indo Rama plunges into red
  Sulzer buys out RPG stake in JV
  TSL announces 50% dividend
  SEBI chief for exercising judicious support to FDI
  Bizbits
  Dena Bank registers net profit of Rs 105 crore
  Software scrips bounce back
  Ansal, Cosmo Films, Indian Seamless downgraded