BHP to shut Whyalla steel mill for 18 days: The Broken Hill Pty Co Ltd said on Thursday its integrated steel division would shut down the rolling mill at its Whyalla Steel works for 18 days from September 28. It said the temporary shutdown stemmed from reduced export demand stemming from Asia's economic slump.

Alma eyes Pohjolan Sanomat: Finnish media group Alma Media said it would make a public offer for the entire share capital of newspaperpublisher Pohjolan Sanomat. "The offer price for shares in both (A and K) series is 32markka per share," Alma Media said in a statement.

BTR H1 hit by charges, tough Asian market: British engineering group BTR Plc reported on Thursday first-half pre-tax losses of 45 million pounds ($74.71 million) due to disposal charges plus a slippage in profitability at its core engineering business due to tough world markets and the strong pound. The pre-tax loss for the six months to June 30 came after a 516 million profit last year, reflecting charges for restructuring BTR. But the group's core remaining engineering business reported pre-tax and pre-interest profits of 337 million pounds versus 349 million the year before. Turnover for engineering, including acquisitions, was 2.44billion pounds versus 2.14 billion pounds. The dividend was frozen at four pence per share.

Gallaher maintains UK leadership: UK's largest tobacco company Gallaher Group Plc said that it had held onto its leadership of the UKcigarette market and there is evidence to show the decline in adult cigarette smoking has halted. In remarks attached to the group's half-year results chairman and chief executive Peter Wilson said that underlying trading is good. The group said its low price brands Sovereign and Mayfair continued to be the fastest growing brands in Britain. Operating profit fell 3.0 million pounds to 167 million pounds ($277.3 million) in the six months ended June 30, 1998.

National Foods plans share buy-back: Dairy food and fruit juice group National Foods Ltd repeated that it planned to buy back up to 10 per cent of its shares and said it planned to conduct the buy-back between September 29, 1998 and March 23 1999. The move to buy back up to 29 million shares followed the company's failed A$403 million bid against Italy's Parmalat Finanziaria SpA to acquire Queensland-based dairy group Pauls Ltd.

NBM-Amstelland sees 1998 EPS up 30 per cent: Construction firm NBM-Amstelland NV said that it expectedearnings per ordinary share to increase by about 30 percent in 1998. It added the issue of 7.5 million new shares, made to finance the acquisition of fellow builder Wilma Nederland, had been included in the figure. The company also said it expected consolidated turnover of 5.5 billion guilders for the year as a whole. In April, the firm said it expected turnover, profit and earnings per share to rise in 1998.

Piltel employees ordered to end strike: Cellular telephone firm Pilipino Telephone Corp (Piltel) ordered its striking workers to return to work following a directive issued by the Labour Department. In an advertisement published on Thursday, Piltel said it was giving all striking members and officers of the 700-strong employees' union until noon on September 11 to comply with the order. "The striking union officers and members are hereby ordered to immediately return to work within 24 hours of receipt of a copy of this order," Labour Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said in his directive onWednesday.