The World Trade Centre will hold a one-day seminar on ``Euro Currency and India's Response,'' which will be held on Friday. The seminar is being organised in association with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, the EU Council of Chambers in India and Dash Management Services Pvt Ltd. The theme presentation at the seminar will be made by Dieter Ritter, head of bond research at DG Bank, Frankfurt.

Crisil downgrades Goetze India debt plan: Crisil has downgraded the fixed deposit programme of Goetze India Ltd to FA+ from FAA. The rating reflects the deterioration in the overall risk profile of the company on account of the increasingly difficult business environment characterised by sluggish growth in end-user industries and increased competitive pressures, sharp decline in turnover and profits and increased funding requirements in the current year. These negatives are, however, offset to some extent by the strong market position of the company in the piston rings industryand a fairly comfortable capital structure.

Crisil reaffirms Tata Yodogawa ratings: Crisil has reaffirmed the AA-, FAA and P1+ ratings assigned to the Rs 13 crore non-convertible debenture, fixed-deposit programmes and the Rs 3 crore commercial paper programme, respectively, of Tata Yodogawa Ltd. The ratings reflect the expected sustenance of the company's market position and operating margins in the rolls industry and its above-average operating efficiency. The ratings also continue to factor in the company's strong association with Tata Iron and Steel Company Ltd.

Four-day repos results: The RBI received seven applications amounting to Rs 4,165 crore at the four-day 8 per cent fixed-rate repos held on Thursday. The central bank accepted all the seven applications in full.

Indian Institute of Bankers AGM: The 71st annual general meeting of the Indian Institute of Bankers will be held on September 21, 1998, at the RBI auditorium in Mumbai. The meeting will be presided by thepresident of the institute, the RBI governor Bimal Jalan. This will be followed by the launch of an MBA programme in banking and finance and the signing of a memorandum of understanding by Jalan on behalf of the institute and Abdul Wahid Khan, vice-chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University, for offering a CAIIB-linked MBA in banking and finance.

SBI deputy manager bags IIB fellowship: S Sasikala, deputy manager at State Bank of India, will receive the IIB Diamond Jubilee Overseas Banking Research Fellowship for year 1998 from the RBI governor Bimal Jalan on September 21, 1998. The awardee will visit the United States for a period of 10 weeks to study ``Bank Capital Requirements for Market Risk'' under the fellowship.

RRB workers to observe strike on Sept 22: Over 70,000 workers and officers of regional rural banks will observe a nationwide strike on September 22, 1998, to press for the formation of a national rural bank by amalgamating 196 RRBs. The call for the strike has beengiven by the All India Gramin Bank Workers Organisation and the All India Gramin Bank Officers Organisation. The formation of a national rural bank is part of the sixth bipartite settlement in RRBs. A press release said that finance minister Yashwant Sinha had assured a delegation of bank employees earlier this month that their demand would be settled within 15 days after discussing the issue with the concerned secretaries.

Three-day repos today: The RBI has announced three-day 8 per cent fixed-rate repos in Government of India dated securities on Friday for parties holding SGL and current accounts with it at Mumbai. The RBI has said that the applications may be accepted fully or partially. Payment by applicants will be on September 18, 1998, and repurchase will be on September 21, 1998.

UTI Bank, Citibank to launch co-branded card: UTI Bank and Citibank on Thursday signed an agreement to launch a co-branded card called the UTI Bank Citibank co-branded credit card. UTI Bank is the thirdIndian bank to sign a co-branded partnership with Citibank. Targeted at customers of UTI Bank and its promoters, the new card will be marketed by UTI Bank and will be available at all its branches. Currently, UTI Bank has 29 branches in 12 cities. The new card will feature the logos of both UTI Bank and Citibank and will be available in photocard and non-photocard options.

RBI rejects registrations of three finance firms: The RBI has rejected the applications for certificate of registration submitted by Nova Power Pvt Ltd and Swadeshi Industrial Development Corporation Ltd of New Delhi. A Varanasi-based company, Krishi Export Commercial Corporation Ltd, has also been barred. These companies cannot transact the business of non-banking financial institutions, according to the central bank.