NSE completes 200th settlement: The National Stock Exchnage has successfully completed its 200th settlement since inception on September 23. The total value of the settlement was Rs 811 crore for securities and Rs 159.37 crore in funds. The quantity ofsecurities settled through dematerialsed mode was 91.55 lakh valued at Rs 173.60 crore. The pay out has been completed with all shortages to the extent of 0.92 per cent successfully auctioned.

BSE imposes margins on American Remd: The Bombay Stock Exchange has decided to impose special margin of Rs 16 on American Remedies with effect from September 23. KND Engineering Technologies has decided to change its accounting period, from September 30, 1997 to March 31, 1999 (18 months).

Sebi cancels merchant banker's registration: The Securities and Exchange Board of India has cancelled the merchant banking registration of Gujarat Capital Ventures Ltd for non-submission of employee database. The order comes into effect from September 2, a Sebi release said here on Wednesday.

BSE declares Shrenik Shah a defaulter: Governing board of the Bombay Stock Exchange pursuing the laid down directives of the Ministry of Finance and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has declared ShrenikJ Shah, holding a membership of the exchange, a defaulter. The BSE, which held Shah Defaulter in its meeting held on september 21, 1998, said declaration will not have any impact on the trade guarantee fund. Shah was declared a defaulter by the National Stock Exchange on September 7, 1998, according to a BSE release here today.

BSE calls EGM: The Bombay Stock Exchange has called for an EGM on September 24, to get the approval of the members for the exchange's move to participate in the Central Depository (India) project. The CDIS is promoted by BSE, and secured a clearance to that effect from CBDT on September 17. With effect from September 23, the following securities are available on the capital market segment of NSE. In the physical segment, equity shares of CMC Ltd, the warrant equity shares of Reliance Petroleum Ltd, and the debentures of Reliance Petroleum Ltd (the non convertible portion of the Triple Option Convertible Debentures). In the depository segment, the equity shares of AptechLtd, Godrej Soaps, HCL Infosystems, Raasi Cements and Sabero Organics Gujarat.

Software scrips lead rally on DSE: Led by software scrips, share prices surged on the Delhi Stock Exchange on Wednesday as foreign and domestic financial institutions remained major buyers amidst some short-covering by operators. The DSE Sensitive Index rallied to close 5.27 points higher at 699.83 points after crossing 700 points during the day. Brokers said the buying spree was also attributed to fresh settlement on the National Stock Exchange.

FI purchases bolster CSE sentiment: Scrips staged a smart rally on the Calcutta Stock Exchange (CSE) on Wednesday on persistent buying by domestic and foreign institutional investors. Brokers said, probality of fall in share prices with the central government's recomendation to impose president's rule in Bihar was wiped out on emergence of fresh buying interest. Reflecting the market sentiment the 40-share index closed at 1750.74 points which was also the day's highwhile the lowest was at 1713.51 points.

MSE closes higher on good buying support: Values of scrips regained their values and closed with small to handsome gains on the Madras Stock Exchange on Wednesday on good buying support. The MSE index went up by 6.23 to close at 3468.27 as against Tuesday's close of 3462.04 points.

New Zealand stocks down 0.6 per cent: New Zealand stocks were down 0.6 per cent on Wednesday with troubled Brierley Investments Ltd (BIL) slumping to an all-time low. The NZSE-40 index lost 10.17 points to 1,700.22 on turnover of 81.7 million NZ dollars (US$ 41.5 million) with BIL closing at a record low of 38 cents.

Taiwan bourse drops one per cent: Taiwan share prices fell one per cent to below the 7,000-point resistance level on Wednesday as institutional investors locked in profits, dealers said. The Taiwan Stock Exchange weighted price index dropped 71.82 points to 6,962.17, following a 0.1 per cent rise in the previous session.

Philippine shares close 3.2per cent higher: Philippine share prices closed 3.2 per cent higher on Wednesday as investors picked up bargains. "After hitting rock-bottom at 1,050 points, prices have fallen to levels which have become attractive for accumulation," Jose Ricardo Garcia of Diversified Securities Inc said. The Philippine Stock Exchange index gained 36.39 points to 1,159.69.

Australian stocks gain 1.5 per cent: Australian share prices gained 1.5 per cent on Wednesday with the upcoming expiry of September options considered the major force behind the surge, brokers said. The Australian Stock Exchange's benchmark All Ordinaries Index rose 39.2 points to 2,573.6.

Companies press for compulsory demat: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has asked south-India based depository participant, Geojit Securities, for the parameters adopted by it in shortlisting 53 securities where only demat trading will be permitted post January 4, 1999. The move is a first step towards Sebi expanding its own list of10. The issue of expanding the list was discussed at the core group meeting on depositories on Wednesday and it was felt that in the wake of requests from none other than the companies themselves the list should be expanded. The list may be expanded or an additional list may be announced at the next meeting of the core group convened on October 20.