Vikas WSP spurts: Expectation of a substantial growth in earnings is driving up Vikas WSP on the bourses. On the Mumbai Stock Exchange, the scrip has appreciated by 82 per cent in just eight trading sessions. Even in the falling market, investors have been accumulating the stock, driving the price up to anew 52-week high of Rs 142. The company is likely to see its full-year bottomline rising by 50-60 per cent.

Huge volumes in MSGF: The Morgan Stanley Growth Fund (MSGF) has been witnessing huge volumes on the Bombay Stock Exchange. Over the past two days, more than 40 lakh units have been traded in two chunks. According to market sources, the deals which have been essentially in the form of a cross deal have been FII purchases. The market was agog with rumours that Morgan Stanley had repurchased its units from two large institutions at a price of Rs 6 per unit.

RIICO to offload holdings: Rajasthan State Industrial Development Corporation (RICO) has framed fresh guidelines for divesting its holdings in companies assisted by it. The disinvestment move from RIICO is due to the poor state of the capital markets. The idea is to get back its funds blocked in these companies. RIICO's equity holding in these companies is around Rs 45 crore. However last year, the institution received only Rs 58.69lakh as dividend.

Novartis India: The board of directors of Novartis India Ltd will meet on October 28 to take on record the unaudited financial results of the company for the quarter ended September 30, 1998.

National Peroxide: The board of directors of National Peroxide Ltd will meet on October 28 to consider and take on record the unaudited financial results of the company for the quarter ended September 30, 1998.Ceat Ltd: The board of directors of Ceat Ltd will meet on October 29 to take on record the unaudited financial results of the company for the quarter ended September 30, 1998.

Cravatex Ltd: The board of directors of Cravetex Ltd will meet on October 29 to take on record the unaudited financial results (provisional) of the company for the quarter ended September 30, 1998.

Twenty First Century Capitals: The board of directors of Twenty First Century Capitals will meet on October 23 to take on record the unaudited financail results for the second quarter endedSeptember 1998.

Stocks recover on NSE: Share prices recovered smartly on the first day of the current settlement at NSE on fresh buying. The S&P Cnx Nifty recovered by 26.80 to close at 843.55 from the previous close of 816.75. Cnx Nifty Junior rose by 45.70 to end at 1455.40 from Tuesday's level of 1409.70. S&P Cnx Defty rallied by 22.35 to close at 690.75 from the previous close of 668.40. S&P 500 Improved by 14.04 at 515.79 567.39 and Cnx Midcap 200 finished 14.12 points higher at 523.10.

Late buying lifts DSE stocks: Equities staged a turnaround to close sharply higher on the Delhi Stock Exchange following resurgence of buying by domestic FIs amid massive short-covering towards the fag-end of the session. The DSE sensitive index ended 11.85 points, or nearly 1.6 per cent higher, at 658.07 points. Brokers said rumours that the government was likely to come out with some measures to boost the stock market also fuelled the buying spree towards close.

Tokyo stocks dip 1.3%: Tokyostocks closed 1.3 per cent lower dragged down by persistent skepticism over the revival of the banking sector, brokers said. The Nikkei 225 index fell 172.06 points to close at 13,070.73. The Topix index of all first-section issues lost 14.80 points to 984.18. Investors gave a cold welcome to the lower house passage of bank reform bills which would prop up weak but solvent banks, brokers said. The legislation is expected to clear the lower house on Friday, but there are worries that bad bank loans will not be reduced if banks remain reluctant to use public money in exchange for tough restructuring, brokers said.

Singapore shares plunge 3%: Singapore share prices closed 3.0 per cent lower on a persistent bout of profit-taking led by property and banking stocks, dealers said. Despite the selldown, there was some buying in bluechip counters with fresh speculative interest in second liner stocks, they said. A dealer with a European-based brokerage said the market was in a consolidation phase and was"looking a little vulnerable." The benchmark Straits Times index fell 29.86 points to end at 985.78, two days after breaching the 1,000-point level since August. The broader All-Singapore index ended down 5.50 points to 296.51.

Bangkok stock market ends 1.8% lower: Thai shares closed 1.8 per cent down on regional declines with many investors sidelined amid a lack of strong leads, analysts said. Speculative buying in steel stocks and second-liners failed to offset heavy selling in blue chips such as banks and finance firms as the volume was inadequate, they said. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index fell 5.07 points to 285.12 points, while the select SET 50 shed 0.42 points to close the day at 20.31 points.

Jakarta shares dive 3.4 per cent: Indonesian shares closed 3.4 per cent lower on profit-taking following sharp gains in recent sessions, dealers said. A dealer with a local brokerage said the decline came as no surprise after the recent gains. The Jakarta Stock Exchangecomposite index was down 10.796 points at 303.190.