NSDL on PSU demat: NSDL chief CB Bhave has urged Sebi to take up with the government, the failure of several key public sector units to join the depository process. It has come to light that some investors, including Unit Trust of India, have already written to Sebi asking the regulator to direct companies to provide them with the demat option by signing up with the depository.

Spectra Industries: The board of directors of Spectra Industries Ltd will meet on October 30 to take on record the unaudited financialresults of the company for the quarter ended September 30, 1998.

Binani Metals: The board of directors of Binani Metals Ltd will meet on October 28 to take on record the unaudited financial (provisional) results of the company for the quarter ended September 30, 1998.

Simplex Mills: The board of directors of The Simplex Mills Co Ltd will meet on October 31 to consider and approve the unaudited financial results (provisional) of the company for the six months ended September 30, 1998.

Industrials gain on CSE: Industrials scored selective gains on the Calcutta Stock Exchange with many finishing lower due to resistance at higher rates. The turnover was moderate and undertone quiet.Reflecting the movements in shares, the CSE 40-share index moved between 1631 and 1610 points closing at 1630.75. Castrol ruled distinctly firm to close with gains at Rs 608.30 on renewed enquiry, while select others hardened with Hindustan Motors gaining marked ground at Rs.10.

Shares surrender gains onDSE: After staging a partial recovery, shares prices retreated to close lower on the Delhi Stock Exchange due to a revival of selling by foreign funds and other players. The Delhi stock exchange sensitive index ended 9.49 points down at 648.58. "The sentiments was so depressed that even sizeable purchases by domestic funds failed to prop up stock prices," said a DSE broker. Selling was spread to software, core sectors, multinational and other blue-chip companies.

Stock prices retreat on MSE: Recovery on the Madras Stock Exchange was short-lived as prices slumped and settled lower due to profit-taking. The MSE share price index was down by 19.86 points to close at 3221.29 as against the previous day's close of 3241.15 points. Petrochemical major Reliance industries fell by Rs 3 at Rs 107, while State Bank of India lost Rs 3.50 to Rs 160.60 on selling pressure and lack of buying support.

GDRs up 2.06 per cent: The Skindia GDR index, representing GDR's of 18 actively trading companiesincreased by 2.06 per cent from 515.67 to 526.29 on Oct 14, 1998, as per the Skindia GDR index with a base January 2, 1995, equal to 1000. The Skindia GDR index P/E ratio was 14.21 as compared to 13.92, Skindia Finance. Out of the total 65 GDRs, there were 19 gainers, 12 losers and 29 unchanged as against 4 gainers, 30 losers and 26 unchanged.

Hang Seng up 1.3 per cent: Hong Kong share prices closed 1.3 percent higher on expectations of a possible interest rate cut by Hong Kong banks. The key Hang Seng index gained 118.74 points to close mid-session at 8,958. 75. Dealers said the possibility of the Hong Kong Association of Banks lowering savings rates at its weekly meeting on Friday was encouraging fund managers to increase their weightings on local blue chips.

South Korean shares up 6.5%: South Korean share prices rocketed 6.5 per cent on active foreign interest amid a firmer yen and declining money market rates. Sentiment was also boosted by speculation that Ford Motors Company might winthe auction of Kia Motors Corp, dealers said, adding foreign investors focused on Samsung Group shares and select blue chips. The key index closed 22.61 points higher at 368.74, off a high of 369.04. The KOSPI 200 index was up at 42.68.

Singapore stocks up 4%: Singapore stock prices ended 4 per cent higher amid market expectations of a corporate tax cut to help businesses tide over the current economic slowdown. The benchmark Straits Times index of the Stock Exchange of Singapore rose 38.97 points to end at 1,024.75, while the broader All-Singapore index gained 8.81 points to 305.32. "The market is upbeat about the reports of a corporate cut even though we are not sure when and by how much," a dealer with a local brokerage said.

European bourses get lift: European bourses opened higher with a lift from the positive close overnight in the New York Dow Jones index. In London, the FT-SE 100 index of leading shares shot up by 74 points, or 1.47 per cent, to 5,112.4 points, building onWednesday's gains of 0.97 percent. The Paris bourse also rose on opening, despite some profit taking on Wednesday'sstrong rally. The CAC-40 index was 0.71 percent higher at 3,384. 82 points. Frankfurt's DAX index rallied quickly from an early morning dip from Tuesday's 2.77 per cent gain.

Jakarta shares up 0.5%: Indonesian shares closed 0.5 percent higher in the absence of foreign buying and amid a firmer rupiah. "I think it becomes clear now that the recent market recovery was driven by foreign progamme buying. Now, the program buying is over so there is no money in the market," a dealer with a local brokerage said of Thursday's flat trading. The Jakarta Stock Exchange composite index was up 1.657 points at 304.847.