The Bombay Stock Exchange has decided to impose special margins on the following stocks with effect from September 28 : American Remedies (Rs 18), Appu Industries (Rs 3), BFL Software (Rs 150), DSQ Software (Rs 75), European Software (Rs 5), Frontier Info (Rs 3), Globe Stock (Rs 3), Great Western (Rs 5), Gulf Oil (I) (Rs 35), Pearl Energy (Rs 3), Ram Informat (Rs 8), Rolta Industries (Rs 20), Sri Vishnu Cement (Rs 20) and VJIL Consult (Rs 11).

Promoters, FIs to bail out Mangalam rights offer: The promoters and financial institutions may bail out the Rs 14.86-crore rights issue of B K Birla-controlled Mangalam Cement Ltd. According to merchant banking sources, Mangalam Cement could manage an overall subscription of around Rs 3.5 crore against the total amount of Rs 14.86 crore. The response from retail investors has been poor. However, the institutions and promoters are yet to decide to what extent they will subscribe to the issue in addition to theirrights entitlement.

Equities decline on profit taking at NSE: Equities failed to maintain early levels and declined towards the end of the trading session on profit taking by local funds and institutions. The S&P Cnx Nifty opened at 935.60 and closed at 927.90, showing a loss of 7.05 from the previous close of 934.95. Cnx Nifty Junior opened at 1546.50 and closed at 1557.80, with a gain of 11.35 over the previous close of 1546.45. S&P Cnx Defty opened at 762.15 and closed at 756.25, with a loss of 6.05 from the last close of 762.30. S&P Cnx 500 opened at 636.07 and closed at 634.64, with a minor loss of 1.40 from the last close of 636.04. Cnx Midcap 200 opened at 555.20 and closed at 557.85, with a modest gain of 2.74 from 555.11 previously.

MSE down marginally: Equities failed to maintain their initial firmness due to increased selling and profit taking and closed with minor losses on the Madras Stock Exchange on Monday. However, some software counters stood their ground. The MSE index,after touching its intra-day high of 3495.41 points, drifted to settle at 3483.56 against their previous close of 3486.66, losing 3.10 points.

Equities surrender earlier gains: Selling by profit-takers and financial institutions reversed an early rising trend on the Delhi Stock Exchange with stock prices reacting to close lower. However, stocks of pharmaceutical and information and technology sectors, continued to rise on renewed buying by speculators. Stock brokers said lack of follow up support from foreign and domestic financial investors amidst profit taking wiped out earlier gains. The DSE sensitive index ended 4.83 points down at 711.60 points. Though, it soared to 721.15 points in early trading, late selling wiped off most of gains.

Hong Kong stocks close sharply higher: Hong Kong stocks closed sharply higher on Monday on hopes for a cut in US interest rates, but failed to find the impetus to breach the 8,000 resistance level, dealers said. The Hang Seng Index ended up 3.2 per cent,or 244.43 points at 7,946.04 on turnover of 5.2 billion Hong Kong dollars (US$ 671 million). Dealers said expectations the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates was the main factor behind the rise.

Tokyo stocks close 1.4 per cent higher: Japanese share prices closed 1.4 per cent higher on Monday, helped by a ruling and opposition party deal on key banking bills and a possible tie-up by two leading banks, brokers said. The key Nikkei stock average of the Tokyo Stock Exchange rose 185.53 points to finish at 13,909.37 while the Topix of all issues in the first section gained 13.59 points at 1,063.52.

Bangkok up on hopes of interest rate cuts: Thai share prices gained 2.7 per cent on Monday but closed off their highs in a market buoyed by expectations of further cuts in local and US interest rates, analysts said. The gains were made in solid trade as investors bought into the Thai market across the board amid a lack of negative factors to dampen sentiment. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET)broad-based index gained 6.60 points to close at 255.53 points, in strong trade worth 4.2 billion baht (US$ 107 million). The select SET 50 was up 0.56 points to 18.01 points at the close.

Singapore index closes marginally higher: Singapore's benchmark stock index closed barely higher on Monday as profit-taking erased earlier gains on expectations of a US interest rat E cut which would prompt local banks to follow suit. "A rate cut in the US is likely to prompt local banks to speed up a cut in their own rates," said a dealer with a local brokerage, adding that local banks were are eady under pressure to lower interest. The key Straits Times Index closed 6.61 points or 0.7 per cent higher at 930.53.The broader All-Singapore index ended 0.56 point up at 285.41.

Indonesian shares close mixed: JAKARTA, Sept 28 (AFP) - Indonesian share prices closed mixed Monday with the firmer rupiah pushing down dual-listed stocks and other counters boosted by anticipat ion of a US interest rate cut, dealerssaid. The Jakarta Stock Exchange composite index closed down 0.223 points at 275. 001.The rupiah was trading at 10,750-10,900 against the dollar.

Shanghai B shares rise 2.2 per cent: Shanghai's B shares, nominally reserved for foreign investors, rose 2.2 per cent on Monday on expectations of a US interest-rate cut, dealers said. "The B shares closed at their intra-day high due to the expectations of a US interest rate cut. Domestic institutions were still the main buyers while some foreign selling and profit-takings appeared," a Goldman Sachs dealer said.

South Korean shares close slightly: South Korean share prices closed slightly lower on Monday amid worries over a threatened strike by nine bank unions to protest layoffs, dealers said. "Investors are worried that the economy will get worse if the banks go on strike tomorrow," a dealer at Daewoo Securities said. The Korea Stock Exchange main index fell 0.57 points at 305.73, off a low of 305.38 and a high of 312.92. Turnover totalled 53.9million shares worth 291.2 billion won (US$ 207.7 million).