ITC first-half net rises 14% to Rs 400.32 crore
Tobacco conglomerate ITC Ltd no Friday reported a 14.67% increase in net profit in the second quarter to September 30, 1999, beating the effects of the widening anti-smoking movement and the usual monsoon trend of falling sales volumes.

Novartis to begin phase III trials for Alzheimer drugs
Swiss multinational Novartis is set to commence phase three trials for vascular dementia using Exelon (rivastigmine), currently prescribed for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.

GMDC to use shell-grade lignite for power generation
Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) proposes to enter the new age technology practised only in Europe to generate power from inferior `shell-grade' lignite for its proposed 250 mw power plant under phase-II.


  ICICI asset quality likely to improve
  UTI to recast MIP '97; reserves dip to Rs 397 cr
  IDBI Bank H1 net zooms 107% to Rs 19.49 crore
  United Insurance sets Rs 2,575 cr premium target
  Grasim H1 net jumps 50% to Rs 133.81 cr
  US telecom firm may offer stake to ICICI Venture Fund
  Sundram Fasteners net zooms 69% to Rs 23 cr
  Restructuring aids Voltas register Rs 5.5 cr H1 net
  BankAm bags due diligence mandate for IPCL selloff
  ITC sales growth beats industry rate in September
  Global Tele Systems net soars 85% to Rs 43 cr
  Briefing
  Ramco Industries -- Romping aheadwith enterprise resource planning
  Helios & Matheson plans to set up digital studio