State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur has fixed October 20 as the record date for the purpose of sub-division/stock split of Rs 100 per share of the bank into the shares of Rs 10 each.

Hong Kong - Hong Kong stocks fell more than 2 per cent Wednesday, sliding toward the 20,000 mark as oil and commodities stocks fell along with the prices of those goods.

The Hang Seng Index ended the day down 457.4 points, or 2.17 per cent, at 20,585.06. Turnover was relatively light at 56 billion Hong Kong dollars (7.1 billion US dollars).

Hong Kong shares have shed more than a third of their value in a 10-month bear run since the Hang Seng peaked at almost 32,000 at the end of October.

Stock market analyst Vishwas Agarwal said that the stock market is in safety zone above 14,786 level for traders with a target of 15,350, 15,555 and 15,786.

Regarding NSG meeting on nuclear contract to be held on September 4 and 5, Mr. Vishwas said that if the contract goes through, then the previously said level of 15,786 will be accomplished easily.

Seoul - The South Korean won was briefly lifted against the US dollar in morning trade on Wednesday, apparently due to suspected dollar-selling intervention by the government.

The slide was temporarily stopped after the South Korean currency fell to a session low of 1,159 won at one point late Wednesday morning. It is suspected that earlier losses were cut as foreign exchange authorities poured in an estimated 1.5 billion dollars.

Tokyo - Tokyo stocks opened higher Wednesda

Washington - US stocks were led lower Tuesday by energy and metals producers, erasing an earlier rally and masking gains made in airline shares as the price of oil hit its lowest level in five months.

Alcoa Inc, Exxon Mobil Corp and Chevron Corp all lost more than 3 per cent as crude oil for October delivery fell 5 per cent to 109.71 dollars per barrel.

But the share price of Delta Air Lines surged 13 per cent and AMR Corp, parent company of American Airlines, jumped 11 per cent. Automaker General Motors Corp rose more than 6 per cent.