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Politics Business Expressions General Sports Leisure States 03 February 1998   Sensex jumps 130 points The spectacular recovery on various Asian stock markets recharged bulls on Indian markets with the 30-share Sensitive index (Sensex) jumping by 130 points on Monday. The Sensex spurted by nearly 4% to close at 3,354.80 points as compared to Thursday's close of 3,224.36 points. The National Stock Exchange's 50-share index (Nifty) also gained 13.15 points to close at 976.60 points.   CBI gives clean chit to govt in Mukta Panna oil deal The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has given a clean chit to the Centre. The CBI has been investigating into the alleged omissions and commissions being carried out in the transfer of the Mukta-Panna oilfields to a joint consortium of the US multinational Enron and Reliance Industries from the Oil and Natural Gas Commission. A-I incurs Rs 102 crore loss, tough ride ahead Air-India has recorded losses of Rs 102 crore in the first half of the current year and expects the losses to climb further for the year as a result of the South Asian currency crisis and the recent fare war in the Indian market. The currency crisis had forced the airline to withdraw services to Seoul and consider the reduction in the number of flights to Japan. BSE scraps spot delivery The Bombay Stock Exchange has decided to scrap the system of putting scrips on spot delivery basis at the time of rights issues. The decision comes in the wake of the SEBI directive dated January 21, 1998 and will be implemented with immediate effect.   Glaxo, SK scrips zoom on merger talks Glaxo, Burroughs Wellcome, Smithkline Pharma and Smithkline Consumer zoomed on news of merger moves on the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange. The four pharma stocks were among the top ten gainers in BSE's specified section. Although the British parents -- Glaxo Wellcome and Smithkline Beecham -- are still negotiating the merger possibilities, stocks spurted by over 15% on European bourses. Telco abandons cheap finance The recent three to four per cent spurt in interest rates has forced Telco to abandon its most daring experiment in cheap finance. The company has closed its five per cent flat finance scheme with effect from from January 31, a month after it was launched.     Scrips up on Asian rally   ANZ Bank arranges Rs 125 cr for GSFC   HCV sales plummet by 36%   Brokers for Damani as BSE chief   Controversy brewing over J&J advertisement   Re, call rates fall   Asian markets rebound with a vengeance   Consumer affairs dept wants more teeth