Pfizer net up 62%

Mumbai, Sept. 26: Pfizer Ltd has declared a 62.35 per cent rise in net profit at Rs 21.82 crore for the quarter ended August 31 compared with Rs 13.44 crore for the corresponding quarter in 2004-05. Total income increased by 15.17 per cent to Rs 172.93 crore from Rs 150.14 crore in the year-ago period. Pfizer?s share price today closed at Rs 796, up 2.12 per cent.

Binani pact

Mumbai, Sept. 26: The Calcutta-based Binani Industries has entered into a sale and purchase agreement with Mauritius-based Silver Peak Investments Ltd. Under the agreement, the company has agreed to sell 25 per cent of its equity holding in Binani Cement Ltd to Silver Peak Investments.

BP chief

New Delhi, Sept. 26: British Petroleum (BP) chairman John Browne is likely to visit India during October 13-14 to explore oil and gas opportunities.

Turkey steel

Ankara, Sept. 26: A landmark tender to privatise Turkey?s biggest steel company, Erdemir, has attracted six bidders, including Lakshmi Mittal-owned Mittal Steel.

Bank merger

Mumbai, Sept. 26: The RBI has approved the merger of Centurion Bank and Bank of Punjab (BoP), which is to be effective from October. The share swap ratio is set at 9:4 or nine shares of Centurion Bank for every four of BoP.