Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 21

"Yl 4 4 I uu THURSDAY, 1 8, 1 937 RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL LL NiLJ TODAY'S CVA hears pitch for marketing area's golf courses ti' tij Pi golf because of a lack of courses, but new ones are quickly opening. Smith said he would bring members of Golf magazines' course rankings committees, which could result in local courses making the top 50 or 1 00 places to play in North America. Such ratings are magnets for players, he said. "Reno-Sparks-Lake Tahoe has so much more to offer than what I see in Las Vegas," he said of quality golf packaged with othcrattractions. His See GOLF on page 3C called the region's diverse attractions appealing, especially to Europeans who would participate in the event.

He wants to know within the next 10 days whether RSCVA and local hotel-casinos are interested in funding the effort. "We are on the cusp of becoming an extremely viable golf destination," said Michael Houghton, vice president of marketing for RSCVA, which operates two golf courses, Northgate and Wildcreck. RSCVA hasn't heavily marketed people," he said. "What we do is bring in, not writers, but people who control their media." He would charge $40,000 to bring 32 media representatives and also would need accommodations for transportation, lodging and food. For that, he virtually guarantees 1 million worth of ink and 1 million worth of direct business.

Smith would like to hold the event in May 1 998, when guests also could try spring skiing. That would give the area a rounded presentation that also could result in ski stories. He tors Authority Marketing Committee meeting while pitching his business assistance. Smith said he has the national and international media contacts to bring top golf writers and TV producers to the area for a tournament that would familiarize them with local courses. Participants would follow up with stories on the area's golf and other attractions, resulting in at least $2 million in publicity and direct business, he estimated.

"This (area) is right for major, major destination stories from these By John Stearns RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL Golf courses in Reno and Lake Tahoe are good enough to be major tourism draws, if only the area could hook some publicity, a former editor of Golf magazine said Wednesday. "You have terrific golf courses here, but nobody knows that," Parker Smith, president of Sports Opportunities International in Lake Worth, said during a Reno-Sparks Convention Visi TECHNOLOGY Netscape makes its move Citicorp tries to buy Universal Microsoft rival: Reveals plan to regain control of Internet software. NDS to merge with Opticom Mindcn-based NDS Software which puts real estate multiple listing service information on the Internet, has signed an agreement to merge with Opticom Corp. of San Jose, Calif. The privately held Minden firm with about 35 employees has annual revenue of about $2 million and Opticom has annual revenue of about $3 million, according to Scott Berry, chief financial officer for NDS.

Together, the companies will have about 75 employees, he said. The deal is scheduled to close in January. Opticom markets post cards, fliers, brochures and in some areas installs "for sale" signs at homes. The companies operate in the area from South San Francisco to Monterey on the West Coast and portions of five East Coast states. Berry said the combined companies will concentrate on providing their services in large metropolitan areas.

Some listings of Reno area properties are available on the Internet through his company, he said, but those are few. Mike Henderson Spiegel employees get help from state The state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation sent its Rapid Response team to help the 4 1 4 Spiegel employees who will be laid off this month when the company closes its Reno telephone center. The team has held 1 1 presentations on topics such as employment assistance, retraining information, counseling services and unemployment insurance guidance. "We understand and empathize with employer and workers facing layoff," said Carol Jackson, department director, in a prepared statement. "We want to give them every possible opportunity for re-employment." Rapid Response was created by the department's Employment Security Division to provide assistance for employers facing layoffs and for the affected workers.

Anjeanette Coles NEW YORK (AP) Struggling to regain Internet software supremacy, Netscape Communications Corp. on Wednesday detailed a drive to use the legal woes facing Microsoft Corp. to convince computer makers and consumers to switch back to its World Wide Web browser. Netscape chief executive James Barksdale said in a phone interview that the company is f' making available through hundreds Vi fJfK Internet sites 1 gqjtware ana instructions on how people can replace their Microsoft Internet Explorer browser with Netscape's Barksdale NEW YORK (AP) Citicorp is trying to buy Universal credit card, a deal that would catapult Citicorp, already the nation's biggest credit card issuer, far ahead of its next competitor. If it buys the cards, Citicorp iscxpected to takeacloselook at whetherto start charging an annual fee on the cards, which were introduced in 1990 with a promise of no fees for life.

Citicorp issues Visa, MasterCard and specialty cards, some of which charge an annual fee. "I think Citibank might tinker with" no-fce policy, said Jim Daly, editor of Credit Card Management, an industry magazine. "But I think they might tread carefully, because they don't want to mess with Consumcrsoftcnpayhighcrrates when their credit cards are sold to another company, said Robert K. Heady, publisher of Bank Rate Monitor. "The new lender believes that to increase profitability, it has to raise rates.

When cards are sold, rates are liable to go up. The poor consumer sitting there doesn't knowwhathappened." Neither Citicorp nor would confirm late Wednesday that Citicorphadwonthebiddingforthe portfolio, which holds about $14 billion of cardholders' debts. board met Wednesday. While it could not be confirmed whether the sale to Citicorp was even on its agenda, Citicorp spokesman Jack Morris said it was "widely known" that Citicorp had bid on the portfolio. Analysts pegged a sale price at between 3 billion and $4 billion, figures that neither Citicorp nor would comment on.

David Robinson, an analyst with the industry newsletter Nilson Report, said Banc One had also bid on the portfolio, and there was speculation that GE Capital, Wells Fargo Co. and NationsBank Corp. had each bid as well. Associated Press tile COOPERATION: Silicon Graphics Chairman Ed headquarters in Mountain View, Wednesday. SGI McCracken left, and Microsoft Vice President Paul and Microsoft announced a collaboration of technology Maritz, right, shake hands at a news conference at SGI for displaying graphics on future versions of computers.

Microsoft, Silicon Graphics form alliance Navigator solt- ware. In addition, Netscape is negotiating with major PC makers to convince them to install Navigator in addition to Internet Explorer. Netscape also has expanded a campaign to distribute its software to consumers, through third parties such as Internet service providers and modem makers, to 1 30 million disks over the next 6-to-9 months. But despite a judge's far-reaching order against Microsoft and public support for Netscape, the smaller rival faces an uphill battle in regaining the edge in the browser wars, industry experts say. The federal judge last Thursday ordered Microsoft to stop, at least temporarily, requiring manufacturers to install its Internet Explorer on personal computers as a condition of using its enormously popular Windows operating system.

The preliminary injunction was See NETSCAPE on page 3C 1 ogies. The agreement with Silicon Graphics came as the Justice De- Eartment urged a federal judge to old Microsoft in contempt of an earlier order in an antitrust lawsuit involving Windows computer software. Microsoft is accused of using its dominance in Windows software to gain business in the Internet browser market. The two companies have been fierce rivals in the computer graphics field, and industry watchers said Wednesday's agreement could help end the battles over technical standards that have prevented the field from further growth. Microsoft said Fahrenheit will incorporate Microsoft Direct3D and DirectDraw application programming interfaces with Silicon Graphics complementary technol DOW JONES NEWS SERVICE MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.

Silicon Graphics Inc. and Microsoft Corp. said Wednesday they formed a strategic alliance to develop new graphics technologies. Microsoft said the joint-venture project named "Fahrenheit" will create Windows operating system and Silicon Graphics' Unix-based platform. -tAM-UMAMt Nevada Gaming Commission to decide tycoon's case 2 mm The cable industry took a giant step Wednesday toward its goal of providing subscribers with a dazzling array of interactive services for television, personal computers and telephones.

Tele-Communications Inc. led a consortium of cable operators representing about half of the industry in an deal to buy about 15 million digital set-top boxes over the next five years from General Instrument. The United States and 33 other countries signed a convention aimed at eradicating bribery in international business. On the eve of national contract talks between the Teamsters and the trucking Industry, union leaders and a company representative expressed hope. House Republican leaders met privately with top administration officials to review the economic turmoil in Asia and White House backing for additional U.S.

contributions to the IMF. National Indian Gamina The nation's largest credit card issuers, by amount of money owed in billions of dollars as of Sept. 30,1997, according to the credit card industry analyst Nilson Report: 1. Citicorp: $46.5 2. MBNA America, $41 .8 3.

Banc One, $36.74 4. Chase Manhattan, $31.5 5. First Chicago NBD, $17.31 6. Household Credit Services, $16.13 7. $14.1 7 8.

Fleet Bank, $13.24 9. Capital One Financial, $12.25 10. Bank of America, $10.14 removing Anderson as a licensee at the Station House casino in Tonopah. Whatever temporary licensing arrangement at the Maxim is approved by the commission, the FDIC wants to see the resort stay open. There are more than 900 employees at the club, purchased by Anderson for about $60 million in 1981.

A The FDIC also wants to unwind itself from any Maxim involvement and, on behalf of other Anderson creditors, pursue non-casino assets including a home, farm land and otherCalifornia property. The FDIC wound up with aplcdge of stock in the Maxim following the mid-1 980s failure of Eureka Federal Savings and Loan Association and the FDIC's payments to assist Eureka depositors. with an order late Tuesdav from U.S. District Judge Phil Pro otLas Vegas. Pro, in granting a motion sought by Larry Bertsch, a special master for the court, also ordered the return of stock worth at least $276,000 to the Maxim, and froze an equity interest in Anderson's home in Davis, Calif.

Combined, the value of the cash, stock and equity interest in the home ranges from 1 .2 million to 1 .6 million. Bertsch, backed by the Federal Deposit Insurance also wanted a contempt finding against Anderson, but there was no immediate ruling on that part of the motion by Pro. The state Gaming Commission, in addition to considering the plan to remove Anderson and put Nigro in charge of the Maxim, will consider By Brendan Riley ASSOCIATED PRESS A plan to oust Davis, farming tycoon John B. Anderson from his debt-laden Las Vegas casino was forwarded Wednesday to the Nevada Gaming Commission. As Anderson sat silently in the back of the room, the commission's investigative arm, the state Gaming Control Board, voted unanimously to advance a proposal to have veteran casino executive Ed Nigro run the Maxim hotel-casino.

If the plan gets final approval today from the commission, Nigro will be the temporary receiver for West Coast Mortgage, which holds $40.6 million in defaulted notes secured by Maxim assets. Money from an eventual sale of Commission could see more money in its budget under plan to increase tribal gambling fees. 3C off West Coast. Nigro was recommended for a three-month license, and the arrangement woujd be reviewed by regulators again in March. Anderson bantered with reporters about the weather, but declined to make any other comment either during or outside the Control Board meeting.

The board also was advised that Anderson on Wednesday returned tSP.fi nno i cash recentlv siphoned Judith R. Jones has been named branch manager of the Money Store. She joined the from the Maxim. That was in line the club would be used mainly to pay iTDAY Qt I Wall StrAAt Strrk: staged a hroad retreat as company as a loan officer in 1995. Jones will be responsible for all of Nevada except Vegas.

Why are you successful? "Hard work and always going the extra mile." NYSE DOW (Industrials) V7 Jones AMEX NASDAQ SAP MkJCap events from Tokyo also hurt the dollar vs. the German mark. In late New York trading, the dollar settled at 127.08 yen, down from 130.78 late Tuesday, its lowest level in about three weeks. The dollar also was changing hands at 1.7735 marks, down from 1.7822. Metals: New York Mercantile gold closed at $289.10 per troy ounce, up from 283.40.

New York Mercantile silver closed at $5,926 per troy ounce, up from $5,910. Commodities: Gold, platinum and palladium futures soared after Japan, one of the largest users of the precious metals, announce a plan to cut income taxes by 1 5.38 billion in a bold move that could stimulate a faltering economy and boost demand. The Bank of Japan sold U.S. currency for the first time since August 1992 in an effort to boost the yen against the dollar. And Japanese Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka said the government would take "appropriate action" as needed.

The announcements helped gold post the biggest one-day gain in nearly two years and also boosted copper ana other commodities dependent on Asia's economic health for export business. Elsewhere, coffee tuture fell sharply a second day. i 52wk 52wk high low cIom chg BenkAmerica 81V 47 75 "fie -1' Cloroi 80 48 787n CoeurJAIene 18 TM 9V ComttockBank 9 5 7 R.R. Donnelley 41 29V? 37 Echo Bay VV 2 I7 Gannett 35' 60V General Motors 727 52 64 -V GlemUGold 8 Viz 3 Vn Granite Conet 24 17 23 Harding Lawson 10 6 10 Vi Meridian Gold 5 1 27 Nevada Power 24V 19 24' Newmont 471ft 26V 27 Norwest 39V! 20 37 PegatusGokl 87 J.C. Penney 68 44' 63 4 RadicaGame 18 1V IS7 RenoAJr 9V 4 4V SBCCom 751 48V? 75 7 Sierra Pacific 347 27 34'A SierraWeet Bancorp 33 14 331 Southwest Ge 20'A 16V -V USBcOR 116 67 114 1 WellsFargo 350 245 336V I concerns about earnings ot multinational duwucmcs triggered late selling of blue-chip stocks.

The Dow Jones industrial average, at one point up almost 58 points and above 8,000, ended the day down 1 8.90. The late decline, which came after gains throughout the day, halted two days of advances. Broader market indicators also retreated. Bonds: U.S. Treasury securities fell as the dollar suffered its biggest decline in nearly seven years, reflecting crucial steps by Japan to stimulate its economy and shore up the yen.

The price of the benchmark 30-year Treasury bond fell 9 1 6 point, or $5.63 per 1,000 in face value. Its yield, which moves in the opposite direction, rose to 6.00 percent from 5.96 percent late Tuesday. Driving much of the action was the decline in the dollar, which at one point plunged nearly 6 yen from an intraday high of 131.53 before recouping some of its losses to settle at 12708 yen, down from 130.78 yen Tuesday. Currencies: The dollar suffered its sharpest drop in nearly seven years after Japan's central bank launched a rare sale of dollars for yen and the government proposed a 1 5 billion tax cut aimed at reviving Japan's sagging economy. The surprising i NYSE Diary Advice for others? "Establish priorities and focus on your goals, but keep everything in perspective." Your best business decision? "To retire from the credit union business and take on a new carper.

It's still in the same industry, but the clients are totally different." Helpful books? "Built to Last," by Jerry Porras and James Collins. Diana Frear Paschall Questions or comments: CLARE WOOD BUSINESS EDITOR PHONE, 788-6322 FAX, 788-6458 f. 1 1.. I i Composite volume: 731,199,900 19 avg. cwnp.

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