Corpus Christi Caller-Times from Corpus Christi, Texas • 39

callercom Cotpl Cfttrit CalleNtiwrt Tuesday May 18 1999D11 Ships Dividends Paola I (Liberia) from Galveston at Koch Ingleside discharging crude oil Rita Delrnar (Norway) from Mexico at Cargo Dock 8 loading cars In port Laura (Liberia) at Koch 3 standing by Federal Saquenay (Barbados) at Corpus Christi Public Elevator loading sorghum RATE FROM D7 bolstered by low US interest rates and continued strength in an US economy enjoying its lowest unemployment levels in three decades But since Friday's bad inflation report Wall Street has grown nervous Bond prices have fallen sharply on inflation fears while the Dow Jones industrial average fell a further 60 points Monday following a 194-poipt on Friday best news on inflation is said Allen Sinai chief economist at Primark Global Economics is not to say that we will have runaway inflation but we have seen the lows on Few private economists expect a Fed rate increase today but some said the central bank may employ a new signaling device to put financial markets on notice about the future direction of interest rates Up until now the central bank only announced actual rate changes after meetings of its Federal Open Market Committee composed of Fed governors and bank presidents who gather eight times a year to set interest rates However at its December meeting the Fed approved a change in policy that would allow it to signal the future direction of rates by allowing it to reveal changes in its policy directive Arrivals Eagle Centaurus (Singapore) from Beaumont at Oil Dock 8 discharging crude oil Coronilla (Panama) from Houston at Oil Dock 9 loading cumene Guardian (Liberia) from Mexico at Oil Dock 4 discharging crude oil Nero (Panama) from Venezuela at CITGO 3 discharging crude oil RETAIL FROM D7 e-mail their family back in Canada I get Navy wives coming in to e-mail their husbands on ships I get college students who come in and study" he said Notes: The former Martin Sports Complex in Calallen has been converted into a new multipurpose athletic club Renamed Bay Area Athletic Club the fitness center is owned by Rome Gregorio former assistant general manager of Corpus Christi Athletic Gub The club features a two-level fitness center with cardiovascular and circuit equipment free improved pensions higher wages a reduction in work and improved health care They also say they oppose proposals for a two-tier wage structure and a reduction in some trip rates So far this year US sales of new cars and light trucks are up 9 percent A prolonged strike in the midst of the strong spring selling season could be devastating to automakers and dealers alike Staff writer Andrea Jsres contributed to this report She can be readied at 886-3678 or by e-mail at weights and group exercise classes Facilities also include indoor basketball and racquetball courts and batting cages Portland's Kmart store 1400 Wildcat Drive is one of eight Texas Kmart stores being upgraded to a Big Kmart format Work is due to be complete by the end of June On Retailing is published every other Tuesday In the OtUer-Tlmes business section The column includes news of new relocated and expanded businesses in the Coastal Bend plus retailing trends and profiles Ideas may be submitted to: On Retailing Corpus Cbristi CaHerTimes RO Box 9136 Corpus Christi lisas 78469 e-mail Jeffrey Tomich at tranichjcaUcrconi fox items to (361) 886-3732 or caU (361) 886-4316 1 mkim LandLord RESOURCES 8578991 40W? Deadline set for Hoechst merger deal Pact by Celanese parent to finalize in November Associated Press FRANKFURT Germany Hoechst AG and Rhone-Poulenc SA on Monday set November as a deadline for completing their merger into a new drugs and agricultural chemicals giant to be called Aventis The share-swap to begin in October will give Hoechst S3 percent of the new company and Rhone-Poulenc the rest the two companies said in a statement The all-stock deal will result in one of the largest companies with annual sales of around $20 billion Based in Strassbourg France Aventis will be publicly traded in Paris Frankfurt and New York The companies expect the merger to be closed in November provided the shareholders of the two groups approve it the statement said A 90 percent acceptance rate will be needed for the merger to succeed the two companies said Before November Hoechst plans to spin off its industrial chemical operations into Celanese AG by offering Hoechst shareholders one Celanese share for 10 Hoechst shares held (Hoechst has nearly 1400 employees and site contractors at the Bishop plant on US Highway 77 and employs 200 at its Corpus Christi technical center The employees will become employees of Celanese AG after the merger (Celanese manufactures commodity chemicals and another Hoechst division Tirana makes engineered plastics at the plant Hoechst also manufactures pain relievers acetaminophen and ibuprofen at the Bishop facility for German chemicals company BASF) The two groups said they plan to submit the merger plan to extraordinary shareholder meetings in mid-July Hoechst shareholders will meet again in October at an annual general meeting to vote on the payment of a special dividend according to the companies Caller-Dmes Information Services contributed to this report HAUL FBOMD7 serving shiploads of cars bound for Mexico as a result of a shortage of bi-level rail cars a port official told the Caller-Times handled has moved in and out of the port by port deputy director Jake Jacobi said) Spokesman Steve Wright declined to say what steps Allied was taking to prepare for a possible walkout The trucking companies are negotiating as a group with the Teamsters The Teamsters are seeking 56XU90 Speed flSfga AcNet flower Networking Ftee Ausaotf tfaribof seiesacneLnet wrmacnetnet MilM lake advani in ULS Now ii the time to mob LILS Look for our id yout SouttiwHtem HARDIE BOWMAN 719 Upper BroaOany completely Problem Ofifnr-In-ComproinueIniullmtnt Agreement on pm 3 kiSMlrt Ml Yiiow Pom JV CPAV ooo- Utl Ste 201 Corpm Christi 7S4Q1 Xu Return Preparation faulty Abatement Tu Ammcsty Small Suites Now Available 500-2500 sq ft Office Spaces Modem Renovatea Office Facilities ElectronicTelephone Access for After Hours Rapid Access to SPID Downtown Ocean Dr JNUMITEDJNTERNElACCESo HHirenEftiml (361)99111122 DSfflfflDOlB Corner of Alameda Doddridge A Convenient Central Location We can customize each program to fit the needs of your group 11800155111 il 85 )IpOmtC EdgC Communication ClaUiKfi Csmk Goal Setting (361) 814-3343 ChokM wwwACofpafitcEdguoa Teamwork Trust Commitment CHARITY LEAGUE Is now accepting applications from Nonprofit Agencies and Organizations requesting funds for capital improvements and or program expenses in 2000 For further information write: The Charity League PO Box 6757 Corpus Christi Texas 78466-6757 Application deadline July 1 1999 1 2 Gobpul GlvUlti! An We 3ud working full-time for several previously taken college-level and wish to complete their during evening classes Del Mar College location can complete a bachelor's Applied Arts and Sciences Administration or Psychology Classes are a week The University of the Incarnate Word's Adult Degree Completion Program celebrates the commencement of its first two ADCaP graduates in Corpus Christi Laura Lusk-Montemayor and Cynthia Hinojosa received bachelor of Applied Arts and Science degrees in commencement ceremonies in San Antonio May 8 The Adult Degree Completion Program is specifically designed for students who 9t RifJU 9h A UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD IThe Universe IsYours have been years have courses bachelor's degree At the new working adults degree in Business Organizational still two nights i 888-5445 School of Evening Studies Adult Degree Completion Program I 1 1 i.