31.   NatWest said it would close its U.S. equities business and is in talks to sell its Asian equities business.

32.   NationsBank is also planning to enter the equity underwriting business.

33.   NatWest said it is negotiating to sell its Australian and Asian equities units and will close its U.S. equities business.

34.   National Westminster Bank Plc is again in talks to sell its NatWest Markets equity business, people familiar with the situation said.

35.   National Westminster Bank Plc is close to selling its European equities business to Bankers Trust New York Corp., people familiar with the situation said.

36.   National Westminster Bank Plc said it sold its European equities business to Bankers Trust New York Corp. and its U.S. and Asian equity derivatives units to Deutsche Morgan Grenfell.

37.   NatWest said it sold its European equities business to Bankers Trust New York Corp. and its U.S. and Asian equity derivatives businesses to Deutsche Morgan Grenfell.

38.   One month ago, Deutsche bid for the equities business too, but the offer was rejected as too low.

39.   Other commercial banks have made more aggressive pushes into the equity business.

40.   Pimco has been looking to expand its equities business.