WORLD BUSINESS BRIEFING.

Presents news briefs related to world business. Growth of Singapore's economy; Delay by Sony of the planned release of its first hand-held player; Report of profits at the Spanish telecommunications company, Telefonica; Report of loss at the British mortgage bank Abbey National; Selling of shares at Eircom, the telephone company once owned by the government of Ireland; Report of profits at the French insurance company AXA; Investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission in the U.S. of the National Australia Bank.