September 25, 2003

Joyce Purnick column suggests new laws and taxes appropriate to New York City (M)

Harvey Araton Sports of The Times column questions whether current New York Mets are worse than often-ridiculed 1962 Mets and discusses disappointment of team's performance this season; photos (M)

London's Royal National Theater announces three-year, $1.35 million deal with American producers Bob Boyett and Ostar Productions, run by Bill Haber, giving them right to transfer shows to US (M)

Financial Accounting Standards Board discusses changes that would wipe out much of financial incentive for companies to convert to cash-balance pension plans; says it is beginning study of way many companies with cash-balance pensions measure benefit they will eventually have to pay their employees; actuaries say board's approach could ultimately force these companies to report much larger obligation than they now do; about third of America's 100 largest corporations have cash-balance pension plans, hybrids that combine some features of traditional pension plans with those of 401(k) accounts (M)

Unemployment rate in Brazil's six largest metropolitan areas rose to 13 percent in August, adding to evidence that its economy is struggling to recover after four months of interest rate cuts (S)