Also. . .

* Pernod Ricard is expected to receive a preliminary ruling from French antitrust officials this week on revised plans for the sale of its Orangina unit to Coca-Cola Co., setting the stage for a decision after 20 months of talks. Coca-Cola in May agreed to scale back its original bid to $770 million and not to distribute the carbonated drink in French restaurants after the government blocked its first offer on competitive grounds.

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* Singapore’s economy expanded 6.7% in the second quarter, its fastest growth rate since the end of 1997, as the region’s recovery and the strong U.S. market propelled demand, said Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. As a result of accelerating growth, the government raised its 1999 gross domestic product forecast to a gain of between 4% and 5%.

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* American Tower Corp., the No. 2 U.S. owner and operator of broadcast and wireless communications towers, leased 2,100 towers from AirTouch Communications Inc. for $800 million in cash and agreed to build as many as 500 more for an undisclosed amount.