BRIEFCASE DISNEY RING TONES OFFERED ON PHONES.

Byline: - From staff and wire reports

NORTH HOLLYWOOD - Images of Disney characters and songs from its classic movies are now available on AT&T Wireless phones, it was announced Monday.

It's the first time Disney-branded ring tones and graphics have been available to U.S. wireless subscribers, according to North Hollywood-based Walt Disney Internet Group.

T-bill rates down in Monday's sale

WASHINGTON - Interest rates on short-term Treasury bills fell in Monday's auction with the rate on three-month bills falling to the lowest level in 43 years.

The Treasury Department auctioned $16 billion in three-month bills at a discount rate of 1.735 percent. Another $16 billion in six-month bills was auctioned at a discount rate of 1.765 percent.

The three-month rate was down from 1.920 percent last week and was the lowest since three-month bills averaged 1.524 percent on Aug. 11, 1958. The six-month rate was down from 1.990 percent last week and was the lowest on record. The government began auctioning six-month bills in 1958.

In a separate report, the Federal Reserve said Monday that the average yield for one-year constant maturity Treasury bills, the most popular index for making changes in adjustable rate mortgages, fell to 2.23 percent last week from 2.35 percent the previous week.

Enron arranges $1.5 billion loans

HOUSTON - Enron Corp. told a bankruptcy court judge Monday that it has arranged up to $1.5 billion in financing to keep operating as it reorganizes under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The announcement at U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan came hours after Enron laid off 4,000 workers, or 20 percent of its work force, and sent the rest of its staff at its Houston headquarters home for the rest of the day.

Under terms of the agreement with lenders J.P. Morgan Chase and Citigroup, Enron will receive $250 million immediately. The company will receive another $250 million by Jan. 7, said Martin Bienenstock, a lawyer representing Enron.

Disney, producer settle film lawsuit

The Walt Disney Co. and the executive producer of the movie ``While You Were Sleeping'' agreed to settle a lawsuit over profits from the 1995 film, court papers showed Monday.

Steven Barron sued Disney in December 2000, saying he was entitled to 10 percent of the net profits from the film. Another plaintiff, Elaine Johnson, said she was entitled to 5 percent of the net profits.

The lawsuit alleged that ``While You Were Sleeping'' had ``generated in excess of $250,000,000 in worldwide receipts, yet (Disney) claim(s) that they still have not recouped their costs and that there are no 'net profits' pursuant to the infamous Hollywood-style accounting system that defendants employ.''

A trial-setting conference had been set for this week, but it was canceled in light of the settlement.

Plaintiffs attorney Alan Gutman declined comment on the settlement.

Representatives for Disney could not be reached for comment late Monday afternoon.

EchoStar, Hughes merger in works

DENVER - The nation's two largest satellite TV companies filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission Monday seeking approval for their merger.

The proposed merger between Littleton, Colo.-based EchoStar Communications Corp. and Hughes Electronics would make EchoStar the nation's biggest provider of satellite television, serving 15 million customers, or 17 percent of the market.

Federal regulators set up a team last month to review the proposed merger. The Justice Department also will review the proposed merger.