IN BRIEF.

Byline: Daily News Staff and wire services

VALLEY INDEX CLIMBS: Shares of most companies in the Daily News Index were higher Thursday, led by ACT Networks Inc. of Calabasas, which climbed $2.375 to $10.375.

-- Daily News

MARKETS CLOSE EARLY: Most financial markets, including the stock markets, will conduct a half-day of trading today, closing at 10 a.m. PST. Most businesses will remain open, including banks.

--Associated Press

PRICE SURGE: Shares of Simi Valley-based PerfectData Corp. rose 43 percent to $2.84375 following an announcement that the company has been raising cash by selling off some of its investments. The company said it plans to take part in business-to-business and e-commerce ventures.

-- Daily News

MERGER DELAYED: Thousand Oaks-based WellPoint Health Networks Inc. has agreed to a one-year extension of its merger with Cerulean Companies Inc., parent of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia. Both companies agreed to the Dec. 31, 2000, extension while a lawsuit pending against Atlanta-based Cerulean is reviewed by the Georgia Court of Appeals.

-- Daily News

PROPERTY SOLD: Glendale-based Hollywood Park said Thursday it plans to sell its Turf Paradise horse racing facility to Jerry Simms, a private investor. Terms were not disclosed. The sale will close out Hollywood Park's involvement in the horse racing industry. The company previously had announced plans to focus solely on casinos.

-- Daily News