IN BRIEF.

VALLEY INDEX RISES: The Daily News/Bloomberg Index rose 2.14 to 131.73, led by Thousand Oaks-based Amgen Inc., which gained $3.25 to close at $78.75, and Glendale-based Ihop Corp., which rose $2.625 to $42.25.

HERD PROJECT: DreamWorks SKG, which continues to challenge The Walt Disney Co. in animation, plans to co-produce ``Tusker,'' its third computer-animated movie with Pacific Data Images. ``Tusker,'' which is in production, follows an elephant herd through Southeast Asia. DreamWorks and PDI collaborated on ``Antz'' and ``Shrek,'' also in production.

- Daily News

DONE DEAL: Glendale-based Unihealth said it has completed the sale of its eight medical centers in Los Angeles and Orange counties to Catholic Healthcare West. Terms of the sale were not released. Following the sale, Unihealth is left without any hospitals in the region, while Catholic Healthcare now has 14, including Glendale Memorial and Northridge Hospital Medical Center.

- Daily News

BOARD MEMBER: Woodland Hills-based Syncor International Corp., a maker of radioactive chemicals used in medical imaging, said Friday that Blue Shield of California President Ronald Williams has joined its board of directors. Williams also serves on the board of the California Association of Health Plans, the state's main HMO trade group.

- Daily News

SPLITSVILLE: The Right Start Inc., a Westlake Village-based maker of products for infants and children, said Friday that its board has authorized a one-for-two reverse split of outstanding shares of its common stock in an effort to bump up the price. The proposed split will be taken to shareholders for their approval at the board's Dec. 15 meeting. If approved, the split would take effect Dec. 16. Right Start stock fell 37.5 cents Friday to close at $1.375.

- Daily News