Texas Instruments

WASHINGTON -- Raytheon Co. and General Motors Corp.'s && Hughes Electronics won federal antitrust approval yesterday for their $9.5 billion combination, bringing the companies a step closer to creating the nation's third largest defense and aerospace company.In a settlement with the Justice Department and the Pentagon, Raytheon and Hughes agreed to sell two defense electronics businesses with combined sales of about $50 million, erect a firewall that preserves competition for an upcoming bid on a new missile for the U.S. Army and provide fixed prices for AMRAAM missiles as the sole supplier of those weapons.

NEW YORK -- A plunge in long-term interest rates and stronger-than-expected earnings from Kellogg Co., Apple Computer Inc. and Texas Instruments Inc. sent two of the three major U.S. stock measures to record highs yesterday.The advance was cut short in the final hour by computer-guided sell orders tied to yesterday's expiration of options on Standard & Poor's 100 Index and options on individual stocks, traders said. The late decline wiped out a 21-point gain in the Dow industrials before prices recovered slightly.

BALTIMOREFor more Baltimore convention information, call the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association at (410) 659-7300, within Maryland, or (800) 343-3468, outside Maryland.April 11-13 NETWORK, annual meeting, Radisson Lord Baltimore. Contact: Nancy Renner, Catonsville Community College. Estimated attendance: 200.April 20-22 ONCOR International, annual sales meeting, Hyatt Regency. Contact: Marlyn Horsley, c/o Suite 1440, 300 E. Lombard St., Baltimore 21202. Estimated attendance: 400.April 24-27 Hitachi Business Systems, Stouffer Harborplace Hotel.

A weekly briefing on the economic calendar Monday Earnings reports: 3M, ETrade, Kraft Foods, Stanley Works, Texas Instruments Tuesday Housing starts and building permits for September. Consumer Price Index for September. Earnings reports: Altria, Ameritrade, Boise Cascade, Charles Schwab, Continental Airlines, DominoM-Fs Pizza, Ford Motor, Manpower, McDonaldM-Fs, Safeway, Sprint FON, US Bancorp, Wells Fargo, Electronic Arts, Motorola& Johnson Wednesday Earnings reports: AMR Corp.

What should you tell your spouse about your financial affairs? Kiplinger's, September, says, "You don't have to divulge every detail, but be sure to share these key financial facts: "Retirement plans: acquaint each other with your employers' retirement benefits, 401(k) accounts and pension plans. "Credit card documents: you may not want to know details of each other's credit card accounts, but it's wise to know where to find account numbers in case one loses his or her wallet. "Also, share knowledge of wills, powers of attorney, trusts, brokerage accounts, life insurance, loans, health insurance, etc."

Arthur E. Johnson isn't a surprising recipient of the prestigious Black Engineer of the Year award for 1997.As president of Lockheed Martin Federal Systems, he's in charge of 8,000 employees who develop, sell and deliver information solutions to the Defense Department, civilian federal agencies and other customers.Johnson, 49, has 27 years of experience in military and government technology as exotic as mine-hunting submarine sonars and as commonplace as mechanical mail sorters.But his selection for the national award, given Saturday in Baltimore, was hardly a no-brainer.

Awards * MGH, an Owings Mills-based marketing communications agency, received three certificates of excellence from Graphic Design USA for its work on behalf of Texas Instruments; Center for Eating Disorders, Sheppard Pratt; and Lee Read Jewelers. * Mary Sipes, senior sales manager of the Hyatt Regency Baltimore, was named by the National Academy Foundation as its Hospitality & Tourism Professional of the Year. On the board * United Cerebral Palsy of Central Maryland announced the appointment of Melissa Berge to a seat on its board of directors.

TOKYO -- When Nikon Corp., the Japanese camera maker, agreed two weeks ago to pay Honeywell $45 million to settle patent-infringement charges, it became one of the latest casualties in what some people here are calling the "patent wars."With increasing regularity, American companies are demanding, and winning, large royalty payments from Japanese companies for the use of patented technology.But angry Japanese companies are preparing to fight back at what they view as excessive American demands.