Polly Peck International, the troubled British food...

Polly Peck International, the troubled British food and electronics conglomerate asked for court assistance in London to sort out its $1.95-billion debt woes. The decision to apply for a court-appointed administrator followed weeks of wrangling with creditors over financing. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines said it has taken options on five additional McDonnell Douglas MD-11 jetliners, worth an estimated $500 million. The Treasury postponed the $12-billion auction of 2-year notes that had been scheduled for Wednesday; it was delayed because of congressional inaction on the debt limit.