Also

* A bankruptcy judge ruled that federal securities regulators may distribute to Enron Corp.’s bondholders $8 million surrendered by former company executive Michael Kopper when he pleaded guilty Aug. 21 to fraud and money laundering.

* Walgreen Co. said the Federal Trade Commission has requested details about its customer privacy and marketing policies, two days after rival Rite Aid Corp. said its policies were being probed.

* Cochlear Ltd., Med-El Corp. and Advanced Bionics Corp. ear implants have been linked to 52 cases of meningitis in the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration said.

* El Segundo-based Computer Sciences Corp. and two partners are in exclusive talks for a $2.3-billion contract to manage Britain’s post office computer network.

* Dell Computer Corp. surpassed Hewlett-Packard Co. to again become the world’s biggest personal computer maker as global PC sales rose 3.8% after five straight quarters of decline.

* Automakers and equipment manufacturers must reimburse motorists who paid to fix or correct defects that later were the subject of recalls as part of a new National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rule.