OTHER NEWS - March 29, 1996

The nation’s top 100 advertisers spent $13.3 billion on newspaper advertising in 1995, a 12.8% jump, the Newspaper Assn. of America reported. . . . Thomas C. Curry has been named chief executive of Los Angeles-based MacNeal-Schwendler, succeeding company founder Richard H. MacNeal, who remains chairman. . . . Cable & Wireless and British Telecommunications said they are holding “exploratory talks” that could lead to a merger that would create a $50.2-billion all-British telecommunications powerhouse. . . . United Technologies’ auto parts division said it plans to close four manufacturing plants and fire about 1,200 workers to reduce costs.