TAX-SAVING BILL to step up investments in small business by allowing quick write-off of investment losses will be sent to Congress by President Eisenhower. Investors would be allowed to deduct all or large part of losses from taxable personal income in single year-current limit is $1,000 a year for five years. Bill faces rough going because it would most benefit high-income brackets.

BILLION-DOLLAR CLUB gained four new U.S. companies in 1956 now numbers record 81 with assets of that amount. New members: Massachusetts Investors Trust Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co. Detroit Bank & Trust Co., Tennessee Gas Transmission Co. Likely candidates for admission this year-Anaconda Co., International Paper Co., Public Service Electric & Gas Co. of New Jersey.

SAVINGS BOND BOOST in interest to 3 1/4% from 3% was signed into law by President Eisenhower. To spur sagging sales, law will make $18.75 bonds worth $25 in eight years, eleven months after purchase instead of current nine years, eight months. Rate applies to Series E bonds, also Series H bonds that have a face value of $500 or more.

RECORDS TRADE-IN will be started by RCA Victor. During May company will give $1 credit toward any of its current classical albums in return for trade-in of old album of any make or speed that was bought for $2 or more.

FIRST G.M. STOCK OPTION plan will set aside 4,000,000 shares for about 250 top General Motors executives over next five years. If stockholders approve, G.M. will allow an executive to take 75% of his present bonus in cash or stock immediately, and company will put aside equal amount in common stock. Executive then could buy optioned stock, for market price at time of option, from 18 months to ten years hence.

WEST GERMAN BOOM is still on rise, with exports up 28.5% over same period last year. Trade surplus in March alone soared by record $127 million, equal to one-third of entire 1956 gain.

IRRADIATED COAL DUST is being tried as fuel by Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad. Working to develop atomic locomotive company found that gamma rays can dissolve crushed coal to such fineness that when it is added to diesel oil it burns up completely, increases oil's energy content. Railroad figures atomic coal dust could cut fuel bill by about It a gallon.

GO NOW, PAY LATER flight charges will be lowered by some airlines. Northwest Airlines will drop interest rates on installment-plan flights to 8% from 12%.

WORLD SHIPBUILDERS hit peacetime record in first quarter of 1957, launching 8,381,697 gross tons v. 7,009,179 in last year's March quarter. Biggest gainer was U.S. sending 365,445 tons down the ways, up 70,560 tons from last quarter of 1956.

BETTER TV MOVIES may result from new antitrust battle. Government charges that six major film distributors are illegally block-booking old Hollywood movies to TV stations, forcing them to lease flops in order to get hits. Trustbusters want current contracts renegotiated so that stations can order single pictures.

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