Business Notes DEALS

When Australian Raider Robert Holmes a Court spent more than $800 million to buy 9.6% of Texaco's stock for an average of $37 a share this year, many Wall Streeters applauded his gutsy vote of confidence in the bankrupt oil giant's chances for recovery. But after the October stock crash, Holmes a Court faced a severe cash squeeze. Sensing a distress sale, another renowned raider, TWA Chairman Carl Icahn, entered the picture last week. TWA bought about half of Holmes a Court's stake in Texaco for $348 million, or just $29 a share. The Australian's loss so far on his ill-timed oil-patch foray: some $100 million.