ALSO

Caribbean leaders plan to bombard U.S. Atty. Gen. Janet Reno with their grievances today at a regional conference on money laundering in Trinidad, and will denounce U.S. efforts to fight money launderers as a David versus Goliath battle to destroy their burgeoning offshore industry. The conference comes just days after U.S. legislators signaled a willingness to punish banks and countries that make it easy for international criminals to hide clandestine fortunes. Caribbean nations that have the highest concentration of offshore banks and firms say they are being unfairly targeted.

*

More than 200 Los Angeles business leaders are expected to meet with Mayor Richard Riordan and City Atty. James Hahn on Thursday to discuss reducing city business taxes, encouraging growth in the local high-tech industry, and the impact of the Rampart police corruption scandal on the city budget. The gathering is part of an annual round table between local businesspeople and city officials organized by the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information, call (213) 580-7565.

*

City National Corp., a Beverly Hills-based bank with $8.4 billion in assets, is expected to announce today the formation of a discount-brokerage unit to handle its customers’ stock trading online and over the phone. Through the new unit, City National Securities Inc., customers will be able to trade stocks and options. On Friday, City National shares rose 13 cents to close at $38.81 on the New York Stock Exchange. They’ve risen 18% this year.