BANKING

Bankers Trust to Increase Stake in Northwest Airlines: The Minneapolis-based airline said it has agreed to swap preferred stock held by Bankers Trust New York Corp. for common shares, increasing the bank’s stake in the airline to 8% from 6%. The deal relieves Northwest of paying Bankers Trust $6.9 million a year in dividends on the preferred stock. Also, Northwest would have had to buy the preferred stock back from Bankers Trust for $86.35 million in six to eight years. Bankers Trust gained $33 million worth of common stock, or 2.05 million shares, in the deal.