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By Jon Bernstein, 2 October 2000 09:15

NEWS Technology players on the FTSE 100 may have had a rocky ride over the past six months as shares have taken a tumble but their chief executives continue to win come what may. The Times quotes a report by Hays Management Consultants which puts CEO pay - including share options - 20 per cent up on last year. Meanwhile, put upon directors are having to stomach increases just 8.5 per cent up on 1999. In more stark terms, the top five per cent of FTSE 100 bosses were paid an average of £752,000 while fellow board members are having to settle for £418,000 a year. Whether the thought of these kinds of pay increases is making BT's Sir Ian Vallance rethink his retirement plans remains unclear. However, last week's reports that the chairman of the board would step down before his contract expires in July 2002 have now been firmly denied by the telco. However, rumours of an early retirement continued over the weekend as BT countered criticism from investors, rivals and regulators. But, as the Guardian reports this morning, BT has now issued an official denial. So that should be the end of that. Shouldn't it? The controversial music-swapping site, Napster, is back on the news agenda this week. Napster lawyers and representatives of the Recording Industry Association of America will both be given 20 minutes to make their arguments in court today. The Telegraph doesn't speculate on the likely outcome of the day in court but it does shed some crucial light on the origins of the Napster name. Apparently it comes from founder, Shawn Fanning's 'nappy'-like hairstyle. Diaper, surely? Finally, two online banks with differing fortunes. First, the Financial Times reports that Totalise, the internet company that has given away free shares to its users, is planning a flotation. The paper says money raised from the AIM public offering will fund the creation of an online bank, again part-owned by its 140,000 customers. And as the competition hots up, a more established player is planning to shock consumers into opening an account. The Daily Telegraph says Prudential-owned egg is planning a new advertising campaign which features "two men in the shower and lying on a bed together". According to the paper, two of the series of four adverts, have already caused consternation at the Broadcast Advertisement Clearance Centre.