Business and City Summary

BTR SEEKS LISTING FOR GRAHAM GROUP

BTR, the conglomerate, is to seek a Stock Exchange listing for Graham Group, Britain's fourth- largest builders' merchant, through a public offer and placing. Gordon Yardley, a non-executive director of BTR, is to become Graham Group's non- executive chairman.

Graham Group comprises Graham Builders Merchants and Goodman Croggan. It employs 2,900 staff in 158 branches, accounting for 5 per cent of the builders' merchant markets with a 1992 turnover of pounds 350m.

BANKING CALL

The Banking Insurance and Finance Union (Bifu), which represents 15,000 members, has asked John Major to hold a meeting between bank chiefs and employees' representatives, so that Bifu can champion the benefits to the economy of maintaining staff numbers.

FORTE APPOINTMENT

Forte has appointed Patrick Copeland, formerly president of Cinema International Corporation, the international film distributor owned by MCA/Universal and Paramount Studios, as group director, hotels. Alan Hearn, currently responsible for hotels, becomes group director, operations.

TWO-SPEED EUROPE

France, Spain and Italy will join Britain in enjoying significant economic recoveries this year, but Germany will still be struggling, according to Oxford Economic Forecasting. Western Germany will be lucky to see positive growth, while France and Spain will see national output rising by about 1.5 per cent. UK growth is expected to be 2.7 per cent.

OIL SPILLAGE

Opec countries lost dollars 3bn in revenue during November and December as a result of the oil price collapse, according to the Kuwaiti Oil Minister, Ali al-Baghli. Kuwait's losses over the same period amounted to pounds 220m.

TODAY 17.1.94

Producer prices index (Dec), industrial and manufacturing production (Nov).

Interims: Abtrust Scotland Inv Co, Aerospace Engineering, Carclo Engineering, Colorvision, Court Cavendish Group, Dalepak Foods, Northern Industrial Improvement Trust, Peel Holdings.

Finals: Soundtracs, Thomson Corp (div).

TOMORROW 18.1.94

Interims: Photo-me Intl, River & Merc Extra Income (div), Stanley Leisure, YRM, Zetters Group.

Finals: Aberforth Smaller Cos, Alexanders Holdings, Central Motor Auctions, Denmans Electrical, Everards Brewery, Samuel Heath & Sons, Hunterprint Group, Lookers, Windsor.

WEDNESDAY 19.1.94

Retail sales (Dec), retail prices index (Dec), public sector borrowing requirement (Dec).

Interims: Barbour Index, Daejan Holdings, Dunedin Japan Inv Trust, Electron House, Exmoor Dual Inv Trust.

Finals: Division Group, London & Clydeside, London Scottish Bank, Oceonics Group (div), RCO Holdings.

THURSDAY 20.1.94

US housing starts (Dec).

Interims: AIM Group, Budgens, Carpetright, City of Oxford Inv Trust (3rd interim div), Crest Packaging, Data General Corp (Q1), Hampson Industries, McKay Securities, William Ransom & Son, Whinney Mackay-Lewis, John D Wood.

Finals: Contra-Cyclical Inv Trust, Geared Income Inv Trust, Gestetner Group, Hill & Smith Holdings.

FRIDAY 21.1.94

Gross domestic product (Q4), building society net new commitments (Dec), M4 (Dec).

Interims: British Bloodstock, Hidong Estate, Shield Group.

Finals: Cardiff Property, LPA Industries, Malvern UK Index Trust, Park Food Group, St Andrew Trust, Selective Assets Trust.