Business and City Summary

HANSON POISED FOR US SWAP

Hanson, the Anglo-American conglomerate, is poised for a dollars 500m ( pounds 324m) gold-for-coal swap with Santa Fe Pacific, the US railway giant. Hanson will exchange its Gold Fields Mining Corporation, a subsidiary of Consolidated Gold Fields, for Santa Fe's coal mines.

SHAKE-UP URGED

The system of regulatory authorities sould be rationalised by merger - including combining Ofgas and Offer into a new Office of Energy Regulation - says a report from the European Policy Forum, the Government think-tank. It says the Monopolies and Mergers Commission should act as a court of appeal against regulators' decisions.

SUNDAY TRADING

Sunday trading should be legalised for supermarkets, do- it-yourself stores, garden centres and small local stores, says the Institute for Public Policy Research. But it says employers must be prohibited from dismissing or victimising workers who refuse to work on Sunday.

TAKEOVERS DOWN

The number of Continental European companies taken over by British predators fell from 175 in 1991 to 159 last year despite the impending launch of the single European market, according to Translink, the cross-border mergers and acquisitions adviser.

CAR TAX PLEA

Car tax liability should be based on actual cost to the employer rather than list value, claims a report by the Institute of Directors.

TODAY: 11.1.93

UK consumer credit (November).

Interims: Carclo Engineering, Ellis and Everard, Tomkins.

Finals: AG Barr.

TOMORROW: 12.1.93

UK producer price inflation (December).

Interims: Barbour Index, Dalepak Foods, Howden Group, Jacques Vert, Nobo Group.

Finals: M&W.

WEDNESDAY: 13.1.93

German gross domestic product (1992).

Interims: Dixons Group, Dudley Jenkins Group, Kelt Energy, David S Smith.

Finals: First Leisure, Southern Business, Watson and Philip.

THURSDAY: 14.1.93

US retail sales (December), producer price inflation (December), initial unemployment claims (week ending 2 January), money supply (December). Japanese wholesale prices (December).

Interims: Goode Durrant, Hampson Industries, Jones Stroud Holdings, Stanley Leisure, Wyko Group.

Finals: Denmans Electrical, Intercare Group, Microgen Holdings, Neotronics Technology, Rank Organisation, Securicor Group, Security Services, TSB Group, Windsor.

FRIDAY: 15.1.93

UK retail price inflation (December). US consumer prices (December), trade figures (November), industrial production (December), real earnings (December).

Interims: British Bloodstock Agency.

Finals: First National Finance, LPA Industries.