NatWest blow

WITHDRAWING from a disastrous foray into French retail banking is likely to cost National Westminster Bank pounds 100m in provisions, according to a new estimate by Salomon Brothers. NatWest announced last month that it was closing its French retail business, which has been making substantial losses for two years. Salomon still expects NatWest to make pounds 810m in profits for the full year, more than double the tally for 1992.