Business and City in Brief

Acquisitions and mergers decline

The value of cross-border mergers and acquisitions fell by 38 per cent to dollars 26bn ( pounds 17.3bn) in the first three months of the year, according to research by KPMG Peat Marwick.

Commissions survey

A survey commissioned by the Laurentian Finance Group, the life assurance, pensions and personal investment company, has shown that 50 per cent of people are prepared to ignore the level of commission paid to salesmen. From next year sellers of investment products will have to disclose commission.

Putting on the style

Almost three-quarters of companies have reviewed their management styles in the past five years, and the same proportion expect to review it again in the next five, according to a survey of finance directors by 3i.

GEC merger poser

Dick Evans, chief executive of British Aerospace appeared to rule out a merger with GEC in an interview on the Money Programme yesterday. Lord Weinstock, GEC's managing director, said he was still in favour of a merger.

TODAY

Interims: Albion, Dead Sea Works, Domino Printing, Kunick, National Home Loans, Richards, Scottish Radio.

Finals: Betterware, British Airways, Celsis International, Kelt Energy, Kenwood Appliances, North American Gas Inv Tst, Seton Healthcare, Towles, Warnford Investments.

TOMORROW

Interims: Archimedes Inv Tst, Fairbairn Euro Smaller Companies Inv Tst, Fairline Boats, Metro Radio, M&G Income Inv Trust, Throgmorton Dual Trust, Yorkshire-Tyne Tees TV.

Finals: BET, Casket, European Colour, Hozelock Group, Lep Group, M&G Recovery Inv Tst, Monks Inv Tst, New Throgmorton Trst, Readicut International, Shires Investment, Thorn EMI, SG Warburg Group.

WEDNESDAY

Interims: Carlton Communications, Countryside Properties, Dundee & London Inv Tst, F&C Emerging Markets, Johnson Fry Utilities, Leeds Group, Murray Enterprise.

Finals: Argyll Group, Atlantic Inv Tst, Chamberlin & Hill, Courtaulds, Fleming High Income Inv Tst, Govett High Income Inv Tst, Land Securities, Mercury Asset Management, M & G Group, Morland, North West Water, Raglan Property Trust, Vosper Thornycroft, Young's Brewery.

THURSDAY

Interims: Acatos & Hutcheson, Archer Group Holdings, Fenchurch, Hunterprint Group, Kinta Kellas, McLeod Russel, Perpetual, Scottish Inv Trust, J Smart, Trafalgar House, Tunstall Group, Villiers Group, Warner Estate Holdings.

Finals: Alba, Atkins Group, Cable & Wireless, Cranswick, Fortune Oil, Fulcrum Inv Tst, Gieves Group, Inch Kenneth Kajang, Macdonald Martin, Martin Currie Euro Inv Tst, Merchant Retail Group, NEC Corp, Parkside International, Rackwood Mineral, Southnews, South West Water, Storehouse.

FRIDAY

Interims: Dunedin Worldwide Inv Trust, Kelsey Industries, Millwall Holdings, Rodime, United Drug, H Young Holdings

Finals: Bristol Evening Post, Castings, B Elliott, London & Metropolitan, South Staffordshire Water, John Swire & Sons