Business and City Summary

FIGHTER FIGHT

The defence secretary, Malcolm Rifkind, will join Italy and Spain this week in a last-ditch bid to rescue the pounds 22bn European Fighter Aircraft programme. They will seek to convince the German defence minister, Volker Ruhe, not to pull out of the project at a meeting in Madrid tomorrow.

SLACK CLOTHING

Demand for children's wear, one of the most buoyant markets in recession, will be flat this year, according to a report published today by Verdict Research. The pounds 1.3bn market has succumbed to a price war, with discounts even more widespread than in adult clothing.

TODAY: 3.8.92

Interims: Abbey National, BBA, Transport Development.

TOMORROW: 4.8.92

Statistics: UK June housing starts, UK July official reserves, US June leading indicators.

Interims: Edinburgh Oil and Gas, National Westminster Bank, Yorkshire Chemicals.

WEDNESDAY: 5.8.92

Statistics: UK May overseas travel and tourism, UK July cyclical indicators.

Interims: Chieftain Group, GKN, Smith & Nephew, Standard Chartered, TI Group, Wickes. Final: Resort Hotels.

THURSDAY: 6.8.92

Interims: Barclays Bank, BOC (Q3), British Petroleum, Kleinwort Benson, Rotork, Simon Engineering.

FRIDAY: 7.8.92

Statistics: UK balance of payments (advance 1991 estimates), UK second quarter insolvencies, US July unemployment.

Interim: Fairway Group.

Final: SEET.