In Brief

Goodman to issue new writ

Harry Goodman is to issue a fresh writ against British Airways over alleged 'dirty tricks' that caused the collapse of his travel empire. Solicitors for Mr Goodman, the former chief of Air Europe and the International Leisure Group, said new evidence had come to light and the first writ issued earlier this month would be withdrawn.

The first writ was never actually served. A BA spokesman said: 'If a writ is served we will deal with it.'

600 jobs go

Bridon, the engineering group, is seeking up to 250 redundancies, initially on a voluntary basis. British Steel is cutting about 350 jobs at two tin plate works in South Wales.

ICI in China

Sir Denys Henderson, chairman of Imperial Chemical Industries, has opened the group's first factory in mainland China. The plant, which cost pounds 15m, has the capacity to manufacture 15 million litres of paint a year.

Aussie double

NM Smaller Australian Companies Trust, launched in December, is proposing to double in size by raising a further pounds 33.7m through an issue of new shares.

Adviser suspended

Gordon William Jaeger, a financial adviser who worked for DBS Financial Management, has been suspended by Fimbra, the regulator, after being charged with conspiracy to defraud.

Widows directors

Scottish Widows has appointed Newton Scott, its marketing and sales director, and Bill Main to its board.

Bermuda fears

The Department of Trade and Industry has confirmed that it is concerned about the financial security of some Bermudan reinsurance companies. The DTI is examining the wider implications of the collapse of Bermuda Fire & Marine.

GKN bid extended

GKN extended the deadline for its offer for Westland Group, the helicopter maker, to 5 April. It now has 44.9 per cent.

Diamond sales soar

De Beers, the South African diamond giant, has pushed through record sales of rough diamonds in the first quarter of 1994 in an attempt to capitalise on the sharp pick-up in the US market.

Kleinwort pay-off

Kleinwort Benson paid off its ousted securities chief, Jonathan Agnew, with an ex-gratia payment of pounds 600,000, according to the merchant bank's annual report. Five directors enjoyed remuneration over pounds 420,000.

World Markets

New York: Despite interest rate fears and triple witching nerves a late surge in blue chips saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average close up 30.51 at 3,895.65.

Tokyo: With investors focusing on individual issues ahead of a long weekend, the Nikkei average dropped 122.71 to 20,469.45.

Hong Kong: Prices fell sharply in late trade, taking the Hang Seng down 380.82 to 9,132.31.

Sydney: Most early losses were regained by the close, leaving the All Ordinaries index just 0.9 of a point easier at 2,163.5.

Bombay: With most players still sidelined, the index edged up 0.16 of a point to 3,793.14.

Johannesburg: Across-the-board gains on the back of a firmer gold price took the overall index up 46 points to close at 5,233.

Paris: Amid fears of a further tightening of US monetary policy, the CAC-40 index retreated 26.5 points to 2,221.34.

Frankfurt: Weaker bonds pulled shares lower, with the DAX index 19.45 points off at 2,156.1.

Zurich: Receding hopes of lower interest rates sent the Swiss Performance Index into a 20.54- point decline to 1,831.51.

London: Report, page 21.