Business and City Summary

Slump in cars bought on credit

Sales of new cars bought on credit fell by 10.6 per cent in the first half of this year, according to figures from HPI, the vehicle statistics organisation. The used car market recorded a drop of 6.9 per cent.

However, four manufacturers saw a rise in new car finance sales, Citroen taking the lead with a 22.9 per cent increase.

TODAY

Interims: East German Inv Tst, Tst of Property Shares

Finals: Ellis & Everard, Matthew Clark, Multitone Electronics, Tomkins

Annual meetings: Gieves, Mid-Sussex Water, West Kent Water.

TOMORROW

Interims: CMW, City of Oxford Inv Tst, Eurotherm, Low & Bonar, Miskin, Olim Conv Tst

Finals: Birse, Bucknall, Clarke Hooper, Heiton Hdgs, Morris Ashby, Nobo, Pelican, Prism Leisure Corp, Triplex Lloyd, John D Wood

Annual meetings: AH Ball, Baris, British Airways, Cassidy Bros, Christian Salvesen, Courtaulds, Dunloe House, John Foster, Gt Portland Estates, Henderson Admin, Young & Co's Brewery

Figures: UK industrial production (May), UK producer prices (June), US consumer prices (June), US retail sales (June)

WEDNESDAY

Interims: Denmans Elec, Leslie Wise, Scottish American Inv Tst

Finals: Aberforth Split Level, HP Bulmer, Tomorrows Leisure, Wyko

Annual meetings: Argyll, Caffyns, Dawson Int, Drayton English & Int, Finsbury Tst, Fleming High Income Tst, Homestake Mining, Johnson Matthey, Lyons Irish, Mid Kent Hdgs, Penna, Plysu

Figures: US industrial production (June), US capacity utilisation (June), US business inventories May)

THURSDAY

Interims: Baring Tribune, Cardiff Property, General Consolidated, National Home Loans

Finals: Brasway, Dalepack Foods, Hampson Inds, Jones Stroud, Moorgate Inv, Norbain Electronics, Peel Holdings, Power Corp

Annual meetings: Mirror Group Newspapers, Reed Int.

Figures: UK unemployment (June), UK average earnings (May), UK unit wage costs (May), PSBR (June), US housing starts and permits (June)

FRIDAY

Interims: Aberforth Smaller Cos Tst, Elandsrand Gold Mining, Grosvenor Dev Capital, Selective Assets Tst, South African Land & Exploration, St Andrews Tst, Vaal Reefs , Western Deep Levels

Finals: British Bloodstock Agency, Jacques Vert

Annual meetings: British Land, Marks and Spencer, Thorn EMI, Vosper Thorneycroft

Figures: US merchandise trade (May)