Clothing supplier Charnos has claimed that falling sales at Marks & Spencer are forcing it to seek additional funding. The hosiery, lingerie and knitwear maker says the struggling retailer’s fortunes have contributed to a fourfold growth in its annual pre-tax losses.

Computer manufacturer Hewlett-Packard and consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers have formed a joint consultancy venture to sell IT equipment and services to the aviation industry. The Aviation Solution Centre will provide solutions for wireless communications, baggage handling and airport management.

This report was a refreshing change from the dreary articles and telephone interviews that I expected it to contain. Instead, The Global Supply Chain (£450, available from FT Pharmaceuticals on 0171 896 2184) contains critical industry issues, covered systematically, with little bias to any specific element of the supply chain.

Price competition for the supply of next-generation digital telecommunication services to businesses is set to intensify - a result of deregulation due in August. So-called local-loop unbundling - giving any telecommunications firm the use of BT’s exchange-to-customer infrastructure - allows companies to supply their own services on BT’s digital network.