Jean Pierson, managing director of Airbus Industrie, has launched an astonishing attack on his own shareholders, accusing them of delaying the next generation of super jumbo jets by flirting with the enemy. Mr Pierson said that as a result of the dalliance between Airbus's owners, which include British Aerospace, and his main rival, America's Boeing, "We have lost one year minimum." The outburst comes amid growing fears that Airbus has fallen irrecoverably behind in the ultimate business race to build a 500-800 seater jet - a mega-market forecast to be worth $160bn (pounds 107bn) in the first 20 years of the 21st century.A clear victory would determine which of the two companies dominates the commercial aerospace industry in the next century. Peter Norris, the former chief executive of Barings, is expected to accept a three-year ban, as well as a pounds 10,000 fine.Mary Wolz, formerly global head of equity products, is also pursuing the tribunal route.Five others - who are facing penalties ranging from one- to three-year bans from the City and fines of between pounds 5,000 and pounds 10,000 - are in discussion with the SFA.. A preliminary hearing before the tribunal chairman will be held in May, and the first full hearings will take place in September."I believe the tribunal will give me the first opportunity to present my case, and ensure natural justice is done," said Mr Baker.He is also insisting on appearing before the Treasury Committee if he is named to MPs by other former Barings colleagues. "I want the right to respond if defamatory comments are made about me in a privileged environment," he said.The SFA has said the first disciplinary case will be concluded by the end of the week.

They have been charged with failing to act with due skill, care and diligence.His colleague, Ron Baker, who ran the Debt Financial Products Group, will fight a three-year ban and a pounds 10,000 fine through the SFA's tribunal procedure. The Singapore report highlights his whistleblower role and says: "In our view the collapse might have been averted if Mr Hopkins' concerns had been taken seriously and acted upon promptly and effectively."The SFA wants to discipline him, and eight others, who feature prominently in the Bank of England report. Also in the net is the F-series pick-up truck - the biggest-selling vehicle in the US between 1988 and 1991.. A former employee of Barings Bank will accuse a City watchdog of bias in its case against him when he presents evidence to the Commons' Select Treasury Committee next month. Ian Hopkins, head of risk for Barings Investment Banking Group at the time of the bank's pounds 860m crash, has accused the Securities and Futures Association of conflict of interest in written evidence to the committee. He has opted not to go before an SFA tribunal on the grounds that it will be unable to reach a fair verdict.He will also point to the discrepancies between the report on the affair by the Singapore authorities and the Bank of England's findings.MPs on the committee are anxious to reach a greater understanding of why the reports differ on many points and come to such opposite conclusions. Some property fires have been blamed on the company, arising from instances when cars in garages ignited and destroyed adjacent homes.How expensive the recall will be for Ford is not clear.

While it is likely to cost between $50 (pounds 33) and $100 to install new switches in each affected car, not every owner will necessary respond. Normally only about two- thirds of vehicles targeted for recalls are actually taken to dealers for the necessary work. The final bill could be between $300m and $500m.Ford, in common with other manufacturers, keeps contingency funds for warranty-related costs, so the operation may not effect quarterly profits. The impact may also be offset by an expected rise in demand for new vehicles in North America in the coming months.For Ford owners, the recall means considerable hassle.

Most Ford vehicles made during the relevant period are affected, including the US version of the Escort, Mustangs, Thunderbirds, Crown Victorias (a favourite with US police departments), Lincoln Town Cars and Aerostar minivans. There had been 1,100 unconfirmed reports of ignition fires in the US and another 900 in Canada. Flames have engulfed cars both in motion and while stationary and unattended.While no deaths have been blamed on the fires, two lawsuits were initiated earlier this year by people claiming to have sustained injuries from burned fingers to smoke inhalation. No fewer than 8.7 million cars sold in the US and Canada between 1988 and 1993 are to be repaired. The culprit is an ignition switch manufactured for Ford by an outside supplier, United Technologies Automotive. A too-narrow gap between two terminals inside the component has been blamed for causing short-circuits, overheating and, occasionally, full-blown fires.Although the recall is voluntary, pressure on Ford had been mounting rapidly from the US government and the insurance industry.

The saying "Where there's smoke, there's fire", is not a favourite among Ford executives just now. After trying for six years to quash claims that its cars were prone to mysterious self-immolation, Ford admitted last week that the problem was real and initiated the biggest-ever vehicle recall by a manufacturer. US investors are expected to buy 10 to 15 per cent of the shares.The prospects for the flotation are so far good. If only 30 per cent of people who register end up applying for shares - a conservative figure by historical standards - and if they apply for an average of pounds 2,000 worth, then the public offer of one-third of the shares would be subscribed twice over..