7 DECEMBER 1991, Page 25

. . . all is clear

I COLLECT forms of words which mean their opposite: 'It gives me no pleasure to say this', 'With great respect' or 'I am bound to say'. The business equivalent is `Pending clarification of the company's financial position'. This normally comes with news that dealings in the company's shares have been suspended, and means that its position is clear to a fault. The Maxwells chose to use this ominous phrase, but only their dwindling band of groupies can have thought it was the All Clear.