TREND WATCH

A roundup of business developments spotted by other publications. Alcoa in Japan: Alcoa has entered into a joint venture with Kobe Steel of Japan to produce aluminum for beverage cans and automobiles. An industry analyst says it is one of the most important moves Alcoa has made. The Japanese market is ripe for growth because only 35% of its soda cans are aluminum, compared to 95% in the United States. Kobe, Japan’s leading producer of flat-rolled aluminum, needs aluminum ingots, which an Alcoa subsidiary in Australia can provide. The venture, KSL Alcoa Aluminum Co., will also work on Japanese auto makers’ target of reducing the weight of some cars by 40%. Pittsburgh Press

Cards Foretell Slow Sales: Such major retailers as J. C. Penney and the Limited have observed two disturbing trends. First, it is becoming increasingly difficult to market new credit cards. In the past few years, the chains have lost credit customers to Visa and MasterCard. The decline has steepened since the Middle East crisis. Equally troubling is that consumers are accelerating payment of credit card purchases. The inference is that consumers are reducing personal debt in anticipation of layoffs. Because shoppers typically spend twice as much when they pay with plastic, retailers are worried as the holiday season approaches. Atlanta Constitution

Business Layover: With air fares up 5% to 10% since Iraq invaded Kuwait, businesses are implementing more frugal travel policies, asking in some cases that employees stay over on a Saturday during a business trip to take advantage of discounted fares. More commonly, firms are reducing the number of representatives they send to conventions and canceling companywide meetings. Dallas Morning News