Sales of BMW vehicles 7.6 per cent in July in the United States, China (Reuters)

Frankfurt (Reuters)-the German manufacturer BMW (BMWG award.DE) said unit sales rose 7.6 percent in July, driven by growth in demand from the United States and China.

July sales of its brands BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce climbed to 129.094 vehicles, it said on Monday.

"We just reported July sales of the most successful ever and we are on the way to reaching our goal recently announced more than 1.6 million vehicles in 2011, the best result ever for the BMW Group sales," the head of BMW's sales Ian Robertson said in a statement.

In the United States, the company has delivered 21.409 vehicles during the month of July, 11.7 percent over a year earlier. Growth in China was 36.1% with 18.858 cars sold.

(Reporting by Ludwig Burger)

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German retail sales jump in June (AFP)

Frankfurt, Germany (AFP)-retail sales in Germany, the biggest European economy, earned a surprise 6.3 percent in June, provisional, seasonally-adjusted official figures published Friday showed.

Analysts polled by Dow Jones Newswires had forecast a much more modest 1.7 percent from may, but economists agree that the indicator is volatile and subject to frequent revisions.

A statement issued by the National Statistics Office Destatis also noted that the result was affected by a change in the sample of companies that were interviewed.

The increase is still a strong rebound from the fall month of 2.5 percent in may, though.

"While the may issue was the worst in the last 10 years, the number of June is the highest since 2007," noted Commerzbank analyst Ulrike Rondorf.

On a basis of 12 months, retail sales fell by 1.0 percent in June, but noted there were Destatis 24 working days in June 2011, June 26, 2010.

Senior economist Carsten Brzeski felt ING data "show that German consumers are finally waking up."

"Of course, the rather daunting track record of German retail sales is reason enough to not overly excited," Brzeski added.

The figures however "offer some glimmer of hope that at least the German economy is heading toward a soft landing, not difficult," he said.

On a quarterly comparison, retail sales from April to June were 0.4% lower than in the first quarter, Rondorf said "supports our expectation that the German growth slowed considerably in the second quarter."

Within six months from January to June, meanwhile, sales gained 1.3 percent over the same period a year earlier, Destatis said.

The German HDE Retail Federation has predicted an annual gain of 1.5 per cent for the 2011 as a whole, but HDE President Josef Sankjohanser recently noted that "the traditionally stronger retail sales still await us."

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Commerzbank companies & markets Hires Director of sales FI for the Germany / Austria / Switzerland

Commerzbank businesses and markets (C & M) has hired Benjamin Melzer as head of Financial Institution sales Germany / Austria / Switzerland.

In this role, Melzer will report to Andrew Readinger, an overall responsible Financial Institution sales. It will focus on further deepen and develop the relations with clients of Commerzbank in fixed income and zone currencies throughout the Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Andrew Readinger, Global Head of Financial Institution Sales, commented: "we are convinced that the experience of Benjamin will help us develop our strategic expansion in the central area of the German-speaking countries".

Melzer will be based in Frankfurt and joined the Bank this week of Morgan Stanley, where he held several senior positions over a period of 12 years. More recently, he has been responsible for the Financial Institutions covering the Germany, Austria and Switzerland on global capital markets.

Readinger said: "the hiring of Benjamin Melzer is a natural fit with our strategy to deliver better customer experience class and prospects".

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Dahlman Rose & Co appoints global head of Sales Trading

Dahlman Rose & Company, LLC, an investment bank Leader specialized in natural resources, transportation and other industries in the global supply chain, has announced that it has appointed Glenn Starkman as Global Head of Sales Trading, effective immediately.

In the new position, Starkman will be responsible for the continued growth and Direction of the commercial effort of the company sales.

"We are pleased to have a professional of the stature of Glenn Starkman to join our management team," said Kim Fennebresque, President and CEO of Dahlman Rose & Co. "experience in Glenn broad industry through a variety of investment products, solid management skills and relationships with customers around the world expand our market presence while we continue to the rapid growth of our sales platform" "and of negotiation".

Starkman, 49, has more than 27 years of experience in sales institutional and commercial. Prior to joining Dahlman Rose, he served as Global Head of Sales Trading Knight Capital Group, a global financial services company. 2000-2009, Starkman held various roles at UBS AG, including the management of their sales and the International Sales Trading of companies to the United States. He began his career on Wall Street to Sanford Bernstein in their Asset Management division, where he spent 10 years prior to be employed by Goldman Sachs & Co. from 1994 to 2000. Mr. Starkman has obtained a Bachelor's degree in economics from Boston University.

"I look forward to working closely with the management of Dahlman Rose and talented sales trading department team and in contributing en contribuant company continued success, said Starkman." "The company's reputation for providing superior customer service combined with expertise in the field provides an important value for investors interested in companies that operate along the global supply chain".

WHETHER DAHLMAN ROSE & CO.

Dahlman Rose & Co., LLC (Member: FINRA/Lanzamiento) is an investment bank focused on energy, transport, infrastructure and other research-based industries that make up the global supply chain. The Cabinet industry, bankers and traders analysts offer unique insight into companies and markets that provide the elements of the global economy.

Dahlman Rose has its headquarters in New York and has offices in Boston and Houston. Dahlman Rose provides institutional and commercial, equity sales and research of fixed income securities, mergers and acquisitions advisory and underwriting services. For more information about Dahlman Rose, please visit www.drco.com.

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Sales slide for Beyonce of new chart topper

LOS ANGELES (AP) - R & B singer Beyoncé No. 1 in the U.S. pop album charts with their fourth consecutive release on Wednesday, went to the sales the lowest of which were her solo career.

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Sales of GM China first half rise the 5.3% (AFP)

SHANGHAI (AFP)-General Motors said Tuesday its sales in China, the world's largest car market, rose 5.3 percent on-year in the first half of 2011 a record 1.27 million vehicles.

June sales alone were up 9.9% on year to 193.878 units, boosted by strong demand for passenger cars, made by Shanghai GM, the joint venture with the largest manufacturer of auto China SAIC Motor, the U.S. auto giant said in a statement.

"Domestic demand for Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac hit new highs in June," he said.

The increase in June ended two consecutive year-on-year falls in sales posted in April and may.

The number of vehicles sold by GM and its joint venture had plunged 2.7 percent to 190.674 units in may, while sales in April fell the 4.6% year on year to 203.367.

China, which has overtaken the United States to become the world's best car market in 2009, it has become increasingly important for global players such as the sale of GM Cars. in China rose more than 32 percent last year to a record 18.06 million.

But the global sector lost steam after Beijing scrapped sales incentives such as tax breaks for small motor vehicles outside the Ward impact of global financial crisis.

Auto sales in China fell 3.98 percent from a year earlier may to 1.38 million, a decrease for the second consecutive month, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, a group of industry affiliated Government.

Domestic sales rose statement 41.4% by Shanghai GM on year in June, while sales to GM vehicle commercial joint-venture, SAIC GM Wuling, fell 11.2 percent to 88.027 units, due to the expiry of the incentive policies, he said.

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