Embracing new technology gets companies ready for the future December 19, 2012 DIRECTOR UK ENTERPRISE, CISCO Q How have advancements in the internet and online networking helped businesses through the difficult economic period? A Three of the key reasons for any company to use the internet are business model innovation, reaching more customers, and reducing costs. To quote Jeff Bezos, founder and chief executive of Amazon.com, “the [...]
SMEs need an online presence to prosper December 19, 2012 LIKE all smaller companies, FusePump has found networking technology essential for gaining business as well as enabling it. The internet, in particular, has meant that even smaller businesses like ours can have a global reach, with companies now conducting meetings and business transactions online without having to be in the same country. FusePump, for example, [...]
Stocks rally to cap off best run in a month December 18, 2012 US stocks rallied on strong volume yesterday, capping off the S&P 500’s best two-day run in a month, on confidence that a deal would be struck in Washington to avoid painful spending cuts and tax hikes that could hurt the economy. Banks, energy and technology – sectors that would benefit during economic expansion – led [...]
Signs the US will steer away from fiscal cliff help to push FTSE higher December 18, 2012 BRITAIN’S share index rose yesterday, led by gains in risk-sensitive commodity issues on signs of progress towards a political compromise on the US fiscal cliff. The FTSE 100 closed up 23.75 points, or 0.4 per cent, at 5,935.90 but failed to hold above last week’s nine-month closing peak of 5,945.85 which was within 20 points [...]
Japan is ready to try anything to weaken yen December 18, 2012 JAPAN’s Liberal Democrat Party (LDP) emphatically took control of the country’s lower house on Sunday. The outcome was anticipated by currency traders, who expected the dovish LDP leader Shinzo Abe to walk into the job of Prime Minister, becoming Japan’s seventh leader in as many years. Although many believe that the LDP’s victory heralds a [...]
US markets up on hopes of economic deal December 17, 2012 THE S&P 500 ended at its highest level in almost two months yesterday on rising hopes that negotiations over the “fiscal cliff” were making progress and that a deal could be reached in days. After weeks of stalemate, President Barack Obama and Republican House Speaker John Boehner met at the White House, raising hopes that [...]
Aggreko sinks on profit warning as Vodafone is hit by high 4G pricing December 17, 2012 BIG falls by temporary power firm Aggreko and market heavyweight Vodafone weighed on Britain’s top shares yesterday as the final full trading week of 2012 got off to a lacklustre start. Aggreko was the biggest percentage blue chip faller, dropping 22 per cent after the firm issued its second profit warning in two months, saying [...]
Capital classifications will give gold a boost December 17, 2012 US BANKS are staging an eleventh hour appeal to have the implementation of Basel III delayed from its 1 January 2013 deadline, arguing that they would need to bolster their balance sheets with an additional $800bn (£493bn) in core capital assets under the new framework. But while there may be some protests, and the date [...]
The markets don’t sleep during the festive period December 17, 2012 OVER the Christmas period, equity markets are often seen as offering slim pickings for spread bet and contract for difference traders. Granted, there’s the prospect of a Santa rally, but otherwise the FTSE-100 index tends to end up trading in tight ranges as volatility ebbs away. Underlying volumes are low, traders generally aren’t at their [...]
Steady as she goes December 17, 2012 SHARES in cruise operator Carnival are up by over 14 per cent over the last year. Its earnings conference call on Thursday will confirm that bookings have held up well. The company has also commissioned new ships, adding to its burgeoning fleet. It may not be entirely plain sailing going forward but, for now, the [...]
