Sage sounds cautious note as profit dips December 2, 2009 ACCOUNTANCY software giant Sage yesterday said times are still tough for small businesses as it reported a two per cent drop in annual profits. “Conditions have stabilised in the second half but at this stage it is too early to predict economic recovery,” chief executive Paul Walker said yesterday. “We know there is a lot [...]
Finance chief at ailing Opel resigns December 2, 2009 THE chief financial officer of German car manufacturer Opel, Marco Molinari, has quit “to pursue other interests”. Opel said a successor will be announced in due course. The news came a day after Fritz Henderson, the chief executive of Opel’s parent company General Motors (GM), resigned. Molinari, 45, an Austrian, has been Opel’s financial officer [...]
Ireland squares up for pay row December 2, 2009 THEIrish government is determined to cut €1.3bn (£1.2bn) off the public sector pay bill, it said yesterday, as fresh revenue data confirmed the need for major savings in the budget for 2010 due next week. Trade unions for the public sector said they would defer a fresh strike planned for tomorrow on the anticipation that [...]
Dell forecasts a strong Xmas December 2, 2009 US computer maker Dell sees potential rises in consumer and commercial demand over the coming year, as well as a “moderately good” Christmas season, Dell chief financial officer Brian Gladden said yesterday. “I think the consumer cycle has been surprisingly positive this year,” Gladden said at the Credit Suisse Technology Conference. He added: “It certainly [...]
Gold reaches another high December 2, 2009 GOLD struck another record high yesterday, continuing its shining run as investors flock to find a safe investment for their money. The precious metal’s latest high – now $1,217.23 an ounce – comes after a series of peak trading prices in recent weeks driven by a weaker dollar, and more recently, fears over Dubai’s debt [...]
Google offers to cap free access to online newspaper articles December 2, 2009 NEWS publishers will be able to set a limit on the number of free news articles people can read via Google’s search engines, the internet giant announced yesterday in a move that could improve its fractured relationship with the media industry. Google has infuriated publishers for giving news content away for free. News Corporation chairman [...]
Energy firms warn that smart meters will cost them billions December 2, 2009 ENERGY companies will have to fit smart meters that provide real-time information to consumers about energy usage in all UK homes by the end of 2020, the government said yesterday. The plans have caused controversy, with firms saying they may need government cash to help them meet the estimated £6bn-£12bn cost of fitting the technology [...]
MY OTHER CAR’S AN ASTON, BUT THE G-WIZ IS PERFECT FOR LONDON December 1, 2009 IF YOU watch Top Gear, you will have recently seen Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond trying to build an electric car to rival the best-selling G-Wiz. The presenters hate electric cars as they stand for everything that they don’t. I am no greenophile – my other car is an Aston Martin. Yet I [...]
A drop in temperature makes some brands hotter December 1, 2009 WE all like to “make up our own minds” about brands, and recommend to our friends those with which we have had positive dealings. However, rather than being wholly our own self-determined opinions, these recommendations tie in with the seasons much more readily than we might think. Some “seasonal brands” like The North Face and [...]
Shaftesbury keen to buy after slump December 1, 2009 THE LONDON landlord Shaftesbury reported a fall in the value of its property last year, but forecast improving demand and more acquisitions. Shaftesbury, which owns more than 450 properties focused in the West End, said its portfolio was worth £1.21bn at the end of September, down 3.8 per cent against a year ago after falls [...]