TUC: Spend more on the young March 12, 2012 Scrapping austerity plans and supporting investment and young people are the best way to boost economic growth, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) said yesterday. In its Budget submission, the TUC called for the credit easing scheme to be accelerated and doubled to £40bn, a state investment bank to be established, and apprenticeships to be extended [...]
SMEs want higher trainee pay March 12, 2012 Most small firms would support a rise in the minimum wage for apprentices, according to a study from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). Eight in ten said they would be happy to see the weekly wage rise to £123. Cutting employers’ national insurance contributions would help boost employment, the group argued, suggesting the cuts [...]
Europe immigrants take low jobs March 12, 2012 The vast majority of European immigrants to the UK come to work in low-skilled jobs rather than sponge off the state, according to the influential think tank Open Europe. But Brits are losing out on those low-paid jobs due to poor domestic policies that leave the native population ill-equipped to work. Open Europe said that [...]
E.ON reviews plans to build biomass plant March 12, 2012 THE government yesterday approved a 150 megawatt (MW) biomass power plant to be developed by utility E.ON, but the company said it was reviewing the project in light of a proposed cut in state subsidies four years from now. E.ON’s climate and renewables arm can now build a plant in the western England port city [...]
Gulf Keystone shares plunge March 12, 2012 GULF Keystone Petroleum shares plunged nearly 17 per cent yesterday as investors remained unconvinced by the company’s update on oil drilling in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq. Stocks in the Aim-listed company fell 47p to 240p despite its statement that its Shaikan-4 appraisal well, in particular, was giving “excellent” results. Analyst Dougie Youngson, of [...]
Centamin picks up after Sukari dispute resolution March 12, 2012 SHARES in gold miner Centamin rallied yesterday after it said normal operations had resumed at its Sukari gold mine in Egypt. The Egypt-focused miner said on 6 March it had temporarily halted operations at its flagship gold mine due to “illegal labour unrest”, sending its shares down over 12 per cent. The miner said the [...]
CARILLION WINS THAMESLINK CONTRACT March 12, 2012 SUPPORT services firm Carillion announced yesterday it has been chosen to deliver further construction work for the Network Rail Thameslink programme, securing a contract worth up to £120m. Carillion will be responsible for improvements to depots and sites to allow the introduction of the new 12-car fleet across the cross-London rail link.
Viterra rises on Glencore interest March 12, 2012 Shares in Viterra, the Canadian grain firm being circled by Glencore, jumped more than four per cent yesterday as more possible bidders emerged. The Saskatchewan firm briefly hit a three-and-a-half year high on the Toronto Stock Exchange. It has not spoken publicly since admitting third-party interest on Friday, now known to be from Glencore. Canadian [...]
Sirius confident on test results March 12, 2012 Sirius Minerals, the company behind plans for a new potash mine in North Yorkshire, yesterday reported strong results from its testing. Chief executive Chris Fraser said: “These important results have confirmed the… world-class nature of the York Potash Project.”
Aminex pares back its losses March 12, 2012 Oil and gas group Aminex reported net losses of $900,000 (£576,000) for the year to the end of December – down from $4.5m in the previous year. It said gross revenues had risen to $9.3m, up from $7.1m in 2010, and total production in the US had increased by 62 per cent to 130,250 barrels [...]
