Banks and oil firms weigh on the FTSE January 25, 2012 BRITAIN’S top shares closed lower yesterday as banks fell out of favour after brokers urged caution on the sector after recent gains, while poor growth in the UK highlighted the challenges facing corporates to meet earnings expectations. London’s blue chip index closed down 28.90 points, or 0.5 per cent at 5,723.00, as the FTSE 100 [...]
Nasdaq takes a bite of the prized Apple January 25, 2012 BIG profits from Apple and a promise from the Federal Reserve to keep rock-bottom rates for at least two more years powered the US stock market higher yesterrday. Apple led the Nasdaq to a one per cent gain. Shares of the maker of iPhones and iPads surged to a record, making it the most valuable [...]
Why networking gives you the edge January 25, 2012 EDITORIAL INTELLIGENCE WHEN Cass Business School, regarded by the City as its very own business school, recently asked me to become the first ever honorary visiting professor of networking, they were recognising a significant shift in business thinking which brings networking out of its silo as a take-it-or-leave it soft skill, and into the realm [...]
Too many young people lack skills for work January 25, 2012 QUEST PROFESSIONAL THERE’S no doubt these are tough economic times, particularly for graduates and young people vying for limited roles in an increasingly competitive job market. The resounding sentiment among young people is a fear that they are not entirely prepared for the work. Having practical and personal skills that are useful in the workplace [...]
Big industry responses are needed to big data explosion January 25, 2012 BIG data has been the big tech issue of the last year and this trend is set to continue as volumes of transactional data continue to grow. So what do people mean by big data? The definition is largely subjective and refers to datasets of a size that is beyond the ability of typical database [...]
BIG DATA IS A GIANT OPPORTUNITY IF YOU PLAN FOR ITS NEEDS January 25, 2012 DIRECTOR UK ENTERPRISE CISCO WHAT DOES THE INDUSTRY MEAN BY BIG DATA? Big data refers to data sets that are too large to economically manage and analyse with traditional IT techniques in a reasonable timeframe. Big data is typically in the tens to hundreds of terabytes range, or even much larger. Sources include both human [...]
Taking a look at what’s around the corner for big data in 2012 January 25, 2012 WHEN it comes to planning your responses to increasing data needs, it is not enough to simply try and respond to regulatory requirements as and when they pop up – to do so leaves you with a disjointed and inefficient system. Instead, businesses must plan ahead and anticipate what might be coming around the corner, [...]
BIG DATA BY NUMBERS January 25, 2012 40 % projected growth in global data generated per year versus 5 per cent growth in global IT spending €250bn potential annual value to Europe’s public sector administration – more than the GDP of Greece 235 terabytes of data collected by the US Library of Congress in April 2011 £600bn potential annual consumer surplus from [...]
Britain’s healthcare system is on the critical list – why are medical unions in denial? January 25, 2012 IT REALLY is time public sector unions stopped taking the lazy option. And those representing the medical profession, above all, should be showing the rest of their comrades leadership – for decisions made over the nation’s healthcare are a matter of life and death. Yet the doctors’ union is threatening to strike over the current [...]
The music stops for UK breaks on bankruptcies January 25, 2012 THE singer Kenny Rogers once sang “you’ve got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, know when to run”. While Rogers was singing about a gambler, he could just as easily have been singing about the Irish people’s attitude to their bankruptcy regime. Increasingly the people [...]