Aegis practises its French July 4, 2012 Aegis has built up its French footprint with the purchase of six companies formerly owned by W Garden and others, with assets worth €5m (£4m). The acquisitions will merge into Aegis’ iProspect operations in France in the third quarter of this year.
Advertising spend on the up July 4, 2012 Advertising spend increased by 1.1 per cent in the first quarter of this year despite economic turbulence, according to the Advertising Association. And the prognosis is positive, with expenditure expected to improve over the rest of the year, growing 2.5 per cent in 2012 and 4.4 per cent next year.
Canada boosts Travelzest’s profits July 4, 2012 Upmarket travel operator Travelzest yesterday posted a rise in half-year profits after a strong performance in Canada. Pre-tax profit jumped to £1.9m in the period, compared to £884,000 a year earlier.
Services data points to euro area recession July 4, 2012 THE SERVICE sectors of economies throughout the Eurozone continued to contract in June, according to data released yesterday, although separate figures showed wide differences in levels of unemployment. The Eurozone’s fall in total economic output eased slightly in June, according to Markit’s latest composite purchasing managers’ index (PMI). Specifically, the data revealed poor service statistics [...]
France unveils tax raid on home owners, energy firms and banks July 4, 2012 FRANCE’S new socialist government announced tax rises worth €7.2bn yesterday, including heavy one-off levies on wealthy households and big corporations. In the first major raft of economic measures since Francois Hollande was elected president in May, the government singled out large companies and the rich. British owners of second homes in France are set to [...]
Troika lands to inspect Greece July 4, 2012 THE TROIKA met in Athens yesterday to check on Greece’s progress with their austerity package. Christine Lagarde, head of the International Monetary Fund – which makes up the Troika along with the EU and European Central Bank – commented that their purpose in Greece was not to renegotiate the bailout deal. This intention will not [...]
Monti-Merkel show unity July 4, 2012 MARIO MONTI committed Italy to budgetary discipline, in a joint press conference with Germany’s premier Angela Merkel yesterday. Though the estimate of Italy’s budget deficit for this year was revised up to two per cent, Merkel praised measures taken by Monti since he took over from Silvio Berlusconi. Monti touted the labour reforms he managed [...]
How readers make a big difference July 4, 2012 The City A.M. Christmas Appeal, which raised £1.5m in total, has enabled Opportunity International to expand its grassroots banking services to the south of Malawi. The southern region is one of the poorest areas in the country. I’m delighted to share with you how the City A.M. appeal is already making a big difference. What [...]
RUTH, THE HAPPY SHOPKEEPER July 4, 2012 Ruth runs the Yamikau Mulungu corner shop, which opened in 2001 at the edge of Nsanje market in southern Malawi. She sells a range of groceries and small household items. Ruth recently took out her first loan for £76. She used the loan to build up her stock. She also decided to diversify and buy [...]
Tullow is hit by $440m charge but sales surge July 4, 2012 TULLOW Oil said yesterday said it expected record first half revenues but also revealed that it would be hit by $440m (£281m) of writedowns on projects. Tullow said that it was on course to record revenue of $1.15bn (£734m) in the six months to 30 June, compared to $1.06bn the year before. The FTSE 100 [...]
