Category: Articles

Aon Risk Solutions, the global risk management business of Aon plc, unveiled its 2015 Political Risk Map which portrays political risk in emerging markets.

The euro suffered further losses against the US dollar yesterday hitting a fresh 11 and a half year low following a morning of mixed to slightly weaker than expected Eurozone services data and decent numbers from the US which attracted more buyers of dollars at the expense of the single currency.

Small and Medium sized businesses (SMEs) are planning to increase exports by 5% in the year ahead, compared to the national average of 4.3%. The findings from the ICAEW/Grant Thornton Business Confidence Monitor come as a new guide from ICAEW and UK Export Finance aims to help businesses compete in the global race with advice on export finance.

Fresh, Region-wide approach needed in planning for long-term growth, according to AECOM's "Manifesto for the London City Region"

The World Federation of Exchanges Ltd. released its Annual Statistics Market Highlights report.

The volume and value of Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) on London's junior market increased last year as SMEs sought funding for growth, according to data from global information services company Experian.

Harvey Nash and The University of Hong Kong Business School announce the 2015 instalment of board preparedness programme, to increase gender balance on boards.

A new generation of entrepreneurs is emerging with Britain's economic recovery and surging ahead of European counterparts, according to a new report unveiled today.

A survey by American Express, investigating business behaviour amongst UK mid-sized companies during the UK's pre-election period, has revealed that while they are firmly focused on making strategic investments during 2015, the caution typified by the recession era still prevails, with just one in six of the survey respondents saying they will take a more bullish approach to business risk during 2015. The survey, titled "Election Year: Mid-market Business Barometer", shows an overall attitude of maintaining the status quo.

When choosing what profession to pursue, starting salary will be a big consideration for many people. However, very few of us go into a profession really understanding what we can expect to earn 5, 10 or 15 years into a career, and how the rate at which salaries and bonuses increase over time actually varies dramatically for different roles. New statistics published by free salary benchmarking service Emolument.com compare how the average salaries of different professions increase with experience, and highlight some remarkable trends.

New report expects the Global Action Camera market to grow at a CAGR of 22.2% over the period 2014-2019

After the success of the 2015 Brit Awards, the CBI called on the Government and industry to work better together to ensure that the UK's world-beating music sector and wider creative industries, remain an essential sector which delivers jobs and growth. Already worth £3.5 billion, the right help could truly make the music industry a 'poster boy' for UK exports.

The physical nature of mail has the ability to drive stronger emotional associations with a brand, making customers feel valued and important compared to other media, new research from Royal Mail MarketReach has revealed.

George Johnson, Oil & Gas Executive Advisor at KPMG comments on the recent oil price movements:

The strengthening U.S. dollar is a double-edged sword for the economy and investors, according to a report released today by The American Institute for Economic Research.

Juniper Research, the leading high-tech analyst house, has revealed the key technologies that it believes will become the most disruptive by 2020. The new report 'The World in 2020 - A Technology Vision' is being offered as a free download in celebration of the launch of its new online research platform.

In response to today's FCA Occasional Paper on Consumer Vulnerability, Executive Director of Retail Banking at the BBA Eric Leenders, said:

New research out today shows that Britain is on the cusp of a global, technology-driven 4th industrial revolution, with eight in ten manufacturers (80%) saying it will become a business reality by 2025.

The value of new construction starts climbed 9% in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $621.0 billion, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. The increase for total construction was the result of an especially strong performance by the non-building construction sector, which benefitted from the start of a massive liquefied natural gas terminal facility in Texas.

A recent white paper from Navigant Research examines the major trends and market forces that are expected to shape the future of the smart grid market, including summary forecasts for five smart grid application areas.

Credit, debit, and prepaid cards issued in the U.S. with MasterCard and Visa brands generated $3.629 trillion in purchase volume at merchants in 2014.

Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, announces today that it has reached financial close and completed the acquisition of the £352 million Gwynt y Môr offshore transmission project (OFTO) in the UK. Balfour Beatty will jointly own Gwynt y Môr OFTO with Equitix. Balfour Beatty will invest £28 million of equity, which represents 60% of equity required.

The European Central Bank (ECB) published its first-ever minutes of a policy meeting in which it revealed its plans to expand its Quantitative Easing (QE) programme.

New research from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has found that despite three fifths (60%) of small firms questioned using cloud computing services, the remaining two fifths (38%) remain sceptical about the benefits of the technology in the face of perceived risks.

Cloudtract introduces a free and simple online contract management platform for small and medium sized companies, where they can store contracts and set alerts. Businesses often waste a lot of money, because they forget to cancel contracts they no longer want.

Leading wealth manager firm, Equilibrium Asset Management, is throwing down the gauntlet to uncover a new generation of wealth managers and paraplanners.

Following a decision by the Board of Governors of the European Investment Bank (EIB), small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) across Europe should be able to benefit from the first funds from the new European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) before the summer.

Carl Hasty, Director of international payment specialist SmartCurrencyBusiness.com, comments on finacial implications of UK elections.

The CBI commented in advance of a speech due to be given today by Labour Party leader, Ed Miliband.

Latest research from Bacs Payment Schemes Limited (Bacs) reveals that more than three quarters (76 per cent) of UK businesses are being forced to wait at least a month beyond their agreed contract terms before getting paid.

Nokia Labs Head of Operations Jarkko Pellikka, Ph.D says the Nordic region boasts some of the finest examples of process and operational excellence in the world today. He went on to say that while some industries might be lagging behind, it seems that the Nordic Region is toe-to-toe with the US and the rest of Europe when it comes to process excellence.

Thousands of people have started new businesses already this year. For anyone thinking of starting a new business, there are some questions you need to know the answer for before you get going.

eDreams, the largest distributor of online flights in the world, has chosen Japan to continue its process of international expansion. Starting this January, the company, which is the largest online travel agency in Europe and the fifth-largest worldwide (as well as being Europe's largest e-commerce company) will offer flights from more than 440 aircraft operators, with over 150,000 different combinations and over 550,000 hotels in 40,000 destinations, plus car rentals, for Japanese travellers.

According to data released today by Eurostat, GDP in the Eurozone grew by 0.3% quarter-on-quarter during Q4 2014, faster than expected. This means annual growth over 2014 was 0.9%.

The CBI has upgraded its growth prediction for 2015 in its latest economic forecast against a backdrop of lower oil prices and inflation.

With new Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM 2015) about to come into force, EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, is reminding manufacturers not to get caught out by thinking that 'construction' means just that.