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Optimism hits 20-year low
Monday 10 September 2012 8:00
Optimism among British businesses has hit a 20-year low, according to new research. BDO's Optimism Index, which predicts business performance for the next two quarters, fell to 89.1 in August from 93.1 in July. This is the sixth consecutive month that the data has registered a drop, with a four-point drop from 93.1 in July.
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NVM makes £6m swoop
Wednesday 5 September 2012 10:00
Newcastle private equity firm NVM has completed the £7.5m management buy-out of Silverwing Group funded through a combination of equity and bank debt from RBS. NVM invested a total of £6m.
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Lyn Rutherford joins Mincoffs
Wednesday 5 September 2012 8:00
NEWCASTLE law firm Mincoffs has announced the appointment of nationally-renowned divorce lawyer Lyn Rutherford to its family department.
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UK 8th 'most competitive'
Wednesday 5 September 2012 8:00
The World Economic Forum says the UK has moved up from 10th position in its global competitiveness league table, to eighth over the past 12 months, and is now "settling firmly back in the top 10".
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Cyber crime warning
Wednesday 5 September 2012 8:00
The government will reportedly issue advice to UK-based business leaders on how to better protect themselves cyber crime. At a conference at the Foreign Office, ministers and officials from communications intelligence agency, GCHQ will tell companies to create a more security-conscious culture. It is estimated that UK businesses lose £21bn a year to cyber crime.
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Creative leaders admit business failings
Wednesday 5 September 2012 8:00
A survey of 100 UK-based creative industry leaders has found that four fifths of respondents admit to having a lack of business and financial nous.
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Ex-soldier nabs deal
Wednesday 5 September 2012 8:00
Former Sas soldier and current thriller writer Andy McNab has sold the e-book enterprise he launched in 2007 to supermarket giant Tesco. Mobcast provides a platform for companies to sell e-books and works with mobile network Orange.
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Manufacturing offers economic hope
Wednesday 5 September 2012 8:00
The decline in manufacturing slowed in August, raising hopes that UK could be dragged out of recession before the year is out. The manufacturing PMI jumped to a four-month high of 49.5 in August, close to the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction.
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FSA calls for software clarity
Wednesday 5 September 2012 6:00
The FSA has called on the main high street banks to detail their efforts to prevent a software glitch like the one that hit RBS earlier this year, the Financial Times reports. A letter, sent by two senior FSA executives, also demands the names of senior managers who could be held personally responsible if information technology systems experience problems.
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Apple calls for ban
Tuesday 28 August 2012 8:00
Apple has outlined eight Samsung mobile devices that it wishes to have banned in the States in the aftermath of its legal victory against the electronics giant.
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G4S takes hit
Tuesday 28 August 2012 7:00
Security firm G4S has taken a £50m hit on its Olympics failing contract as the group reported a 60% fall in first-half profits. Nick Buckles, G4S chief executive, said: "We were deeply disappointed that we had significant issues with the London 2012 Olympics contract and are very grateful to the military and the police for their support in helping us to deliver a safe and secure Games."
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Struggling manufacturers are fewer in number
Tuesday 28 August 2012 6:00
The number of manufacturers faced with rising funding costs has reportedly fallen to the lowest level since 2007, a survey has found. EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, said credit easing programmes such as the recently launched Funding for Lending scheme, which aims to lower the cost of credit for small and medium-sized firms, may be helping.