What can a South Sudan brewery teach us about business in conflict zones?
Done well, corporate investment in volatile countries can have a positive impact – but companies need to first understand the risks SABMiller’s brewery in South Sudan is struggling and may face closure within weeks. This news is perhaps not surprising. Ethnic tensions and political discord have plagued the region for decades. Since civil unrest resurfaced […]
It's a weak ray of sunshine trying to disperse dark clouds over mining sector
Despite Joe Hockey talking up the non-mining investment picture, a more accurate description is that it’s bad, but not as bad as we thought it could be The new capital expenditure figures released last week continue to reinforce that the mining boom is done and dusted, and that the transition from the boom continues at […]
Rolls-Royce cooperating with Brazilian investigation into Petrobras bribery
Scrutiny comes as the firm remains under criminal investigation in the UK over corruption allegations in Asia One of Britain’s biggest corporate names has been dragged into a multibillion-dollar corruption scandal after Rolls-Royce admitted it was cooperating with Brazilian authorities investigating bribery in the country’s state oil business. Continue reading… Source: The Guardian Circular Economy […]
Eni discovers largest known gas field in Mediterranean
Italian energy group says Zohr field off Egyptian coast could hold as much as 30tn cubic feet of gas and that more may be found in future drilling The Italian energy group Eni has discovered the largest known gas field in the Mediterranean off the Egyptian coast and predicted that the find could help meet […]
Mark Carney's blue-sky take on interest rates misses clouds on the horizon
The Bank of England governor believes the UK economy is well insulated from global shocks, but his forecasts could easily go awry Forget the financial turmoil in China and around the world. When it comes to the UK, Mark Carney would have us believe he remains in charge. The Bank of England governor gave a […]
Four Seasons Health Care reviews finances amid debt fears
UK’s largest care home operator to consider all options as ‘national living wage’ is said to add to financial pressures Fours Seasons Health Care, Britain’s biggest care home operator, has launched a financial review after second-quarter losses surged to £26m, raising fresh fears over the indebted group’s viability. Owned by Terra Firma, the buyout firm […]
Thousands of North Sea oil jobs at risk as platform builder fails to win contract
Tyneside-based OGN fails to make shortlist for work on Chevron’s Captain field as work dries up due to low oil prices Thousands of jobs are at risk after one of Britain’s leading offshore oil platform builders failed to make the shortlist for one of the last major contracts up for grabs in the North Sea. […]
Small business districts are thriving in New York City
Product saturation tends to drive prices down, so why are small retail districts still going strong all over the city? “This is the center of the community,” says Sudesh Tarbinder amid the vibrant saris and tunics imported from India and Pakistan. She opened Nandini Fashion in Jackson Heights, Queens, with her husband Kumar less than […]
Inquiry launched into abuse of tipping
Business secretary says it is ‘just not right’ that some restaurants are withholding service charges from staff The business secretary, Sajid Javid, has launched an investigation into the abuse of tipping after it emerged that some of the UK’s best-known restaurant chains were withholding service charges from their staff. A string of reports over the […]
Rattled investors brace for big week as Federal Reserve considers rate increase
After last week’s ‘Black Monday’ amid concerns over China, Wall Street is preparing for the release of economic reports that could drive the Fed’s plans After a tumultuous week on the world’s stock markets, investors will be focused on Wall Street Monday ahead of another set of economic reports likely to steer the Federal Reserve’s […]