Stocks
Biocompatibles International is a medical devices company that has undergone significant transformations since its founding in 1984. The company was instrumental in developing stents coated with phosphorylcholine, a substance critical for biocompatibility. After selling its stents business to Abbott Laboratories in 2002, Biocompatibles shifted its focus to developing new products,
Stocks
Europe's day-traders are back with a vengeance, much to the chagrin of some market experts who are warning of a potential bubble. Since the market bottomed out in March 2003, retail investors in Germany, Scandinavia, and the UK have been flocking to online brokerages, resulting in a significant
Stocks
Shares in Ultraframe, the UK-based conservatory roof manufacturer, fell 15% last year after the company issued its third profit warning in six months. Analysts cut their profit forecasts by as much as 20%, citing a significant decrease in sales in January and February. The company's chief executive, David
Stocks
Hermes Investment Management has joined forces with Monaco-based Sovereign Asset Management in an effort to oust the senior management of SK Corp, South Korea's largest oil refiner. This move comes as rebel shareholders seek to replace five SK Corp directors, up for re-election at the annual meeting this
Markets (Economics)
Japan's economy experienced a significant boom in the last quarter of 2003, with its gross domestic product (GDP) growing at an annualized rate of 7 percent, the fastest pace of expansion since 1990. This growth has sparked concerns that the Bank of Japan's demand for US
Markets (Economics)
Global markets experienced a significant boost yesterday, with the US and UK markets recording their best daily gains in months. The surge in asset prices was driven by encouraging economic data, including better-than-expected earnings and positive jobs numbers. The pan-European FTSE Eurotop 300 rose to a 19-month high, its best
Markets (Economics)
Britain's long-suffering army of savers are celebrating the second rise in three months in the Bank of England's main interest rate, which has climbed to 4 per cent. The quarter-point increase on Thursday could bring benefits to savers in the form of higher interest rates on
Markets (Economics)
Invensys, a distressed engineering group, is poised to unveil a major refinancing package, aimed at addressing its debt obligations and stabilizing its financial position. The three-part package, which involves a share placing, a high-yield bond issue, and bank debt restructuring, is expected to total £2.5 billion. The equity component
Stocks
Mary Francis, director general of the Association of British Insurers, will caution investors and ministers against being too prescriptive in their approach to corporate social responsibility (CSR). According to Francis, about 20 of the UK's biggest companies are not providing sufficient evidence that they take seriously the social
Stocks
Italy's pension system is facing unprecedented challenges, with mounting pressure to reform a system that has been plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and unfair distribution of benefits. The country's low birth rate, high life expectancy, and aging population have put a significant strain on the pension system,
Market research
The UK private finance initiative debt market experienced a significant surge in 2003, with the total debt rising by 67% to Pounds 8.2bn. This growth was driven by the increase in PFI and public-private partnership deals coming to fruition. According to figures from Thomson Financial Project Finance International, the
Market research
US companies' inability to exceed earnings expectations, combined with their conservative forecasts for 2004, led to a lackluster performance on Wall Street yesterday. The dollar continued to face pressure, despite recovering some losses, and the euro remained strong following comments from European Central Bank officials. Despite this, Corporate America
