Log Off And Get To Work According to a new survey, more companies are blocking MySpace in the workplace than are blocking oncoming rival Facebook.... Read Full Article Bear Stearns Takes A $1.2 Billion Write-Down The write-down was less than expected and the firm’s remaining $884 million exposure to C.D.O.s gave comfort to investors that the worst of Bear’s write-downs were over.... Read Full Article Cases: In The Blink Of An Eye, A Vision Of Disaster Urgent flashing, a swirl of shadowy floaters. Can I be normal?... Read Full Article News Analysis: Gaza Pitfalls In Every Path President Bush’s peace plan has been to prop up President Mahmoud Abbas, but Hamas can still subvert progress.... Read Full Article Dow Jones Considers Selling 23 Papers Dow Jones & Company, publisher of The Wall Street Journal, said Tuesday that it was considering the sale of the rest of the Ottaway community newspaper group.... Read Full Article |
Periods NewsSEC is forcing US banks to line up more capital as protectionThe US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is forcing American banks to secure more capital for longer periods to protect themselves from even more drastic events than the collapse of a US investment house.Read Full Article SEC pushes US banks to hold capital protectionThe Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is forcing American banks to secure more capital for longer periods to protect themselves from even more drastic events than the collapse of a US investment house.Read Full Article Companies face cash squeeze as late payment of bills growsCompanies are suffering a cash squeeze from delayed invoice payments as the credit crunch begins to hit the “real” economy. Smaller businesses are complaining that some large customers have begun to extend their payment periods arbitrarily, putting a strain on their cashflows.<br/> <br/> The Times has learnt that small business groups will press the Department for Business to take steps to put more pressure on big customers to pay on time. However, the issue is hard to resolve because it hinges on the relationship between the supplier and the customer and most small businesses feel dependent on their customers.<br/> <br/> If late payment is becoming a trend it could have serious implications for the state of the economy, indicating that cash is becoming an issue for big customer companies and their suppliers.<br/> <br/> Research from Ernst & Young (E&Y), the accountant, showed that profit warnings from British companies hit a seven-year high in the first quarter. E&Y said companies issued 114 alerts in the first three months of 2008, mainly in the retail sector, as the credit crunch hit customer demand.<br/> <br/> The Federation of Small Businesses estimates that 10 per cent of small business collapses are triggered by late or nonpayment of bills. Stephen Alambritis, head of government affairs at the federation, said: “A number of big customers have raised their payment terms because of the credit crunch. It is becoming an area of concern. Normally businesses would go to their banks when they need more cash but that is not easy at the moment.”<br/> <br/> More businesses are being forced to raise cash by invoice discounting - borrowing from banks based on the money they expect to receive from invoiced work. However, Mr Alambritis said that this was not an option for the smallest companies because it and factoring, another form of borrowing based on invoices, can be expensive. The British Chambers of Commerce said: “We are hearing from our members that late payments are becoming a growing problem. Larger companies have a responsibility in a slowing economy to pay suppliers promptly. Smaller firms need to know when they will be paid and should not be mucked around by having payment schedules arbitrarily changed.”<br/> <br/> Ian Peters, head of external affairs at the EEF manufacturers’ organisation and a member of the Small Business Forum that works with the Department for Business, said: “The issue of late payment seems to be growing. It is perhaps an indication of the tightening of credit.”<br/> <br/> Barclays, which lends significantly to manufacturing companies, said that more companies were trying to convert their invoices into cash quickly through invoice discounts. Ray O’Donoghue, head of Barclays’ manufacturing division, said: “That side of the market is growing. People have become a lot more cash conscious.”<br/> <br/> The Government has limited scope for action against late payment. It is already possible for businesses to claim interest on money owed in late payments. However, the FSB said that few companies actually made claims for fear of damaging the relationship with the customer or of losing the business.<br/> <br/> A spokesman for the Department for Business said that ministers would meet small business representatives soon to discuss nonlegislative action to help to speed up payments. He said: “It is an issue we have been talking to business about. We want to help to tackle barriers to enterprise, particularly in the current climate.”Read Full Article Nostrums: Aspirin May Reduce Risk of Colon CancerAspirin may help reduce the risk of colon cancer, a new study suggests, when taken in large doses over long periods of time.Read Full Article Broken markets need to return to the age of reasonAfter the storm, the squalls. The markets experienced gusts of panic offset by periods of calm yesterday, with the Dow Jones and the FTSE both sinking and rising, only to sink again.Read Full Article External News for: periodsSecond period summary: Bruins-Rangers - WEEI.com (blog)New York Daily NewsSecond period summary: Bruins-RangersWEEI.com (blog)He has gone to the box three times through the first two periods with the most recent violation at four-minute high-sticking violation at 8:30 in the period ...Bruins form a resounding answer for the questionsComcast SportsNet New England (blog)Bruins rub out Rangers, 2-1Boston Globe (blog)Satan, Wideman Score as Bruins Beat Rangers 2-1New York TimesBoston Herald -WEEI.com (blog)all 318 news articles »Second period summary: Bruins-Rangers - WEEI.com (blog)New York Daily NewsSecond period summary: Bruins-RangersWEEI.com (blog)He has gone to the box three times through the first two periods with the most recent violation at four-minute high-sticking violation at 8:30 in the period ...Bruins form a resounding answer for the questionsComcast SportsNet New England (blog)Bruins rub out Rangers, 2-1Boston Globe (blog)Satan, Wideman Score as Bruins Beat Rangers 2-1New York TimesBoston Herald -WEEI.com (blog)all 318 news articles »Blackhawks lead Coyotes 2-1 after two periods - Chicago Breaking Sports - TribuneWashington PostBlackhawks lead Coyotes 2-1 after two periodsChicago Breaking Sports - TribuneTroy Brouwer and Patrick Kane have scored goals to give the Blackhawks a 2-1 lead over the Coyotes through two periods Saturday night at Jobing.com Arena. ...Vrbata's shootout goal lifts Coyotes over BlackhawksUSA TodayWith 9th win, Coyotes now tied with BlackhawksChicago Breaking Sports - Tribune (blog)all 447 news articles »Second period summary: Bruins-Rangers - WEEI.com (blog)New York Daily NewsSecond period summary: Bruins-RangersWEEI.com (blog)He has gone to the box three times through the first two periods with the most recent violation at four-minute high-sticking violation at 8:30 in the period ...Bruins form a resounding answer for the questionsComcast SportsNet New England (blog)Bruins rub out Rangers, 2-1Boston Globe (blog)Satan, Wideman Score as Bruins Beat Rangers 2-1New York TimesBoston Herald -WEEI.com (blog)all 318 news articles »Blackhawks lead Coyotes 2-1 after two periods - Chicago Breaking Sports - TribuneWashington PostBlackhawks lead Coyotes 2-1 after two periodsChicago Breaking Sports - TribuneTroy Brouwer and Patrick Kane have scored goals to give the Blackhawks a 2-1 lead over the Coyotes through two periods Saturday night at Jobing.com Arena. ...Vrbata's shootout goal lifts Coyotes over BlackhawksUSA TodayWith 9th win, Coyotes now tied with BlackhawksChicago Breaking Sports - Tribune (blog)all 447 news articles »Home is still not so sweet for Blues - Belleville News DemocratGlobe and MailHome is still not so sweet for BluesBelleville News DemocratTied 1-1 through two periods, the Blues took the lead 3:29 into the third on a goal by David Perron. Defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo sent the puck in front and ...Assists: Martin Erat, Francis BouillonESPNBlues collapse late, lose key game in playoff chaseSt. Louis Post-DispatchPredators 1, Blue Jackets 0 (OT): Familiar outcome in NashvilleColumbus Dispatchall 369 news articles » |
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