The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, December 27, 2022. REUTERS/Staff EZ Jan business activity returns to growth -PMI Swatch Group up, says positive on China recovery Norwegian salmon farmers jump on tax cut hope Jan 24 (Reuters) – European stocks reversed early gains on Tuesday as better-than-expected business activity data in the euro zone failed to excite investors worried about further interest rate hikes by the European Central Bank (ECB). The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) dropped 0.1% despite a strong finish on Wall Street where battered technology stocks continued their rebound. S&P Global’s flash Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) climbed to 50.2 this month from 49.3 in December , adding to signs the downturn in the bloc may not be as deep as feared and that the currency union may escape recession. While the bloc’s dominant services index also surprised on the upside, factory activity still declined. "Manufacturing activity may have shrunk the least in five months, but the sector is still contracting," said Susannah Streeter, senior investment and markets analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown. "The realisation is washing over investors that although this is more progress there is still […]

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My guest on this week’s episode of Innovation in Compliance, Richard Blundell, discusses the risks and opportunities associated with growth in the insurance industry. We discuss financing a company’s growth by understanding its risks. Business financing is trending towards sustainability, and we explore how companies can access capital by implementing sustainable practices and strategies. A global environmental services and technology See more +

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The Boston Business Journal is announcing the three main honorees for its 2023 Middle Market Leaders awards: innovator of the year, deal of the year and executive of the year. The honorees, along with 50 companies announced last week that make up the Business Journal’s 2023 Middle Market Leaders, will be celebrated in a special publication and at the Business Journal’s Middle Market Awards event on Tuesday, March 14 at the Boston Park Plaza. Tickets to the event can be purchased here . The three awardees are: Middle Market Executive of the Year: Yvonne Greenstreet , CEO, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Middle Market Innovator of the Year: BlueSnap Inc. Middle Market Dealmaker of the Year: Ginkgo Bioworks Last year’s Middle Market Leaders innovator of the year was Moderna , executive of the year was Rapid7’s Corey Thomas , and dealmaker of the year was Risk Strategies . Photos from last year’s event can be seen here . The No. 1 company — and all 50 companies named as Middle Market Leaders will be unveiled — in a final ranking at the March 14 event. The list includes both private and public companies across all industries whose annual revenue was between $25 […]

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It’s no secret that the pandemic took its toll on small business owners, but until now the true economic impact had not been measured. Biz2Credit recently published the results of its Small Business Inflation Study that analyzed the revenues and expenditures of more than 140,000 U.S. small businesses from January 2019 to October 2022. The Federal Reserve is considering another interest rate hike to curb inflation. getty The Biz2Credit Small Business Inflation Study identified three distinct phases: 1. The pre-pandemic phase up to Q1 2020. 2. The initial waves of the COVID pandemic before mass vaccination in the first quarter of 2021, when both small business revenues and expenditures fell sharply. 3. The period of gradual, partial recovery of small businesses after revenues had bottomed out in Q1 2021 and extending to 2Q 2022. Inflation persisted through the third phase. The analysis found that before COVID, the expenses of small businesses were pretty much in control compared to the revenue. However, in the post vaccine recovery and inflationary period, especially in 2021 and 2022, margins were significantly eroded. Small businesses have to work harder have to sell more to attain the same level of wealth. This is complicated by […]

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In this article The General Electric Co. logo is seen on the company’s corporate headquarters building in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. July 23, 2019 The General Electric Co. logo is seen on the company’s corporate headquarters building in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. July 23, 2019 Alwyn Scott | Reuters General Electric forecast a lower-than-expected 2023 adjusted profit on Tuesday, as the industrial major struggles with persistent problems at its money-losing renewable energy business. Shares in GE were down 2% at $78.29 in premarket trade after the company forecast an operating loss between $200 million and $600 million for its energy business GE Vernova in 2023. related investing news In a water-scarce world, the Xylem-Evoqua deal makes sense. Why some think it’s too expensive Christina Cheddar Berk 18 hours ago The company’s renewable energy business has been facing challenges due to inflation and supply chain pressures. The unit reported a loss of $2.2 billion in 2022. While GE is aiming to make its renewable business profitable next year, Chief Executive Larry Culp has described its onshore wind unit as “the battleground” for the company. The company is reducing global headcount at the onshore wind unit by about 20% as part of a […]

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Excellent diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives indicate a forward-looking company. Now, Insurance Business America (IBA ) has identified the insurance companies with the best DE&I programs across the industry. The IBA team determined the insurance companies with the most effective DE&I programs by inviting firms to share the initiatives they had focused on over the past 12 months. For 15 weeks, the team conducted one-on-one interviews with DE&I professionals to understand the industry standards for such initiatives and identify which companies had met or exceeded those expectations. After receiving nominations, the IBA team surveyed the nominated companies’ employees to gauge the effectiveness of the DE&I programs. The companies that scored 4.0 or higher on a scale of 1 to 5 were recognized for having 5-star DE&I programs. The most important factors that companies should include to enhance DE&I programs According to the employees surveyed, the following are the most significant factors that a company must implement to enhance its DE&I program: Employees feel that they belong at the company (4.87 out of 5); The knowledge that people’s personal beliefs and traditions are respected (4.83 out of 5); Knowing who to contact and where to go if someone needs […]

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A worker assembles a vehicle at the Knaus-Tabbert AG factory in Jandelsbrunn near Passau, Germany, March 16, 2021. Picture taken March 16, 2021. REUTERS/Andreas Gebert/File Photo LONDON, Jan 24 (Reuters) – Euro zone business activity made a surprise return to modest growth in January, adding to signs the downturn in the bloc may not be as deep as feared and that the currency union may escape recession, a survey showed. S&P Global’s flash Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), seen as a good gauge of overall economic health, climbed to 50.2 this month from 49.3 in December. January was the first time the index has been above the 50 mark, which separates growth from contraction, since June and the reading was ahead of the median Reuters poll forecast of 49.8. "The rise in the purchasing managers’ indices is likely to fuel hopes among many that the economy in the euro area might just escape a recession after all," said Christoph Weil at Commerzbank. However, Weil added that a clear deterioration in the economic environment continued to point to at least a mild recession. A moderate winter so far, falling gas prices and recent positive economic data meant some quarterly growth […]

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The sun rises over University Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Saturday, March 20, 2021. The nation’s leading renewable energy lab is developing a model to help businesses in three diverse Twin Cities business districts plug into solar power. The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory selected the Twin Cities for its Solar Energy Innovation Network, a program that aims to address barriers to solar power nationwide. The project is working with local groups to develop models that can help business owners along Lake Street, West Broadway Avenue, and University Avenue to install solar power. The Lake Street Council, a nonprofit that promotes business along the south Minneapolis corridor, partnered with two other groups, the Neighborhood Development Center and the Northside Economic Opportunity Network, to apply for the program. The three groups were awarded funding to gauge interest in solar power among business owners in the corridors. Although the project is not supporting direct construction or financing of new projects, the goal is to create models that will support a spurt of solar installations in the areas. The project envisions a future in which megawatts of solar power could be spread across the roofs of corner stores […]

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getty Call me an idealist, but in business, politics and every other aspect of our lives, trust matters. It used to matter, and it still does. We’re living in uncertain times, and trust is much more important when people feel unsure about their future. Yet, at present, I’ve noticed there seems to be a trust vacuum in many industries. As ongoing strikes show, there are real concerns about the intentions of employers toward their workforces, about the fair distribution of wealth and the very nature of employment. There are also changes in what employees expect from their employers. With all this going on, we’re going to take a look at the reasons why trust levels have fallen and why trust is such an important factor in business. What does trust mean in business? When I talk about trust in business, I’m referring to three different things. 1. Strategic trust: This is the trust employees have in the people running the business to make the right decisions, set the right course and help the company succeed. 2. Personal trust: Do employees trust managers to treat them fairly and consider their needs, or do managers put themselves first when making decisions? […]

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getty Business development is a crucial aspect of any company’s growth and success. Much of the work involves finding and pursuing new opportunities to expand the business, whether through partnerships, new markets or new products and services. Effective business development requires a combination of strategy, planning, and execution. Here are ten more key tips to help you pursue business development for your company. 1. Define your business goals. Clearly defining your business goals will help you identify the types of opportunities that are most relevant to your company. For example, if your goal is to enter a new market, you’ll want to focus on opportunities that will help you achieve that. 2. Research your target market. It’s important to have a deep understanding of your target market, including their needs, preferences, and behavior. This will help you identify the types of products or services that are most likely to be successful, and it will also help you tailor your marketing and sales efforts to better appeal to your target audience. 3. Identify potential partners and customers. Research potential partners and customers in your target market and reach out to them to explore potential collaborations or partnerships. Be proactive in […]

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