News
UK manufacturing export strategy provides ray of hope in dismal economy
Manufacturing optimism was the lone bright spot in an otherwise grim report on UK business trends. Marketing products outside the euro zone could be an effective strategy for businesses in a dismal economy.How corporate expansion strategies can target emerging-growth powerhouses
Rather than zeroing in on specific countries as they devise a strategy, companies should focus on cities – in particular the 440 cities in emerging markets projected to double the global economic growth rate by 2025.Canadian economic optimism drops based on US, European woes
Canadian accounting executives see problems outside their country as posing the greatest risk for growth inside Canada.Highly scrutinised SEC conflict mineral regs. include new audit requirement
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved disclosure rules designed to increase transparency around companies’ use of so-called “conflict minerals” and payments to governments for access to natural resources.China poised to overtake the US in business travel spending by 2014
Global business travel spending is expected to grow in 2012 and 2013, due in large part to a surge in emerging markets such as Brazil, China, India and Russia. Companies in developed nations, however, are reining in travel budgets as the euro-zone crisis continues.New US auditing standard deems effective communication “integral”
A new US public company auditing standard deems robust, two-way communication between external auditors and audit committees to be essential to high-quality audits. Experts say the standard, which must be approved by the SEC, reflects and codifies the healthy dialogue that has existed between auditors and audit committees for years.The look ahead: Economic sentiment in Europe, US economic policy summit
The deepening debt crisis in the euro zone has lowered European consumer and business confidence in past months, increased unemployment and raised the risk of a region-wide recession. Updated figures due to be released in the week ahead will show how Europe is faring.Rapid-growth investment opportunities to research during the lull in M&A activity
While companies are waiting for the global economic climate to stabilise, they have time to look around for rapid-growth markets that might offer similar or better opportunities than China once their appetite for mergers and acquisitions returns. Ernst & Young’s M&A Maturity Index highlights some unexpected candidates.Low wages, annoying co-workers stress out workers
Almost three-fourths of U.S. workers report being stressed out by at least one thing at work, according to a new survey. Low wages and annoying co-workers are the top stressors.Sense of direction is critical to employee satisfaction
A sense of direction, path, and destination is a critical factor in employee satisfaction, according to a new survey. Eighty-five per cent of respondents said knowing their potential career path is very important or somewhat important.PwC: Internal audit has to play a more substantial role in information security
Companies must do a better job of evaluating and updating their cybersecurity policies as data breaches grow in number and sophistication, PwC says in a new report. To shore up their defences against cybercriminals, companies should institute three lines of defence.Tweet this: Social media emerging as a top risk
Just a few years ago, social media barely registered among the enterprise risks that concerned executives. But a recent survey shows that social media is emerging as one of the top risks to companies.The look ahead: Russia to join WTO; US regulators scrutinise conflict minerals
Russia will take a momentous step August 22nd by joining the World Trade Organization (WTO). The WTO membership for the world’s ninth-largest economy comes with binding trade rules that are expected to alter Russia’s business landscape and lead to a permanent normalisation of trade relations between the US and Russia, former Cold War archenemies.Mid-size US companies continue to look for greener pastures abroad
With the US economy still relatively sluggish, mid-size US companies are increasingly looking for opportunities to boost revenue overseas, a KPMG survey shows. Canada and Europe top their list of preferred locations, followed by China, Mexico and India.Appraising the performance review: Broken but not beyond repair
A recent US survey shows a disconnect between CFOs and workers on the effectiveness of performance reviews, a view that appears to be shared by the global workforce. Reviews may be seen in a negative light, but they can have meaning, especially if the supervisor giving the review follows these five communication tips from experts on two continents.The premortem: Death before life
The significance of “black swan events” in the financial crisis has prompted many organisations to use premortems to identify potentially disastrous issues. Learn the merits of thinking the unthinkable.Rapid-growth markets hit a temporary lull
Rising domestic demand will help reverse the slowdown in rapid-growth countries, an Ernst & Young projection suggests. To tap this emerging demand, companies will have to pay attention to the different challenges and opportunities shaping up in specific national and regional markets.One-to-One: Paul Walsh, chief executive, Diageo plc
This month’s column is based upon my discussion with Paul Walsh, chief executive of Diageo, the world’s largest and most respected premium drinks company, responsible for iconic brands such as Johnnie Walker and Baileys.The look ahead: Europe’s factories, US consumers look for signs of hope
Industrial production in the euro zone and the European Union increased in May, raising hopes after back-to-back decreases in March and April that Europe would avert an economic contraction in the second quarter.
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