Cable & Wireless Communications’ Shareholders Vote Overwhelmingly in Favour of Merger with Columbus International

Shareholders of Cable & Wireless Communications plc (“CWC”), the parent company of LIME, today voted overwhelmingly in favour of the merger with Columbus International Inc. (“Columbus”), operator of the consumer brand, Flow.  Following the…

US adds 321,000 jobs in November

The US economy added 321,000 jobs in November, while the unemployment rate stayed at 5.8%, official Labor Department figures show. The number of jobs created was well above analysts' forecasts of about 225,000 new jobs in the month. US employers…

St Vincent gov’t offers tax break on end-of-year bonuses

The St Vincent and the Grenadines government says it will give a tax break to any firm or individual employer who pays their workers an end-of-year bonuses of EC$250 (One EC Dollar=US$0.37 cents) or more. Employees will not be taxed on the first…

South Stream gas line cancelled by Russia’s President

Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement that he is cancelling the planned $50bn (£32bn; €40bn) South Stream gas pipeline has caused a mixture of surprise, relief and dismay in countries dependent on Russian gas across central and eastern…

US Black Friday sales fall 11%

US retailers reported sluggish Black Friday spending, with sales falling 11% from the same period last year, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). US consumers spent on average $380.95 per person, down 6.4% from a year ago. Overall,…

HSBC and Goldman sued for allegedly fixing metal price

Goldman Sachs and HSBC are among four platinum and palladium dealers to be sued in New York for allegedly fixing the price of the metals. The four companies are said to have rigged prices for eight years. BASF and Standard bank were also sued in the…

US economy grows faster than first forecast

The US economy grew much faster than first reported during the third quarter, official figures have shown. It expanded at an annualised rate of 3.9% between July and September, up from the 3.5% first estimated by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The…

Flight attendant guilty of money laundering

A Dominican flight attendant was on Monday fined EC$10,000 to be paid forthwith or spend 9 months in jail in connection with two money laundering charges. Thirty-year-old Sherita Kernelle Newton, an employee of regional carrier LIAT, was charged…

Oil prices likely to fall into next year, says IEA

Oil prices are likely to continue falling well into 2015, the International Energy Agency has said. The IEA, a consultancy to 29 countries, said weak demand and the US shale gas boom meant crude's recent fall below $80 a barrel was not over. On…

Exxon to become second largest firm to Microsoft

Energy giant Exxon has ceded its position as the world's second-largest public company to tech firm Microsoft, after concerns about the falling price of oil drove its shares down. Exxon's shares traded at $94.90 midday on Friday, reducing the total…