Acquisitions of large companies by some of the leading U.S.-based private equity firms between 2002 and 2005 resulted in significant net gains in U.S. employment, according to an important new study released today by the Private Equity Council. The most significant job gains came in the manufacturing sector, where U.S. companies acquired by private equity firms posted an overall employment gain of 1.4 percent, versus a loss of 7.7 percent in the broader manufacturing sector.
Advertisers are starting to reach US consumers by mobile phone in large numbers, according to the Limbo-sponsored "Mobile Advertising Report", conducted by GfK NOP Research.
Worldwide PC shipments grew by 15.5% in the fourth quarter of 2007 (4Q07), according to IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker. In EMEA the consumer and back-to-school rush that drove more than 20% growth in 3Q07 subsided, but shipments continued to expand rapidly – outpacing growth in the prior five quarters.
The U.S. subprime mortgage crisis has forced banks to enter 2008 in a reactive mode. New research from TowerGroup examining the top retail banking trends for 2008 finds that bankers are anxious on two fronts.
Evidence of a weaker economy pushed mortgage rates to the lowest point since July 2005, with the average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate now 5.75 percent. According to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey of large lenders, the average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.36 discount and origination points.
While oil and gold are thriving, most stock values have been dropping precipitously. The S&P 500 opened trading in 2007 at 1,418 and closed Jan. 9, 2008 at 1,409. Stocks have lost ALL the gains they made last year, and then some.
While retailers may have pulled out all the stops the last few months to get customers to the shelves, a new CareerBuilder.com study reveals retailers themselves have some shopping to do - for talent.
Euro area annual inflation was 3.1% in December 2007, unchanged compared with November. A year earlier the rate was 1.9%. Monthly inflation was 0.4% in December 2007.
The members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) produced an average 32.03 million barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil in December, according to a Platts survey of OPEC and oil industry officials January 14. This is up from November's rate of 31.65 million b/d
