In a survey of nearly 3,000 active Internet users across the country, ROMIR Monitoring found that 95% of RuNet users prefer making purchases in specialized stores vs. 23% who said they were customers of Internet stores.
LUKOIL Group (subsidiary companies and LUKOIL's share in output by affiliated companies) total hydrocarbon production available for sale reached 2.14 mln boe per day in the first nine months of 2006, up 13.1% y-o-y.
Fitch Ratings says today that it expects M&A- and LBO-related event risk to rise in the European automotive supplier sector as trade buyers and private equity firms drive further consolidation in the industry.
The Conference Board announced today that the leading index for Germany increased 0.5 percent and the coincident index increased 0.2 percent in August.
Fitch Ratings has upgraded the Republic of Lithuania's Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Default ratings ("IDRs") to 'A' from 'A-(A minus)' and 'A+' from 'A' respectively. The Outlook is Stable. The Country Ceiling has been upgraded to 'AA' from 'AA-(AA minus)' while the Short-term Foreign Currency rating is upgraded to 'F1' from 'F2'. Fitch is also assigning an 'A' rating to Lithuania's forthcoming EUR600 million 2012 Eurobond.
Fitch Ratings says in a special report published today that major French banks are well placed to deliver good earnings in H206 and into 2007. Though downside pressure may arise from unexpected events, Fitch views this as very unlikely and the continued positive outlook for the French economy is expected to provide a favourable environment for the country's banking sector.
The Conference Board announced today that the leading index for the U.K increased 0.2 percent, and the coincident index increased 0.1 percent in August.
New research revealing the risks faced by migrant workers in England and Wales was presented at a South East Region Trades Union Congress conference in London. It outlines the potential for exploitation of migrants and other workers in sectors where attention to health and safety is poor, and highlights the challenges to employers, HSE and other agencies in tackling the problems.
The September Bloomberg Eurozone Retail Purchasing Managers' Index ("PMI(R)"), a monthly survey indicating economic conditions in the euro area retail sector one month ahead of government issued figures, recorded 52.4 in September, up from 52.3 in August. The latest reading signaled month-on-month growth in sales for the sixth consecutive month and a marginal upturn in the rate of increase, though it remained below the highs registered in the second quarter. Rising sales were linked to higher customer counts as underlying economic conditions improved, and were boosted by promotional efforts.
