Latest Business News

Investors praying for deals to get their teeth into were given a reason to be cheerful yesterday, as analysts predicted an acceleration in takeover activity. Barclays Capital said merger-and-acquisition (M&A) volumes in Europe are currently two and a half times lower than in 2007, but the bank said it believed a recent rebound in corporate investment meant this was about to change.

A number of large companies hold stockpiles of cash earning little interest, Barclays’ analysts argued, adding that “inexpensive avenues for growth abound” – and that “the premium growth offered by European small caps relative to the larger caps is at an all-time high”. <

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The Australian dollar was trading nearly one US cent higher this morning, after a bi-partisan plan to avoid a US debt default emerged in the US overnight.

At 0700 AEST, the Australian dollar was trading at 107.32 US cents, up from 106.41 US cents yesterday.

Since 1700 AEST yesterday, the local unit traded between 106.41 US cents and 107.38 US cents.

HiFX trading director Mike Hollows said the Australian dollar had edged higher after US President Obama supported a plan to avoid US debt default.

A bipartisan group of US senators has offered a plan that could revive stalled debt talks. Full Post…

Small firms are being pushed to the wall by a vice of rising business costs, research finds.

Overheads have risen by almost a quarter over the past five years, and more than half (55 per cent) of small business owners now warn that their company will simply not survive much longer if costs continue to rise at current rates.

The study of 750 small businesses by the Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR) reveals that small business owners identify rising costs as the most significant threat to their company this year (78 per cent) and feel that the country has become an ‘unbearably expensive’ place to do business (81 per cent).

Jonathan Elliott, Managing Director of comparison site Make It Cheaper, which commissioned the survey says, ‘Rapid cost increases are placing the survival of small companies in jeopardy, and dampening the entrepreneurial spirit so crucial to economic recovery.’

The Business Cost Index, an inflation tracker for small business overheads, shows a 22.8 per cent rise in small business costs over the past 5 years, compared to the ONS’ Consumer Price Index increasing by 19.4 per cent over the same period. According

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— TUESDAY

Primerica to offer business advice

Primerica will host the free seminar, “The Business Opportunity of the 21st Century,” at 7 p.m. at the ValueBank Tower, 3649 Leopard St., Suite 512.

For reservations, call Mark Oser & Associates at 883-7217 or 883-9365.

Del Mar will offer contracting session

Del Mar College Small Business Development Center, 3209 S. Staples St., is offering a workshop on enhancing contracting options.

Topics will include certification as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and Historically Underutilized Business.

The free workshop is from 2 to 4 p.m. in Room 167.

To register, go to www.delmar.edu/sbdc and click on the On-Site Workshops Tab. For additional assistance, call Lisa Farr at 698-2422.

Discuss storytelling as a learning tool

The American Society for Training and Development-Corpus Christi Chapter meets from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Room 119 of Del Mar College’s Center for Economic Development, 3209 S. Staples St..

Will Heavin from Heavin and Associates Insurance Agency will discuss storytelling as a learning tool. Cost: $15; $10/members. Lunch will be provided.

Reservations should be made by Monday at astdcc@gmail.com

For information email Linda Houts at lkhouts@earthlink.net or call 361-949-4714.

WEDNESDAY

Del Mar to offer website workshop

Del Mar College Small Business Development Center, 3209 S. Staples St., is offering “I Know I Need a website, Now What?”

The free workshop is from 3 to 5 p.m. in Room 141.

To register, go to www.delmar.edu/sbdc and click on the On-Site Workshops Tab. For additional assistance, call Lisa Farr at 698-2422.

Seminar gives steps to start a business

Del Mar College Small Business Development Center, 3209 S. Staples St., is offering “Starting Your Business, Step by Step.”

The seminar is from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in Room 167.

Cost: $30.

To register, go to www.delmar.edu/sbdc and click on the On-Site Workshops Tab.

For additional assistance, call Lisa Farr at 698-2422.

Realtors can learn about procedures

Corpus Christi Association of Realtors presents the seminar “Creating & Implementing a Brokerage Policy & Procedure Manual” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 4825 Everhart Road.

Course manual is a broker’s policy manual that can be customized after the class. Cost: , $210

Information: 991-8221.

SBA has seminar about contracting

The U.S. Small Business Administration in partnership with the Women’s Resource Center of Texas will conduct a free SBA loan and contracting seminar in support of the small business community and women in small business.

Greenpath, formerly known as Corpus Christi Consumer Credit Counseling of South Texas, and Accion Texas also will provide information on their organizations.

The seminar is from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Women’s Resource Center of Texas, 1231 Nile Drive. Seating is limited and seminar is subject to change.

For reservations, call 879-0017, Ext. 300.

Builders will host State Rep. Hunter

Associated Builders & Contractors Texas Coastal Bend Chapter will have a general membership luncheon with State Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi.

The luncheon is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center, 402 Harbor Drive. Cost: $30; $25/for members. Seating is limited.

For reservations, call 361-289-5311.

THURSDAY

Del Mar offers basic bookkeeping

Del Mar College Small Business Development Center is offering “Basic Bookkeeping Practices for Your Business.”

The seminar is from 2 to 5 p.m. in Room E116 at Del Mar College Northwest Center, 13725 Northwest Blvd. This seminar is designed to teach the small business owner about record-keeping basics. Cost: $30.

To register, go to www.delmar.edu/sbdc and click on the On-Site Workshops Tab. For additional assistance, call Lisa Farr at 698-2422.

Free seminar looks at health care plan

Del Mar College Small Business Development Center, 3209 S. Staples St., is offering a health care insurance seminar.

The free seminar is from 2 to 4 p.m. in Room 167.

The Celtic Healthy Texas Health Plans were designed in partnership with the Texas Department of Insurance’s Healthy Texas program to meet the specific needs of Texas small business owners and their eligible employees.

To register, please go to www.delmar.edu/sbdc and click on the On-Site Workshops Tab. For additional assistance, call Lisa Farr at 698-2422.

FRIDAY

SBA gives seminar on loan programs

The U.S. Small Business Administration will conduct a free to explain the SBA government contracting opportunities and certification programs to help position a small business for contracting opportunities throughout the federal government.

The seminar also will provide information on loan programs and updates resulting from the Small Business Job Act of 2010.

The seminar is from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the agency office, 3649 Leopard St., Suite 411. Registration begins at 8:45 a.m. Seating is limited and seminar is subject to change.

For reservations, call 879-0017, Ext. 300.

LATER

Talk covers Medicare, Social Security

Wells Fargo Advisors and YWCA will offer “Navigating Social Security and Medicare” on Aug. 8.

The free seminar will be offered from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the BBQ Man, 4931 S. Interstate 37 and from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. at the YWCA, 4601 Corona Drive.

The talk will be presented by Elaine Hermsen, Social Security Administration expert.

Reservations must be made by Aug. 2 to Priscilla Moya at 883-7421.

Health Underwriters will meet on Aug. 9

Coastal Bend Association of Health Underwriters will meet from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 9 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 6717 S. Padre Island Drive.

The meeting will provide a one-hour continuing education on flexible spending accounts, health reimbursement arrangements and health savings accounts.

Cost: $30; $20/members. Reservation deadline is Aug. 5.

For reservations, contact polly@pollyharrisins.com or mcastillo@keetchins.com

World Affairs group will meet Aug. 17

The World Affairs of South Texas meets at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 17 at the Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center.

Ann Dollarhide, A21 Communications Manager, will discuss “Human Trafficking: From Prevention to Prosecution.”

Cost: $32.50; $25/members and active duty military in uniform; $18/students. Registration after Aug. 15 is $5 more. All reservations must be prepaid.

For reservations and/or membership information, call 241-2018 or mail check to World Affairs Council, P.O. Box 260096, Corpus Christi, TX 78426.

Sarasota-based xG has developed a way of avoiding the spoken-for cell phone frequency bands while delivering cell phone-quality communications.

The company, which set up a 32-square-mile trial network in Fort Lauderdale in September 2009, also is seeing its technology evaluated by the Army at Fort Bliss in Texas and New Mexico and at the White Sands Missile Range.

The eight independent carriers will test the same xMax wireless service, which can be used for voice, video, text and broadband data for both mobile and fixed uses.

The carriers are Smart City Telecom in Lake Buena Vista; Delaware’s Redi-Call Communications Co.; Virginia’s TelAtlantic Communications Inc.; Cook California’s Telecom Inc.; Wyoming’s Silver Star Telephone Co.

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