Opec is to keep global oil supplies steady, despite falling crude oil prices on world markets in response to the World Trade Centre attacks. The organisation also aims to maintain its target price of $25 a barrel.
Search Page
Opec is to keep global oil supplies steady, despite falling crude oil prices on world markets in response to the World Trade Centre attacks. The organisation also aims to maintain its target price of $25 a barrel.
E -business consultancy eBECS has formed an alliance with business-to-business solutions firm Baan to resell parts of its iBaan suite in the UK. eBECS will also offer Baan's UK clients an implementation and advisory service. www.ebecs.com
Purchasing practices for construction of the Jubilee Line Extension were incompetent, says consulting engineer Ove Arup. London Underground and the Jubilee Line Extension Project team released incomplete purchasing packages to technical services contractors at tender stage, resulting in change and delays, said Ove Arup.
Gas and electricity regulator Ofgem is still hopeful the New Electricity Trading Arrangements (Neta) will be launched by mid-December, falling within a six-week window as stated earlier this year by Ofgem.
Measures aimed at preventing the abuse of the market by electricity suppliers have been published by the watchdog Ofgem. Conditions on the issuing of licences to operate specify that companies must not use their position to prevent the efficient use of the transmission system, limit generation to affect wholesale prices, or use any discriminatory pricing policies.
Internet security is of little concern to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), according to a survey by e-business software provider Frontstep. Over a third of SMEs were more concerned about e-commerce strategy and having the right IT in place. Less than 10 per cent said that e-security was an issue. For a copy, call 0121 606 5500 or visit www.frontstep.com.
The European commissioner behind the recent green paper on corporate social responsibility said he wants companies to be free to adopt ethical strategies voluntarily. Dominique Be said that forcing companies to adopt strategies would stifle innovation and enthusiasm for the idea.
Manufacturers are increasingly moving towards strategic outsourcing and stronger partnerships, research from Cranfield University has claimed. The study of 3,500 UK manufacturers found firms are basing supply chain decisions on well-structured analysis of their business rather than traditional practices and industrial trends.
The Department of Trade and Industry is to meet construction industry bodies and contractors as part of a review of its vetting organisation Constructionline. The government is said to be disappointed about the quality of its service and take-up. Capita, Constructionline's operator, claims that the service has 10,000 registered contractors and 1,200 buyers.
Insurance group Cgnu has scrapped a seven-year £124 million outsourcing contract with IBM only two years into the deal. The decision is in line with moves to consolidate IT systems at the company, formed by the merger of Norwich Union and CGU.