World Bank pledges $900m in flood aid to Pakistan

The World Bank will release $900m to help fund relief efforts for Pakistan’s flood disaster as international agencies warned millions of people were at risk from disease. The UN has warned that up to 3.5 million children could be in danger of contracting deadly diseases carried through contaminated water and insects in a crisis that…

Asia, LatAm job market spurs Michael Page profit

Recruiter Michael Page posted a 42 percent rise in first-half pretax profit, boosted by growing demand in Asia and Latin America, defying concerns that a sluggish economic recovery would hit job turnover. Michael Page, which finds jobs for people in financial, accounting and legal services, announced pretax profit up to £61.4m in the six months…

Credit Suisse axes 75

Credit Suisse said it was cutting around 75 jobs in its UK operations, becoming the second investment bank in as many days to slim down as economic fears hit the deal-making business. “We are currently reducing headcount by approximately 75 in the United Kingdom in the investment bank and certain support functions,” the bank has…

Bank of Ireland to shake off state support slowly

Bank of Ireland plans to move away cautiously from state support by showing it can raise debt outside a government guarantee and gradually repay taxpayers’ funds over several years, it has announced. Ireland’s biggest bank by market value has become the first major Irish bank to replenish its capital from partly private sources, an exercise…

Dollar near 15 year low after Fed move

The dollar hovered close to 15-year lows versus the yen but rose against other currencies on August 10 as investors pared back risk exposure in the wake of steps announced by the Federal Reserve to boost the economy. In early European trade, the dollar was up around one percent against the euro and the Australian…

TUI Travel warns on FY as budget measures hit UK

Europe’s biggest travel firm TUI Travel said it expected its full-year profit to be at the lower end of expectations after trading was hit by uncertainty among British consumers following June’s emergency budget. TUI Travel, in which Germany’s TUI AG holds a controlling stake of 57.5 percent, also said airspace closures as a result of…

Saudi Arabia unveils $385bn spending plan

Saudi Arabia plans to build schools, hospitals, housing and other infrastructure projects as part of a five-year plan budgeted at $385bn, the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) has reported. Ageing King Abdullah is under pressure to create jobs and build housing as the population grows and unemployment rises, hitting 10.5 percent last year. Two-thirds of…