Today's other stories in brief
NI business activity grows strongly
Business activity and employment in Northern Ireland grew strongly in November, according to results of the latest survey by the Ulster Bank Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI).
For the month, the index shows that business activity increased for the 44th month in succession, and that growth was evenly distributed across all sectors. The level of staffing grew at its strongest rate since September 2004 and for the ninth month in succession as firms struggled to meet rising order levels. But the survey also shows input prices rising sharply in the month.
"Activity growth rates were ahead of the UK in most areas, a welcome change from the recent pattern. Northern Ireland has moved smartly from being one of the poorer-performing UK regions to fifth from the top," Ulster Bank chief economist Pat McArdle said yesterday.
Bombardier joins £34m R&D project
Belfast-based Bombardier Aerospace is to take part in a three-year UK national research programme on aircraft wing technology.
The £34 million (€50 million) "Integrated Wing" programme, which will develop and validate technologies that are expected to lead to a new generation of aircraft wings, brings together 17 UK organisations from industry, research bodies and academia.
Jointly funded by industry, the UK's department of trade and industry, and regional development agencies, including Invest Northern Ireland, it will look at new wing design, materials and manufacturing techniques, noise reduction, flow control, and advanced fuel and landing gear systems.
NUI Maynooth appoints director
National University of Ireland Maynooth has appointed Frank Fitzmaurice as director of corporate services.
Mr Fitzmaurice joins the university from Meath County Council, where he has led the implementation of the county's investment promotion campaign since 2003.
ECB seeks hedge fund register
The risk of a global financial crisis triggered by hedge funds could be tackled by compiling an international register of activity in the fast-growing industry, the European Central Bank (ECB) argued yesterday.
The ECB's backing for a centralised register - updated daily or even more frequently - could reinvigorate the debate among global regulators about how best to deal with the risks posed by highly leveraged hedge funds.
It came as Germany's finance ministry said it had received encouraging signals from London and Washington in support of its initiative to increase hedge fund transparency. - (Financial Times service)
Management body elects president
The Institute of Management Consultants and Advisers (IMCA) has elected David Duffy as its new president.
The former vice- president of IMCA, Mr Duffy is the founder and managing director of Prospectus Strategy Consultants, which he established in 1991.
