A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Wyeth looks at salesforce restructuring

Pharmaceutical giant Wyeth yesterday said the restructuring of its US salesforce was only a start as it was considering making similar changes globally.

Wyeth, which employs around 2,000 people in Ireland, cut a net 375 jobs, or 15 per cent, out of its 2,500 primary care salesforce. However, the company cut 750, or 30 per cent, of its full-time sales representatives, replacing them with 375 part-time employees.

In the third quarter, Wyeth's operating income excluding one-time charges rose 9 per cent to $1.1 billion (€918.8 million). Increases in biotechnology drugs Enbrel for rheumatoid arthritis and the Prevnar pneumonia vaccine - both of which are produced in Ireland - and ulcer medicine Protonix helped sales increase 5 per cent to $4.7 billion. - (Financial Times Service)

Accountant reprimanded

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI) has "severely reprimanded" a member, fined him €6,500 and ordered him to pay costs of €20,000.

John Handibode, who carries on a practice in Lucan, Co Dublin, was found to have failed to deal adequately with the affairs of a company. An ICAI appeal tribunal heard that he failed to compile and deliver the company's annual returns in respect of 1998 and 1999, resulting in the company being struck off.

He was also found to have failed to advise the directors to have the company reinstated on the Companies Register by ensuring to have all outstanding returns submitted to the Companies Registration Office, so as to safeguard the company's assets and the legal position of the directors.

Businesses warned over fraud

Irish businesses are being warned to watch out for a Spanish publisher that has conned thousands of euro from Irish companies.

The Irish Euro Info Centre (EIC) network is urging businesses to look out for correspondence from the European City Guide (ECG). Anyone who has already been contacted by the group should not pay any money and should keep a record of correspondence, the EIC said.

The guide company operates by sending a form offering businesses the opportunity to be included in its inter-professional guide. By signing the form, businesses are considered to be placing an order worth €937 annually for three years. The layout and wording on the form, however, fail to make this clear. Attempts to cancel the form are rejected.

Clearwire service launched

US telecoms company Clearwire is launching its wireless broadband service in Ireland.

The service involves plugging a unit that is about the size of a paperback book into your computer. Coverage already exists in parts of Dublin as well as Bray, Carlow, Drogheda, Dundalk, Galway, Maynooth, Naas, Newbridge, Swords and Waterford.

Ericsson reports dip in margin

Telecoms equipment giant Ericsson reported a dip in its third-quarter gross margin, causing its shares to trade down yesterday even though its earnings were largely in line with expectations.

Ericsson said it expected moderate growth in its mobile equipment market in 2006, buoyed by rising numbers of mobile phone users in emerging markets and the switch to high-speed 3G services such as music and video in developed countries.- (Reuters)