A round up of today's other stories in brief
SR Technics deal signed by Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus has signed a 10-year maintenance contract with SR Technics following the resolution of a dispute at the Swiss-owned company. The new maintenance contract begins on July 6th.
The industrial problems at SR Technics, which employs 1,200 people, centred on about 20 aircraft handlers who rejected changes in work practices. At the start of this month, the group agreed to new proposals from Siptu.
Entrepreneur awards launched
Entrepreneurs are invited to enter the 2008 David Manley Emerging Entrepreneur Awards, launched yesterday by judging chairman Alfie Kane.
Entrants compete for mentoring and consultancy from a selection of leading Irish companies as well as a cash prize of €10,000.
Further details of the awards, to be presented in November, can be obtained at www.davidmanleyawards.ie
Ormonde considers La Zarza approach
Ormonde Mining has told shareholders at its agm that it is considering a "staged approach" to its La Zarza prospect in Spain. This would envisage one stage involving only gold and copper and then a second incorporating lead and zinc that might be brought online "several years into the future".
In relation to the firm's Barruecopardo prospect, also in Spain, shareholders heard engineering studies for a proposed mining operation are proceeding rapidly.
Murphy to leave AIB's Polish unit
Bank Zachodni WBK SA, the Polish unit of Allied Irish Banks, has announced that James Murphy, who oversees the bank's finances, will step down at the end of September.
Mr Murphy will be replaced by Paul Barry, a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators. - (Bloomberg)
US retail sales outstrip forecast
Retail sales in the US rose twice as much as forecast in May, evidence that Americans are not hoarding their tax-rebate checks or using them just to pay for petrol.
Purchases climbed 1 per cent, the most in six months, following a 0.4 per cent April gain that was previously reported as a drop, the Commerce Department said in Washington.
Sales excluding gasoline increased 0.8 per cent last month. - (Bloomberg)
Carphone cuts broadband target
Carphone Warehouse, Europe's largest mobile- phone retailer, fell in London trading after saying broadband revenue growth this year may be lower than forecast.
The London-based company, which began offering high-speed internet with mobile services in 2006, dropped 11 per cent, the most since April 15th.
The London-based company cut its broadband growth target for fiscal 2009 as customer additions so far this year trailed estimates.
The decline may hurt the company's strategy of relying on broadband for growth after agreeing to sell a 50 per cent stake in a venture holding its retail stores to Best Buy Co for £1.1 billion. - (Bloomberg)
Video-game sales hit Argos margins
Home Retail Group, owner of Argos and Homebase, was punished in London trading after a shift toward sales of video games and consoles caused Argos's margins to narrow in the first quarter.
The company said the chain's gross margin, or profit as a percentage of sales, narrowed by 1.25 percentage points.
Sales at Argos stores open at least a year were unchanged in the quarter. - (Bloomberg)
