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

Third of small businesses expect turnover to improve, finds survey

More than one-third of small businesses expect their turnover to improve over the next six months, but credit availability remains an issue, new research shows.

The latest County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) bi-annual survey of sole traders and small business owners found that just over half of all respondents feel the current business environment is either poor or very poor. Just 4 per cent felt access to credit had improved over the last six months, while 37 per cent felt it had worsened.

Some 43 per cent of respondents consider the effect of the current banking situation on trading and business operations to be serious. “It’s clear from this survey that we need to improve the overall business environment for Ireland’s small business sector,” said Tom Hayes of the CEB. The survey was conducted last month among clients of the country’s 35 CEBs.

Brendan posts €380,000 profit

Brendan Investments Property Management, a company associated with property fund manager Brendan Investments, generated a €380,000 profit last year, according to accounts filed at the Companies Office.

The unaudited accounts for the company, whose directors include TV personality and investment adviser Eddie Hobbs, show it had €122,143 in shareholders’ funds at the end of August 2010, down from €502,533 a year previously.

The other directors are Vincent Regan, Hugh O’Neill and Dermot Flanagan. Brendan Investments was established in 2007 to make property investments in Germany, Britain, Portugal and Ireland.

Allianz reports record revenues

Allianz, the world’s biggest listed-insurer by market capitalisation, shrugged off higher claims for natural disasters as it announced a jump in full-year profits.

Revenues for 2010 were the highest ever, Allianz said as it announced a 22.4 per cent rise in annual net income to €5.2 billion. Revenues reached €106.5 billion, the first time they exceeded €100 billion since 2005. Operating profits reached €8.2 billion, but €500 million of that was due to an accounting change and currency effects.

Chief executive Michael Diekmann said: “We are proud of having achieved substantial growth in 2010.” - (Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2011)

Antrim PVC firm’s investment of £16m

A Co Antrim window and conservatory group will invest £16 million in a new research and development project which could create 225 jobs over the next three years.

The Camden Group, which is also one of the largest manufacturers of PVC doors and glass-sealed units, intends to develop a new manufacturing process that it said would result in a new “high performance” product.

Minister for Enterprise Arlene Foster has described the firm’s latest investment as a “significant boost” for the local and hard-pressed construction sector.

She said this was welcome news for the local community and wider economy.