RC Business

Applus making money

Joe — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:06:55 +0000

Applus, the Spanish company who operates the N.C.T. in Ireland has almost trebled its profits in 2011 to €2.67m. The company won the tender for 10 years under public procurement rules.

Applus pays a fee to the Road Safety Authority in Ireland for every car it tests. It took over from Vicuna, a Swiss company who ran the tests for 10 years.

A recent change requiring vehicles 10 years and over to be tested annually,instead of every two years will increase business for the company.

App Beware!

Joe — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:57:42 +0000

Before downloading apps to your phone its useful to have a quick read of the terms & conditions attached. In our hurry to immediately download the app we are sometimes giving the creator of the app permission to access information we would normally keep private.

This information could include:

your location
your internet history
your text messages
your contact book
identity of your online accounts
who you are calling
may intercept your calls
may take photographs/video at any time.

Facebook (1,3,4,5,6.) ( 5,6,8 ) ( 6)

A “flashlight“ app (which allows the user to use their phones as a torch) gives the creator “call phone numbers…….a list of accounts known by the device………… the phone number and serial number of the phone……….the ability to determine whether the phone is active …….the number the phone is connected to….and allows the software to collect images the camera is seeing”.

A Tennis Juggling Game app allows the creator to intercept users outgoing calls so that it can replace the phones ringtone with an audio advert!

Justin Bieber Droid Wallpapers app can track the users location by means of GPS software as well as see their entire web browser history. It can identify a users email address and Facebook profile.

Below are the terms and conditions of the Facebook app for android phones

Facebook for I.P.O. ?

Joe — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:35:22 +0000

An I.P.O. (an Initial Public Offering) is a stock market launch by a private company who has made the decision to sell shares to the public for the first time.

I.P.O. money paid by the investors goes directly to the company whilst later trading in the same shares sees the money passing between investors.

It is normal that a company would employ the services of an investment bank to help in deciding the share price and also to act as an underwriter for the issue.

Facebook, the social networking site is thinking about an I.P.O.

A valuation of between $75bn and $100bn is being put on the business with possibly up to $10bn worth of stock being sold.

Denmark take the reins on Jan 1 2012

Joe — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:33:38 +0000

Denmark took over the Presidency of the E.U. Council of Ministers on Jan.1st 2012.

It is believed that the appointment of a permanent president of the council in Herman Van Rompuy has reduced the role of the country holding the rotating presidency. Mr. Van Rompuy,a former Begian Prime Minister is the first full time President of the Council.(Prior to the Lisbon treaty 2009 the Presidency was held by whichever country that was caretaker of the Council at that time).

Mr. Van Rompuy convenes and chairs the meetings of the National Government leaders, while U.K. politician Catherine Ashton chairs meetings involving Security and Foreign Affairs.(She acts as the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. ) She is also Vice president of the European Commission.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers is a meeting of the 27 Ministers who have responsibility for the area under discussion.

Denmark will pass the reins onto Cyprus on July 1 2012 with Ireland taking over on 1/1/2013.

Rihanna helps to boost sales.

annemarie — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:37:05 +0000

Receipts at the O2 in Dublin for 2011 topped $50m,placing it the fifth best-attended music arena globally.

Despite the recession more than 670,000 went through its turnstiles. Its capacity is 14,500 and it staged 82 box-office gigs last year.

The most lucrative concerts were the two George Michael shows in November which grossed $1.38 m each.

Westlife sold out five nights, performers from the US TV series Glee sold out four nights, with X Factor live, Kylie and Rihanna all filling the venue.

The Irish like their Visa!

Joe — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:10:40 +0000

The number of Visa cards issued to Irish customers increased by 28% to 3.4 million in 2011. A total of €13 bn was either spent or withdrawn which was a 48% increase on 2010.

Although we are fond of the card Europeans prefer it even more, with €1 in every €8 spent by the Irish using Visa and €1 in every €7 spent across Europe. In the UK £1 in every £4 involves our flexible friend!

DCC says mild winter will hit profits

Joe — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:35:10 +0000

For TY students involved in the annual stock market competition and on the lookout for possible bargains DCC has announced it expects the mild weather we are experiencing to have an adverse affect on its share price.

DCC’s home heating oil division is the largest of its five businesses. It benefited from the freezing weather which struck its European markets over the last two winters. Its share price is presently €18.31

Meanwhile Burberry ,the British luxury brand has reported a sharp slowdown in demand for its wares which again will reflect on its profits and share price.

C&C on the other hand is predicting a profit of €110 for 2011 as sales of Bulmers and Magners were up over 1% this Christmas over last year.

Complaints to the Financial Ombudsman on the increase.

Joe — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:46:02 +0000

The Financial Ombudsman has recently reported a 14% increase in complaints against Irish financial institutions. In the last year there was a 50% increase in mortgage related complaints while complaints against the medical insurers increased by 59%.

More complaints are being upheld. The Ombudsman described the institutions performance as being disappointing.

Articles and Terms that may be of benefit to Leaving Certificate students.

Joe — Fri, 27 May 2011 10:34:34 +0000

Inflation (12/12/08)
Adapting a product for various markets (12/12/08)
Making a takeover bid (12/12/08+23/1/09)
Oil Production (OPEC) (13/12/08)
Social Partnership (16/12/08)
Advertising campaign (22/12/08)
Mayo’s multinationals (6/1/09)
Nationalisation (16/1/09)
E.G.M. (20/1/09)
Public Procurement (21/1/09)
Social Responsibility (29/1/09)
Trade Association (3/2/09)
Protectionism (23/2/09)
Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (25/2/09)
The Irish Credit Bureau –creditworthiness (26/2/09)
Diversification (4/3/09)
Fairtrade (4/3/09)
Franchise (10/3/09)
R&D (17/3/09)
Break-even(27/9/09)
Interest groups/Lobbying(8/10/09)
Constructive Dismissal (9/10/09)
Joint Venture (22/10/09)
Hostile Takeover bid (8/11/09 & 10/11/09)
Successful Takeover Bid(19/1/10)
Misleading advertising?? (23/11/09)
Gillette changes its advertising in changing circumstances (3/12/09)
Icelands financial problems (12/1/10)
Branson buys a bank (12/1/10)
Irelands biggest indigenious knitwear company-shopping channel(20/1/10)
Apple IPad(27/1/10)
ESB expands into UK(29/1/10)
Ethical Ranking of Business(3/2/10)
Discrimination in the workplace.(24/4/10)
Social Responsibility of Business(28/4/10)
Bord na Mona (21/11/10)
Insider Trading (9/3/11)
Product Placement (20/3/11)
Cigarette advertising in Australia (10/4/11)

Iceland votes no to bank debt deal.

Joe — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 10:56:36 +0000

Icelanders have again voted not to repay debts to Britain and the Netherlands as a result of the bank crash.

Iceland’s lawmakers had agreed a deal but the countries president insisted on a referendum.

Iceland has 230,000 voters-60% of those who voted rejected the plan saying that taxpayers should not have to bail out the banks who behaved irresponsibly.

It looks like its heading to the courts.