Bioethanol producer loses bit of its spark
US bioethanol producer Green Plains Renewable Energy generated net income of $38.4m last year -- 20pc lower than the previous year. Revenues jumped to $3.6bn from $2.1bn. Irish group NTR has a 20pc stake in the company.
Murphy appointed Kingspan non-exec
APPOINTMENT
Cavan-based insulation maker Kingspan has appointed Kieran Murphy as a non-executive director to the group, with effect from March 1. Mr Murphy is a partner in corporate advisory firm Gleacher Shacklock, which has been working with Eircom. He was previously managing director, corporate finance, at Kleinwort Benson/Dresdner Kleinwort.
Early new year hits China's car sales
ECONOMY
China's monthly car sales suffered the sharpest drop in seven years after an earlier-than-usual Lunar New Year holiday season cut the selling week. Deliveries, including multipurpose and sport- utility vehicles, dropped 24pc from a year earlier to 1.16 million units last month. The slump follows Chinese government estimates that holiday sales at the nation's main retailers and restaurants rose at their slowest pace since the 2009 financial crisis, adding to signs the world's second-largest economy is cooling.
RBS fires staff in interest-rate probe
BANKS
RBS, the UK's largest government-owned lender, dismissed at least four staff in connection with a probe of potential interest-rate manipulation. Citigroup and Deutsche Bank have also fired, suspended or placed traders on leave as part of the investigation. ICAP, the world's largest broker of trades between banks, suspended an employee in the past six weeks and put two others on leave.
South Africa in big push to create jobs
ECONOMY
SOUTH Africa's president Jacob Zuma announced infrastructure projects yesterday, aimed at creating jobs in a nation hard hit by the global recession. "The massive investment in infrastructure must leave more than just power stations, rail lines, dams and roads," Mr Zuma said.
Irish Independent
