INTERNATIONAL. Dollar prices for gold bullion continued moving in a range bound fashion around US$1,758 an ounce – 8.3% up from where they began October – after the release of US nonfarm payroll data, which showed the US economy added 80,000 jobs last month.

The unemployment rate meantime fell to 9.0% in October – down from 9.1%, where it spent the previous three months.

Silver bullion meantime hovered around US$34.40 per ounce – 14.8% above where it started last month – while stocks, commodities and government bond prices were also flat.

Heading into the weekend, gold bullion prices were looking at a slight gain of around 1% for the week – though the trough-to-peak difference was 5%.

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THE two companies that, between them, control nearly a dozen Shaws department stores endured starkly different financial performances in the year to January 30. Accounts for Shaw and Sons, which controls seven stores, show turnover remained at 23.3m, while losses narrowed to 470,000 from nearly 654,000 a year earlier. WG Hadden operates five stores — four of them under the Shaws name. It doubled operating profits to 893,000 but was hit by a 7.3m provision for property revaluations. The chain has been the subject of an intense family feud for over a year.

Keane adds to BMW dealership network

MOTORING

FRANK Keane has announced that Maxwell Motors, the long-established motor dealership in south Dublin recently purchased by the Frank Keane Group, will become an authorised BMW dealership this November. The new dealership will trade as ‘Frank Keane Blackrock’.

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The figures don’t lie. Small businesses have become big victims of cybercrimes. According to Symantec research, more than 40 percent all cyberattacks are directed at companies with less than 500 employees and the cost of cyberattacks on small businesses totaled $188,242 last year.

Data also showed that almost 60 percent of small businesses closed within six months of a cyberattack.

Luckily for small businesses, they are not alone in the fight against cyberattacks. Cyberinsurance has grown in recent years in an attempt to help businesses survive the risks and problems that come with data breaches and cybercrimes.

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Valiant Workforce Solutions, Inc. announced today that Dan Myers has been promoted to the new position of President, Workforce Solutions.

In his new position, Myers will be responsible for all aspects of Workforce Solutions with full PL responsibility of the company division. Workforce Solutions consists of all Time and Labor Management technologies, services, client/partner integrations, project implementations, technical support, and account management activities for the Valiant client base.

Myers describes his new position this way: “Our clients’ success and effective use of Valiant solutions is my responsibility. I am thrilled about the opportunity to direct Valiant resources in helping our clients achieve their objectives. We are striving to build a service culture that is commitment oriented, predictable and flexible for our clients to work with, and improves our clients’ ability to compete and service their clients in ever-changing markets. That

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One of Scotland’s leading law firms has ambitious plans. New chairman Jennifer Young talks to our reporter. JENNIFER YOUNG cheerfully admits she talks a lot – but insists she also puts enormous value on listening. The new chairman at Ledingham Chalmers LLP is that rare creature, a female in a senior position in a Scottish law firm. For a good talker, she iADVERTISEMENTs unusually quiet on the subject of why she is joining a little-spotted species.

“I just don’t know,” she says. “I’ve never experienced anything to suggest a particular reason for it happening. It might be a generational thing (as the women coming into the profession outnumber the men] and take time. The next generation could be the one to show the real difference.”

However, Young recalls, as a trainee with Dundas & Wilson 20 years ago she was one of ten women in an intake of 13. Read all post…