IPO Turtles Approach Finish Line

If there were an award for IPO patience and persistence, two companies that are planning to go public in the U.S. this week would be top contenders.

Private-equity firm Apollo Global Management LLC, which is aiming to raise $500 million on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker APO, has been in registration since April 2008, just a few months before the market for initial public offerings ground to a halt during the global economic crisis. Vitamin retailer GNC Holdings Inc., which is seeking $383 million on the NYSE with a listing under GNC, has been waiting since 2004. This is its third attempt.

Conference Examines Russia-US Relationship

A mix of Russian, European and American professors and political figures evaluated the newly cemented Russia-U.S. friendship and its impact on Europe's political climate on Monday in the Intercultural Center.

The three panels, "Is There a New Euro-Atlantic Security Architecture," "Energy and Economic Security" and "Arms Control and Nonproliferation," focused on how the trilateral relationship can best be used to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing international economic and political environment.

Overseas property 'offers reasonable security'

Investing in foreign property could prove to be a secure investment, an expert has argued.

Ray Withers, founding director of Property Frontiers, said on the Buy Association podcast that people who may have bought stocks and shares in the past are increasingly looking towards foreign property.

He noted that such an investment can offer good returns while still being relatively secure, as it will not lose its value "overnight".

Clinton asks for report on implications of water scarcity

Acknowledging that water scarcity in the coming decades could lead to large scale conflicts globally, the top US diplomat has asked the national council to prepare a report on the implications on national security due to water scarcity in 2040.

"I (have) asked the National Intelligence Council to prepare an intelligence estimate on the national security implications of water security up to the year 2040," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in her remarks at the World Bank on the occasion of World Water Day.

The ILO gives its first comprehensive assessment of Germany’s policy to tackle the crisis

The FINANCIAL -- GENEVA. Despite a dramatic decline in output as a result of the global financial and economic crisis, Germany’s labour market held up well compared with other countries.

Although the economy shrank by 4.7 per cent in 2009, more than in most other countries, employment fell by only 0.2 per cent, whereas the average for the industrialised countries was five times worse than in Germany. This was the conclusion reached by the first comprehensive assessment of Germany’s policy to tackle the crisis, issued by the International Labour Organization (ILO) on March 21.

Local food bank feels brunt of world crisis

Canadians are bracing themselves for another round of rising food as sky-rocketing oil prices brought on by Middle East unrest and the global economic crisis is impacting every link in the food production chain. Pressure on food costs, rising costs for gas and electricity and a lack of jobs are all contributing to increased reliance on local food banks across Canada, a trend that Deb Billwiller, president of the Boundary Food Bank Society, says hits close to home.

Regional Economic Growth in the Spotlight at JEF 2011

Turkish Prime Minister joins economic experts at first day of JEF

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia March 20, 2011: Global and regional economic growth and development came under the spotlight at the first day of the Jeddah Economic Forum.

Hosted by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the forum's first session was moderated by McKinsey & Co Senior Director, Kito De Boer. Participating speakers included HE Mohammad Al Jasser, Governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary AgencySaudi Arabian Monetary Agency.