UK

Lloyds TSB has released its director’s report and financial statement for year ended 31 December 2002. The report shows the company made a 3.7% increase in profit before tax.

Two Royal Navy frigates will be setting course for a new lease of life in the Black Sea after a Ј116m BAE Systems refit supported by the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) under a Government-to-Government contract.

Following the decision today to keep interest rates on hold the CBI is calling on the Bank of England to cut interest rates in May.

This month's survey revealed renewed weakness within the consumer service sector, with rapidly falling volumes of business and profitability, and a sharp deterioration in confidence.

The Department of Trade and Industry's Small Business Service (SBS) has announced a consultation into developing a US-style Small Business Investment Company scheme to boost the funding opportunities for small, high growth companies.

A spokesperson from Singer & Friedlander Factors Limited today told BCR that the company is to close in the next couple of months.

The Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) will be lifting a burden on industry while maintaining its rigorous screening of projects for environmental and social impacts under new procedures starting on Monday 14 April.

HSBC Invoice Finance UK Ltd have released their year ended 2002 results showing that the company has made a 13.2 per cent increase in profit.

Read an explanation of how the Enterprise Act will affect the taking, enforcing and realisation in administration of Corporate Security from Herbert Smith, the UK based leading international law firm.

Cattles Invoice Finance has expanded its operations with the opening of an office in Glasgow to offer a range of funding solutions to the small- and medium-sized business sector in Scotland, creating up to ten jobs in the area.