Industry news

US industries including key players from within the electronic and IT sectors are mounting an extensive campaign against EU data protection, as Europe debates regulation modernisation.

A letter sent to key members of the US administration, including the; Secretary of State, Attorney General and US Ambassador to the EU, and signed by American Civil Liberties Union, the Center for Digital Democracy and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, highlighted a extensive industry lobbying campaign, to “limit the protections that European law would provide".

New technology including bid data, cloud technology and the use of social media has stimulated debate, with the EU looking at strengthening regulation amidst privacy concerns.

With the rises of internet based technology and services that use uninterruptible power supply or UPS, the European market has recorded record growth, taking $1.98 billion in 2012, with predicted rise to $2.3 billion by 2015.

The market for UPS is seeing high levels of growth, which is only expected to rise, as Big Data and Datacentre facilities fuel demand.

Services such as Datacentres can suffer huge losses if power is interrupted, even if only for a minute. UPS is vital in such business models where downtime is not an option.

A buyout of Dell is expected to occur today as rumors point to a imminent deal, with Reuters citing anonymous sources that point to Dell CEO and founder acquiring a majority stake in the company.

Microsoft have also been rumoured to be in the running along with private equity firm Silver Lake Partners.

Microsoft eyes $3 billion Dell acquisition

Bloomberg has reported that bidding amounts have doubled between prospective buyers, with amounts now reaching $2 billion per bidder.

A new release of the Scottish Infrastructure Investment Plan is expected to be outlined today. The plan will set out all major capital spending projects, including health, transport and infrastructure projects.

The previous version of the infrastructure invest plan detailed projects totalling £12. 8 billion, with the total expected to rise.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, told the BBC: “we'll look at a range of programmes which are longer-term, which there is less certainty about because of the timescales involved, but it is nevertheless important to give detail of what our intentions and our ambitions are so that industry can be prepared."

The release of data from France has revealed a dramatic drop in manufacturing, with activity falling over four months in January at rates similar to those at the height of the global financial crisis.

This has led to fears that future poor economic forecasts within the Eurozone could render France’s public finances unsustainable.

Economists have predicted that France’s economy will remain stagnant over the 2013.

Manufacturing accounts for 11 percent of France’s economy and has been vulnerable to the global recession, performing poorly in comparison to its German neighbour.

BT have won another two government funded superfast broadband contacts, so far ensuring a 100 percent take of all government broadband contracts.

The two new contracts will see BT provide increased broadband capabilities across Devon and Somerset, with the aim to provide high speed broadband to 90 percent of all residents by 2016.

The project has been valued at £94 million with a further £35.6 million coming from another fibre optic project in Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire.

Communications minister Ed Vaizey said: "It's projects like Connecting Devon and Somerset, the largest of all the English local authority projects, that will help achieve the government's aim for the UK to have the best broadband in Europe by 2015."

Indian outsourcing company HCL Technologies has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract to provide R&D over a ‘multi-year period’.

HCL will provide engineering, prototype designs and IT services to UK based avionics company Cobham.

Tom Garvey, vice president of operations at Cobham's Avionics and Surveillance Division, said: “We expect that this relationship with HCL Technologies will support our agility and further boost growth."

The deal by Anheuser-Busch Inbev (ABI) to buy Mexican based brewery company Grupo Modelo, has been faced with a competition suit from the US Justice Department.

Bill Baer, assistant US Attorney General said: “The department is taking this action to stop a merger between major beer brewers because it would result in less competition and higher beer prices for American consumers."

ABI already owns half of Grupo Modelo and have entered into a multi-million purchase to complete a full takeover however the suit now throws the deal into question.

H&M are planning rapid growth in China with the addition of 325 stores in 2013, the clothing giant are also planning store growth within the US.

As the second-biggest fashion retailer with 2,800 stores globally, the Swedish based company is looking to develop in new markets, with markets such as China having already shown high levels of potential for western businesses looking for expansion.

The plans come after a posted rise in annual profits despite a drop in profits in the fourth quarter during 2012 in a challenging market for high street retailers.

With a 20.6 percent rise in profits during the third-quarter, the release of Mahindra Satyam’s results, along with expansion and high profits from industry leaders such as Infosys show acceleration in outsourcing markets.

Satyam had been impacted by continued payments resulting to fraud claims stemming from its running by Ramalinga Raju. But with action concluded, the business is now able “to focus even more on the business-ready solutions for our customers," said Vineet Nayyar, chairman.

"We continue to strengthen our industry and alliance partnerships and explore multiple avenues for growth, including mergers and acquisitions”, said CP Gurnani, CEO.

The increase in reported profits by outsourcing leaders comes on the back of predictions of growth within the US and renewed demands for outsourced services, projects including Medicare have fuelled anticipation for future business.