Birmingham Post

Rise in Property Prices Gives Glimmer of Hope

House prices in the West Midlands have risen for the first time in a year in the latest sign that life is returning to the region's economy. Latest Land Registry figures show the average price paid for a home in the region rose 0.8 per cent in April - the biggest monthly jump since February last year.

Ftse 100

Chink of Light at the End of the Economic Tunnel ; Green Shoots of Recovery - Page 4

After a year of gloom for the economy today's announcements that house prices have risen and manufacturing activity is at its highest level for a year are hugely important. In the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s, everyone is searching for news that there could be the merest glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel.

Entrepreneurial Spirit or Good Service? ; Birmingham Post Comment

Fight for the Royal Mail - page 17 As yet more MPs become caught up in the expenses scandal, it's almost reassuring to be reminded that other issues are still discussed at Westminster.

228 Key Figure

In the Spotlight

Who: Dr Omneya Abdelsalam Why: Dr Abdelsalam is chairing and organising today's event entitled Islamic Business: The Way Forward at Aston Business School. The conference brings together a range of renowned speakers from the sector and will look at the potential for positioning Birmingham as an Islamic finance hub.

Today's Event

What: Business workshop - Managing money and making a profit. Where: The Windmill Village Hotel, Birmingham Road, Allesley, Coventry, 9.30am to noon Details: Part of a series of free workshops offered by Business Link, providing advice on simple financial tools such as profit and loss accounts, balance sheets and accounting ratios.

Sharewatch

Who: Avon Rubber Why: Following major restructuring, the engineering group specialising in respiratory protection, defence and dairy markets is focused on two world leading businesses. View: Broker Arden Partners said: "Interims confirmed a return to profitability, with production on the large DoD contract for the M50 respirator now running well and with pounds 85million of long-term contracts in place and export potential, there is still significant scope for further improvement.

Tomorrow in the Birmingham Post

A Palestinian Police Officer Examines

Key Words

02.06.2009

BUSINESS NEWS 4-11 Early signs of manufacturing recovery Recession-battered manufacturers could be "close to turning the corner" after a key survey showed activity in May at its highest level for a year. Page 4 City could be Islamic finance hub Birmingham will today play host to a conference looking at how the West Midlands can tap into the potential offered by the emerging multi-billionpound Islamic finance market. Page 5 Job fears over collapse of GM US car giant General Motors filed for ba...

Manufacturers Show Early Signs of Recovery ; Manufacturing

Recession-battered manufacturers could be "close to turning the corner" after a key survey showed activity in May at its highest level for a year. The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply's activity index posted a reading of 45.4 in May, still below the neutral mark of 50 but an improvement on the revised 43.1 seen in April.

Research Workers to Go On Strike ; Defence

Workers at defence research firm QinetiQ have voted in favour of taking industrial action in protest at a pay freeze. Prospect said its 2,000 members voted by three-to-one to support a campaign of strikes, while most backed other forms of industrial action, such as a ban on overtime at the company, which employs 2,000 staff in Malvern, Worcestershire..

Midland Shares

Popular Shares

City Could Be a Hub for Islamic Finance Market ; Banking

Birmingham will today play host to a conference looking at how the West Midlands can tap into the potential offered by the emerging multi-billion-pound Islamic finance market. The half-day event, entitled Islamic Business: The Way Forward, brings together a range of speakers from the sector and will look at the potential for positioning Birmingham as an Islamic finance hub.

Watchdog Looks to Further Toughen Up Rules On 'Short-Selling' ; Financial

The City watchdog yesterday said it wants to extend new rules forcing disclosure of bets on falling share prices of financial firms as it looks to widen the regime to all stocks. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) plans to maintain the regulation requiring significant "short-sellers" of financial stocks to tell the market past the June 30 expiry date. It introduced the rule after short-selling came under fire during the financial turmoil of last year amid fears it was increasing the press...

Plenty of Life in Digital Debate ; City View

Anyone who works for the Birmingham Post - or any media for that matter - is likely to have bought into the digital revolution. Those who haven't soon will have. At the moment it is still an issue that can on occasion spark the liveliest of debates which are never usually about the existence of a revolution per se but more around the strength of various individual's convictions as to where the revolution will end.

Agree Consensus On Birmingham's Image

Name: Dr Colin Clinton Age: 52 Job Title: Director Client Relations for Ove Arup + Partners International Ltd Best thing about Birmingham/ West Midlands? It's multicultural society and superb location at the heart of England. It needs to expand as the hub of the country, the centre for an integrated High Speed Rail network connecting it and the West Midlands to the whole of the UK. Worst thing about Birmingham/ West Midlands? It's lack of identity and collective voice. As an Ambassador for Bi...