BizKnowledge Watch

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Eldorado Gold is ranked number 1 on the 2010 Fortune Fastest-growing companies 100.  Eldorado Gold  was followed by Green Mountain Coffee Roasters  and Ebix in second and third place, respectively.

To qualify for 100 Fastest-Growing Companies, foreign or domestic organizations had to meet the following criteria: be trading on a major U.S. stock exchange; file quarterly reports with the SEC; have a minimum market capitalization of $250 million and a stock price of at least $5 on June 30, 2010.

The full list is available here.

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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has published a special chapter in Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2010, titled “The Rise of Asia’s Middle Class”. The study examines the rapid growth of Asia’s middle class, how the poor advance to the middle class, factors that characterize the middle class, and pathways through which they become effective contributors to growth and poverty reduction in the region.

The report found that Asia’s consumers spent about one-third of the total OECD consumption expenditure in 2008 and by 2030 will spend $32 trillion, comprising about 43 percent of worldwide consumption.

Lastly, it is worth noting that a significant number of Asia’s new middle class individuals still get by on incomes just above poverty levels, leaving them vulnerable to a relapse into poverty.

Read the full text on the web.

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In most European countries brokers still represent a major part of insurance distribution. Even as the focus in recent years has shifted to multi-channel distribution strategies, the broker channel continues to offer insurers an opportunity to fuel their own growth. This report by AT Kearney analyzes how insurers and brokers can win together in a multi-channel world.

The report is available from the AT Kearney website.

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To mark the beginning of a new academic year the Library has decided to launch a fresh new look for its blog. We will also be introducing a host of new features, including links to social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Delicious. We hope you enjoy the new and improved service and, as you know, your comments are always welcome.