“Uncertainty” is nothing new to the mining industry. However, with the financial crisis that hit in 2008, the word took on a new meaning for miners who were adversely affected by declining commodity prices and tight credit. Industry executives are well aware of market challenges as a result of the meltdown, but mere awareness is not enough to address the problem squarely.

At the turn of the 21st century, the prevailing sentiment was one of anxious optimism. Humanity was at the threshold of a world that had been made more interconnected and more complex by advances in knowledge and technology. People were anxious about what was yet to come but were also hopeful that these were going to be for the good of humanity.

In a world that has become increasingly dependent on technology, one might wonder how technology companies can meet with confidence today’s financial challenges like forecasted declines in IT spending and increases in pricing pressure.

The chief financial officer (CFO) is one of the most vital members of the C-suite.
He or she is expected to be vigilant in monitoring a company’s financial posi-tion, and is responsible for maintaining and enhancing that position. Everyone knows that after all has been said and done, it is the bottom line that really — sometimes, only — counts.

The only constant thing in the world is change. As time passes, things wither, deteriorate, or become obsolete. They lose their value and become impaired.

Taxation of employee stock options is an area that still lacks clarity
Incentive schemes and share-based payments are becoming prevalent in the corporate world, as publicly listed companies move to broaden their ownership base, encouraging their employees to directly participate in company affairs.

For most companies, the approaching holiday season signals the fiscal year-end — a time to prepare financial reports. Many companies likely anticipate lamentable financial statistics, what with the gloomy global economic conditions that marked the start of 2009, exacerbated locally by a string of natural disasters.