BANGALORE, INDIA: The Indian economy has overtaken developed markets when it comes to capitalizing on the benefits of risk management, says a study by BT Global Services.

LABOUR COSTS CONTINUE TO WORRY SMALL BUSINESSES - Over 1,000 companies responded to the annual Small Firms Association business cost survey on the most negative factors impacting on their ability to thrive.

Alex Shively, owner of Independent Construction Co. in Cape St. Claire, said most of his business used to come from commercial and government work. But as the competition grew more cutthroat in a bleak economy, Mr. Shively decided to go after more residen

McGraw-Hill Cos., which publishes textbooks and owns credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's, said Tuesday its first-quarter profit tumbled 44 percent on a sharp decline in financial services revenue, and lowered its full-year forecast.

As the national economy free falls, fueled by rising oil prices, the softening dollar and the burst bubble housing market, locals wonder about their jobs, their roofs and their futures. But the local picture may be rosier than the national vista.