/Users/andrea/_magisterarbeit/korpus/clean/testkorpus/24/file_148c.html NN ----------------------------------------- : FINANCE NN FOR IN SMALL NP FIRMS NNS . SENT A DT SIXTH JJ REPORT NN The DT Bank NP of IN England NP last JJ week NN published VVD its PP$ sixth JJ annual JJ report NN on IN Finance NP for IN Small NP Firms NPS . SENT The DT report NN identifies VVZ some DT key JJ themes NNS that WDT have VHP emerged VVN in IN the DT provision NN of IN finance NN to TO small JJ firms NNS since IN the DT last JJ recession NN . SENT While IN this DT report NN , , like IN previous JJ reports NNS in IN this DT series NN , , considers VVZ a DT range NN of IN issues NNS faced VVN by IN the DT small JJ firms NNS sector NN addressing VVG aspects NNS of IN finance NN , , public JJ policy NN and CC business NN support NN it PP is VBZ focused VVN primarily RB on IN financing NN issues NNS . SENT The DT current JJ slowdown NN in IN economic JJ growth NN , , and CC expectations NNS of IN below IN trend NN growth NN throughout IN 1999 CD , , have VHP had VHN a DT significant JJ impact NN on IN business NN confidence NN in IN the DT small JJ firms NNS sector NN . SENT While IN the DT sector NN as IN a DT whole NN appears VVZ more RBR resilient JJ than IN in IN previous JJ economic JJ cycles NNS , , it PP is VBZ important JJ to TO note VV that IN many JJ businesses NNS are VBP concentrated VVN in IN more JJR vulnerable JJ sectors NNS such JJ as IN construction NN , , business NN services NNS and CC wholesale JJ retail NN . SENT The DT external JJ environment NN is VBZ challenging VVG for IN small JJ firms NNS not RB only RB because IN of IN the DT cyclical JJ downturn NN but CC also RB as IN a DT result NN of IN changes NNS caused VVN by IN the DT introduction NN of IN the DT euro NP and CC the DT preparations NNS required VVN ahead RB of IN the DT Year NP 2000 CD . SENT The DT key JJ themes NNS identified VVN in IN this DT report NN are VBP . SENT many JJ small JJ businesses NNS are VBP now RB more RBR appropriately RB financed VVN than IN they PP were VBD in IN the DT early JJ 1990 CD s PP . SENT Overall RB , , the DT level NN of IN small JJ firms NNS indebtedness NN has VHZ fallen VVN , , while IN the DT range NN of IN types NNS of IN finance NN used JJ has VHZ increased VVN . SENT relationships NNS between IN many JJ small JJ businesses NNS and CC their PP$ finance NN providers NNS , , particularly RB the DT banks NNS , , have VHP improved VVN significantly RB since IN the DT early JJ 1990 CD s PP and CC continued VVD to TO do VV so RB in IN 1998 CD . SENT There EX is VBZ now RB a DT more RBR open JJ , , two CD way NN exchange NN of IN information NN between IN the DT banks NNS and CC their PP$ small JJ business NN customers NNS . SENT the DT quality NN of IN the DT small JJ business NN stock NN is VBZ generally RB higher RBR now RB than IN in IN the DT late JJ 1980 CD s PP , , when WRB a DT combination NN of IN factors NNS resulted VVN in IN some DT non JJ viable JJ small JJ businesses NNS being VBG established VVN . SENT Since IN the DT last JJ recession NN entrepreneurs NNS have VHP been VBN better RBR prepared JJ when WRB establishing VVG new JJ businesses NNS . SENT Given VVN these DT developments NNS , , small JJ businesses NNS should MD be VB somewhat RB less RBR vulnerable JJ to TO a DT downturn NN in IN the DT economy NN than IN in IN the DT last JJ business NN cycle NN . SENT This DT reduces VVZ the DT level NN of IN risk NN faced VVN by IN finance NN providers NNS , , particularly RB the DT banks NNS , , in IN their PP$ exposure NN to TO this DT sector NN . SENT Banks NNS are VBP , , however RB , , alert JJ to TO the DT possible JJ deterioration NN in IN the DT current JJ climate NN . SENT Copies NNS of IN the DT Finance NP for IN Small JJ Firms NNS are VBP available JJ from IN the DT Public NP Enquiries NNS Group NP , , Bank NP of IN England NP , , EC NP 2 CD R NP 8 CD AH UH Tel NP . SENT 0171 CD 601 CD 4012 CD . SENT Fax NN no RB . SENT 0171 CD 601 CD 5460 CD . SENT