Morning Edition: The fates of floats and IBM's post code

NEWS The fund was set up to finance internet start-ups and new media ventures but the Financial Times reports that the hard times for such stocks in the current business climate have encouraged Reuters to postpone the IPO, originally planned for June and subsequently postponed until the third quarter of this year. No revised date for flotation has been announced, though the Financial Times suggest the likelihood of any eventual listing is now in doubt... One flotation still on course is that of internet data centre operator IXEurope. The Independent reports that the company is undeterred by the current problems affecting the high-tech markets and plans to float next month... Other investors still willing to show faith in the tech stock sector seem unlikely to be fully rewarded for their courage with the floating of nCipher. The Telegraph reports that private investors looking to buy into the security specialist are likely to be hit by a high premium on the shares caused by demand in the market that will see them paying far more than institutional investors when trading begins for the public next week... Finally, The Guardian brings us news that IBM is encouraging its 45,000-plus suppliers around the world to perform all business transactions over the web or risk losing contracts. The move to abandon traditional mail and the processing and filing of forms and invoices brings IBM a step closer to a completely paperless operation. And how did IBM choose to inform all these suppliers of the new system? A letter outlining the plan was mailed out to them. Now there's irony for you...