The best quotes from Paddy Power’s results: John Cleese, David Moyes and squirrels August 28, 2014 Paddy Power’s payouts to customers were “costlier than John Cleese's divorce payments”, it revealed in its half year results- but that’s not all. The stunt-loving bookie has a way with words that makes for a more interesting read than the usual corporate earnings. Here are the best bits: That John Cleese reference Football punters, and [...]
Paddy Power boasts record customers but profits fall on “punter friendly” sports results costing “more than John Cleese’s divorce payments” August 28, 2014 Online betting firm Paddy Power boasted a record number of new online customers in the first half of the year – but “punter friendly” results proved “more costly than John Cleese’s divorce payments”, sending pre-tax profits down. Profits before tax dropped 20 per cent to €62m (£49m), or 13 per cent on a constant currency [...]
Michel Platini won’t run against Sepp Blatter in Fifa presidency election August 28, 2014 Michel Platini will not run against Sepp Blatter for the presidency of Fifa, it has emerged today. The current Uefa president and former France footballer had been considering a bid for the leadership of football's governing body, which he described in June as being in need of a "new breath of fresh air". [...]
Scottish broadcaster STV doubles dividend as it reduces debt August 28, 2014 Scottish broadcaster and production company STV is doubling its interim dividend to 2p a share after first half operating profit swelled by 20 per cent to nearly £10m. Revenues at the business, which airs The X Factor and soaps Emmerdale and Coronation Street north of the border as well as producing series including Catchphrase, climbed [...]
European confidence falls as German unemployment rises August 28, 2014 Confidence in the Eurozone has fallen to an eight-month low, according to figures published by the European Commission this morning. According to the survey, economic sentiment in Europe fell in August to 100.6 on its index, down from 102.1 in July, while consumer sentiment fell to -10.0, from -8.4. The fall "resulted from deterioration in [...]
Brian Cox dives into Canary Wharf’s pool of talent August 28, 2014 Professor Brian Cox was in Canary Wharf last night talking about inflation. Not the kind that Mark Carney worries himself with though, Professor Cox was wowing a room of City types and entrepreneurs about the inflationary universe. Minds were boggled. The audience was gathered in ClubLounge39 in the FinTech hub of the same name. Prof [...]
AA boss Chris Jansen resigns along with finance chief Andy Boland August 28, 2014 AA’s chief executive Chris Jansen has resigned from the roadside recovery firm with immediate effect just months after it was taken public. The company’s chief financial officer Andy Boland will also be leaving, though no details of the timing of his departure were given. Executive chairman Bob Mackenzie will now lead the company. Jansen said [...]
Qantas reports biggest loss ever but share rises August 28, 2014 Qantas announced a post-tax loss of AU$2.8bn (£1.57bn) for the year ending June – its biggest ever loss. The Australian airline said the result was in part because of the A$2.6bn write-down on its international fleet, but also cited domestic demand, poor consumer spending and rising fuel costs as contributing factors. Last year [...]
Ebola risk: Outbreak set to get worse, official warns August 28, 2014 The Ebola outbreak currently gripping West Africa will get worse before it gets better, a public health official in the US has said. Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control, said that in order to bring the epidemic under control, an “unprecedented” response would be needed. According to the BBC, he [...]
Cameron warns of significant losses for independent Scotland at CBI conference August 28, 2014 Today, Prime Minister David Cameron is will implore Scottish voters not to abandon one of the "oldest and most successful single markets in the world" during a speech to the CBI Scotland conference in Glasgow. He will warn that separation could lead to a 90 per cent loss of business for Scotland's financial services [...]