Four charts showing how Lego became the biggest toymaker in the world September 4, 2014 Lego has snatched the "world's biggest toymaker" crown from atop Mattel's blonde, Barbie-shaped head, after The Lego Movie helped propel revenues to DK 11.5bn (£1.2bn). Operating profit rose 12 per cent to DK 3.6bn in the six months to the end of June, while China became its most significant market, with sales up more than [...]
Scottish independence is “not about SNP” – so who are the other political players in Scotland? September 4, 2014 Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has said that the independence referendum is not about the SNP, but about giving Scottish people the right to have the government of their choice. At an event in Glasgow marking his 10th year as leader of the pro-independence party, he told the BBC: "This isn't about the SNP, [...]
BP share price plummets as judge raises Deepwater Horizon fine to $18bn September 4, 2014 BP's share price dived more than five per cent in late afternoon trading, after a US district court ruling made it liable for a fine of up to $18bn (£11bn) in relation to the Gulf of Mexico disaster in 2010. The court found BP acted with "gross negligence" and "wilful misconduct" when the Deepwater Horizon [...]
ECB rates, growth and stimulus: Four charts that tell you what you need to know September 4, 2014 Today has been a busy day for central bank watchers. The Bank of England's monetary policy committee voted to keep rates at a record low of 0.5 per cent – but the European Central Bank (ECB) was where today's action really was. The ECB, against expectations, cut interest rates to 0.05 per cent and later [...]
Couch potato, otter or manic multiscreener – how do you watch TV? September 4, 2014 Couch potato, otter or manic-multiscreener – what do you turn into when you turn on the TV? Whichever you are, you are probably not using Twitter at the same time. Traditional TV watchers – couch potatoes – are still the biggest group of viewers, although there are signs of decline as other norms emerge, [...]
Prop-up-aganda? Chinese state media is encouraging 1.3bn people to buy more equities September 4, 2014 Policy makers in Europe and the UK are attempting to encourage equity markets through a range of fiscal measures – over in China, the government is also attempting to boost stocks, but in a slightly more pro-active manner. State-run newspapers Xinhua News Agency and the People's Daily and broadcaster CCTV appear to have started [...]
“DIY” policing – how do the London forces fare? September 4, 2014 You would probably expect London-based police forces to be the main culprits when it comes to the "emerging trend" of asking victims of crime to carry out their own investigations – but you'd be wrong. Sort of. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary admitted this morning that high-volume crimes are "on the verge of being [...]
iBrute force: Is this how Apple iPhone hackers leaked nude photos of Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Upton? September 4, 2014 Yesterday a thread appeared on notoriously NSFW forum site 4chan, promising to post nude photos of actresses Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Upton and Ariana Grande in return for Bitcoin donations. Publicists for Lawrence and Upton confirmed the pictures were real (although Grande’s insisted they were “completely fake”). But how did the hacker get access to their [...]
Euro slides to one-year low as ECB cuts rates to 0.05pc, but confirms stimulus programme September 4, 2014 The euro slid to 1.302 against the dollar, its lowest level since July 2013, after the European Central Bank cut interest rates from 0.15 per cent to 0.05 per cent and confirmed plans to start a programme of buying asset-backed securities. ECB president Mario Draghi hinted during a speech at Jackson Hole last month that the [...]
Cameron: “I won’t resign if Scotland votes Yes” September 4, 2014 David Cameron thinks the fate of Scotland is bigger than he is, after he denied a Yes vote in the Scottish independence referendum on 18 September could lead to his resignation. Opinion polls have narrowed recently, with a recent survey showing 47 per cent of decided voters were leaning towards a Yes vote, up sharply from [...]