Wine can be healthy – but only if you exercise September 1, 2014 We've all heard drinking a glass of wine a day can improve health by warding off heart attacks, but is this just wishful thinking? If you do no exercise, the answer is probably yes. Researchers from the European Society of Cardiology have shown wine does have the potential to protect against cardiovascular disease, but [...]
“Dear colleagues”: Dave Lewis’ letter to Tesco staff on his first day as chief executive September 1, 2014 On his first day at Tesco, new chief executive Dave Lewis has written a letter to staff outlining his initial plans for the supermarket. Lewis introduced himself to Tesco’s more than half-a-million staff, telling them he would be doing “a lot of listening,” to staff, customers, shareholders and investment analysts, and the most important thing [...]
Robots are after your job in the City September 1, 2014 And you thought you were irreplaceable? If you're a banker or analyst in the City, watch your back. You’re about to be replaced – by a robot. Not the walking, talking, C-3PO Star Wars kind, but by artificial intelligence, or computer programs which think for themselves – more HAL in 2001 a Space Odyssey. Within [...]
Nato members account for over half the fastest falling defence budgets – as Russia’s spending soars September 1, 2014 Nato members comprised over half of the world's 20 fastest shrinking defence budgets between 2012 and 2014, according to research from IHS. Out of the 20 nations exercising the most spending restraint when it came to defence, 13 were Nato members, with the Alliances' spending dropping by $93bn (£56bn) over the past two years. In [...]
Tesco share price continues slump after Harris Associates cuts stake from 3pc to 1pc September 1, 2014 Tesco's share price continued to slump, down almost two per cent on Friday’s losses this morning, after one of Tesco’s largest stakeholders revealed it had cut its investment in the supermarket by two thirds. Investors failed to be reassured on Dave Lewis’ first day on as chief executive after it was revealed the US firm [...]
John McCain calls for US to arm Ukraine against “Russian invasion” September 1, 2014 Senior US senators are calling for America to provide arms and equipment to the Ukrainian government to aid in its fight against "a Russian invasion". Republican senator and former presidential candidate John McCain told CBS' Face the Nation on Sunday: "Give them the weapons they need, give them the wherewithal they need, give them the ability [...]
“Boris Island” or Heathrow expansion: Did the CBI just back Heathrow? September 1, 2014 The CBI looks like it has put its weight behind an extension to Heathrow airport in a blow to the London mayor's Thames Estuary airport plans, otherwise known as “Boris Island". It comes just days ahead of a decision due from the Airports Commission as to whether the concept of a new airport on the [...]
UK manufacturing PMI: Russia tensions push growth to its lowest in 14 months September 1, 2014 It turns out even the UK manufacturing sector, which over recent months has staged a glorious recovery, is vulnerable to the whims of Vladimir Putin. The Purchasing Manager's Index, published this morning, fell to 52.5 in August, its lowest reading since June 2013 and well below economists' expectations of 55. The index, published by Markit [...]
100 Tory MPs could defy PM with a pledge to leave the EU September 1, 2014 As many as 100 Conservative MPs are preparing to defy David Cameron with a promise to vote to leave the European Union at next year's general election regardless of what the Prime Minister can renegotiate in Brussels, it has been reported. Tory eurosceptics will promise in their personal manifestos that they will vote to quit [...]
Barclays to make a £500m loss on its Spanish arm as it agrees sale to CaixaBank September 1, 2014 Barclays has agreed to sell its Spanish business to CaixaBank, Spain's third-largest lender, for €800m (£630m). The bank will make a £500m loss on the deal to sell its Spanish retail banking, wealth and investment management, and corporate banking businesses, but leverage exposure will be trimmed to the tune of £15bn. Shares in Barclays were [...]