WH Smith says it expects strong results for the year August 21, 2014 WH Smith announced this morning that it expects positive results for the year ending 31 August. In a pre-close trading update released today, the British book/newspaper/stationery retailer said its high street, railway and airport businesses had all performed well over the last year. It added that its new store opening programme remains on track, [...]
Brits account for a quarter of “suicide tourists” August 21, 2014 Brits accounted for nearly a quarter of assisted deaths in Switzerland in the last four years, with the total number of what academics have dubbed “suicide tourists” doubling in that time. According to a study published in the Journal of Medical Ethics, 126 UK citizens travelled to Switzerland to receive assistance while taking their [...]
iPhone 6 pictures leaked: Apple’s new smartphone flaunts curves and a higher resolution screen August 21, 2014 As the hype surrounding the iPhone 6 reaches fever pitch ahead of its supposed unveiling on 9 September, new images claim to show the complete design of Apple’s new device for the first time. The leaked pictures reveal a return to the design of Apple’s original iPhone model, flaunting its curves as one website might [...]
UK public sector borrowing: Deficit of £200m in July August 21, 2014 In July 2013, the UK's public sector balance was in deficit of £200m, according to data released today by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). This represented a reduction of £800m compared with July 2013, when net borrowing was £1bn. The figure is the first deficit recorded since January this year. Excluding transfers [...]
Eurozone manufacturing dips as job creation “stagnates” August 21, 2014 Weak recovery in Europe's manufacturing industry continued in August, data published this morning showed. The Flash Eurozone Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which measures the strength of the region's manufacturing and services sectors, revealed growth slowed between July and August. The headline Composite Output Index fell to 52.8 (any figure above 50 shows growth) from 53.8 [...]
Retail sales are up, according to the ONS (but not everyone agrees) August 21, 2014 Retail sales rose 2.6 per cent year on year in July, according to the Office for National Statistics – in contrast to the British Retail Consortium figures that claimed retail sales had fallen 0.3 per cent in the same month. The ONS – whose figures are consistently at odds with those provided by the [...]
Quindell share price falls, even as it silences Gotham City critics with revenue increase August 21, 2014 Insurance outsourcer Quindell has reported an 119 per cent increase in half-year revenue for the six months ended 30 June, news that will boost its defamation charge against analyst Gotham City Research. Quindell's share price bombed in April when mysterious US analyst Gotham City published a harsh report describing the company as "a country club built [...]
George Osborne accused of obstructing MPs over Co-op and Lloyds Bank deal August 20, 2014 George Osborne was accused of unreasonably withholding information on ministers’ meetings with Lloyds and Co-op bankers in a series of confrontational letters published yesterday. He was accused of obstructing MPs trying to work out whether the government pressured bank executives into their ill-fated deal. The chancellor claims ongoing probes prevent him from telling the Treasury [...]
Labour’s plans to punish misbehaving energy suppliers dismissed by big six August 20, 2014 The biggest energy suppliers in the UK yesterday brushed off Labour’s latest plan to curb bad behaviour in the gas and electricity market. Ed Miliband’s party is set to announce plans today to give regulator Ofgem greater powers to revoke energy licences, meaning suppliers would be unable to provide services in the UK if they [...]
Fashion wars… a Lidl bit of what you fancy August 20, 2014 The invasion of supermarkets into the fashion sector is hotting up after hard discounter Lidl announced yesterday it was entering the fray. The German retailer is to launch a new fashion range for women next Monday, including ankle boots for £9.99 and even a faux leather jacket for £15. Lidl already sells basic clothing such [...]