Here’s why MtGox’s statement means nothing at this stage February 25, 2014 Too little, too late from MtGox. That's the verdict from enthusiastic Bitcoin adoptees on the hyper-active Bitcoin subreddit. The leading Bitcoin exchange is alleged to have lost over $300m worth of Bitcoin, or around six per cent of all Bitcoin currently in circulation. Shortly after those reports emerged, the company disappeared entirely. The statement now [...]
Strong demand for European property gets Kennedy Wilson off to a flying start February 25, 2014 There was much excitement this afternoon about the first day's trading in London in the shares of Kennedy Wilson Europe, part of a Beverley Hills, California-based property group that has raised £1.1bn to invest in European properties. Earlier this month the group said it planned to raise between £500-750m from investors but decided to go [...]
Europe votes for world’s toughest carbon targets February 25, 2014 The European Parliament has voted for the world's strictest carbon dioxide standards for new cars, presenting fresh challenges to the auto industry. New cars sold across the EU will now be limited to 95g of carbon dioxide per kilometre. The new standard represents a significant cut from the present limit of 130g per kilometre. The [...]
London’s Gotham City tower is approved February 25, 2014 Plans for a £400m office scheme nicknamed 'Gotham City' have been granted planning permission by the City of London, developer Henderson Global Investors confirmed today. The Make-designed scheme at 40 Leadenhall Street, which was inspired by the same US neo-gothic architect that influenced Tim Burton’s Batman movies, will be one of the UK’s biggest office [...]
What you need to know before the US open February 25, 2014 Housing and retail are in focus today, with figures just in. House prices are still rising, but the pace has moderated a bit. The house price index for December increased 0.8 per cent – a revised figure showed they fell 0.1 per cent in November. The S&P/Case-Shiller indices rose 13.4 per cent in the month. [...]
US regulators consider triple parent embryos to prevent disease February 25, 2014 The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to consider whether to allow a new fertilisation technique that would combine the DNA of three people, with the aim of preventing genetic disease being passed down to children. Regulators are meeting for a "scientific, technologic and clinical" set of discussions surrounding the new treatment. The [...]
EC ups Eurozone growth outlook but slashes inflation forecast February 25, 2014 The European Commission just published its winter economic forecasts, with stronger economic growth and lower inflation projected for most of the Eurozone and EU generally. Growth is stronger in every large European economy except Italy, and still projected to rise in Greece, which would end a recession that has run since 2008. Olli Rehn, the [...]
Google’s fight to scupper driver headset restrictions February 25, 2014 In what’s most likely one of the first fistycuffs of many, Google is lobbying officials in at least three US states, in a bid to prevent proposed legislation on driving with wearables worn on the head – like Google Glass – reports Reuters. Eight states are considering imposing regulation on Google Glass glasses because of [...]
MPs just realised their SME lending probe is pointless February 25, 2014 Tight-fisted banks have crippled small firms and held back the recovery by choking off the oxygen of credit to Britain’s entrepreneurs – or so the story goes. But MPs this morning were surprised to find the rampant recovery may have come to the rescue. The Treasury Select Committee launched a probe into the state of [...]
The UK’s oil and gas paradox February 25, 2014 As the UK’s oil and gas resources continue to be at the centre of the political debate on Scottish independence, a new report by Oil & Gas UK warns that the industry is facing its biggest challenge in 50 years, due to a steep decline in exploration wells. In its Activity Survey 2014, the industry [...]