US retail profits to reveal state of the economy – The week ahead on Wall St November 16, 2014 ANALYSTS will get another glimpse at the US economy’s vital signs next week, as they sift through housing reports and a steady stream of key retail earnings announcements. The US Federal Reserve is scheduled to release its latest minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) meeting on 28-29 October. Investors will be eyeing the [...]
“Facebook at Work”: The social media site could be about to take over your office November 16, 2014 Facebook is reportedly developing a version of its website designed for use in the workplace. “Facebook at Work” will be a purely professional version of the social network stripped of the embarrassing photos and cute cat videos on your personal page. According to reports in the Financial Times (who quote an anonymous source [...]
RBS could pay fine worth tens of millions of pounds next week for 2012 IT failures November 16, 2014 Royal Bank of Scotland will this week be asked to fork out an eight-figure fine for its 2012 IT failures, according to reports. It has been expected that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) would issue RBS with a fine worth tens of millions of pounds over the bank’s technical failures in June 2012. [...]
Band Aid 30 Vs the original Band Aid: With One Direction, Ed Sheeran and Chris Martin on board, which “Do they know it’s Christmas?” single has the most star power? November 16, 2014 Bob Geldof and Midge Ure are putting the Band (Aid) back together. 30 years after they first gathered music superstars together to raise money for famine-hit Africa, they are recreating that success to help fund the fight against Ebola. The lineup singing "Do they know its Christmas?" has evolved of course. One Direction, Ed Sheeran, [...]
McDonald’s made bubblegum flavoured broccoli to get kids to eat healthier November 16, 2014 How to get children hooked on healthy food? McDonald’s attempted to solve that conundrum by making it taste like unhealthy food. The company's chief executive, Don Thompson, has been quoted as admitting that the restaurant tried to get kids to eat healthier by designing broccoli that tasted like bubblegum. According to reports [...]
John Major on immigration: “We’re not going to close our doors” says former Prime Minister, but a short term plan is needed November 16, 2014 Sir John Major has said that Britain would not close its doors to immigrants, but a short term influx of migrants from EU countries in recession needed to be addressed. “We’ve always been an outward looking nation. We’re not going to close our doors, and nor should we economically or politically, but there is in [...]
TTIP: David Cameron says EU-US free trade deal set for “rocket boost” after G20 summit and calls opposition arguments weak November 16, 2014 Prime Minister David Cameron has hailed successful talks between countries of the EU and the US to speed up trade deal negotiations at the G20 summit. Countries have promised to put “rocket boosters” under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) which Cameron said would add £10bn to the UK economy and create jobs. “This [...]
G20 summit: Cameron, Obama and world leaders pledge $2 trillion boost and 2.1pc GDP growth by 2018 November 16, 2014 Countries of the G20 have pledged to grow their economies by 2.1 per cent by 2018, adding $2 trillion (£1.25 trillion) to the global economy. The G20 summit in Brisbane was brought to a close by leaders committing to more than 800 reforms aimed at growing their collective GDP, including employment measures, Infrastructure investment, increasing [...]
Sports Direct kicks back at Ed Miliband for zero-hours contract criticism November 15, 2014 Sports Direct has dismissed negative comments made by Labour leader Ed Miliband about its employment contracts. Miliband said the use of zero-hours contracts – where the retailer does not have to guarantee regular work to its employees – meant it was a “terrible place to work”, and added that he intends to “ban the [...]
“More sanctions? I’m off”: Putin leaves G20 early after being blasted over Ukraine November 15, 2014 Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to wave goodbye to his fellow G20 summit attendees a day early, after they criticised Russia's involvement in Ukraine and threatened to impose more sanctions on Moscow. Western leaders from both Europe and North America berated Russia for its part in the recent escalation of military activity in [...]