Why did Tesco’s share price barely register the SFO criminal investigation? October 30, 2014 Not only did Tesco's share price hardly move when it was confirmed that the Serious Fraud Office had launched a formal criminal investigation into the supermarket, it actually ended the day higher. It closed 1.4 per cent up at 173.3p per share yesterday, with the SFO announcement registering as a minor blip in what, [...]
US GDP defies expectations with 3.5 per cent rise October 30, 2014 US GDP grew 3.5 per cent in the third quarter, figures out today showed, smashing analyst expectations of three per cent. Although the figure is a slowdown from the previous quarter's 4.6 per cent growth, it was enough for the dollar to spike to 0.7967 against the euro as it was announced, before dropping back [...]
In pictures: Here’s what the UK’s most expensive garage will look like once it’s redeveloped October 30, 2014 A garage off the King's Road in Chelsea has sold for a staggering £550,000, it has been reported, having been on sale for a mere two weeks. The garage, which even by outbuilding standards is pretty ramshackle, is 11ft by 7ft – that's enough space for one car. Source: Google Maps The plan had originally [...]
Tim Cook: “I’m proud to be gay” says Apple boss October 30, 2014 Apple boss Tim Cook has said he is proud to be gay, publicly acknowledging his sexuality for the first time. “While I have never denied my sexuality, I haven’t publicly acknowledged it either, until now. So let me be clear: I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God [...]
Pumpkin shortage threatens to ruin Halloween October 30, 2014 If you've left it until today to pick up a pumpkin to carve for Halloween, you might be out of luck. Owing to what farmers have described as the worst harvest in years, some shops have started reporting that they have sold out of the seasonal squash. Apparently it is this year's wet [...]
Samsung profits fall 60 per cent as it moves its smartphones downmarket October 30, 2014 Samsung, the world's largest electronics manufacturer by sales, posted disappointing third-quarter figures showing profits fell 60.1 per cent to 4.1tn won (£2.4bn) in the three months to the end of September. The company, whose share of the smartphone market declined for the third straight quarter, announced plans to focus on the lower end of the [...]
Viking babies in the UK: Why a lack of British sperm means we have to import it from Denmark October 30, 2014 A project to increase sperm donations within the UK has just been launched by the government, in an attempt to move away from importing sperm from other countries. The Department of Health is initially giving £77,000 to the UK national sperm bank at Birmingham Women's Hospital, before extending the project to all other parts [...]
Shell share price up as Chad Holliday replaces Jorma Ollila as chairman and third quarter profit beats expectations October 30, 2014 Shell has named former Bank of America chairman Chad Holliday as its new chairman, replacing Jorma Ollila who is set to exit in 2015 after a nine-year stint at the top. Shares in the oil giant spiked nearly one per cent in early trading. Despite lower oil prices, the company reported third quarter profits jumped [...]
Cheesegrater office letting smashes City record October 30, 2014 A letting at newly-completed skyscraper the Leadenhall Building – known to its friends as the Cheesegrater – has set a new price record for the City of London. Industry magazine Property Week reported today that US-based insurance firm FM Global is understood to have agreed a deal to take the 7,700 sq ft 41st floor [...]
UK house prices rise 0.5 per cent in October, but longer-term trend is slowing October 30, 2014 Are house prices rocketing or is their growth slowing? It's getting confusing – according to Nationwide, the unpredictable UK housing market rose in October, with prices up 0.5 per cent month on month, after they fell 0.1 per cent in September. But the annual figure, a more reliable measure, slowed to nine per cent. As [...]