Interest rates: Bank of England keeps base rate at 0.5 per cent October 9, 2014 The pound has risen against the dollar today, after the Bank of England confirmed the base rate would stay at 0.5 per cent. The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street threw no surprises into the mix today, with the monetary policy committee (MPC) voting to keep the interest rate where it has been since March 2009. [...]
Small business confidence surges to four-year high October 9, 2014 Small business confidence in the UK has climbed to a four-year high, according to the annual Sage Business Index. The annual survey of almost 14,000 businesses in 18 countries showed the majority expecting significant growth over the next year. However, the good news is not confined to the UK, with businesses across the globe more [...]
Blood moon eclipse 2014: What is a blood moon? Last night’s total eclipse was part of a lunar tetrad October 9, 2014 Yesterday, the moon turned a reddish-orange colour as the Earth passed in front of it and blocked rays of sunlight from giving it its usual silver glow. While this “blood moon” phenomenon was not visible from the UK or anywhere else in Europe, it brightened up American, Asian and Australian skies for a few hours. [...]
BAE Systems share price falls after further job cuts announced October 9, 2014 BAE Systems' share price fell after it revealed further job cuts today. The defence giant is cutting up to 440 managerial positions from its Military Air & Information (MAI) business, with the brunt of jobs being lost at its Lancashire base. Its share price had fallen 0.7 per cent after the announcement. The [...]
Ecigarette ads subject to host of new rules from advertising watchdog October 9, 2014 The Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) has published new rules for governing the advertising of ecigarettes, which will come into force on 10 November. The new rule are intended to protect young people from the promotion of tobacco products and ads that show "the use of a tobacco product in a positive light". The rapid [...]
Royal Mail share price rises as company earmarks £18m for French fine October 9, 2014 Royal Mail has earmarked £18m to pay a fine to French competition authorities, over claims one of its subsidiaries breached antitrust laws. The postal group's subsidiary GLS France is currently being investigated over activities dating back to before 2010. Although the investigation by French competition authority Autorite de la Concurrence is ongoing, Royal [...]
In pictures: London Underground reveals new driverless Tube train designs for 2022 October 9, 2014 A new design for Tube trains across the London Underground network has been revealed. Passengers will be able to ride the new trains from 2022 when they arrive on the Piccadilly Line, followed by the Bakerloo, Central and Waterloo & City lines. Commuters will no doubt welcome a new “air-cooling” system on the carriages. It’s [...]
Owner of Lamborghini abandoned on Tower Bridge arrested for harassment October 9, 2014 Anyone missing a Lamborghini? Because one has been parked up on Tower Bridge for nearly 24 hours… People commuting home over Tower Bridge last night – and coming into the City again this morning – were greeted with the unusual sight of a white Lambourghini Countach parked up on the Tower side of the [...]
Big Fat Gypsy Wedding and Question Time maker Tinopolis up for sale as independent production company sell off continues October 9, 2014 Tinopolis, the independent production company behind Question Time, BT’s premier league football and TV hit Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, is considering a sale with a price tag of up to £300m, it's estimated. The Welsh production company has approached a number of media companies and private equity firms with a range of options which include [...]
Everything is not awesome: Lego to drop Shell contract after Greenpeace oil spill video goes viral October 9, 2014 Greenpeace knows the value of social media. So does Lego. And, if it didn't before, now Shell does too. The toy manufacturer has announced it will not renew its multi-million-pound contract with the oil giant, after a parody video using Lego blocks to depict an Arctic oil spill went viral, notching up nearly six [...]