If you really want to appreciate the Tuscan countryside, hop aboard a Harley-Davidson April 6, 2018 Speak to anyone who’s been to the beautiful Italian region of Tuscany, and they’ll tell you there’s nothing quite like its serene countryside and views. “It doesn’t get better than Tuscany,” they’ll say, gazing wistfully into their pint, but to those people I have two words: Harley Davidson. There’s no better way to explore this [...]
FTSE 100 closes lower as global markets struggle with trade war fears April 6, 2018 The FTSE closed in the red today, as fears of a trade war continued to take their toll on markets around the world and US jobs data disappointed. The FTSE 100 index was down over 15 points at 7,183.64, coming off a low of 7,163.11 earlier in the day. Data on UK productivity this morning [...]
How to sell the home of a relative following a death in the family April 6, 2018 Selling a property after a death in the family can be difficult for many reasons. Whoever has been named executor of the deceased’s will is forced to sort through the home of someone who was very dear to them, whilst also dealing with the many complications that come with selling a property. To help simplify [...]
Russia moves to block encrypted messaging app Telegram April 6, 2018 Russia’s media regulator has filed a lawsuit to block the encrypted messaging app Telegram in the country. The watchdog Roskomnadzor is seeking to limit access to the app, a rival to WhatsApp, after the firm failed to give Russian FSB security service access to encrypted messages before a 4 April deadline. It follows reports that [...]
A luxury space hotel is being launched by Orion Span in 2021 – but it will cost you £6.8m for a 12-night stay April 6, 2018 US company Orion Span has announced plans to open a luxury space hotel in 2021, giving guests a feel for zero gravity and, you’d imagine, some pretty spectacular views. The Aurora Station, as it has been named, will house six people at any one time for a 12-day stay, with one or more of those [...]
Friends disunited: US imposes sanctions on Russian oligarchs including Oleg Deripaska April 6, 2018 The US has imposed sweeping sanctions against Russian oligarchs, as the Trump administration continues its assault against friends of President Vladimir Putin. Billionaires Oleg Deripaska, Viktor Vekselberg, Suleiman Kerimov and Kirill Shamalov, who the US said is married to one of Putin’s daughters, are on the hit list revealed by the US Treasury this afternoon. [...]
Sotheby’s sells 100-carat brilliant-cut diamond to secret buyer for record price April 6, 2018 The purest white diamond ever discovered has been sold by Sotheby’s for a record-breaking amount. The brilliant-cut diamond has been sold to an anonymous buyer for an undisclosed sum, but the price per carat was revealed to have far exceeded the current auction record. Given that the record is $260,252 (£185,260) per carat, this means [...]
Sergei Skripal no longer critical, say doctors April 6, 2018 Sergei Skripal, the Russian ex-spy poisoned by a nerve agent in Salisbury last month, is no longer in critical condition, doctors have said. Salisbury District Hospital said 66-year-old Skripal was responding well to treatment and “improving rapidly”. The news comes just a day after police released a statement from his 33-year-old daughter Yulia, who has [...]
US non-farm payrolls: Pound up against the dollar as the number of jobs added in the US came in below forecast at 103,000 for March (GBPUSD) April 6, 2018 The US created 103,000 jobs last month as growth slowed following a strong February that had trumped expectations. This time round, the news wasn’t quite so bright, as analysts had been looking for March non-farm payrolls to come in at around 190,000 keeping the six-month average around 186,000. David Morrison, senior market strategist at GKFX, [...]
Cryptocurrency derivatives: Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) warns firms offering crypto derivatives need its approval April 6, 2018 The City watchdog has warned that firms offering financial services linked to cryptocurrency derivatives must be approved by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and comply with all the rules in the regulator’s handbook. While the FCA does not currently regulate cryptocurrencies, it said crypto derivatives are capable of being financial instruments under Mifid II – [...]