Disney’s decision to buy 21st Century Fox is good news for viewers, honest December 15, 2017 Yesterday’s decision by Disney to buy 21st Century Fox for $52bn coincided with a data release from the UK’s Office for National Statistics showing the strength of the UK’s film industry. The figures suggested the sector added £7.7bn to the economy last year, up from £5.6bn in 2015 and just £1.8bn in 2008. The release [...]
Editor’s Notes: When politicians slip up we miss the point they’re trying to make, Bell Pottinger missed out on bitcoin and David Davis gets fired December 15, 2017 Philip Hammond isn’t known for deploying political nuance. To his critics, he has a tin ear for politics. Blurting out on TV that “there are no unemployed people”, for example, wasn’t the move of a smooth, PR-trained politico. We all knew what he was trying to get at (that the rise of personal computers hadn’t [...]
LSE’s chairman bruiser Donald Brydon bruised but unbowed, another corporate Saga and N+1 Singer’s silence December 15, 2017 There are few more obvious boardroom caricatures than that of the trigger-happy chairman, so it hasn’t been difficult to cast Donald Brydon in the role of executive assassin. Next week, the effort to oust him from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) will reach its damp squib of a denouement. To Sir Christopher Hohn, boss [...]
Andrew Bailey: Bitcoin investors should be prepared to lose all their money December 14, 2017 The chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has tonight issued a stark warning about the cryptocurrency bitcoin. Speaking on the BBC’s Newsnight, Andrew Bailey said: “If you want to invest in bitcoin, be prepared to lose all your money.” He noted that the FCA did not regulate bitcoin, just the financial instruments it [...]
Steinhoff’s shares sink again as chairman quits and retail giant says it must restate 2016 accounts December 14, 2017 South African retail giant Steinhoff saw its chairman quit this evening, after the group said earlier in the day it will need to reissue its financial figures for 2016. The retail giant said that tycoon and major shareholder Christo Wiese had offered to resign, to reinforce the independent governance of the company, and that the [...]
Roy Hodgson: TV rescheduling over Christmas will take its toll on Crystal Palace squad December 14, 2017 Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has bemoaned “harsh” fixture re-scheduling for TV that requires his side to play three Premier League games in six days over the Christmas period. The Eagles host Arsenal on Thursday 28 November, two days after most clubs play on Boxing Day, in an 8pm kick-off on Sky Sports. Hodgson’s men [...]
Rupert Murdoch denies a “retreat” as Disney confirms buyout of 21st Century Fox assets for $52bn December 14, 2017 Rupert Murdoch denied today that his family was “retreating” as his media empire was broken up by a $52bn (£39bn) sale of 21st Century Fox assets to Disney. “I know a lot of you are wondering, why have the Murdochs come to such a momentous decision?” the recently married 86-year-old said on a call with [...]
London mayor Sadiq Khan taken to task for more than doubling Night Czar Amy Lamé’s pay December 14, 2017 Sadiq Khan was taken to task today for doubling the pay of his Night Czar Amy Lamé, even though she is yet to meet with all of the London boroughs. The mayor was quizzed this afternoon by London Assembly member Susan Hall, who said Lamé had only met with 18 of the 32 London boroughs [...]
Middle-income earners hit by SNP’s new intermediate tax rate December 14, 2017 The Scottish government is planning to introduce a new “intermediate” income tax rate, and pushing up existing higher and top rates, it announced during its Budget today. A new rate of 21 per cent is being introduced on annual incomes of between £24,001 and £44,273, while the higher rate, on incomes of up to £150,000, [...]
Twitter response to Russia Brexit meddling questions slammed as “inadequate” by MP Damian Collins December 14, 2017 A leading MP has slammed the boss of Twitter Jack Dorsey over the disclosure that only six adverts on the platform during Brexit were linked to Russia. Damian Collins, chair of the digital, culture, media and sport select committee, branded the information “completely inadequate”. MPs investigating fake news demanded information from Twitter and Facebook last [...]