Playtech profits grow ahead of Plus500 acquisition August 27, 2015 Playtech reports strong growth in profits ahead of its acquisition of Plus500 The figures Playtech reported revenue of €286m (£210m) for the first half of 2015, a 33 per cent increase on the same period last year. Adjusted net profit was up 19 per cent at €119m, compared to €96.8m in the first half of [...]
YouTube gives Twitch a run for its money with a new live gaming service August 26, 2015 After months of development, YouTube Gaming has officially been launched. Read more: Twitch – what is it and why has Amazon just spent nearly $1bn on it? The live-streaming video gaming service, which comes as an app and a website, will take on rivals such as Daily Motion and Amazon-owned Twitch. Google, which [...]
Paddy Power share price rises as revenue jumps despite increases in tax and regulation August 26, 2015 Paddy Power reported revenue of €80m (£58.4m) in the first half – as it said it expects to exceed analysts' expectations for year-on-year profit growth. The company's shares rose 18 per cent to €91.86 as it unveiled plans for a merger with rival Betfair. The figures Operating profits at the company rose €80m in the six months [...]
Abercrombie share price surges as second quarter beats expectations August 26, 2015 Shares in struggling US fashion chain Abercrombie & Fitch surged more than 13 per cent in pre-market trading in New York, after the company reported better than expected earnings. Sales at the company, which also owns the teen-friendly Hollister brand, dipped eight per cent in the second quarter to $817.8m, but came in ahead of [...]
Paddy Power results: The five best quotes – Donald Trump, Ashley Madison, Greek debt crisis August 26, 2015 It's that time of year in the corporate earnings calendar when Paddy Power tells the City what's been going on, and business has been a little like Donald Trump's hair and Jeremy Clarkson's steak throwing skills in the first half of the year. Read more: Paddy Power earnings jump as it unveils Betfair merger There was [...]
Uber partners with University of Arizona to beef up its research into self-driving cars August 26, 2015 Uber’s getting serious about driverless cars, after the ride-hailing app teamed up with the University of Arizona to research new technology for autonomous cars. The strategic partnership between the two will focus on the optics systems needed to make driverless cars safe for roads, according to a statement from Uber: We’ll work with some of [...]
Paddy Power and Betfair share prices jump as they take a punt on merging to create the world’s biggest online gambling company August 26, 2015 Say hello to the world’s largest online gambling company – after Paddy Power and Betfair announced a potential merger. The two bookmakers have agreed a deal in principle that will create one of the world’s largest online gambling companies by revenue. Under the terms of the deal, Paddy Power will own 52 per cent of [...]
Advertising giant WPP beats expectations as Sir Martin Sorrell says he is still bullish on China August 26, 2015 WPP's share price fell more than one per cent this morning, despite beating expectations on both profit and like-for-likes. The figures The advertising giant reported headline profit before tax up 12.1 per cent to £596m – ahead of expectations that it would come in around £590m – and up 13.2 per cent on a constant [...]
M Local selloff: Morrisons’ ill-fated attempt to build a convenience arm has become a lesson for the industry August 26, 2015 It was a cold day in February 2013 when Morrisons’ former chief executive Dalton Philips was faced with a tough decision. Film rental chain Blockbuster had just collapsed and Morrisons was one of several suitors circling a portfolio of 50 stores administrators had put up for sale. Read more: It's a deal – Morrisons [...]
London property prices: The Shard skyscraper smashes record for office rents as Leonteq Securities takes entire 26th floor August 25, 2015 A letting at The Shard skyscraper in London Bridge has smashed price records for the South Bank and the City, as the hunt for office space in the capital heats up. German-listed IT company Leonteq Securities is understood to have struck a deal to take the entire 26th floor of the tower for over £90 [...]