New survey casts doubt on growth of UK economy April 8, 2015 The UK economy is not out of the woods yet, according to a new set of survey data. Economic growth may have slowed in the first three months of this year, according to figures released today by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). Both manufacturers and service sector firms reported lower sales growth at home [...]
Apple just muscled ahead of Samsung on … EE’s Wi-Fi Calling April 8, 2015 Is this the latest installment in the high-stakes world of smartphone politics? Smartphone rivalry between Apple and Samsung has been simmering for years, spanning different continents, and even a few court cases. And in a further sign it won't be dying down anytime soon Apple has beaten its rival to … being able to say [...]
Federal Reserve minutes: Policymakers divided on timing of rate hike April 8, 2015 The Fed finally lost its "patience" last month, a move initially thought to imply short-term rates would rise in June, but then fed chair Janet Yellen tempered expectations by saying this "doesn't mean we are going to be impatient". And now we know why. Minutes released today show a marked divergence among officials on whether they [...]
Three reasons new car sales had their best month since 1999 April 8, 2015 Car dealerships across the country have been partying like it's 1999. They sold 492,774 new cars last month, which represents a six per cent increase from the same time last year, data released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers has shown. It was the best March on record, as well as the best monthly performance since [...]
BG Group chief executive Helge Lund may just have earned millions for two months’ work April 8, 2015 After a brief two months at the helm of BG Group, its chief executive Helge Lund may be about to join – as the FT put it – "the ranks of history's footnote guys" – but it looks like he'll have last laugh. Back in December, two months before Lund was due to leave Norwegian giant [...]
Royal Dutch Shell BG Group mega-merger: Are there more oil deals on the way? April 8, 2015 Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell announced a takeover of gas producer BG Group today, in a deal worth £47bn. So is this the start of an oil mega-merger party? About 15 years ago low oil prices caused something similar. (Source: A.T. Kearney) Between 1998 and 1999, oil prices halved to just $10 per barrel, sparking a wave [...]
Elon Musk’s Tesla unveils new “entry level” Model S 70D April 8, 2015 Tesla, the electric car maker with the cult following, has just unveiled its latest model: the "entry level" Model S 70D. At just over $75,000 (£50,000), it's hardly a snip – but at 514 hp, it's almost as powerful as a Porsche 911…. The company's shares rose 2.9 per cent to $209.25 in pre-market trading, [...]
Everything you need to know about non-doms: Who are they, what tax do they pay, why does Labour want to ban them April 8, 2015 Ed Miliband appears to be making the political weather today with his pledge to abolish non-domiciled tax status. However, Ed Balls' warning back in January that abolishing the non-dom status could actually cost Britain money has come back to haunt Labour spinners. Here are the basics of everything you need to know about non-doms and [...]
Pret A Manger for dinner? Lunch hotspot tries out evening dining menu in Strand April 8, 2015 The saviour of stomachs across the city come lunchtime is branching out with a Pret A Manger "after dark" concept. Never again need you eat anywhere other than Pret – the chain has begun serving up all the major meals in the form of breakfast, lunch and – now – dinner, with a new evening [...]
Aldi knocks Waitrose off its spot as UK’s sixth biggest supermarket April 8, 2015 Aldi has overtaken Waitrose to become the UK's sixth biggest supermarket. The budget supermarket, which has recorded double-digit sales growth for the past four years, now has 5.3 per cent of the country's spend on groceries, according to Kantar Worldpanel. Waitrose is still in growth – in fact just one of three to see [...]