The financial regulator is set to focus on technology and culture in the coming year, though only one new review will be brought in April 5, 2016 The use of technology and culture within banks are set to be the big focus for the UK's financial watchdog over the next 12 months, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) revealed today in its yearly business plan. The only new review that the FCA will kick off over the coming 12 months will look into pension [...]
Kuwait’s Opec governor says all signs point to freeze deal April 5, 2016 Kuwait has said that all signs point to a freeze deal at a meeting between Opec and the world's biggest oil producers later this month. In a speech at the oil ministry, Kuwait's Opec governor Nawal Al-Fuzaia, didn't elaborate on which signs point to an agreement at the talks in Doha on 17 April. Read more: Ex-Shell boss [...]
How EggHomes cracked high speed broadband and eco-efficiency in the Lake District April 5, 2016 This year marks the 150th anniversary of Beatrix Potter's birth. Born and bred in the Lake District, her illustrated tales of the adventures of Peter Rabbit and his friends have become quintessential children’s bedtime stories of the English countryside. The founding of the protected 885sq mile Lake District National Park in 1951 has ensured the [...]
Touchdown: Twitter share price bounces as it unveils plans to stream Thursday night NFL games April 5, 2016 Shares in Twitter jumped more than three per cent in pre-market trading after the company said it had won the bidding for digital rights to stream American football league games on Thursday nights. Shares were up 3.4 per cent, at $17.10, after the news was announced by National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell (on Twitter, natch). This [...]
EU referendum: How MPs’ backgrounds show they will vote April 5, 2016 It's often said there are too many career politicians in parliament, those who don't fully understand the lives of those they represent. And as the public makes up their minds on the EU referendum, so to do those who sit in parliament. It is of interest, then, that just 16 per cent of MPs who [...]
Card Factory share price climbs as profits lifted by online sales though the retailer is warning over living wage costs April 5, 2016 Online shopping sales and personalised presents have pushed retailer Card Factory to a 25 per cent increase in profits for the last year. The company's share price has jumped on the numbers climbing over three per cent by early afternoon trading. Underlying profit before tax hit £82m last year, up 25.2 per cent from £65.5m the year before. [...]
Europe goes shopping as prices keep dropping, but confidence may be short-lived April 5, 2016 The Eurozone was treated to a rare piece of good economic news this morning, as official figures showed households are buying 2.4 per cent more retail products than this time last year, though economists were pessimistic about how the long the feel-good factor would stick around. According to Eurostat, the EU’s official number crunchers, bumper [...]
US court agrees BP civil settlement for Deepwater Horizon oil spill April 5, 2016 A US court signed off on BP's civil settlement for $18.7bn (£13.2bn) relating to the Deepwater Horizon incident late last night. BP has agreed to pay damages to the United States government as well as the Gulf States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The payments have been staggered so some will be payable as late [...]
Sharing economy data just came a step closer to being officially counted in ONS statistics April 5, 2016 How much is the ever-growing so-called sharing economy really contributing to Britain's growth? That's the question the country's top statisticians are grappling with as the likes of upstart businesses such as Uber, Airbnb, Task Rabbit and many more redefine the way we work. Now, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed the details of its first assessment of [...]