Grumpy Cat earned more than top CEOs Jamie Dimon, Sir Martin Sorrell, Marissa Mayer and Carolyn McCall December 11, 2015 The internet’s favourite feline has something to smile about. Grumpy Cat, a YouTube and Reddit star whose name now adorns books, apps, t-shirts and even a type of coffee- the Grumppuccino- has raked in a tidy sum from her sad looking demeanour. While Grumpy Cat, otherwise known as Tardar Sauce, probably enjoys an extra bowl [...]
Shopping in London: This weekend is going to be the busiest day in the West End for Christmas present buying December 11, 2015 Planning to go shopping in London this weekend? You're not the only one. In fact, retailers in the West End are preparing themselves for the busiest Christmas gift-buying weekend of the year. Shoppers are expected to spend £120m in the next two days – comparable to the £200m spent over the three days of Black [...]
Missing Fosun founder and chief exective Guo Guangchang assisting mainland China authorities December 11, 2015 Missing Chinese billionaire Guo Guangchang is "assisting authorities with an investigation", according to Fosun International, the company he founded. The tycoon – who has been described as China's Warren Buffet – has been detained by mainland police, the firm said in a statement. He will still be able to take part in major decisions through "appropriate [...]
Women in the boardroom make companies better: Shareholder returns are higher, corruption and fraud rates are lower, and firms are more progressive when females have seats at the top table December 11, 2015 Women on boards are helping companies to achieve markedly better results, according to a new report. The findings come from index provider MSCI, which found that companies with three or more female directors generated a return on equity 2.7 per cent higher than those without. The reasons why are manifold and no one factor sticks [...]
Alibaba buys South China Morning Post as media interests grow December 11, 2015 Alibaba has added to its expanding media empire by buying the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong's biggest local English-language newspaper. Read more: Alibaba made £9.4bn in 24 hours on Singles Day The Chinese e-commerce giant did not disclose the financial terms of the deal for the 112-year old paper owned by SCMP Group Ltd – a [...]
Nasa shows us the surface of Pluto in unprecedented detail and in colour December 11, 2015 It may have been relegated to non-planet status, but Pluto is still an important body within our solar system. Now, for the first time, Nasa has shown us what this “plutoid” looks like close up and in colour, using high-resolution images taken earlier this year by its New Horizons spacecraft. The craft passed just 10,000 [...]
US retail sales increase expectations for an interest rate rise from the US Federal Reserve December 11, 2015 US retail sales rose strongly in November as the Christmas shopping season got under way, heightening expectations that the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates for the first time in nearly 10 years next year. The Commerce Department said on Friday retail sales excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services rose 0.6 per [...]
Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump makes gains in polls after controversial comments December 11, 2015 Donald Trump not only continues to lead but is making gains in the polls after his controversial comments about Muslims this week. In the latest poll by Zogby Analytics, the Republican Presidential hopeful has reached a new high in popularity, surging to 38 per cent of support in the Republican primaries. The Zogby poll was the [...]
Iron ore on course for longest losing streak since financial crisis December 11, 2015 Iron ore prices are on course to fall for the ninth week in a row, meaning the steel-making material will clock its longest losing streak in seven years. Iron ore has shed 3.8 per cent this week, haven fallen to just $38.52 a tonne today. This marks a record low in daily prices compiled by Metal Bulletin, which [...]
Morocco issues arrest warrant for Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam December 11, 2015 Moroccan authorities have issued an arrest warrant for a man thought to be behind the Paris attacks last month, in which 130 people were killed. Salah Abdeslam is thought to have fled to Morocco or another part of North Africa. The arrest warrant was issued last month, just days after the man went on the run [...]