Why the humble business card is in rapid decline September 22, 2014 But there’s still space for the analogue antique in our digital future. Few corporate rituals have proved as enduring as the exchanging of business cards. Some Brits may not think twice about stuffing several of them into a pocket or bag, with only the vague intention of retrieving them (crumpled and torn) later on. [...]
Scottish independence referendum: Claims of vote rigging lead to petitions demanding recount September 22, 2014 Claims of vote rigging durig the Scottish independence referendum have led to calls for a recount. Over 88,000 people signed a petition at change.org entitled "We the undersigned demand a revote of the Scottish Referendum, counted by impartial international parties." The accusations of vote rigging centre around videos and photos shared on social media that [...]
Phones 4u announces it is to close remaining 362 stores and make 1,697 staff redundant September 22, 2014 After going into administration, mobile phone retailer administrators working with Phones 4u have announced that there has not been enough interest to save the company's remaining 362 stores. All told, 1,697 people will lose their jobs. EE had already agreed to buy 58 stores while Vodafone said on Friday that it was buying 140. The [...]
Ed Miliband to announce mansion tax to improve NHS health and social care September 22, 2014 Ed Milliband is set to announce a "mansion tax" to fund new an NHS spending increase. In a speech tomorrow to party activists in Manchester the Labour leader will announce the plan to tax properties worth more than £2m, with the proceeds paying for improvements in health and social care. With the election fast approaching, Miliband [...]
UK private equity firm drops ISIS name September 22, 2014 UK private equity firm ISIS Equity Partners has decided it no longer wants to share a moniker with the violent terrorist group operating in Syria in Iraq. The firm say it will reveal a new brand in the "coming weeks". Earlier this month a mobile wallet maker called Isis also decided to change its name [...]
Ratings agency Fitch puts Tesco on negative watch as £2bn is wiped off its value September 22, 2014 It's been a bad day at the office for new Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis. Not only did shares in the supermarket close down 11.6 per cent, wiping £2bn off the supermarket's value, after it admitted it had "overestimated" its profits by £250m – but now ratings agency Fitch has put it on negative watch, [...]
Mario Draghi speech: ECB president hints at use of more unconventional instruments in fight against low inflation September 22, 2014 The euro has fallen against the dollar after a doveish Draghi spoke before the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament. Consumer confidence for the single currency bloc was underwhelming at -11.4, falling short of an already bearish consensus of -10.75. In his speech the president of the European Central Bank (ECB) indicated [...]
Could it happen in London? One chart showing how Uber has impacted San Francisco’s taxi industry September 22, 2014 Beloved by punters, hated by rivals, taxi service app Uber has a knack of dividing opinion. The company has been the subject of an outright ban in Germany (which was later overturned), a gridlock protest from black cabbies in London and vociferous complaining from local taxi drivers in just about every one of the 45 [...]
Former Liverpool suitor joins ex-Manchester United legends by buying 50 per cent of Salford City FC September 22, 2014 Peter Lim, the Singaporean businessman who once tried to buy Liverpool, has agreed to buy a 50 per cent stake in Salford City FC from the “Class of ‘92” group. The “Class of ‘92” – made up of former Manchester United players Gary and Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt – [...]
Six charts showing why the UK needs to build more homes September 22, 2014 The housing market is hotly watched recently with prices rising and demand under constant observation. There were 21.9 per cent fewer house completions in England during 2013/14 than there were in 2003/4, while demand for house in London has driven the average price north of £500,000. These are just some of the results of analysis [...]