Davos 2016: As technology absorbs our mundane and routine tasks, we must realise our own higher calling January 14, 2016 Today, bits are reshaping the atoms around us. Emerging technologies in artificial intelligence, deep neural networking, and machine learning enable us to reimagine the possibilities of human creativity, innovation and productivity. Research institutions, businesses and governments explore the great new frontiers of human possibility. So many of our systems have evolved beyond what we thought [...]
London weather: Snow, ice, sleet and showers forecast for London and the south east as freezing conditions cross Britain January 14, 2016 London is facing below-freezing conditions in the coming days, with the Met Office warning of a high chance of snow and ice from tonight (14 January). The north of England is already being buffeted with heavy snow, causing chaos on roads as forecasters predict the worst of it will land in Northumberland and County Durham. That [...]
Met Police to increase number of armed officers in wake of Paris attacks January 14, 2016 The Met Police is planning to ramp up the number of armed police officers on the streets of London, following the attacks in Paris last year, which claimed the lives of 130 people. A further 600 armed officers will be trained for the Met, more than doubling the number of response vehicles available in the [...]
Home Retail Group’s share price rises despite disappointing figures as break up of Homebase and Argos looms January 14, 2016 Home Retail Group has warned that profits will be at the lower end of expectations, after a "mixed" performance from Argos. The figures Argos like-for-like sales decreased 2.2 per cent in the 18 weeks to 2 January to £1.84bn, although new digital concessions added in the past year contributed 3.1 per cent to growth. At Homebase, like-for-like sales grew by five [...]
Alliance Trust appoints Lord Smith of Kelvin as new chairman January 14, 2016 Alliance Trust has appointed Lord Smith of Kelvin as its new chairman, following a shake up of its senior team last year. Smith, who is currently chairman of UK Green Investment Bank, Forth Ports Limited and IMI, will take up his position on 1 February. He takes over from Karin Forseke, who stepped down at the start [...]
Signal failures cause chaos on Victoria, District Lines as Southeastern commuters face yet more disruption after another landslide at Barnehurst January 14, 2016 A second landslide at Barnehurst meant more pain for south London commuters this morning, with lines going into London Victoria, Cannon Street and Charing Cross from Dartford were closed yet again. A first landslide on Monday had brought chaos to commuters using the Bexleyheath line, with stations including Lewisham affected. Network Rail had deployed engineers to get [...]
Currency headwinds dampen growth at Primark parent Associated British Foods – but sugar is starting to look sweeter January 14, 2016 Primark parent Associated British Foods has been further buffeted by currency headwinds, with the business expecting it to knock off £25m from full year profit. The figures The group grew revenue three per cent in the 16 weeks to 2 January – but this turned into a two per cent decline when factoring in actual exchange [...]
JD Sports raises profit guidance by 10 per cent as Christmas sales soar January 14, 2016 JD Sports has increased its guidance on pre-tax profit, saying it could beat consensus by up to 10 per cent, after Christmas sales soared. Like-for-like store sales in the core sports fashion fascias were up 10.6 per cent in the five weeks to 2 January, JD said. As a result, it said headline profit before tax [...]
Tesco’s share price soars as supermarket beats expectations for Christmas trading as sales rise January 14, 2016 Tesco has beaten expectations for its Christmas trading, with sales up for the six weeks to 9 January, prompting the supermarket's share price to soar more than seven per cent this morning. The figures The UK's largest retailer grew group sales by 2.1 per cent in the six weeks to 9 January, with UK like-for-likes [...]
London house prices: Your home is paying off your annual commute in around a fortnight if you live in Surbiton, Tandridge, Harpenden, Henley and Epsom January 13, 2016 Have you found yourself grumbling about the ever-increasing cost of commuting, even when your train is delayed/cancelled/diverted for no apparent reason? If you're a property owner, it's time to turn that frown upside down. New research suggests that if you travel into London from the commuter belt, your home is actually paying off the cost of your annual [...]
