Couch potato, otter or manic multiscreener – how do you watch TV? September 4, 2014 Couch potato, otter or manic-multiscreener – what do you turn into when you turn on the TV? Whichever you are, you are probably not using Twitter at the same time. Traditional TV watchers – couch potatoes – are still the biggest group of viewers, although there are signs of decline as other norms emerge, [...]
Prop-up-aganda? Chinese state media is encouraging 1.3bn people to buy more equities September 4, 2014 Policy makers in Europe and the UK are attempting to encourage equity markets through a range of fiscal measures – over in China, the government is also attempting to boost stocks, but in a slightly more pro-active manner. State-run newspapers Xinhua News Agency and the People's Daily and broadcaster CCTV appear to have started [...]
“DIY” policing – how do the London forces fare? September 4, 2014 You would probably expect London-based police forces to be the main culprits when it comes to the "emerging trend" of asking victims of crime to carry out their own investigations – but you'd be wrong. Sort of. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary admitted this morning that high-volume crimes are "on the verge of being [...]
SuperGroup share price rises 4.2 pc as revenues jump September 4, 2014 SuperGroup shares opened 4.2 per cent higher this morning, after it reported a strong start to the year, with total revenues up 15.9 per cent, and both wholesale and retail divisions up by double-digits. The business, which owns the SuperDry brand, recorded group revenues of £87m for the three months to July 26, up [...]
PMQs: David Cameron hijacked by ‘Yes’ poster as he hits out at Scottish Independence campaign September 3, 2014 David Cameron was interrupted by an SNP member waving a 'Yes' poster as he attempted to derail arguments for Scottish independence at Prime Minister's Questions today. The Prime Minister had an unusually easy time of it at the pre-lunch session, with many in the House of Commons asking questions that allowed him to go over well-worn [...]
Kremlin quashes “permanent” ceasefire claim as blasts heard in Ukraine September 3, 2014 In this morning's newsletter we noted our scepticism at the use of the word “permanent” when it came to the ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Sadly, within two hours of the announcement from Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko, it turns out that phrase has indeed met with some stumbling blocks. Although Poroshenko's Tweet has not [...]
Sex, drugs and charity – the changes to how UK GDP is measured revealed September 3, 2014 Vice sectors such as the sex and drugs trades – alongside those firmly rooted in virtue – have given the UK's economy something of a halo, according to the Office for National Statistics' reworking of GDP data. The once-in-a-generation changes are being drip fed out, with the first – revised real and nominal GDP [...]
Growth in UK services is accelerating – so what does this mean for interest rates? September 3, 2014 Could this be the news the hawks have been waiting for? Markit/CIPS PMI data out today shows an acceleration in growth in the services industry which, when combined with the two previous surveys, suggests August saw the fastest economic growth since last November. Adjusting for seasonal factors, the Business Activity Index stood at [...]
Falling output in France and Italy dampens Eurozone growth September 3, 2014 Falling output in France and Italy has seen the Eurozone manufacturing and services recovery slow to the weakest level so far this year, figures out this morning show. Overall the index was 52.5 in the month, down from 53.8 in July – the weakest of the year so far, although any PMI score above [...]
Mike Ashley retains House of Fraser stake as Nanjing Xinjiekou sale goes through September 2, 2014 The sale of department store House of Fraser to Chinese conglomerate Nanjing Xinjiekou has gone through today – with Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley retaining his 11 per cent stake. The deal values the business at around £480m – probably more than it would have valued at, had chairman Don McCarthy gone through with [...]
