Video: Alibaba founder Jack Ma at Davos January 23, 2015 Even by his standards, Asia's richest man, Jack Ma, had a busy year in 2014, after he presided over the biggest-ever global IPO when his company, Alibaba, raised $25bn. Today Ma kicked off this morning's programmed at the 2015 meeting of the World Economics Forum to discuss leadership, entrepreneurship and the future of commerce with [...]
Euro falls below $1.13 as investors look ahead to Greek vote January 23, 2015 The euro whooshed past the $1.13 mark this morning, after it was faced with the twin gremlins the European Central Bank's (ECB) shiny new quantitative easing programme, and Sunday's vote in Greece. The currency started yesterday at $1.15, but sank rapidly after ECB president Mario Draghi unveiled a larger-than-expected quantitative easing programme, which is likely [...]
Quindell confirms Slater & Gordon is in talks to buy its legal arm after share price rises 15 per cent on rumours January 22, 2015 Quindell has confirmed that law firm Slater & Gordon is in talks to buy "an operating division", thought to be its legal services arm. In a statement after the market closed, the insurance claims processor confirmed press speculation that the "third party" it had previously named was the law firm. Shares in the company rose [...]
Three key takeaways from the European Central Bank’s quantitative easing announcement January 22, 2015 After months of speculation, European Central Bank president Mario Draghi finally pulled out the big guns today, announcing a €60bn (£45bn)-a-month government bond-buying scheme which will last until at least 2016. Euro investors weren't impressed, driving the currency to an 11-year low against the dollar, but some analysts were encouraged. BNP Paribas' Ken Wattret, for [...]
Video: Google’s Eric Schmidt, Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella at Davos 2015 January 22, 2015 On day two of this year's biggest gathering of world leaders, the focus moved to tech. During one session Google chairman Eric Schmidt joined Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg and Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella to discuss the future of the digital economy, and whether we have what is needed to ensure a thriving, open [...]
Quantitative easing is go – but euro plummets as European Central Bank unveils €60bn-a-month bond buying programme January 22, 2015 The euro has fallen sharply, dropping 1.2 per cent to 1.1475 against the dollar, its lowest in 11 years, and 1.02 per cent to 0.7589 against the pound after European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi announced a €60bn-a-month government bond-buying programme – much higher than the expected €50bn a month. A little out of [...]
ECB leaves rates unchanged ahead of crucial QE decision January 22, 2015 The European Central Bank (ECB) tantalised markets this afternoon, as it left its main interest rate unchanged at a record low of 0.05 per cent ahead of a crucial quantitative easing decision. The euro rose slightly against the dollar as the news sank in, although all eyes will be on a press conference at 1.30pm GMT, [...]
Alpari administration: “More than 40 buyers” are sniffing around Alpari January 22, 2015 Administrators for spreadbetter Alpari UK, have received more than 40 expressions of interest for the firm, it is understood. The company called in KPMG as its administrator on Monday, after it made huge losses following a decision by the Swiss central bank to remove its currency ceiling, which caused the Swiss franc to jump 30 per [...]
HoloLens: Have Microsoft’s nerdy new holographic goggles just completely changed the game? (video) January 22, 2015 Mere days after Google called a halt to its Google Glass project, Microsoft may have changed the game with its version of digital glasses. The company unveiled its "HoloLens" during its Windows 10 launch last night. And while reviewers were largely nonplussed by Windows 10, they were pretty impressed with the holographic goggles, which use [...]
TheTrainline.com IPO derailed as KKR buys the business January 22, 2015 We've heard of leaves on the line causing cancellations, and the wrong kind of snow – but this is a new one. The IPO of train ticket website TheTrainline.com has been cancelled after buyout giant KKR bought the business, for an undisclosed sum. Earlier this month, TheTrainline confirmed plans to launch an IPO, saying it [...]
