Samsung shuns Android with new smartwatch February 23, 2014 SAMSUNG has dropped the Android platform from its latest smartwatch, distancing itself further from its ties with Google. The Gear 2, unveiled by the South Korean electronics giant yesterday, will instead use Tizen, a new mobile platform designed by a number of technology firms including Intel, Huawei and Vodafone, in response to Google’s domination of [...]
Bottom Line: Zuckerberg takes centre stage in Barcelona February 23, 2014 FROM THE MWC BARCELONA ONCE a year, everyone who’s anyone in mobile undertakes a pilgrimage of sorts to Barcelona, for Mobile World Congress (MWC). Think Davos or the Sundance Film Festival but rather than politicians or movie directors, the congress draws more than 75,000 attendees from the mobile industry; executives, developers and analysts. This week [...]
Co-op closer to ending Labour Party payments February 23, 2014 TENS of thousands of Co-operative Group members and customers have given the retailer feedback on how it should be run, including whether it is right to give money to the Labour Party, the firm said yesterday. Chief executive Euan Sutherland has admitted its links with the party have never been clear, indicating it may cut [...]
RBS looks to copy Lloyds success as a UK retail and business bank February 23, 2014 RBS IS preparing to sack up to 30,000 workers in the coming years as it cuts down its investment banking arm even more radically, and focuses on UK retail banking. Thursday’s strategic announcements are likely to move the bank closer to fellow state-backed bank Lloyds’ model in a bid to please its political masters. RBS [...]
Electricals giant AO.com moves closer to its stock market debut February 23, 2014 ONLINE electricals website AO.com is set to reveal a price range this week for its initial public offering (IPO) that could value the group at around £1.2bn. The Bolton-based group, which sells everything from fridges to microwaves, is seeking to raise £60m from its stock market debut and kicked off a bookbuilding process last week. [...]
HSBC ready to up pay to fight bank bonus cap February 23, 2014 HSBC is preparing to lead from the top by hiking pay for chief executive Stuart Gulliver, it emerged yesterday. The boss is expected to see a pay rise of up to 100 per cent, to compensate for incoming EU rules restricting bank bonuses, the Sunday Times reported. European rules will restrict bonuses to the same [...]
UK companies using alternative lenders spikes in fourth quarter February 23, 2014 COMPANIES in the UK and Europe are increasingly securing debt from alternative lenders, as they look for greater flexibility than traditional bank loans, according to new research released today. Alternative lenders made 56 deals in the UK and Europe in the final quarter of last year, compared to 18 in the first quarter, said a [...]
Former Tory backer Sir Tim Rice makes Ukip donation February 23, 2014 SIR TIM Rice, the Oscar-winning lyricist behind West End musicals including Jesus Christ Superstar, has given his financial backing to the UK Independence Party. According to reports citing the party’s treasurer Stuart Wheeler this weekend Sir Tim, a former Tory donor, donated £7,500 to Ukip last year.
Sandwich seller plans for £2bn summer float February 23, 2014 UPPER Crust owner SSP is gearing up for a summertime stock market float after appointing bankers from Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to prepare the firm for a listing. The business, led by former WH Smith chief executive Kate Swann, is understood to be on course for an initial public offering (IPO) to sell shares [...]
Heathrow noise row stoked by new claim that 1m are affected February 23, 2014 HEATHROW is braced for a noisy argument this week as a new report is set to state that more than 1m people are irritated by plane noise from the west London airport, far more than the figures claimed by the airport and the government. Academics will say that people are annoyed by noise above 50 [...]
