Train firms scolded for not telling passengers about delay refunds February 20, 2014 TRAIN firms have been criticised for not telling customers how to claim refunds when their services are delayed or cancelled. More than three-quarters of rail passengers do not know about the right to compensation after delays, a poll by the Office of Rail Regulation found. “Britain’s rail industry needs to be more transparent and proactive [...]
Inflation in G7 could hit Great Depression low February 20, 2014 THE CONSUMER price index (CPI) in France fell to 0.8 per cent during January, following a trend that has left CPI in every G7 country below two per cent. With only Japanese CPI on an upward trend, inflation could end the current calendar year lower than two per cent in each of the advanced economies for the [...]
Google’s Project Tango to map your world February 20, 2014 GOOGLE will take its mapping platform off road with Project Tango, an initiative to map the parts of the world that the search giant’s Street View cars can’t photograph. Google is starting with 200 motion and depth sensing smartphones, with the hope it could eventually give precise directions to any given point that needs to [...]
Centrica bosses defend firm as profits decline February 20, 2014 CENTRICA executives yesterday emphasised the benefits of the company’s size to Britain in the wake of energy secretary Ed Davey’s suggestion to break up the power giant, as it unveiled disappointing but in-line full-year results. “The benefit of integration is that because we have the size and scale we have we are able to contract [...]
Analyst Views: What did you make of Centrica’s full-year results? February 20, 2014 PETER ATHERTON | LIBERUM CAPITALThe results weren’t a surprise as Centrica had guided the market before Christmas, but they were disappointing nonetheless. The US energy business is struggling with tighter margins than expected. But the political risk in the UK is the biggest thing that has driven their share price over the past five months. MARTIN BROUGH [...]
Asda hurt by first sales drop in three years February 20, 2014 ASDA chief executive Andy Clarke yesterday admitted it had been a “tough year” after the supermarket chain reported its first fall in sales for three years. The Walmart owned chain said like-for-like sales fell 0.1 per cent in the 13 weeks to 3 January, compared to the same period a year ago, marking its first [...]
Euro area posts weak industrial growth again February 20, 2014 EUROZONE industrial growth slowed as the month began, according to a major business survey of manufacturing firms in the currency union during February. Data firm Markit’s purchasing managers’ index for manufacturing dropped to 53, from 54 in January, indicating a slower expansion. Any number over 50 suggests growth. The figure for the services sector rose [...]
Shearman lifts London revenue February 20, 2014 US LAW firm Shearman & Sterling has posted a 20 per cent hike in revenues at its London office, its fourth year of growth in the capital. Turnover at the firm rose from $112.6m (£67.61m) to $134.8m in the 2012-13 financial year, led by a strong performance in the high-yield and finance practices. Global revenues at the [...]
Clegg’s Farage TV challenge February 20, 2014 NICK CLEGG challenged Ukip leader Nigel Farage to a televised debate about membership of the European Union during his LBC radio show yesterday. A Liberal Democrat spokesman confirmed the challenge, adding: “While we completely disagree, both parties have a very clear position – Nick Clegg leads the party of in and Nigel Farage leads the party [...]
Facebook stock hits record high after $19bn deal February 20, 2014 INVESTORS warmed to Facebook’s $19bn (£11.4bn) takeover of mobile messaging app WhatsApp last night as shares touched a record high of $70.11 during trading, valuing the social network at nearly $180bn. Investors’ initial fears that the social network, led by chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, may have overpaid for a chat app that has little revenue [...]
