Asian shares mixed on Tuesday as Chinese stocks dip modestly while Nikkei buoyed by weaker yen March 22, 2016 Chinese stocks slid on Tuesday as a weaker yen buoyed Japanese stocks after a public holiday on Monday. On a mixed day for Asian markets, Chinese decreased gains they made on Monday with the Shenzen composite down 0.41 per cent and the Shanghai composite lower at 0.78 per cent. Hawkish comments from two US Federal Reserve officials [...]
Britons have turned their backs on week-long holidays in favour of mini-breaks, new Doodle study shows March 21, 2016 Britons are shunning traditional week-long holidays in favour of "cheaper" and "less stressful" mini-breaks, new research from Doodle shows. The survey, conducted by One Poll, found 28 per cent of respondents had taken an average of five or more holidays last year. But, on average, Britons had only taken one holiday of seven days or more over the past 12 [...]
Brent crude and WTI oil prices stabilise after early losses on Monday March 21, 2016 Oil prices stabilised from early losses on Monday morning as the market absorbed the news that the decline in the number of US oil rigs had halted. Last week, US energy firms added one oil rig in the first addition since December following 12 weeks of cuts, according to oil services firm Baker Hughes. Brent [...]
NetPlay TV share price jumps 17 per cent despite year-on-year profit losses March 21, 2016 NetPlay TV, the company behind interactive gaming services including SuperCasino.com, Jackpot247.com and Vernons.com, has seen its share price shoot up today despite slight drops on its year-end financial results. The figures Operating profits for the betting company fell marginally by £0.2m in 2015 to £6.02m (down from £6.24m in 2014), NetPlay TV said this morning. The company's [...]
Fintech start-up Elliptic raises £3.5m to launch crackdown on suspicious blockchain and bitcoin transactions March 21, 2016 London and New York-based blockchain intelligence firm Elliptic has received $5m (£3.5m) in Series A funding to help crackdown on bitcoin crime, it announced today. Elliptic, which launched in 2013, uses graph analysis and machine learning to identify illicit activity in blockchain transactions. Blockchain, a decentralised ledger of transactions, is the technology underpinning cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin. The funding boost [...]
High net-worth, older UK investors most cautious in Europe, while millenials more likely to invest in riskier assets March 21, 2016 Older UK investors are the most cautious in Europe, with more than a third of their portfolios invested in cash to avoid asset risks from the volatility affecting global markets. Cash made up 36 per cent of the older investors' portfolios, classified as investments owned by those the age of 40. This figure was up from 29 per cent [...]
Shiver me timbers: Boaty McBoatface coming first place in internet poll to name this new, £200m polar research vessel March 21, 2016 The somewhat unlikely Boaty McBoatface has overtaken the competition in an internet poll to find a new name for a £200m polar research vessel. The frontrunner for the state-of-the-art ship has overtaken suggestions such as Shackleton, Falcon, Endeavour and David Attenborough in the bid to publicly source a name for the new National Environment Research Council (NERC) ship. The [...]
Fully charged: Dyson profits up 19 per cent as turnover reaches record £1.7bn and company announces it will invest £1bn in new battery technology March 21, 2016 Dyson's turnover in 2015 was up 26 per cent to £1.7bn, while its profits rose by 19 per cent to £448m over last year, the company announced today. The vacuum cleaner, fan and electrical device specialist saw its growth in China triple, where it leads in floorcare and humidifiers, while its business in Asia Pacific grew [...]
North Korea fires several short-range missiles days after UN Security Council condemned ballistic missile tests and US introduced new sanctions March 21, 2016 North Korea fired five unidentified short-range missiles off its east coast on Monday, according to South Korean officials. The missiles were launched from the northeasten city of Hamhung, South Hamgyong province, into the East Sea at around 3.19pm (6.49am GMT) local time and covering a distance of 200km, according to the joint chiefs of staff of South Korea's [...]
Ian Kellett to take over from Nick Wood as chief executive of Pets at Home March 21, 2016 Ian Kellett will take over from current chief executive Nick Wood at Pets at Home on 4 April, the UK's largest pet foods and accessories retailer announced today. Wood will stay at the company in an advisory role until 1 July during the transition. Kellett has been a member of the Pets at Home board for [...]