Google’s results: Here’s what you need to know January 29, 2015 Google has reported its results for the fourth quarter and its worse than expected. Earnings per share were 20 cents below analysts' estimates at $6.88 while revenue came in $100m short at $14.5bn. On the upside profits were $4.76bn – 30 per cent up from the same period the year before. Analysts' forecast compiled by [...]
UK rises in global economic freedom index while France slips further behind January 29, 2015 The UK has bumped up the global rankings of economic freedom thanks to limiting the size of government and cutting taxes. The conservative Heritage Foundation released its annual index this week which uses 10 different metrics to gauge the amount of economic freedom in a given country. The UK has moved up one spot from [...]
Supermarkets could be hit with 1pc turnover fine if GCA gets new powers January 29, 2015 Britain's largest supermarkets could face fines if up to one per cent of their annual turnover if they treat their suppliers badly. Business secretary Vince Cable has put the measures before the House of Commons which would give new powers to the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA). The regulator would impose the fine depending on the [...]
Facebook smashes expectations with record revenue and number of active users January 28, 2015 Facebook has beaten expectations and reported revenue for the fourth quarter of $3.85bn. Revenue was expected to climb $3.8bn from $2.6bn the same time the previous year. Facebook has been on a winning streak after beating expectations last quarter on revenues and earnings. The social media giant's number of monthly active users also bust through [...]
Mark Carney slams Eurozone austerity and urges common fiscal policy January 28, 2015 Mark Carney has launched a withering attack on the Eurozone's pursuit of austerity and urged a new course for European fiscal policy. Speaking in Dublin, the governor of the Bank of England warned the Eurozone could suffer another lost decade of stagnation and unemployment. "Since the financial crisis all major advanced economies have been in [...]
Federal Reserve remains “patient” and holds rates in wake of strong growth January 28, 2015 The Federal Reserve has held interest rates at 0.25 per cent and reiterated that it would remain "patient" when considering a rate hike. The decision was unanimous. It is now unlikely the Fed will raise rates before the middle of the year. The US central bank pointed to strong growth in the economy and upbeat [...]
Francois Hollande wants tech firms to be sanctioned as “accomplices” to hate speech January 28, 2015 President Francois Hollande has outlined some bold plans to penalise tech firms if they fail to tackle hate speech. The French President has called for a framework of sanctions that would hit companies like Facebook and Twitter for hosting extremist material such as racially hateful statements that are illegal in France. "We must act at [...]
There is nothing to fear from the rise of artificial intelligence, says Microsoft’s Eric Horwitz January 28, 2015 We need not fear the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and the doomsday iRobot scenario, according Microsoft's head of research. Steven Hawking caused controversy last year with his dire warnings that intelligent machines pose a threat to the very existence of humanity. In December, he told the BBC "the development of full artificial intelligence could [...]
Which visual aids should you use in presentations? January 28, 2015 Public speaking or presenting can appear complex. So many sources of "advice" all offering different and often competing points of view. It can be tough deciding what advice to take and what to ignore. I have seen people use multiple trainers and get screwed up as a result – choose one coach and stick to [...]
Tessa Munt MP quits job as PPS to Vince Cable after fracking rebellion January 27, 2015 Lib Dem MP Tessa Munt has quit her job as an aide to Business Secretary Vince Cable after defying her party's whip. Munt voted against the government and supported a rebel amendment demanding a moratorium on the use of fracking. Another 52 MPs joined Munt to stop the use of fracking. The amendment was advanced [...]
