Ukraine PM says there will be no recognition of Crimean referendum March 7, 2014 The Ukrainian prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, has told CNBC that there will be no international recognition of the referendum aking the people of Crimea if they wish to join the Russian Federation. Yatsenyuk said: No-one will recognise this referendum, apart from maybe North Korea, Syria and Israel. I want to be very clear – Crimea [...]
Why this analyst believes time is running out to prevent a housing bubble March 7, 2014 Both the government and the Bank of England need to take urgent action to prevent the UK from entering into another housing boom, according to chief UK economist at Berenberg, Robert Wood. The warning comes after a host of data releases showing rapid increases in house prices across the UK. The Halifax house house price [...]
Bad news mounts for Bitcoin as Japan plans tax March 7, 2014 The bad new keeps on mounting for the world's most popular cryptocurrency Bitcoin. The Japanese government has said that Bitcoin is not a currency and some transactions using it could be taxed. Chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga, told reporters on Friday: If there are transactions and subsequent gains, it is natural…for the finance ministry to [...]
Asian markets rise as investors await US jobs data March 7, 2014 Asian shares are rising on the back of gains seen on Wall Street yesterday as investors turn their attention to US jobs data to be released later today. A Reuters survey of economists forecasts US non-farm payrolls to have increased by 149,000 in February, outpacing the 113,000 seen in January. Markets remained calm in the [...]
Energy companies face Ofgem investigation over Christmas power cuts March 6, 2014 Ofgem is set to investigate energy companies UK Power Networks (UKPN) and SSE over their response to the storms that wreaked havoc across the UK over the Christmas period. The two electricity distribution network operators were found to have been the slowest in responding to customers and in reconnecting their electricity supply. The energy regulator [...]
US imposes visa restrictions on Russians and Crimeans March 6, 2014 The US will be imposing visa restrictions on Russians and Crimeans who are threatening Ukrainian security. A statement issued by the White House said the US: Is putting in place visa restrictions on a number of officials and individuals, reflecting a policy decision to deny visas to those responsible for or complicit in threatening the [...]
Bank of England keeps rates at historic lows March 6, 2014 The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee has elected to hold rates at their historic lows of 0.5 per cent. As expected the Bank also held asset purchases at £375bn. The Bank's decision to maintain rates at such low levels as unemployment falls and growth accelerates, has led many to question the credibility of the [...]
Staples to shut 225 stores as sales fall March 6, 2014 US office supply retailer Staples is set to close 225 stores in an attempt to save $500m (£300m) from its annual operating expenses by 2015. The company that was taken public thanks to the private equity firm founded by former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, ended 2013 with over 500,000 products on Staples.com versus 100,000 [...]
Crimean parliament votes to join Russia March 6, 2014 Crimea's vice premier, Rustam Temirgaliev, announced on Thursday that the region will be holding a referendum on whether to join the Russian Federation on March 16, according to RIA news agency. Temirgaliev said the referendum would involve two questions: Are you in favour of Crimea becoming a constituent territory of the Russian Federation? Are you [...]
New gene therapy could herald HIV breakthrough March 6, 2014 Doctors have developed a new gene therapy that could control the HIV virus without the need for daily antiviral drugs. A study from the biopharmaceutical company Sangamo BioSciences, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, used 12 patients and suggested the therapy was safe. Researchers used genome editing to alter patients T-cells, which are [...]