FTSE 100 live: London markets poised for higher opening, tracking global peers; earnings and Fed decision to shape holiday-shortened week
Metaverse switch: Young people jump ship from Facebook and embrace virtual reality platform March 15, 2022 The metaverse could become a mainstream way to make friends and even date, with nearly a fifth of young people ready to ditch more conventional social media platforms. With more than a tenth having already made their own metaverse avatar, data from Zen Internet highlighted that 18 per cent of 16-24 year olds are already [...]
Hard to Believe: Music giant which worked with Slayer and Björk will keep operating in Russia, and advises artists how to get around ban March 15, 2022 A French music giant has vowed to continue its operations in Russia, and even advised its partners how to work around sanctions. The ‘Believe’ group, which has worked with acts including Björk and Slayer, also has a UK arm, reportedly sent a newsletter last week to its partners in Russia, according to The Guardian, which [...]
New Zealand halves public transport fares amid soaring inflation, fuel prices March 15, 2022 New Zealand has halved prices for public transport in response to soaring fuel costs sparked by the war in Ukraine. Its Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made the call saying the “global energy crisis has quickly become acute”. However, her government has been criticised for the rising cost of living even before the war started, with [...]
Old Mutual: South African savings firm reports subdued growth after pandemic woes March 15, 2022 South African-based investment group Old Mutual experienced subdued growth in 2021 as the country’s economy bounced back from the pandemic. The company’s CEO announced its gross flow increased four per cent to R194.8bn (£9.8m) following a spike in sales over the course of last year. The pandemic however led to it paying out hundreds of [...]
Israel will not be a ‘route to bypass sanctions imposed on Russia’ March 14, 2022 Israel’s foreign minister has insisted the country will not be a “route to bypass sanctions imposed on Russia”. Centrist politician Yair Lapid made his comments in Bratislava with his Slovakian counterpart, amid growing concerns that some Russian-Jewish oligarchs could use Israel to get around harsh sanctions. This come after the UK, US and European Union [...]
Foreign home ownership in London swells by £6bn but oligarch exodus to slow cash influx from abroad March 14, 2022 Internationally-registered homes in London increased by £6bn last year, but the impact of Russian sanctions is expected to slow the rate of growth in the market. Despite the pandemic, there was a four per cent increase in the number of houses registered to buyers overseas, up to 84, 451, according to new numbers released by [...]
Police called to John Bercow’s Battersea home over domestic disturbance following assault claim by wife Sally March 14, 2022 Police were called to a domestic disturbance at the home of former House of Commons Speaker John Bercow. Authorities attended his Battersea home last August over claims of ‘common assault’ reportedly made by his wife, Sally Bercow, according to The Times. This comes after Bercow was banned from Parliament after the conclusion of a two-year [...]
Microsoft among best firms to work for despite CEO making 410 times average salary March 14, 2022 HP and Microsoft are some of the best Fortune 500 firms to work for, with high average earnings despite eye-watering sums going to those at the top. Chief executives for some of the world’s leading companies earn up to 840 times the average employee according to a new report released this week. Ranked number one [...]
Charity supporting young disabled people into work gets £100k boost from City March 14, 2022 A London charity supporting young disabled people’s job prospects has received a £100,000 boost. Bromley Mencap was given the funding from the City of London Corporation’s charity funder, City Bridge Trust, following unprecedented demand during the pandemic. The organisation received 1,200 new referrals last year – a 100 per cent increase, and will put the money [...]
Pandemic leads to major spike in whistleblowers turning to SFO to report alleged fraud March 14, 2022 The pandemic has led to a near 20 per cent rise in whistleblower reports about alleged fraud. Workers may have falsified accounts to cover up theft or inflated sales figures in a bid to achieve bonuses during the pandemic, a new report by consultancy firm Accuracy has found. There was a 17 per cent rise [...]