Salmond’s Scottish question rejected January 30, 2013 The question proposed for Scotland’s vote on independence has been rejected by the Electoral Commission. The commission said that asking voters whether they “agree” that Scotland should be an independent country was biased, in a setback for SNP leader Alex Salmond’s campaign. The vote is due to take place in 2014.
Apple loses attempt to triple Samsung’s $1bn patent charge January 30, 2013 APPLE has seen its request to increase its rival Samsung’s $1.05bn (£665m) copyright fine rejected in US courts. The Korean company was ordered to pay Apple the sum in August after it was found to have used patented iPhone designs in its Galaxy handsets. Apple had attempted to up the fine, claiming Samsung purposefully infringed [...]
Asian tech firms bring life to smartphone race January 30, 2013 THREE Asian companies injected fresh competition into the smartphone industry yesterday, boosting British chip firms Imagination Technologies and ARM Holdings. LG, ZTE and Lenovo all outlined a focus on competing with the likes of Apple and Samsung, and said they anticipate better sales of high-end devices this year. China’s Lenovo, which is likely to become [...]
Nintendo cuts forecasts for sales of Wii U January 30, 2013 NINTENDO surprised the video gaming world yesterday by cutting sales forecasts for its Wii U and 3DS consoles. The Japanese giant said it expects Wii U shipments to have hit 4m from its November launch to the end of March, down from the 5.5m originally anticipated. Nintendo also trimmed annual forecasts for the handheld 3DS [...]
Phoenix rises again after £250m share issue January 30, 2013 LIFE insurer Phoenix yesterday unveiled plans to raise £250m in a share issue, enabling it to pay down some of its £2.4bn debt pile and raising the prospect of a return to the acquisition market. Chief executive Clive Bannister said the deal – first disclosed in yesterday’s City A.M. – transforms Phoenix by removing the [...]
Roche posts lift in sales January 30, 2013 SWISS pharmaceuticals giant Roche yesterday posted a four per cent lift in group sales for last year, and said it expects sales to grow at the same rate in 2013. The firm reported that sales hit SFr45.5bn (£31.6bn) due to greater demand for key cancer drugs and higher sales of diagnostic tests. Excluding the effects [...]
Weak Europe hits Manpower January 30, 2013 GLOBAL staffing company Manpower yesterday reported a 16 per cent fall in fourth-quarter profit as a weak European market hurt its margins. US-based Manpower, which derives most of its sales and profit overseas, has been under pressure from a weak economy in Europe, where many companies have cut back on hiring. “We are on guard [...]
No more WAGs please: Women prefer traders January 30, 2013 GOOD news for City lotharios, especially in the run-up to Valentine’s Day. Apparently more women would rather date a City trader than a footballer. The shine is slightly taken off this news by discovering that it is only true for women looking to trade their husbands for a banker part-time. The study, by IllicitEncounters.com, the [...]
Boy racers in the Square Mile gear up for motoring challenge January 30, 2013 FORMER managing director of private banking at RBS Nigel Jackson has taken on a charity role chairing the organising committee of The Circuit, a motor racing event to raise money for the NSPCC. Jackson, currently director of boutique business consulting company Abstract UK told The Capitalist that “we’ve already got some keen racers signed up [...]
Fiat’s debt rises as car sales fall 14pc in Europe January 30, 2013 FIAT said yesterday its debt grew by about €1bn (£850m) in 2012 as European car sales tumbled 14 per cent, leaving the Italian carmaker ever more dependent on strong growth at US unit Chrysler. As Fiat’s management moves to increase spending on new models in Europe and the United States, investors are keeping a close [...]
