Small but perfectly formed: we put the iPad Mini through its paces November 7, 2012 Apple’s great skill lies in creating products you didn’t know you needed. Nobody thought they wanted a little metal box with all their music on it, but when it arrived, the world went all doe-eyed and declared its undying love. Tablets had been around for years and made no impact on the public consciousness. “Fingerprints,” [...]
Halo 4: as much fun as you can have on an Xbox November 7, 2012 GAME HALO 4 Xbox 360 | ***** HALO ISN’T just a video game – it’s a gigantic, multimedia behemoth, crushing all in its path under its metal-plated boots. Since the original Halo launched on Microsoft’s first Xbox, the franchise has grown to fill an entire universe, with spin-offs including an animated web series, a graphic [...]
How the 4th gen iPad measures up November 7, 2012 The surprise package in the Apple announcements last month was the news there would be an update to the 3rd generation iPad. Apple says it will continue to sell the iPad 2 (starting price £329) but will replace the “new iPad” (which is now the old iPad – this naming business is getting rather complicated…) [...]
Wall Street tumbles on Obama re-election November 7, 2012 The Dow Jones fell more than two per cent in trading today, as investors shifted their focus to a looming fiscal cliff after President Barack Obama’s re-election for a second term. The energy, healthcare, banking and defence sectors were among the hardest hit during trading, after Obama defeated Republican candidate Mitt Romney. The Dow Jones [...]
Carlyle calls off Chemring bid talks November 7, 2012 US private equity firm Carlyle has confirmed it will not make a bid for troubled defence equipment group Chemring, after extending the deadline twice. Chemring, which first received a “highly preliminary expression of interest” from Carlyle in August, issued a profit warning last week, sending its shares to a six-year low. The FTSE 250 defence [...]
FTSE 100 up on Obama victory November 7, 2012 US President Barack Obama’s victory pushed up the blue chip index in early trading. His win is expected to mark the continuation of loose monetary policy and low interest rates at the Federal Reserve. Miners and engineering firms led the FTSE All-Share higher, with boiler and valve maker Spirax-Sarco adding 6.76 per cent in early [...]
Vedanta profits soar almost 50 per cent November 7, 2012 India-focused miner Vedanta reported an almost 50 per cent jump in first-half profit this morning, boosted by record output from subsidiary Cairn India. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation for the six months to September came in at $2.6bn (£1.62bn), helped by production at Cairn India, which it acquired last year. Zinc profits fell [...]
Obama wins US election November 7, 2012 President Barack Obama last night won a second term in the White House, prevailing despite dissatisfaction over the US economy to secure victory over Republican candidate Mitt Romney. The Democrats retained a majority in the Senate, while the House of Representatives remained in Republican control. Obama scored impressive victories across the US, so much so [...]
Rising revenue at Burberry November 7, 2012 Luxury goods retailer Burberry this morning posted an eight per cent rise in revenue over the six months to September. Total revenue for the luxury retailer grew to £883m over the half year. However, the group reported profit before tax of £111.9m over the period, down from £158.7m last year after Burberry took a £71m [...]
ING to cut headcount by 2,350 November 7, 2012 Dutch bank ING is to cut 2,350 jobs, it announced this morning, as it streamlines its business. ING said it would cut 1,350 jobs from its insurance arm and 1,000 from the commercial banking division as it aims to separate both operations in difficult markets. Chairman Jon Hommen said today: “As we work to solidify [...]
