Why the NPFL is the best thing to happen to CrossFit yet April 7, 2014 CrossFit, the fitness craze that's seen rapid growth first in Santa Cruz, California, then the rest of the world, finally has some competition of its own. Right now it's sometimes difficult to follow some of the CrossFit frenetic workouts out there – usually some combination of weightlifting and gymnastics – unless you're already clued in [...]
Tesco confirms finance chief departure April 4, 2014 Grocer Tesco has confirmed the widely reported departure of its chief financial officer, Laurie McIlwee. McIlwee has decided to step down from the board and resign, but has agreed to remain in his role to ensure a smooth handover, a statement said. Chairman Sir Richard Broadbent thanked McIlwee for his contribution, saying that he "has [...]
US jobs numbers miss April 4, 2014 It's one of the most important economic releases out of the US in a long time. This month's nonfarm payrolls number has the chance to settle a debate about the health of the US economy, and one that is important for policymakers and investors. Is the recent underperformance in US economic data a question of [...]
UK car registrations see strongest month in 10 years April 4, 2014 Car registrations are picking up speed, according to the latest SMMT data. They rose to 464,825 in March, a rise of 17.7 per cent on last month. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes says that's "a surprisingly strong level of growth and a reflection of intensifying consumer confidence". No surprise that March saw a lot of [...]
What investors are looking for in today’s US jobs report April 4, 2014 Stocks are moving higher ahead of this afternoon's US labour market report. The headline nonfarm payrolls number is what most investors are concerned with, and is expected to show that 200,000 jobs were added in the US this March. There's a continued debate as to whether the weakness in recent US data is down to [...]
Which surprise stocks will see the biggest wins from an Internet of Things? April 3, 2014 Hot on the heels of a 75-page paper from analysts at Barclays dubbed the ‘Hyperconnected World: The digital invasion” comes another mammoth paper from banking analysts on the invasion of the internet. Morgan Stanley have published a 96-page tome detailing in great precision on the Internet of Things, or IoT in short, and its impact [...]
The Bank of England chief cashier who won the Military Cross April 3, 2014 Bank of England records released this morning include their documents on the war service of the clerks who left between 1914-1918. Hundreds of young men were given “war leave” over the period, and many returned to the Bank afterwards. One of those young men was Kenneth Peppiatt, 20 or 21 in 1914 – who was [...]
Why ultra-modern P2P lenders are starting to look like old-style building societies April 3, 2014 Peer to peer lenders are getting big. And as they grow, they are pushed into a new way of doing business – a way of doing business that looks increasingly like banks and building societies. P2P lenders have boomed since the crisis, as banks cut back lending and savers looked for a better return on [...]
Will the ECB finally cut rates as currency bloc drifts towards deflation? April 3, 2014 While consensus indicates that we'll see no action from the European Central Bank today, recent falls in inflation may see the hand of president Mario Draghi forced. The latest data from Eurostat shows annual inflation in the Eurozone falling to just 0.5 per cent in March, down from 0.7 in February. Analysts at BNP Paribas [...]
Service sector growth drops to lowest level in nine months April 3, 2014 UK plc activity shows no signs of stopping, but it might be slowing a little. New data from Markit shows the UK's services purchasing managers' index at 57.6 in March. That level suggests that order growth in the sector is still surging. Despite slipping from 58.2 last month, services are still well into expansionary territory, [...]
