Bad news for Brazil: Economy contracted 1.7 per cent in the second quarter December 1, 2015 Brazil's economy contracted for the third quarter-in a row during the three months to the end of September. GDP for the Latin American country shrank 1.7 per cent compared to the second quarter, which was a bigger decline than the 1.2 per cent economists expected. Overall, Brazil's economy is now 4.5 per cent smaller than [...]
Scientists have found a way to create diamonds in a lab December 1, 2015 A discovery by scientists in the US could make it possible to create diamonds under simple lab conditions. The team from North Carolina State University developed a new kind of carbon structure, called Q-carbon, which is fundamentally different from all other solid forms of the material. When Q-carbon is treated with laser pulses followed by [...]
Layabouts? Well-educated kids are more likely to rely on their parents for cash December 1, 2015 Having a PhD or a master's degree might help you become an expert in your field, but it doesn't help you fly the nest. The better educated a person is, the less likely they are to break free from their parents and become financially independent in adulthood, according to a new study from North Carolina State [...]
Asia shares rise despite contraction in China’s manufacturing sector December 1, 2015 Manufacturing activity in China declined for the fourth month in a row in November. The official purchasing managers' index fell to 49.6 for the month – down from 49.8 in October and the fourth consecutive month of declines. It fell behind the consensus expectation of 49.8 among analysts polled by Reuters. The figure was also a [...]
Why job insecurity causes a wide range of health problems November 30, 2015 Feeling uncertain about the future of your job can have a serious impact on your health, both mental and physical, according to a new report by a UCL economist. Studying the link between employee stability and well-being among people in the UK, Switzerland, Canada and Australia, professor Francis Green found a clear trend – moving from a [...]
Fortnum & Mason gets a pre-Christmas boost with record sales November 30, 2015 Londoners' enthusiasm for posh food continues apace, after luxury food retailer Fortnum & Mason's posted record sales. In the 12 months to July, total sales amounting to £88m for the period – 19 per cent higher than 2014 and 70 per cent higher than five years ago. In addition, profit before tax was 31 per cent [...]
Radio waves from outer space could be a sign of alien life, scientists suggest November 30, 2015 Radio wave signals from outer space have baffled scientists in Australia, leading them to suggest they might come from alien life in a distant galaxy. By studying a series of fast radio wave bursts (FRBs) using data from the Parkes radio telescope in New South Wales, Emily Petroff and her team at the Swinbourne University [...]
Aberdeen Asset Management’s share price falls on news of higher emerging market outflows November 30, 2015 Aberdeen Asset Management has suffered a decline in total assets for the year, as a result of weaker investor sentiment in emerging markets. The investment giant, which specialises in Asian markets, experienced net outflows of £12.7bn during the three months from July to September. Total assets at the end of the period were valued at [...]
A third of UK entrepreneurs are too busy to come up with new ideas November 27, 2015 British entrepreneurs are so pushed for time they have little opportunity to come up with new ideas for improving business, according to a new study by technology company Sage. In a survey of over 2,600 small and medium-sized company owners, 34 per cent said their busy schedules were a “block to innovation”. In fact, of [...]
