Review: Watch Dogs on Xbox One June 11, 2014 ★★★☆☆ I can’t remember the last game I anticipated quite as fervently as I have Watch Dogs. It's a title that places cyber crime and state surveillance at its heart, making its protagonist’s weapon the connected world; a world it doesn’t take a spectacular mental leap to imagine us all living in. And, for the [...]
Black Cats curse Colback switch June 9, 2014 FOOTBALL: Sunderland last night said midfielder Jack Colback’s free transfer to rivals Newcastle “has left a bitter taste” claiming they were not given the opportunity to negotiate a new contract for a player nurtured since the age of eight. Meanwhile, midfielder Steve Sidwell has joined Stoke from Fulham and Joe Cole is set to leave [...]
We got a dog to forecast the US jobs report and this is what happened June 6, 2014 The monthly US job report is notoriously difficult to forecast, and methodologies for estimating the number of jobs added each month vary widely. But we think we have the best. This month we're joined by 10-year old labrador Barney, who has worked hard to predict the fortune of the US labour market in the month [...]
The Shard evacuated after reports of smoke in building’s basement June 5, 2014 London's iconic Shard skyscraper has been evacuated after reports of smoke. The London Fire Brigade says that firefighters have been investigating the reports of smoke in the basement of the building. Smoke without fire perhaps, as the fire brigade's statement says that "there is no suggestion at this stage that there is a fire". So [...]
Understanding the Treasury is now child’s play June 4, 2014 WHAT do you do when you need to clearly communicate dense fiscal research to the masses? Employ Lego, of course! Yesterday the Treasury published an article called “12 things that £1,400 UK Dividend could buy”, which illustrated each point with little yellow men. How very Buzzfeed – can we expect 12 cats that look like [...]
French attack on US fines could make them worse June 3, 2014 THE FRENCH government’s attempt to stop US regulators fining national champion BNP Paribas could make the situation worse for the bank, lawyers warned yesterday. BNP faces a fine of as much as $10bn (£6bn) for alleged sanction breaking, in breech of US laws. French finance minister Laurent Fabius yesterday said the potential fine was “not reasonable,” and [...]
Inside Track: For the first time since Lehman, CEOs are ready for deals May 29, 2014 Notwithstanding the fact that the US drugs group Pfizer was forced to walk away from its £69bn bid for Astrazeneca, takeover bids and deals, and even the sniff of them, are back. Yesterday morning, Man Group, the fund management company that has been haunted in recent years by the poor performance of its previously successful [...]
Football’s equaliser gets a good kicking May 22, 2014 FINANCIAL Fair play (FFP) has been big news of late. It’s splitting opinions across Europe and with this in mind City A.M. held a lively roundtable last night, bringing together some experts together to discuss the contentious topic. Despite what is sounds like, financial fair play doesn’t put the City in the limelight but instead, [...]
Handy business tips from Terra Firma’s top Guy May 20, 2014 GUY HANDS gave his first speech in London for five years at the Institute of Directors yesterday, as part of Private Equity International’s Operating Partners Forum. In case you missed it, here are our four gems of wisdom – inspired by the financier’s latest musings. 1. Don’t bother changing your suits “Over the last five [...]
Circassia cracks on with trials May 19, 2014 CIRCASSIA, the newly-listed allergy drugs company, said yesterday its clinical trials are progressing as planned. The firm expects results for two studies in the second half of the year and is pressing on with bringing its Cat-Spire treatment to market, it said in a trading update. Circassia raised more than £200m when it floated on [...]