We are expanding again – but the journey has barely begun July 25, 2013 FOR ONCE, economists managed to predict exactly yesterday’s second quarter GDP growth figures of 0.6 per cent. Such statistics should be treated extremely carefully: they are inevitably revised, sometimes dramatically. Yet it has been clear for months now that activity is thankfully returning, as is confidence, though the UK faces immense structural challenges. The economy [...]
Inside Track: Just-eat.com just might serve up a London flotation July 25, 2013 LONDON’S reputation as a host city for start-up technology groups would be enhanced if some of the larger businesses would only decide to list here. While there’s no doubt the plan to set up a hub for tech companies around Old Street roundabout is making strong progress, there are still concerns that some of the [...]
Battle of the online giants: Why Facebook continues to surprise its many critics July 25, 2013 BEFORE Facebook surprised the market with a 53 per cent rise in second quarter revenues to $1.8bn (£1.2bn), the social network had had a wretched few months. It was forced to admit it hands data to the US National Security Agency – stirring up privacy concerns. In May, Nissan and Nationwide pulled ads after they [...]
Focus on: Chiswick July 25, 2013 NEED TO KNOW | AREA INSIGHT DESPITE being known as the a go-to destination for foodies, there’s more to Chiswick than its impressive stable of quality delicatessens, greengrocers and top-notch eateries. The affluent west London suburb is one of the top commuter hotspots due to its close proximity to central London and offers large properties [...]
McDonald’s cautious as tough economy eats into food sales July 22, 2013 MCDONALD’S yesterday said it expects the rest of the year to be tough for fast food sales, after posting a four per cent rise in net income to almost $1.4bn (£911m) for the second quarter. Shares in the world’s biggest restaurant chain lost 2.7 per cent yesterday after chief executive Don Thompson said “the informal [...]
Skanska wins contract for The Scalpel July 22, 2013 CONSTRUCTION firm Skanska has won the contract to build the 190m tall office building known as The Scalpel. The Nordic firm, which has also built the Gherkin and the Heron Tower, is due to start work immediately on the Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) designed high-rise, with completion set for early 2017. The building, at the [...]
McDonald’s revenues miss expectations as European sales remain suppressed July 22, 2013 McDonald’s has reported second quarter revenues of $7.08bn, or $1.38 per share, missing analyst expectations of $1.41 per share (release). Year-on-year, second quarter revenues were up 2.4 per cent, and earnings per share rose by seven per cent. Net profits were up five per cent to $1.40bn. In the US, comparable sales were up one [...]
Mayfair mews pays out for property mogul July 21, 2013 VINCENT Tchenguiz, the property tycoon wrapped up in a legal battle with the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has had one piece of good news of late – the mogul has sold his Mayfair home for almost £17m. The eight-bedroom property on Lees Place in Mayfair is close to Annabel’s private members club and only five [...]
South America’s capital of glamour July 21, 2013 With its sprawling sandy beaches, iconic landmarks and buzzing atmosphere, Rio de Janeiro is in a league of its own, says Gabriel O’Rorke WITH the World Cup and the Olympics on the horizon, Brazil is preparing to become the focus of the world’s attention. One city that is used to the limelight is Rio de [...]
Greece’s latest austerity measures could push government over the edge July 18, 2013 The narrow approval of fiscal reforms demanded by troika lenders in the Greek parliament late last night will put further pressure on Antonis Samaras’s government, potentially resulting in early elections. Robin Bew, chief economist and editorial director of the Economist Intelligence Unit, said today: #Greece agrees civil service layoffs to keep bailout alive. But politics [...]