10-week fitness challenge | The get-fit diary of an out of shape office worker May 6, 2014 The end is in sight – I have four weeks to go in my fitness challenge (with a week added on to mitigate for missed sessions). Knowing it will soon be over is great for refocusing your mind – the last fortnight has been a slog but having had a few days off I feel [...]
Apple closes above $600 a share May 5, 2014 Apple shares yesterday topped $600 last night, leading the S&P 500 and Nasdaq higher. The stocks rose 1.4 per cent to $600.96, hitting $600 for the first time since October 2012. The gains follow by strong first quarter figures for the iPhone maker last week. Apple also said it was boosting its share buyback scheme [...]
New York Report: US shares rise as Apple stocks top $600 mark May 5, 2014 US stocks ended slightly higher yesterday as data showed strength in the services sector and Apple shares rose above $600 for the first time since 2012. Limiting the day’s gains, however, were concerns over an escalation of tensions between Ukraine and pro-Russia separatists. Ukrainian forces were ambushed by separatists, triggering heavy fighting on the outskirts [...]
Angela Ahrendts says goodbye to Burberry May 1, 2014 ANGELA AHRENDTS finally made her exit from Burberry yesterday after eight years at the helm of the luxury fashion retailer. American-born Ahrendts is due to start at Apple this month, with chief creative officer Christopher Bailey taking her place. She is understood to be taking with her the £5m bonus due for the past financial [...]
Sainsbury’s launches mobile scan and go trial April 30, 2014 Remember those hefty handheld “scan as you shop” machines in supermarkets that allow you to avoid queuing at the check-out? Sainsbury’s has rebooted this concept with an app that allows shoppers to scan, pack and pay for their shopping using their smartphone before collecting a receipt and exiting the store. With its “mobile [...]
Cirrus snaps up British rival Wolfson for £291m April 29, 2014 AUDIO semiconductor-maker Wolfson Microelectronics has agreed a £291m takeover by Texas rival Cirrus Logic. Announced yesterday, the cash deal will see Wolfson’s shareholders receive 235p per share, a 76 per cent premium to the share’s value prior to the deal. The valuation still marks a significant drop from Wolfson’s peak in 2006 when the Edinburgh-based [...]
Apple hoping to raise up to $12bn from bumper bond sale April 29, 2014 APPLE is planning to tap US markets for up to $12bn (£7.13bn) as part of a seven-part bond offering to help the tech giant finance the $90bn share buyback it announced last week. The offering, rated Aa1 by ratings agency Moody’s yesterday, is split across notes with maturities from three to 30 years according to [...]
What you need to know before the US open April 29, 2014 US stocks futures pointed to a higher opening today, following some better-than-expected corporate results. European markets have continued to received a lift from positive earnings reports and news of mergers. A two-day Fed policy meeting begins later today, with expectations that a decision will be taken to taper for a fourth time. The increase in [...]
Panasonic returns to profit after three years due to weaker yen April 28, 2014 JAPANESE electronics giant Panasonic reported its first full year profit in three years yesterday, with sales boosted by the weaker yen. The maker of Lumix cameras posted profits of 120.4bn yen (£710m) for the year to March, up from the 754.3bn yen loss the previous year. Panasonic has been withdrawing from loss-making operations such as [...]
New York Report: US stocks are volatile as tech stocks sold off April 28, 2014 THE S&P 500 ended higher yesterday after a volatile session, as gains in Apple and Pfizer helped offset another round of selling in some high-growth tech shares. The Nasdaq ended slightly lower but rebounded late in the session from a fall of over one per cent. Leading the Nasdaq down was Amazon, which extended Friday’s [...]