What the other papers say this morning – 17 January 2014
FINANCIAL TIMES
EE float put on hold by owners
The flotation of EE, Britain’s largest mobile operator, has been put on hold by Orange and Deutsche Telekom, after the joint owners concluded they would secure a higher valuation for the business when its 4G telephone services take off. Orange and Deutsche Telekom – which has also been linked with a sale of its US business this year – had been working on options for a partial sale of EE for more than a year. The move to shelve what could have been London’s largest initial public offering represents an unexpected reversal for a booming market, which had attracted a growing number of companies seeking to raise capital.
Numbers of non-EU students fall
The number of students coming to study in UK universities from outside Europe has fallen for the first time, according to figures that demonstrate the effect of Home Office immigration restrictions. Numbers from India are down by a quarter. The data shows an overall drop of 1 per cent in overseas students enrolling at universities in 2012-13, compared with the previous year.
Truce in car insurance price war
A price war between UK motor insurance companies may finally be coming to an end, according to a closely watched premium index. The downward pressure on premiums is beginning to ease after two years.
THE TIMES
Mergers leave openings for hackers
Law firms, accountants and investment banks are being targeted by cyber-criminals seeking confidential information on corporate deals, the Government has warned. Firms that advise companies on mergers and other transactions have become attractive to hackers who want to circumvent the defences of blue-chip companies.
Ex-PizzaExpress boss invests in Arden
Luke Johnson, the former chairman of PizzaExpress and Channel 4 turned serial investor, snapped up 9.75 per cent of Arden Partners for nearly £1.4m. The declaration of Mr Johnson’s stake spurred Arden’s shares 15.9 per cent higher.
The Daily Telegraph
Windows XP support extended
Microsoft will continue to provide virus warnings for Windows XP users until 14 July 2015 – over a year after all other support for the software is scheduled to stop. Microsoft had previously said that it would halt all security updates on 8 April 2014, when support for Windows XP ends.
BT testing for the Internet of Things
BT has started testing a new networking technology that could eventually carry large volumes of machine-to-machine data over the internet, helping to support the Internet of Things. The Internet of Things describes the growing number of internet connected devices.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Diageo to lift whisky production
Diageo said yesterday it would invest $49m (£30m) in expanding its Clynelish Scotch whisky distillery, part of a bet by the UK drinks giant that global demand for the liquor will continue to grow. Located deep in the Scottish Highlands, the Clynelish distillery produces single-malt whisky.
Google testing ‘smart’ contact lens
Google’s secretive GoogleX lab is testing a smart contact lens for diabetics, the company said in a blog post Thursday. Using a miniature glucose sensor, the lenses are designed to measure glucose levels in tears.