From London property and Tesco to Sports Direct and haunted houses: Here’s what got us talking this week
It was a week in which plastic bags suddenly became the big new commodity, Google became free to be evil and somewhere lurking in your neighbourhood, proof of "ghost-free" houses became a thing.
Here's what got us talking
1) We nailed the property conundrum
We don't like to brag but we may have finally found the greatest way to pinpoint the next property hot spots.
The fried chicken guide might sound a bit cuckoo, but we think it's eggstremely plausible. But if that's too flighty for you, why not go by proximity to Night Tube stations or good old-fashioned supply-and-demand.
Whatever you do, if you're plumping for a flat, make sure you get the right one – because Londoners have a love storey with just one floor.
2) Talking Tesco
The struggling supermarket this week released better than expected first-half results – but, as several people pointed out, expectations weren't high.
In fact, the consensus was that Drastic Dave Lewis has not been drastic enough, But they are certainly putting their money where their mouths are.
Still, it was not enough to impress at least one ratings agency, who issued a "must try harder" alert on Friday.
3) Sports Direct wasn't very sporting
That has to be the only conclusion from the news that USC staff had won a legal battle for redundancy payment after the handling of the retail chain's administration in January.
This was followed just hours later by the revelation that Sports Direct chief executive Dave Forsey had been slapped with a criminal charge for the handling of these redundancies.
4) We weren't surprised, just disappointed
As was everyone who uses London Bridge, because we learned it was the UK's least-favourite train station.
5) Brexit campaign is go
Cameron might still be hoping to negotiate EU reforms, but this was the week Vote Leave really got going – and not without the support of some big hitters from the City.
Leisurely Reads
Thousands of people have registered an interest in Lloyds Banking Group's retail share sell off. But should you be getting involved? Read our take on the opportunity here.
Pensioners were expected to be buying up Lamborghinis in droves this summer, after landmark pension freedoms came into effect in April. The reality has been somewhat more sober, as this article explains.
Charts of the Week
Great reads from elsewhere
Sell Obama, buy Putin. That is the market shorthand for the geopolitical situation that has developed in the Middle East, according to this article, which claims that Vladimir Putin has spectacularly wrong-footed the West in Syria.
Do you ever wonder how your relationship with technology has changed your relationship with just about everything (or everyone) else?
The Last Word
Business should be redesigned around the househusband