Volkswagen’s share price drops after it reports profits and sales to have tumbled in first quarter of 2016 May 31, 2016 Volkswagen today reported a fall in pre-tax profits and sales in the first quarter of what chief executive Matthias Müller said will "undoubtedly be a demanding" year. The company's share price fell more than 3.5 per cent on the news. The figures Volkswagen reported a profit before tax of €3.2bn in the first quarter, down [...]
Microsoft sells display advertising business to AOL and map technology to Uber June 30, 2015 Microsoft has sold its mobile and video advertising businesses to AOL in the US, UK and seven other key markets as it looks to focus on search advertising. Read more: Verizon swoops for AOL in $4bn bid to boost ads AOL, recently purchased by US telecoms giant Verizon, will take control of all display advertising on [...]
Sunday trading hours: Why the campaign against changes to the law by industry groups and Tory MPs is utterly bonkers March 7, 2016 I am confused, bemused and somewhat irritated by the constant threats from MPs, trading bodies and groups around the country to derail the government’s plans to relax the Sunday trading laws. Creating barriers to trade is out-dated and puts the UK at risk. More than 20 Tory Ministers and MPs have threatened to block the plans before [...]
Banking bazooka? CMA report great for fintech, costly for banks August 9, 2016 The competition watchdog has today handed fintech startups a bazooka for their mission of disrupting banks, with new rules for making data more open to improve customer choice. The so-called big four – HSBC, Lloyds, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland – and other smaller high street banks will have to work together to create standards for sharing [...]
Baidu’s share price jumps in after hours trading after the company reports revenue to have soared April 28, 2016 Chinese search engine Baidu's share price jumped almost five per cent in after hours trading after the company reported strong financial results. Sometimes dubbed China's Google, Baidu reported first quarter total revenue had climbed 24.3 per cent year-on-year to 15.82bn yuan (£1.68bn). The company also said that online marketing revenue had risen to 14.93bn yuan in the three months [...]
These are the seven fintech startups being backed by Mastercard June 21, 2016 Mastercard is backing seven fintech startups hoping to change the way we use money and disrupt the finance world. London startups Revolut and Everledger are among the tech firms chosen for Mastercard's six month Start Path programme from among more than 500 applications from 60 countries. The startups, from as far afield as Israel and Argentina and announced at London [...]
Uber bosses questioned by French police amid government attempts to enforce ban June 29, 2015 Two executives of the controversial taxi app Uber have been questioned by French police as the startup faces a government crackdown following violent protests Simphal Thibault and Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty, general managers for France and Western Europe respectively, are being questioned over the US company's activities, a French prosecutor said, amid tighter restrictions on the ride-sharing app in [...]
Most Londoners love taxi apps like Uber and Hailo – but think Black Cabs will still be around in 20 years August 3, 2015 As the war between Black Cabbies and taxi apps rages on, it seems the battle for Londoners' hearts has been won, after a new survey showed 55 per cent of those living in the capital are in favour of Uber and its ilk. The study, by YouGov and communications firm PLMR, found 55 per cent [...]
General Motors accelerates in driverless car race as it buys Cruise Automation March 11, 2016 General Motors (GM), owner of such marques as Vauxhall, Cadillac and Chevrolet, has just come closer to taking pole position in the race to develop a driverless car, after it bought San Francisco-based startup Cruise Automation. The company, which is developing autonomous vehicle software, was founded in 2013. It has tested its technology "in San Francisco's [...]
Card fees for paying for London taxis removed for all passengers April 5, 2016 Those using cards to pay for their London taxis will no longer have to pay a surcharge, in a move that will help keep the industry competitive against the likes of Uber. The move means passengers should never pay more than the amount shown on the meter due to the method of payment that is used. [...]