Bob Diamond’s fund Atlas Mara increases stake in Union Bank of Nigeria September 5, 2014 Former Barclays chief Bob Diamond's African investment vehicle has increased its stake in a Nigerian banking group by nearly 30 per cent as it bets on the success of the country's economy. Atlas Mara exercised an option to buy a 20.9 per cent stake in Union Bank of Nigeria from the Asset Management Corporation of [...]
Four charts showing how Lego became the biggest toymaker in the world September 4, 2014 Lego has snatched the "world's biggest toymaker" crown from atop Mattel's blonde, Barbie-shaped head, after The Lego Movie helped propel revenues to DK 11.5bn (£1.2bn). Operating profit rose 12 per cent to DK 3.6bn in the six months to the end of June, while China became its most significant market, with sales up more than [...]
BP share price plummets as judge raises Deepwater Horizon fine to $18bn September 4, 2014 BP's share price dived more than five per cent in late afternoon trading, after a US district court ruling made it liable for a fine of up to $18bn (£11bn) in relation to the Gulf of Mexico disaster in 2010. The court found BP acted with "gross negligence" and "wilful misconduct" when the Deepwater Horizon [...]
iBrute force: Is this how Apple iPhone hackers leaked nude photos of Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Upton? September 4, 2014 Yesterday a thread appeared on notoriously NSFW forum site 4chan, promising to post nude photos of actresses Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Upton and Ariana Grande in return for Bitcoin donations. Publicists for Lawrence and Upton confirmed the pictures were real (although Grande’s insisted they were “completely fake”). But how did the hacker get access to their [...]
Watch: Dyson unveils the 360 Eye, its robotic vacuum cleaner September 4, 2014 In recent years James Dyson has experimented with fans and hand dryers, but it seems he has returned to his first love, the vacuum cleaner. At a press conference in Japan this morning, Dyson unveiled his first robotic vacuum, the 360 Eye. Admittedly, robotic vacuum cleaners aren't a new idea – in 2001 Dyson trailed [...]
European markets cautious as Nato summit begins September 4, 2014 European markets took a break from recent rallies as the leaders of Nato countries prepared to meet at the Celtic Manor resort in Wales this morning. Having hit its highest level in 14 years yesterday, the FTSE 100 rose a modest 0.1 per cent to 6,880 in early trading, while France's Cac fell 0.4 per [...]
Co-operative Group is back in profit as it confirms Richard Pennycook as chief executive September 4, 2014 The troubled Co-operative Group has made interim chief executive Richard Pennycook will take on the role full-time. Pennycook was promoted from his position of chief financial officer in March after the surprise resignation of Euan Sutherland. His appointment is likely to give the group's investors – including the hedge fund owners of its banking arm [...]
Ryanair’s passenger numbers soar to a record high in August September 3, 2014 OUTSPOKEN Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary stayed resolutely quiet yesterday as the budget airline announced record monthly traffic. Passenger numbers grew four per cent, from 9m in August 2013 to 9.4m in the same month this year, pushing shares in the group 1.57 per cent higher yesterday to close at €7.39. Marketing manager Kenny Jacobs attributed [...]
Super skinny North London house goes on to auction with a £235,000 price tag September 3, 2014 It may seem like a home for the super-svelte, but you'll need a fat wallet if you want to buy this seven-foot wide home near Turnpike Lane station in North London – it's being put up for auction with a guide price of £235,000. Here's the skinny: the two-storey, two-bedroom home on St Anns Road [...]
WEF: UK is ninth most competitive economy – and second most “technologically ready”? September 3, 2014 The UK is now the ninth-most competitive economy in the world, figures published this morning showed – and the second-most competitive when it comes to "technological readiness". Blighty rose one place from last year in the rankings, published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), while Switzerland came top of the list and Finland (fourth) and [...]
