How the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive has pushed e-cigarettes into the dark May 3, 2016 In just over two weeks, 20 May will be a big day for smokers and vapers – but I wonder how many know it. From that day, EU regulations in the form of the European Tobacco Products Directive will limit the strength of e-cigarette fluid and restrict bottle sizes to a measly 10ml. Tank capacity – i.e. the amount [...]
Post room boom: Workplaces are being overrun by packages delivered to employees, research by Barclaycard shows May 3, 2016 Offices are being overrun by packages delivered to employees, according to new research from Barclaycard. Company post rooms are likely to suffer from a deluge of mail this week as 17.1m British shoppers anticipate spending more than usual online over the Bank Holiday weekend. Over half, 58 per cent, of Londoners now regularly use their work address [...]
Insurance titan American International Group posts lower than expected profits for third consecutive quarter May 2, 2016 US insurance titan American International Group (AIG) reported a lower-than-expected quarterly operating profit in the third consecutive quarter to fall below analysts' estimates. AIG's profits suffered as income from underwriting and returns on investments declined. The company's operating profit fell 54 per cent to $773m (£529m) in the first quarter, which included $122m in restructuring costs. The [...]
Apple’s share price just suffered an eight-day losing streak – its longest since 1998 May 2, 2016 Apple shares have posted their longest losing streak since 1998, closing lower for the eighth straight session today. The tech giant's stock closed at $93.64, although they have been marginally declining since 20 April, when its closing share price was $107.13. Read more: Apple's share price drops after revenue misses expectations [charts-share-price id="232"] Apple's share price [...]
Draghi lashes out at hawks and defends low interest rates in Europe during Asian Development Bank speech May 2, 2016 The president of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, lashed out at hawks today and argued there is no current alternative for low interest rates. In a speech given to the Asian Development Bank, Draghi acknowledged that low interest rates are not harmless, as they put pressure on the business model of financial institutions by squeezing [...]
E-cigarette advertising clamp down expected from European Court of Justice ahead of implementation of European Tobacco Products Directive May 2, 2016 The European Court of Justice (ECJ) is expected to rule in favour of clamping down on e-cigarette advertising this week, despite a recent report by UK doctors that urged promoting the product for public health reasons. The ECJ will rule on Wednesday on a final attempt by tobacco and e-cigarette manufacturers to ameliorate legislation that [...]
Leicester City Premier League win would put UK bookmakers out by £10m in losses, with William Hill and Ladbrokes losing £3m each May 2, 2016 UK bookmakers will have to pay out £15m if Leicester City are crowned the winners of the Premier League tonight, of which £10m will be in losses, according to William Hill. If Tottenham fail to defeat Chelsea tonight, Leicester City will secure their first top-flight title. Both Ladbrokes and William Hill have said they will be paying out [...]
Cheers to that: Waitrose doubles Scottish craft beer offering in its Scotland stores May 2, 2016 Waitrose has become the latest supermarket to significantly expand into the world of craft beer, placing 49 new Scottish-brewed offerings on its shelves in the country from today. The upmarket grocer, which only has seven stores in Scotland, has doubled the number of Scottish craft beer and ales it stock and has increased the number of breweries it [...]
Liberty House confirms it will put forward bid for Tata Steel’s UK assets May 2, 2016 Liberty House has confirmed it will submit a bid for Tata Steel's UK assets tomorrow, when Tata's deadline for letters of intention to bid for its British business closes. The commodities investor, headed by Sanjeev Gupta, will make an offer for the whole of Tata's UK business, including the blast furnace site in Port Talbot and [...]
Blockchain just expanded even further into the public sector as Credits and Skyscape Cloud Services announce partnership April 28, 2016 Blockchain technology has made another inroad into widespread adoption by public services. Credits, a blockchain infrastructure provider, has partnered with Skyscape Cloud Services, a UK cloud services provider, to deliver "Blockchain-as-a-Service" to UK public sector organisations. Credits' platform enables organisations "to quickly and easily build robust blockchains" that address the challenges of establishing provenance and authentication faced by many [...]
