Here are our picks of the business news and highlights of the year 2014:
December 2014
- Russian Rouble falls to a low of 1:101 to the Pound following a combination of economic sanctions and the drop in the oil price.
- Sharp 20% fall in the oil price increases concerns over the global recovery.
- Sony Pictures Entertainment suffered a cyberattack from suspected North Korean hackers and subsequently cancelled the release of the controversial film “The Interview” which included a CIA plot to assassinate North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.
November 2014
- Consumers flocked to UK stores during Black Friday on 28 November 2014 for the biggest shopping day ever on the British high street.
October 2014
- US Stockmarket slips 6% following market concerns over end to quantitative easing.
September 2014
- Ali Baba floats on New York Stock Exchange in world largest tech IPO at $230m
- Tesco cuts dividend after profit warning
- S&P500 breaks the 2000 barrier to reach all time high
- Mobile phone chain Phones4U falls into administration
August 2014
- The euro dropped to a low of 1.34 against the dollar due to the prospect of quantitative easing following news that Germany experienced negative growth last quarter.
- The S&P500 rose to a record high this week and broke the 2,000 barrier as confidence in the US recovery increases.
July 2014
- Germany win 2014 World Cup.
- Russian separatists shot down Malaysian passenger jet. EU imposes sanctions against Russia.
- Housing market shows signs of cooling down.
- Tax free NISA introduced with an allowance of £15,000 in 2014/15.
- Facebook acquires video ad platform Liverail in a move that will enhance its position in the online video advertising industry.
June 2014
- Brazil host 2014 World Cup.
May 2014
- BOE announce intention to raise interest rates in Q4 2014.
April 2014
- The number of contractors and freelance consultants in the UK has reaches an all time high.
- Market confidence remains high with the S&P 500 reaching a record high of 1,897 in the month.
March 2014
- The 2014 Winter Olympics hosted in Sochi is set to become the most expensive Olympic Games in history. The Games are expected to cost Russia in excess of $51 billion, which is $10 billion more than Beijing 2010.
-Russia moves military troops into the Crimea region of Ukraine. The Russian stockmarket fell 10% over fears of military action.
- Chinese e-commerce giant, Ali Baba announced plans to float on the US Stock Exchange later this year.
- UK Chancellor George Osborne announced his 2014 Budget which includes benefits for Britain’s Pensioners and Savers.
February 2014
- The main exchange server of Bitcoin went down in February. Bitcoins worth $400m appear to have been lost as a result.
- Facebook acquires mobile messaging app company WhatsApp for a whopping $19 billion.
January 2014
- The US Federal Reserve announced a further tapering of its QE programme reducing it by $10 billion per month to $65 billion due to the strength of the US recovery.