In the News...

PRIUS SALES DOWN

Japanese sales of the Toyota Prius have fallen for the first time in almost a year-and-a-half after a government subsidy for buying more eco-friendly cars expired, industry figures suggest.
The hybrid remains the country's most popular car, with 27,249 sold in September, according the Japan Automobile Dealers Association.

But this was 14% lower than the same month a year ago - the first year-on-year fall in 17 months.

Honda's Fit was the second best-seller.

EASYJET MAKE A PROFIT

Shares in airline Easyjet have soared 10% after it said its full-year profits would be ahead of earlier expectations.

After stronger than predicted passenger numbers last month, it now expects its pre-tax profit for the 12 months to 30 September to surpass £150m.

This compares with its earlier guidance of between £100m and £150m.

VODAFONE JOBS LOST

Four hundred jobs are to go at a customer relations centre for mobile phone giant Vodafone in Oxfordshire.

The centre at Banbury Business Park in Adderbury will close in 2011.

Two hundred of the posts will move to other Vodafone sites at Newark in Nottinghamshire, Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire and Didsbury, Manchester.

A spokeswoman said the Banbury centre had a lot of little teams carrying out different tasks, but that Vodafone wanted "bigger, more specialist teams".

RYDER CUP 2014 SCOTS TOURISM BOOST

The 2014 Ryder Cup could raise more than £100m for Scotland's economy, organisers have said.

VisitScotland said the tournament was a chance to capitalise on what was sport's third biggest event in terms of TV and media coverage.

About 45,000 spectators are expected to attend each day of the six-day challenge at Gleneagles in Perthshire.

It will mark the first time in more than 40 years that the tournament has been played on Scottish soil.

Mike Cantlay, VisitScotland chairman, said: "The Ryder Cup will undoubtedly be a huge opportunity for Scotland to capitalise on an event that will showcase Scotland to a global audience and contribute many millions to both the local and national economy."

DELHI EMPTY SEATS CRISIS

Organisers of the Commonwealth Games in India are handing out free tickets to fill empty arenas.

TV pictures beamed around the world have shown competitors in virtually empty venues in Delhi.

Organisers told a news conference in the capital they hoped to increase attendance through a ticket giveaway to children and the underprivileged.

The vacant venues problem is the latest to hit the Delhi Games, preparations for which were plagued by setbacks.

Correspondents say the lack of spectators may be because it is not easy to buy tickets, although heavy security at the stadiums has also been a deterrent.

CARD FRAUD AT 10 YEAR LOW

Card fraud losses in the first six months of the year were at their lowest level for 10 years, at just £187m, the banking industry says.

Online banking fraud was 36% lower than in the first half of last year, at £25m, said the UK Cards Association.

Phone banking fraud was up 9% to £6m, but cheque fraud losses fell 13% to £14m.

The half-year figures follow the 28% drop in card fraud reported for the whole of 2009.

Source: BBC Business