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The Business Matrix: Thursday 9 August 2012

Avengers reaps a record for Disney

The huge global success of the movie Avengers Assemble helped Disney to report its biggest-ever quarterly profit yesterday. Pre-tax profits hit $3.03bn (£1.94bn) in the three months to June. The film, starring Scarlett Johansson, left, Jeremy Renner, Chris Evans and Mark Ruffalo, smashed US box-office records.

Euro architect warns of exodus

One of the founding fathers of the single currency has warned some nations may have to quit the euro. Otmar Issing said: "How many countries will be part of it [the eurozone] remains to be seen." Issing added that funds could not be channelled indefinitely to nations that did not reform their economies.

Rio Tinto pins its hopes on China

Rio Tinto tried to look on the bright side yesterday when it said China's economy would soon zoom ahead again. The FTSE 100-listed miner's first-half underlying earnings fell to $5.2bn (£3.3bn) from $7.7bn a year earlier, as sales dipped by 13 per cent to $253 bn.

Aer Lingus stake blow to Ryanair

Ryanair's chief Michael O'Leary suffered a setback after his attempt to block an inquiry into his minority stake in rival Aer Lingus was thrown out. Mr O'Leary, argues the issue of Ryanair's 30 per cent stake was not in the UK Competition Commission's jurisdiction.

Career Services

Day In a Page

National archives: Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Newly unearthed papers reveal a shocking extra dimension to the constitutional crisis over monarch’s abdication
Sent down at the Old Bailey: A tour of the world's most famous court

Sent down at the Old Bailey

A tour of the world's most famous court
Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

The Hangover actor Zach Galifianakis’s date for his movie premieres isn’t arm candy  – it’s his 87-year-old friend who he saved from homelessness
British football scores an own goal

British football scores an own goal

Many managers barely survive a year in post. Martin Baker talks to experts who make a case for clubs using forensic business skills to find the best staff
James Lawton: Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again

James Lawton

Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again
Dylan Hartley: Northampton have spent the season proving all our critics wrong

Dylan Hartley talks tough

Northampton have spent the season proving all our critics wrong
Watch out Watford: Here comes the secretive Bilderberg Group

Watch out Watford: Here comes the secretive Bilderberg Group

A meeting of global power brokers in a Hertfordshire hotel is exciting conspiracy theorists, but what are they really about?
'The ultimate all-in-one home entertainment system': Microsoft finally unveils its Xbox ONE console

'The ultimate all-in-one home entertainment system'

Microsoft finally unveils its Xbox ONE console
Plenty of Fish dating site founder pulls 'Intimate Encounters' option to ward off sleazy men

Plenty of sleaze

Dating website pulls intimate 'hook-up' section to curb harassment
Inferno author Dan Brown 'honoured' to be invited to join the Freemasons

The Freemasons’ Code

Dan Brown reveals the message that told him door to the lodge is open
Not secure any more: G4S boss heads for exit at last

Not secure any more: G4S boss heads for exit at last

Nick Buckles survived the Olympics débâcle and a £5bn bid fiasco but a profit warning finally triggered his downfall
How to say ‘I’m a sellout’: Tumblr’s David Karp’s message of reassurance to his staff sounded very familiar

How to say ‘I’m a sellout’

Tumblr’s David Karp’s message of reassurance to his staff sounded very familiar
Why clubs are keen to take a stand

Why clubs are keen to take a stand

There's a real desire around the grounds for safe standing. But will the authorities listen?
In the end the fans decided Tony Pulis had made a pig's ear of the job at Stoke City

In the end the fans decided Tony Pulis had made a pig's ear of the job at Stoke City

Disillusion with a siege mentality and negative playing style made change inevitable
James Lawton: The James Hunt I knew is the subject of a new F1 movie

James Lawton: The James Hunt I knew is the subject of a new F1 movie

British driver was fascinating man whose epic duel with Niki Lauda in 1976 was typical of an era of glamour and glory – but also the ever-present threat of death