Episode details

World Service,25 Feb 2015,28 mins
HSBC apologises for 'unacceptable' practices at its Swiss private bank
World Business ReportAvailable for over a year
British lawmakers have been grilling HSBC bosses in the wake of tax evasion allegations. Also in the programme: higher taxes and lower spending. South Africa's government tries to bring its finances back under control. In the run up to next year's US presidential election, we discuss with economist Irwin Stelzer how big an issue rising inequality will be for the Republican party. Plus, Lego's awesome adventure: profits are up, but is the Danish king of bricks falling behind in a world of digital play? We talk to the firm's chief financial officer, John Goodwin. And as the great and the good of the British music industry prepare to slap backs, what exactly is the point of the Brit Awards? Picture credit: AFP
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