British banks set to close record 762 branches this year

Banks in Britain are set to close a record 762 branches this year, depriving more customers of access to in-person financial services as lenders cut costs by pushing business online. The number of branches shut or earmarked for closure so far this year is more than the 583 closed in 2016 and is the most on record, according to a Reuters analysis of bank announcements, academic studies and government data. Banks and building societies in Britain have been shutting branches at a rate of around 300 per year since 1989, a trend which has accelerated in recent years as lenders respond to pressure on profits by slashing costly brick-and-mortar outlets.

Wall Street drops on Trump’s threats of govt shutdown

Lawmakers face a late-September deadline to raise the debt ceiling or risk a default, and Trump's comments on Tuesday evening came hours after a lawmaker said there was "zero chance" of the ceiling not being raised. "Trump saying he would be willing to shut down the government over the wall obviously doesn't really inspire much confidence in anyone," said Michael O'Rourke, chief market strategist at JonesTrading in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Royal Bank posts 3Q profit

The Toronto-based bank said it had earnings of $1.38 per share. Earnings, adjusted for amortization costs and non-recurring costs, were $1.41 per share. The results fell short of Wall Street expectations. ...

Samsung seeks to bury fiery past with Galaxy Note 8 launch

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd set out to wipe the slate clean in New York on Wednesday with a new Galaxy Note 8 phablet, hoping features such as dual rear cameras and its biggest-ever screen will extinguish memories of its fire-prone predecessor. The world's largest smartphone maker by market share has put safety at the center of a phone-cum-tablet that is likely to compete for pre-holiday season sales with a widely expected 10th anniversary iPhone from U.S. rival Apple Inc. Analysts said brisk sales of that device indicate recovery in Samsung's standing, after battery fires prompted the October withdrawal of the Galaxy Note 7 just two months into sales at an opportunity cost of $5.48 billion.

Samsung seeks to bury fiery past with Galaxy Note 8 launch

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd set out to wipe the slate clean in New York on Wednesday with a new Galaxy Note 8 phablet, hoping features such as dual rear cameras and its biggest-ever screen will extinguish memories of its fire-prone predecessor. The world's largest smartphone maker by market share has put safety at the center of a phone-cum-tablet that is likely to compete for pre-holiday season sales with a widely expected 10th anniversary iPhone from U.S. rival Apple Inc. Analysts said brisk sales of that device indicate recovery in Samsung's standing, after battery fires prompted the October withdrawal of the Galaxy Note 7 just two months into sales at an opportunity cost of $5.48 billion.

Robert Lee debacle is reminder of ESPN's larger problem

When ESPN switched an announcer named Robert Lee off its planned broadcast of a University of Virginia game, it thought the move would be a non-issue. But an employee leaked the decision, and now it serves to fuel the larger debate about ESPN's politics.

Canada Cartage donates to hospital in Zimbabwe