THE DAILY BRIEFING

BIT BOOST Online currency Bitcoin has hit a record high of more than $6,300. The digital money’s value is up 900pc in 12 months – but many experts fear a dangerous bubble is building which could leave investors unable to get their money back.

CONSOLE SALES Video game company Nintendo says its Switch console is set to out-sell its predecessor within a year of release.

The Japanese firm said it was on course for 14m units sold in a year, compared to the Wii U, widely seen as a flop, which sold about 13.5m over about four years.

APP APPOINTMENT Taxi app firm Uber has poached PepsiCo’s outgoing legal chief Tony West in the first major appointment by dara Khosrowshahi, who became boss last month.

STORE OPENINGS Fishing equipment retailer Angling Direct is opening stores in Slough and Stoke creating 12 to 15 full and part-time jobs.

WELSH HOTEL Cut- price accommodation provider EasyHotel is building an £8m 120-bedroom site in Cardiff that is expected to open by 2019.

BOSSES’ PAY Partners at the UK arm of accountant EY pocketed an average £677,000 in the year to June 30 – a £15,000 rise on the previous 12 months, driven by strong growth in the audit, tax advice and deal-making departments.

RIG ROLE Oil rig construction firm Lamprell has appointed former BP executive James dewar, 60, as a non-executive director.

BLOCK DEAL Oil and gas explorer Soco International has sealed a production- sharing agreement for two blocks off Vietnam. Under the deal signed last week, Soco has a 70pc interest over the two blocks, alongside PetroVietnam and Sovico. Bosses believe the blocks could lead to an oil province developed offshore. Soco has been in Vietnam for almost 20 years and has invested around £800m.

POLITICIAN HIRED Former Swedish MeP Per Goran, 68, has joined AIM-listed mining company Beowulf as a non-executive chairman.

BANK JOB Top UBS financier Steve Klemme has been poached to run Barclays’ private bank in the Middle east.