THE DAILY BRIEFING

SHOCK FINDING The new legal chief at Uber found staff had carried out surveillance on rivals and failed to reveal a massive data breach, it has emerged. Tony West, who became general counsel in November, told the website Recode he was disturbed by the revelations.

APP SUCCESS More than 3m people used the app Airbnb to find accommodation on New Year’s Eve, it said, up from just 1,400 guests on the same day in 2009.

CHINA LAUNCH The popular smartphone game Pokemon Go which maps digital creatures on top of the real world, has launched in China. BOUNCING BACK A hedge fund boss whose last firm was shut over insider trading has started operating again. Steve Cohen’s ban ended this month and on Monday, he launched a new fund for backers, with at least £74m. ROBO RIVALS Computers will give financial guidance to clients of Morgan Stanley as it battles rivals in the robo-advice markets. The Wall Street bank has launched Access Investing to appeal to young relatives of wealthy customers, using software to help them decide what to do with savings, without human involvement.

INSURER SOLD Student insurer Endsleigh has been sold to broking firm A-Plan. Endsleigh – owned by Zurich – was launched in 1965 by the National Union of Students and sells car, home and travel cover.

PRICE HIKES Business insurance companies have failed to secure major premium hikes after hopes that last year’s natural disasters would drive up prices.

Catastrophes caused £100bn of damage last year, the third-highest figure in history, but figures from Willis Re show that prices rose by a maximum of 7.5pc.

ONLINE WINS Analysts are preparing for sluggish Christmas updates from the high street, but expect strong results online. Investment bank Jefferies said retailers with successful online businesses will ‘win’ the festive period.

TOY STOREY British toy seller Hamleys has chosen Beijing as the base for its largest shop. The fivestorey store is its third in China.