I guess they need to do something with all the spare money they have, so they're buying their own shares.

BBC NEWS | Business | Microsoft unveils $40bn buy-back

That's the conclusion I draw from the news today that Thorntons has revealed annual profits have risen nearly 20% to £8.5m. Although the Thorntons PR spin is "There's room for pleasure and a little bit of indulgence in everyone's life", my assessment is rather: "if you're struggling to make ends meet, why not stuff your face with choccies"?

BBC NEWS | Business | Chocolate firm defies the crunch

As if we didn't already know it. "This August has been the dullest in the UK since records began - with just 105.5 hours of sunshine, against an average for the month of 165 hours."

BBC NEWS | Magazine | Call that a summer?