Finance Notes: World Cup Provided $14.5B To Russian Economy

The 2018 World Cup provided a $14.5B boost to the Russian economy, the organizing committee revealed on Tuesday. From '13-18, a total of 952B rubles ($14.5B) was added to the economy -- the equivalent of 1.1% of GDP -- the local organizing committee said at a conference on Tuesday in Qatar. The figure "outstrips" the estimated 688B rubles ($10.5B) spent on hosting the tournament from all sources (RT, 10/17).

WPP is "on the verge of buying" the HQ of the Financial Times on London's South Bank for a reported £93M ($122M) in the latest sign of new CEO Mark Read’s attempts to "stamp his mark" on the marketing firm. Plans by the building’s current owner, Pearson, to put it up for sale this month were delayed after WPP "expressed an interest," according to a source who spoke to trade magazine Property Week, which first reported the talks. It is unclear what elements of WPP would occupy the building should the sale go through (London TELEGRAPH, 10/16).