We Asked Jeeves why it sacked 180 people

Ask Jeeves said yesterday that it would shed 25 per cent of its workforce - around 180 jobs - as part of a restructuring plan that would save it $45 million. The company is expected to take a charge of between $10 million and $12 million for the reshuffle.

Interestingly enough, if you go to the AskJeeves site and ask Jeeves why it laid off 180 people, it offers advice on how to legally fire an employee... which is nice.

New York-based Web consultancy Razorfish has unnerved analysts by forecasting a loss for the fourth quarter. The company now expects revenues of $50 million, down from previous estimates of $82 million. The warning was issued after trading stopped yesterday.

AIM-listed e-district.net plc said today that its results for the year ending 31 December 2000 are expected to be in line with market expectations. The figures have been driven by an increased demand for advertising sales during the pre-Christmas period.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has slammed online share trading sites for confusing punters with complex fee systems. The watchdog made its remarks after research from Ecom revealed online fees can knock off up to ten per cent from the value of investments over a year. It said sites needed to make the charging systems more transparent. ®

They said it couldn't be done. Cash Reg proves they were wrong