(MENAFN- ProactiveInvestors)Britain may not have a direct equivalent of Elon Musk the high profile head of US electric car maker Tesla but James Dyson probably comes close. Granted bag-less vacuum cleaners washroom hand driers and air purifiers might not seem on the scale of Musk's plans for space travel or a magnetically levitating train network around the US but things may be changing. The business social media was buzzing today after a hint that Dyson is indeed looking at electric cars and may even be building one. 'Nothing is being ruled out' said Max Conze Dyson's chief executive who added that it was looking at ways to utilise the 'disruptive' battery technology acquired when it took a stake in Sakti3 earlier this year. Developing new batteries to power mass market electric cars is key to Tesla's strategy. Back from the future Dyson also revealed record profits from its existing businesses in 2014. Revenues rose 10% to £1.3bn while underlying earnings were 13% higher at £367mln. Vacuum cleaner sales were more than two-thirds higher. Elsewhere August's dismal weather made it a disaster for the retail sector in Britain. Retail sales fell by 4.3% on the year before according to accountancy firm BDO the biggest monthly drop since November 2008 when the financial crunch had just hit. Shares in Next were knocked by more than 3% while John Lewis said sales last month had fallen by 3.4% in the last week of the month with electrical and tech sales falling by 9.3%. Car sales are not being affected however with a 42nd monthly rise in August and a 9.6% increase in registrations. Mike Hawes chief executive of industry trade body the SMMT said attractive finance deals and a diverse range of technologically advanced models was providing the appeal. The battle for online bookmaker Bwin.party was seemingly resolved as the broad recommended an improved bid from Sportingbet owner GVC worth 130p per share. Investors in rival bidder 888 (LON:888) reacted by sending its shares 4% lower to 155p. Oil chatter was muted again as the price of crude continued to dip but there was some discussion over the latest update on the onshore UK field Wressle from its owners Europa Egdon and Union Jack Oil. Europa Oil & Gas said an extended well testing programme indicated no evidence of water from Zone 3A - also known as the Penistone Flags – and a deeper than expect oil-to-water contact point. This potentially has 'positive implications' for the possible volumes of oil and gas volumes contained within the zone Europa said. The company has however revealed that further tests are now needed and work-over activities are planned.
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