Exclusive: A heavy metal drummer working to infuse rhythmic harmony into the payments space May 3, 2021 Meet Tom Cregan, a heavy metal drummer and martial arts enthusiast who is on a mission to infuse rhythmic harmony into the world of global payments. The managing director and CEO of digital payments giant EML’s favourite part of any day as chief executive is, what he calls, finding a ”1+1=5 moment” by thinking and [...]
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire bounds back from worst of pandemic May 1, 2021 Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has said its results are rebounding from the worst effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, and that it has extended its aggressive stock repurchases with $6.6bn of new buybacks. First-quarter results suggest that the Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate that owns dozens of businesses, is through the worst effects of the pandemic, including the [...]
FTSE closes higher as US stocks pause after busy week for earnings April 30, 2021 The FTSE 100 closed higher today as the economic recovery optimism poised the index for its largest monthly gain since November last year. The blue-chip index rose 0.2 per cent, boosted by positive earnings updates from AstraZeneca and Smurfit Kappa. Meanwhile, the mid-cap FTSE 250 also rose by 0.56 per cent. Both indexes have risen [...]
HMRC repays overtaxed pensioners £716m in six years April 30, 2021 Savers overtaxed on pension freedom withdrawals have reclaimed £716m since 2015, when changes were introduced that allowed savers to flexibly access their pensions. The overtaxation occurs when someone accesses their retirement ‘flexibly’ for the first time in a tax year – which can include taking income via drawdown or withdrawing ad-hoc lump sums – HMRC [...]
Darktrace races out of the blocks: A boost for London’s IPO market after Deliveroo’s flop April 30, 2021 In a welcome boost for the London IPO market after the Deliveroo flop, UK cybersecurity company Darktrace launched this morning well above its initial price of 250p per share, jumping sharply to 350p in opening trade. There were early indications that the initial valuation might be higher than this, at around £3bn, however it appears that [...]
Sterling slips against US dollar as cautious investors await BoE meeting April 30, 2021 The pound stumbled against the dollar today as traders remained cautious ahead of the Bank of England’s policy meeting next week. Sterling was down 0.2 per cent at $1.392, while holding its ground versus the euro. It brings yesterday’s nine-day high to an end, which followed a slump in the dollar after the Fed waved [...]
City regulator proposes easing suspension rule for listed SPACs April 30, 2021 The financial watchdog is consulting on a raft of changes to UK SPAC listings, including the rules around SPAC trading suspension when the vehicle identifies an acquisition target. Following a surge of SPAC or “blank check” company listings on Wall Street and more recently in Europe, London is keen not to be left behind. The Financial Conduct [...]
FCA looks into high risk investment promotion amid Bitcoin boom and TikTok ‘finfluencer’ trend April 29, 2021 The City regulator is looking for views on how to tackle the issue of high-risk investment promotions, fearing too many consumers are unwittingly taking too much risk with their money. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is concerned consumers are investing in inappropriate, high-risk investments that are unsuitable for most people. The watchdog has recently warned [...]
FTSE 100 leaps as strong earnings drive index higher April 29, 2021 London’s FTSE 100 was boosted by a series of positive earnings this morning as the index shot up by 0.6 per cent. The blue-chips were buoyed by gains in medical products maker Smith & Nephew, who accelerated to the top of the index after revenue growth in the first quarter. The increase was also supported [...]
Funds under management swell to a record £135bn at St James’s Place April 29, 2021 Funds under management at St James’s Place have reached a record high and strong inflows in the first quarter it said this morning, as government spending and Covvid-19 vaccination drives positive investor sentiment. Funds under management jumped to £135bn at the end of March, surpassing the previous record of £129bn it touched in 2020. Net [...]
