Big tech vs the market: what you need to know June 23, 2020 Big tech has led the global market recovery in the wake of Covid-19. Can the dominance of the FAMAGs continue? On 8 June the S&P 500 of US stocks recovered all their Covid-19 losses for 2020. The so-called FAMAGs (Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple and Alphabet (Google’s parent company)) led that recovery. Even before the pandemic, [...]
Five trends to watch in China’s consumer sector November 3, 2020 As the world continues to try to contain the spread of Covid-19, China is among the few countries sustaining a return to normal activity. Restrictions on movement have been lifted and the government’s test and trace system has so far proven effective in containing new outbreaks. As a result, shops, restaurants and other services have [...]
A share in a housing nightmare? The problems with leasehold contracts and shared ownership July 10, 2019 The saga around leasehold contracts gets more complicated for buyers using the shared ownership scheme
With increased scrutiny of the profession, it’s time for auditing to be in the public interest May 16, 2019 Auditing in the UK is undergoing unprecedented scrutiny, and the magnifying scope is focusing on all aspects of the sector. The myriad reviews, some of which are ongoing, are being conducted by regulators, politicians and government departments, each separately looking at audit’s effectiveness, competition across the sector, and its future in general. Most notably, the [...]
Rampant rodents: Rats on the rise last summer boost finances at pest control giant Rentokil February 28, 2019 Pest control giant Rentokil’s shares rose on Thursday morning as it said its services had been in high demand through last year’s long, hot summer. The blue chip firm also announced it would replace its chairman of more than a decade, John McAdam, with senior director at Aston Martin, Richard Solomons. Read more: CMA orders [...]
Finance, but make it decentralised September 15, 2020 I was a law student at the University of Helsinki when I discovered the Ethereum blockchain, and I was immediately drawn to the community and what people were building. I did some coding as a teenager, and I have always been interested in finance, so I began to apply how the permissionless system of smart [...]
Asda sales growth falters amid competition probe into Sainsbury’s merger February 19, 2019 Asda today reported a slowdown in sales growth in the fourth quarter as it waits for the green light over its planned merger with Sainsbury’s. The supermarket chain, which is owned by US grocery giant Walmart, posted a one per cent rise in like-for-like sales excluding petrol in the three months to the end of [...]
CMA orders bathroom services provider Rentokil Initial to dispense with services contracts in Cannon merger January 25, 2019 The Competition and Markets Authority has ordered bathroom services giant Rentokil Initial to sell off several large supply contracts as a condition of its merger with Cannon Hygiene, after deciding the deal would cause “higher prices or a worse deal for customers”. The watchdog ruled this morning the tie-up – between two of the three major suppliers [...]
French government presents €15bn aid package to save aviation sector June 9, 2020 The French government has this morning unveiled a €15bn (£13.3bn) plan to save its aerospace industry, saying that 100,000 jobs are at risk due to the coronavirus crisis. The rescue package, which includes pre-announced measures such as a €7bn loan to flag carrier Air France, comes amid the worst aviation downturn in history. New measures [...]
Good vs. bad active fund management: three indicators April 21, 2020 Do you ever wonder whether your active fund is worth the management and performance fees you charge? Would passive investments have yielded similar or better outcomes for your clients? If you haven’t asked yourself these questions, you can be sure your clients have asked themselves. And they will continue to, measuring what you deliver with [...]