Slumping economy, surging stock market– what’s going on? May 18, 2020 While tens of millions of Americans were losing their jobs, the stock market in April produced its best monthly return in over 30 years. We look at what’s behind this apparent disconnect. 36 million Americans filed for unemployment claims over the past eight weeks. US GDP plunged by 4.8 per cent in the first quarter [...]
Digital bank N26 valued at $3.5bn as it adds $160m onto its series D July 18, 2019 German fintech starlet N26 has upped its valuation to $3.5bn (£2.8bn), after extending its series D funding round to raise another $160m. The digital banking app has now raised a total of $470m in the round, which included investors such as Insight Venture Partners, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC, Tencent, Allianz X, Peter Thiel’s Valar [...]
Anselm Kiefer: Superstrings, Runes, The Norns, Gordian Knot at the White Cube – destructive, glorious chaos November 15, 2019 ★★★★★ Anselm Kiefer’s latest solo exhibition Superstrings, Runes, The Norns, Gordian Knot at the White Cube in Bermondsey is both apocalyptic and redemptive. Its title plays on various myths and allegories that have preoccupied Kiefer for the bulk of his 50-year career, and that he now ties together with his latest obsession – string theory. [...]
Bitcoin: Five Factors; One Conclusion, Three Parts May 12, 2020 Bitcoin (BTC) has been labeled as an “uncorrelated asset” since BTC is not directly connected to global GDP, company, revenues, profits (P/E ratios), dividends, and instead, relies on the network effect. For those reasons, the million dollar question is… What are the factors that impact Bitcoin’s price the most and why? The answer to this [...]
Google’s research reveals how millennial shopping habits are changing November 25, 2019 The Christmas season is a time for family and cheer. But for brands and retailers, the time between late November and early January represents the most crucial — and most competitive — period of the year, accounting for up to 30 per cent of annual sales. As journalist Katharine Whitehorn once said, “from a commercial [...]
Back to school: Spend on or swerve these office gadgets? September 9, 2019 For kids up and down the country, the start of the school term means shiny new pencil cases and stationery. But for today’s modern office worker, what’s the equivalent in terms of the new kit that employees need? If you’re back from holiday, here’s what to spend on, and what to swerve. To 5g or [...]
Microsoft invests $1bn in OpenAI to create artificial intelligence that can solve humanity’s worst problems July 22, 2019 Microsoft is set to pour $1bn (£800m) into OpenAI to develop general artificial intelligence, effectively by turning its Azure cloud into a supercomputer. The pair have agreed a multi-year exclusive partnership to develop a supercomputer of “unprecedented scale” to train and run ever-more advanced AI software. Read more: Microsoft opens flagship London store just minutes [...]
BMW sales rev up to near 2.5m cars with 1.1 per cent increase January 11, 2019 Luxury car maker BMW boosted sales 1.1 per cent in 2018, selling 2,490,664 cars worldwide, its eighth consecutive year of record sales. The company predicted continuing sales increases in 2019, despite what it described as challenging market conditions. BMW management board member Pieter Nota said: “While we expect market conditions to remain challenging this year, [...]
Apple keynote 2019: Everything from inside the Steve Jobs theatre, as it happened September 10, 2019 This was the live blog of the Apple 2019 keynote, featuring the debut of the iPhone 11 family, the Apple Watch Series 5, the seventh generation of the iPad and more. 19:09 iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max Now it’s time for the more expensive phone. Available in four colours: Gold, Space Grey, Silver and [...]
DEBATE: Is Brexit likely to be the biggest factor behind Nissan choosing Japan over Sunderland? February 5, 2019 Bridget Phillipson, Labour MP for Houghton and Sunderland South, says YES. Is Brexit likely to be the biggest factor behind Nissan choosing Japan over Sunderland? Nissan’s announcement was deeply disappointing, not just for Sunderland but for the north east as a whole. And it shows the reality of Brexit. Carmakers do not make these decisions [...]