See us after class: Disappointing back to school week for FTSE 100 as retailers drag it lower September 9, 2016 The FTSE 100 had a decidedly wobbly start to the school year, finishing the first full week of September 1.7 per cent lower than it started. Having come tantalisingly close to the 7,000 mark last week, it finished today at 6,776.95 points, 1.2 per cent down. "You’d be forgiven for falling asleep this afternoon," complained SpreadEx financial analyst [...]
UK open for business following Brexit vote, but lack of innovation and inability to toot our own horn letting the side down October 24, 2016 Global business leaders rate the UK as a place to do business, but lack of innovation and businesses' inability to sing their own praises is stopping the country from reaching its full potential, according to research out today. More than three-quarters (78 per cent) of the over 1,300 business leaders surveyed by Barclays felt the UK is [...]
A major insurance firm just joined this blockchain consortium August 31, 2016 The blockchain consortium R3 has signed up yet another new member, this time the major US insurance firm MetLife. The addition brings the number of members to more than 60 and it joins the likes of the biggest banks such as Barclays, HSBC and Goldman Sachs. The insurer will work with the other financial services [...]
Banks need to act swiftly to avoid Brexit problems, warns report August 1, 2016 The banking sector needs to think quick to swerve some of the more negative effects of June's Brexit vote, a report out today suggests. The study by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) warns that, not only will the worsened economic outlook take its toll on banking sector performance, banks need to be preparing for action now, [...]
You wait ages for one cashback card, then this company goes and launches two at once August 22, 2016 Good news for anybody who feels like their card wallet is feeling a bit slim – Asda Money has today announced the launch of not one but two cashback credit cards. The Cashback Credit Card will offer one per cent cash back on money spent across the Asda brands and 0.5 per cent cash back on other purchases. [...]
The majority of banks plan to use blockchain in the next three years September 28, 2016 The majority of banks plan on using blockchain technology in the next three years, adopting it "dramatically faster than expected", but regulation was named as the biggest barrier by global institutions. Nearly two thirds expect to have blockchain solutions by 2019, while 15 per cent of the 200 banks surveyed by IBM and the Economist Intelligence Unit expect to have something up [...]
HSBC latest to withdraw as nomad on Alternative Investment Market September 14, 2015 HSBC is the latest bank to leave Aim, the London stock exchange’s market for smaller growing companies. The bank has withdrawn its status as a nominated adviser (nomad), making it the latest major banking adviser to be leaving the Alternative Investment Market. HSBC hasn't had any clients on the market for over a year, and [...]
City Moves for 29 September 2016 | Who’s switching jobs September 29, 2016 Smith & Williamson Jim Clark and Philip Marsden, both of Marsden Clark Corporate Finance, have joined Smith & Williamson's corporate finance team. Jim is appointed as a director and Philip Marsden as a consultant, based at Smith & Williamson’s Moorgate office in London. Jim and Philip have over 50 years of transaction experience between them. [...]
Forex scandal: Barclays, HSBC and RBS agree to £600m fine for foreign exchange rigging October 22, 2015 Three of Britain’s biggest banks were slapped with a $924m (£600m) bill for rigging foreign-exchange markets yesterday. Barclays, HSBC and RBS agreed the bill during a US federal court hearing, according to reports from Sky News. Barclays agreed to pay $384m, HSBC $285m and RBS $255m, people with familiar with the settlements said. French bank [...]
Now’s your chance to be the voice of the speaking clock August 22, 2016 Clear your throat, gargle that water and prepare for the opportunity to go down in British history… as the voice of the talking clock. Yep, it still exists (somehow still receiving 12m calls a year) and BT wants to find a new person to takeover the prestigious job – only the fifth in the peculiarly British institution's 80 year history. The [...]