A match made in blockchain? The case for bitmarriage February 12, 2018 “Are you married?” For most people this feels like an obvious question. But despite common acceptance of the definition of marriage, marital status can be highly complex. English marriage law comes from a mix of statutes from the last two centuries, which throw up bizarre lacunae: a marriage in a synagogue is automatically legally valid, [...]
Tech investor TMT is ready to ride the blockchain boom – but warns of naivety in the sector March 15, 2018 Tech investor TMT Investments is planning to ramp up its involvement in the blockchain space, though the firm warned there is still plenty of naivety surrounding distributed ledger technology. The figures In the year to the end of 2017, TMT’s net asset value per share jumped 28.6 per cent to $2.43 (£1.74). The firm, which [...]
KodakCoin ICO: Cryptocurrency launch delay sends share price tumbling (KODK) January 31, 2018 Shares in camera company Kodak have tumbled after it delayed the launch of its own version of bitcoin. KodakCoin had been expected to be available to buy today, however, many wannabe investors were left frustrated after Kodak revealed that only accredited investors earning over $200,000 would be able to buy the tokens. And the verification [...]
Plus500 may have to ditch Atletico Madrid if European regulators rule football offside February 14, 2018 Britain’s second-biggest online financial trading platform is ready to sever ties with one of Europe’s biggest football clubs if a regulatory crackdown requires it to do so. Plus500, the lead sponsor of Atletico Madrid, said it will comply with any measures the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) puts in place. “It may that ESMA [...]
How ‘blockchain’ compares with ‘dotcom’ in the company name game January 24, 2018 One of the first things you learn as a value investor is to dig below the surface of any potential investment – analysing a business’s balance sheet and other data to ensure you really understand its underlying value, its financial strength and how it works. In short, a relentless focus on the numbers means we [...]
Warren Buffett annual letter: Berkshire Hathaway just made a record profit thanks to US tax changes February 24, 2018 Berkshire Hathaway, the business headed up by legendary investor Warren Buffett, today reported a record annual profit after Donald Trump’s tax changes boosted its earnings by more than $29bn (£21bn). The figures The company’s full-year earnings shot up 87 per cent to $44.9bn, though Buffett admitted only $36bn came from Berkshire’s operations. Operating profit fell [...]
Shell just made its first investment in blockchain with UK startup Applied Blockchain January 18, 2018 Shell has made its first investment in blockchain, the technology eliciting interest around the world because it underpins bitcoin, but which has far wider applications. The oil giant has taken a minority stake in London startup Applied Blockchain to help it explore how the technology might be applied to its business. The value of the [...]
Ex-Barclays boss Bob Diamond not among digital challenger bank Tandem’s new investors January 11, 2018 Former Barclays boss Bob Diamond will not be making a return to British retail banking, having ruled out taking a stake in digital challenger Tandem. Diamond’s Atlas Merchant Capital had been one of several potential investors in talks with the fintech company in recent months, but is not part of a new funding round that [...]
Goldman Sachs and Citi among most active blockchain technology corporate investors October 19, 2017 Blockchain is catching the attention of big business more than ever before with the number of corporate investors hitting a new high. So far this year, 91 firms have put their cash into the technology which has emerged from bitcoin but has wider applications. And that number is closing in on that of venture capital [...]
Neither a vaper nor a vegan be: Truss blasts Labour economic plans and rallies behind free enterprise January 30, 2018 Treasury secretary Liz Truss will this morning attack Labour’s economic policies, lambasting shadow chancellor John McDonnell’s vision of “a control economy”. She heralded free enterprise for driving down prices and creating jobs while “breaking down monopolies, hierarchies and outdated practices” in a speech at think tank the Policy Exchange. Britons no longer need to be [...]