Digital Innovators: Q&A with Chris Sheldrick, co-founder and CEO of what3words February 8, 2018 what3words has divided the world into 3m x 3m squares, each with a unique address made from three dictionary words, thus offering the simplest way to communicate location. Last year what3words was identified as one of 50 of the freshest and most inspiring digital companies using technology and innovation to shake up their sectors in [...]
The best contemporary, modern ski chalets in Europe November 30, 2017 Modern ski chalets are more like Bond lairs than rustic cabins. We grab our skis and take a tour of the best ones on the market. Cristal de Jade, Chamonix Described as “simple and contemporary” by selling agent MGM Properties, this chalet is one for those who appreciate modern furnishings and fantastic views. Two huge [...]
Why the Federal Reserve’s ‘quantitative tightening’ will be held back October 3, 2017 Janet Yellen, the chair of the Federal Reserve (Fed), says she hopes that the reversal of QE will be as dull as “watching paint dry”. John Williams, San Francisco Fed President, said he hoped it is “boring”. Will they get their wish? Between 2009 and 2014 the QE programme saw the Fed create $3.5 trillion, [...]
Tech firm secures £1.4m funding to develop indoor positioning software July 17, 2017 A technology firm that has developed world-class indoor positioning software is creating new jobs in Edinburgh after securing £1.4m funding. Sensewhere has developed technology that uses signals from indoor electromagnetic sources like Wi-Fi routers and Bluetooth to pinpoint a user’s location in areas like shopping centres and airports – where GPS signals from satellites are [...]
A shareholder row is already brewing over the Investment Association’s role in Theresa May’s executive pay reforms August 29, 2017 Discontent among shareholders’ rights groups is already brewing as the government today announced its new corporate governance reforms. Business secretary Greg Clark set out the measures, which will force all listed companies to reveal the pay ratio between bosses and workers, name and shame on a public register those which receive significant shareholder opposition to [...]
These six charts caught our attention in July August 2, 2017 Safe as houses In the UK, house price growth began to slow noticeably last year when stamp duty on buy-to-let and second homes increased. The slowdown continued after the announcement that the UK would be leaving the EU. Perhaps surprisingly, London has been hit harder than the rest of the UK. UK growth is sluggish [...]
Barratt Developments defies Brexit doomsayers with “confident” outlook September 7, 2016 The figures Barratt Developments' completions swelled by 5.3 per cent to 17,319 homes in the year ended 30 June, meaning it delivered completion volumes for eight years. This helped the housebuilder's pre-tax profit jump 20.7 per cent to a record £682.3m during this period, up from £565.5m a year earlier. The company also significantly strengthened its balance sheet, with Barratt's cash [...]
It’s confirmed: BMW’s all-electric Mini is being built at the Cowley plant in the UK July 25, 2017 A fully-electric version of the Mini is to be built at BMW’s plant at Cowley, near Oxford, the car firm has announced. The decision marks a boost for the future of the Cowley plant, after question marks arose over where BMW would choose to make the new model, with ongoing Brexit uncertainty. Mini makes around [...]
FTSE 100 history: how the index has changed over 33 years July 3, 2017 The FTSE 100 index has just seen one of its quarterly changes with security firm G4S and real estate investment trust Segro promoted to the top 100. Although perhaps small in themselves, these regular events have changed the face of the UK’s leading index since it was formed in 1984. For the many investors whose [...]
Momentum in digital payments M&A continues as FairFX grabs CardOne for £15m and raises an extra £26m August 8, 2017 Activity in the digital payments sector is staying heated, as online travel money provider FairFX has stumped up £15m for current account business CardOne. The acquisition is a new step forward in FairFX’s aim to become a digital banking services company. At the moment the business, which sponsors Sky Sports’ coverage of Formula One, focuses [...]