Deutsche Bank and Moody’s predict rising corporate defaults April 11, 2016 Corporate defaults could be about to rise, according to two leading financial institutions, Deutsche Bank (DB), and ratings agency Moody's, who have both warned this morning that the business cycle could be about to take a turn for the worse. Analysts from Europe and the United States at the DB today launched their closely-watched annual default [...]
Boris Johnson just made an announcement in Minecraft to launch the new Games London initiative January 19, 2016 Boris Johnson has never shied away from unexpected ways of doing things. So why should we be surprised the London mayor has chosen to promote the future of London’s gaming sector by turning himself into a Minecraft character? To launch the new initiative Games London, BoJo has appeared in an “in-game press-conference” held within the [...]
Mobile challenger bank Mondo reaches £1m crowdfunding target in 96 seconds, adding to £7m venture capital investment March 3, 2016 Mobile challenger bank Mondo today reached a crowdfunding target of £1m in 96 seconds. Some 1,861 people invested an average of £542 through Crowdcube today and will share 3.33 per cent equity in the challenger bank. Venture capital firm Passion Capital has already invested £7m in the bank – £2m in March last year and a [...]
Business secretary Sajid Javid lays out measures to cut red tape by £10bn March 3, 2016 New comprehensive measures to help meet the government's commitment of cutting a further £10bn of red tape were announced today by business secretary Sajid Javid. While the UK already has the lowest burden of regulation in the G7 nations, according to the World Economic Forum, businesses across the country have been demanding more. Speaking at [...]
Fintech 2016: Bitcoin rises again and compliance gets sexy January 7, 2016 It was another big year for fintech in Europe in 2015. The frenzy of activity in London has continued. There’s been an overload of conferences and events, an occasional dose of premature back-slapping, but most importantly some great companies have raised serious investment. The rest of Europe, Germany in particular, has leapt forward too – [...]
Deputy chief of the Russian prison service Alexander Protopopov is accused of stealing a road January 14, 2016 A senior Russian official was detained by police yesterday and is facing charges for the unusual crime of stealing a road. Alexander Protopopov, the acting deputy chief of the Russian national prison service, could spend 10 years in his own jail for misappropriating state property while in an official position, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported. Protopopov allegedly stole a 50km stretch of public road while he [...]
Equity crowdfunding investors: Five key tips before you take the plunge March 31, 2016 The most recent figures from innovation charity Nesta show that equity-based crowdfunding is one of the fastest growing models of the alternative finance sector. Since 2014, it has grown by 295 per cent to £332m. Equity crowdfunding is not only providing investment for startups, early-stage growth companies and even those already eyeing a flotation on the [...]
No pressure, Janet: Spotlight falls on the Fed as US central bank chief Yellen faces questions from Congress February 10, 2016 The financial world’s attention will fall on Janet Yellen today as the Federal Reserve chief faces a grilling by Congress, in the middle of a week of chaos on global trading floors. Shares throughout the world tumbled for a third straight session yesterday, while European banks lost another four per cent of their value. Financial [...]
UK house prices: Who’s building Britain’s houses and can we really build 200,000 homes a year? November 26, 2015 How can the UK build more houses? [custom id="102"] Source: Data.gov all housing completions 1949 – 2013 The Conservatives came to power on the back of an improving economy and with the promise of more improvement to come. One area of the UK’s financial future that is far from secure is the housing sector. [...]
Budget 2016: Chancellor George Osborne announces cash for infrastructure as government “makes northern powerhouse a reailty” and commits to Crossrail 2 and HS3 March 16, 2016 The chancellor has committed cash to develop infrastructure, after reports by the National Infrastructure Commission suggested he do so. During the Budget, Osborne gave the green light for HS3 between Manchester and Leeds, providing more money to create a four lane M62 and develop the case for a new tunnel road from Manchester to Sheffield. [...]