Majority of big banks failing Mark Carney’s climate change requirements February 15, 2018 The world’s biggest banks are failing to take climate change seriously in their business plans, as demanded by regulators, according to research to be published today by a large investor group. Less than half of the 59 international banks surveyed by Boston Common Asset Management have carried out a scenario analysis for if global temperatures [...]
John McDonnell is wrong – we need tax simplification, not a Hippocratic Oath for accountants January 30, 2018 In a world where public finances are under intense pressure, it is often tempting for politicians to shy away from the hard choices when it comes to making policy. So it was interesting to read shadow chancellor John McDonnell’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, especially the part where he proposed new initiatives [...]
Investors want digital financial reporting to be audited January 16, 2018 Much has been written and discussed about the merits of digital financial reporting. Some concerns still need to be addressed, however, such as reviewing or validating these reports using eXtensible business reporting language (XBRL), a markup language for the electronic transmission of business and financial data, against a set of standards. Currently, no established standards [...]
Revealed: Peel Hunt’s top growth stocks for 2018, from Asos to Just Eat January 4, 2018 Brushing aside the warnings of a stock market bubble ready to burst, which have been flying around in recent weeks, broker Peel Hunt today released its list of top growth stocks for 2018. Based on earnings per share and sales, over the last two years and the next two years’ predictions, Peel Hunt’s selection ranges [...]
What is Ripple? The cryptocurrency growing faster than bitcoin explained – and how to buy it January 4, 2018 Ripple has been on a tear over the past few weeks: XRP, the token that powers the blockchain startup’s network, RippleNet, first hit $1 about two weeks ago, and today it climbed to as high as $3.84. While bitcoin, the cryptocurrency king, soared more than 1,200 per cent last year, Ripple rose a whopping 35,000 [...]
Are markets too complacent about the US economy? January 3, 2018 The status of the US as the world’s most dynamic and important single country economy remains intact, not least among investors. Its strengths are now very much reflected in financial market valuations. This is evident in stocks, with the US having been at the vanguard of a multi-year bull run, while bond yields have reached [...]
Why is Pakistan struggling to find its feet as a successful emerging market? December 18, 2017 The key dilemmas facing Pakistan’s equity market — a small investor base, few new listings on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), and shrinking turnover — are tied to the lack of trust among investors and issuers as well as unnecessary compliance and tax burdens. It will take greater professionalism among the intermediaries and the rationalization [...]
Finally, all UK banks pass the stress tests: is now the time to invest? December 8, 2017 Imagine you emerged blinking from your bunker in the wake of this: interest rates up to 4 per cent the value of the pound down more than a quarter unemployment up almost 10 per cent residential property prices down by a third commercial real estate prices down by two-fifths world and UK GDP down 2.4 [...]
Data is the fuel for AI, so let’s ensure we get the ethics right December 4, 2017 Data is the propulsive energy behind the fourth industrial revolution – playing the same role as coal, oil and electricity did in the previous revolutions. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the new engine, just as the railways connected north and south, roads and cars connected our cities, and electrification lit up our homes and allowed domestic [...]
TSB boss adds voice to concerns over Santander inclusion on RBS competition fund November 30, 2017 The boss of high street bank TSB today criticised the possible inclusion of banking giant Santander in a scheme to boost competition in the small business lending market. Paul Pester publicly added his voice to concerns surrounding the use of funds which Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has been forced to set aside to spur [...]