Blockchain payment revolution: How to ensure confidence in twenty-first century transactions January 22, 2016 We are on the threshold of a revolution in financial services which promises extraordinary leaps in efficiency for all kinds of transactions. And arguably the biggest obstacle to our society reaping the full benefit of this findustrial revolution is the issue of trust in transactions. When stock exchanges developed centuries ago, a handshake between (predominantly) [...]
Investment trust winners of 2016 November 29, 2016 Investment trusts focused on Asia are on course to deliver some of the best returns in 2016, according to data for trust sectors. Investment trusts are an alternative to more commonly held open-ended funds or unit trusts, offering some advantages. This is explained here: investment trust v open-ended funds Here, we look at the [...]
Complaints to financial services firms dropped in second half of 2015 March 30, 2016 People were much happier with their financial products in the latter half of last year, or, at the very least, they were quieter about any problems they had. The number of complaints to financial services firms inched down in the last six months of 2015, mainly driven by a drop in grievances over savings accounts, figures [...]
Swiss Market Index plummets, down 3.5 per cent mid-morning January 20, 2016 The Swiss Market Index (SMI) fell dramatically this morning, down 3.5 per cent by mid-morning to 7,938.86, from a previous close of 8,223.76. Particularly poor performers included Zurich Insurance Group, which fell 8.4 per cent, offshore drilling company Transocean, which dropped 5.4 per cent, and Credit Suisse Group, which tumbled 4.8 per cent. Zurich's announcement [...]
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 [...]
City Moves for 18 January 2016 | Who’s switching jobs January 18, 2016 Ardian Olivier Piani (pictured) has joined the real estate arm of independent private investment company Ardian as senior adviser and chairman of its investment committee. He joins from Allianz Real Estate where he was chief executive since 2008. Olivier has also been chief exec at GE Capital Real Estate Europe, chief exec of UIC-Sofal and [...]
City Moves for 10 February 2016 | Who’s switching jobs February 10, 2016 Peel Hunt Corporate broking, trading and advisory house Peel Hunt has appointed Amy Walker and Michal Cabadaj as equity research analysts in its healthcare and life sciences team. Amy has joined from Morgan Stanley where she worked for over five years, most recently as a director of EU pharmaceuticals research. Prior to this, she led [...]
Multi-asset: Boosting risk-adjusted returns February 15, 2016 As the huge swings in share prices over the year so far have shown, markets have become increasingly unpredictable. This has exposed investors to significant volatility, and the minimal (and sometimes negative) returns offered by “risk-free” assets like developed country government bonds have been no more reassuring. Many financial institutions, like insurers, are now sitting [...]
Barclays profits tumble 25 per cent as investment banking woes continue April 27, 2016 Barclays pre-tax profits have fallen by almost a quarter year-on-year as the investment bank division struggled to perform. But with a sign of progress being made, and confidence about the outlook for the rest of the year, Barclays' share price rose 3.9 per cent in early trading. The figures Barclays' first quarter pre-tax profit dropped 25 per [...]
Premier Foods boss should keep bidders hungry April 1, 2016 Rival international bidders, restive shareholders and conflicting pension deficit assumptions: like all chefs, Gavin Darby is juggling an eclectic mix of ingredients. His company, Premier Foods, home to Mr Kipling, Bisto and Sharwoods, looks tastier than it has for years. A fresh offer from McCormick of the US, worth 65p-a-share, has rightly prompted Darby and his [...]