Delivery Hero and Blue Apron investor Target Global launches $100m tech fund to find the next Uber June 6, 2018 German venture capital fund Target Global has launched a $100m (£74.7m) tech fund with a focus on innovation in mobility and transportation. With investments to be spread across startups in Europe and Israel, the fund is set to run indefinitely and can deploy up to $300m in capital, satisfying investor need for long-term interest in [...]
Labour demands ‘full access’ to Single Market after Brexit through amendment to EU Withdrawal Bill June 6, 2018 Labour is to table a new amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill, demanding the government ensure “full access” to the Single Market after Brexit. The amendment, which is expected to be formally tabled tomorrow, calls on Theresa May to seek ongoing access with “no new impediments to trade and common rights, standards and protections as [...]
Network Rail wants to ban plastic cutlery and cups from major stations by 2020 June 6, 2018 Network Rail is to ban retailers at some of its stations from supplying plastic cutlery and cups in a push to become more environmentally friendly. By the end of 2020, retailers at some of the biggest and busiest rail stations will also have to implement a coffee cup recycling scheme and expand the roll out [...]
London house prices expected to fall by one per cent this year as Brexit uncertainty hampers demand, finds Reuters poll June 6, 2018 London house prices are expected to fall this year as Brexit hampers demand, according to a Reuters poll of housing market specialists. Property prices in the capital are forecast to fall by an average of one per cent this year, which would mark the first annual dip in nearly 10 years, according to the poll [...]
We have tax havens to thank for rising levels of global prosperity June 6, 2018 Would the world be a better place if offshore finance didn’t exist? Shadow chancellor John McDonnell doubtless thinks so, believing that the tax planning these jurisdictions make possible only hurts other countries. Yet a look at the evidence might surprise him. There is ample reason to venture that the unprecedented rise in living standards and [...]
Improvement in domestic sales boosts London business confidence June 6, 2018 Confidence among London’s business has jumped in the second quarter of the year thanks to rising sales at home and abroad, according to a new survey to be published today. A business confidence index tracked by the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAEW) bounced back into positive territory, to a reading of 3.4, well above the [...]
Small UK company gets one step closer to nuclear fusion breakthrough as it heats plasma to more than 15m degrees Celsius June 6, 2018 A small UK company which is aiming to revolutionise power generation through cracking nuclear fusion has today come one step closer. Oxford-based Tokamak Energy, which is backed by hedge fund Winton Group, has managed to heat plasma to more than 15m degrees Celsius – hotter than the centre of the sun. Tokamak called the process [...]
Samsung selling Commerzbank’s £425m London HQ near Bank of England June 5, 2018 Samsung Life Insurance, the South Korean investment manager, is selling the London headquarters of Germany’s Commerzbank for £425m. Samsung is being advised by DWS in the sale of the 400,000 square foot (sq ft) building at 30 Gresham Street, which sits not far from the Bank of England and overlooks the Guildhall. Originally constructed by [...]
Heathrow expension gets government green light – but London MPs and local campaigners could make for bumpy take-off June 5, 2018 This afternoon the government finally gave its backing to the expansion of Heathrow – but that is not likely to be the end of the debate that has raged for nearly 20 years. Transport secretary Chris Grayling urged MPs to back the government on the project, citing the local and national economic benefits, as well [...]
Culture minister Matt Hancock confirms Sky-Fox deal can proceed as long as Sky News is divested June 5, 2018 Culture secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed that the Sky-Fox merger can go ahead, as long as Sky News is divested to Disney or another firm. If an “acceptable form of remedy” can be found, the minister said he would wave it through. Hancock said he agreed with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) that there [...]