Broad-based growth in Eurozone confirmed after boom year February 14, 2018 Economic activity held up strongly across the Eurozone at the end of last year, as updated European Commission data showed overall GDP growth slightly faster than an early rough estimate. The second estimate of growth by Eurostat, the statistics agency, confirmed that GDP grew by 0.6 per cent in the final quarter of the year, [...]
Bitcoin, ripple and other cryptocurrency assets are now part of divorce settlements February 14, 2018 Forget the plush pad, wine cellar or luxury car lot – bitcoin is now being fought over by divorcing couples. Cryptocurrency assets are at the centre of three high value divorce cases for law firm Royds Withy King, but that number expected to grow as digital cash becomes more mainstream. “These are the first cases [...]
Bank of England survey shows UK pay rises might finally be on the way February 14, 2018 A long-awaited pay rise for UK workers is finally here, according to a Bank of England survey of businesses. According to the February update, private sector business leaders are expecting an average pay settlement rate of 3.1 per cent in 2018, compared with 2.6 per cent last year. Only the construction sector is predicted to [...]
Cashless society? Apple boss Tim Cook wants to see the end of money before he dies February 14, 2018 Apple boss Tim Cook has said that he hopes to see the elimination of cash within his lifetime. He was speaking at the shareholder meeting of the world’s biggest tech company in California on Tuesday evening. But, he revealed that Apple Pay, its efforts to get people to ditch cash for digital, had not taken [...]
New Crossrail 2 delays could jeopardise the planned route for the £31bn project as key milestones are pushed back February 14, 2018 A £31bn plan to build a second Crossrail risks going off track as fresh delays threaten to hinder the intended route for the new railway, with concern over land and property costs around parts of it which aren’t safeguarded. With funding and a hybrid bill which would give the green light to a revised Crossrail [...]
Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil prices fall on rising US stockpiles February 14, 2018 Oil prices have fallen this morning as US production growth undermines the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (Opec) efforts to bring the market back into balance. The American Petroleum Institute (API) yesterday said US crude inventories had swelled by 3.9m barrels in the week to 9 February to 422.4m. Official data from the Energy Information [...]
GKN promises a £2.5bn cash windfall for shareholders in attempt to divert support from Melrose’s £7.4bn hostile bid February 14, 2018 Engineering giant GKN revealed its latest attempt to win shareholders’ support today, as it fights a £7.4bn hostile bid from turnaround investor Melrose. GKN said it was “targeting up to £2.5bn cash return to shareholders over the next three years” and expects its own turnaround plan – nicknamed “Project Boost” – to deliver a recurring [...]
Plus500 share price jumps 12 per cent as it hikes dividend as revenues rise | City A.M. February 14, 2018 Online trading firm Plus500 has hiked its dividend after growing revenue and profit in the year to 31 December. The figures Revenue rose 33 per cent to $437.2m (£314.7m) from $327.9m. Net profit was up 70 per cent to $199.7m, while earnings per share increased 72 per cent to $1.75 from $1.02. The firm’s total [...]
Barclays Techstars accelerator adds Anthony Browne , ex-head of banking industry body BBA, as entrepreneur in residence February 14, 2018 The former boss of the British Bankers’ Association; the industry body which last year became UK Finance, has resurfaced at the tech accelerator of one of Britain’s biggest banks. Anthony Browne is joining Barclays Techstars as entrepreneur in residence where he will help advise fintech startups. “Financial technology is one of the most exciting and [...]
Playing your cardano right: It’s made some bold claims, but will the cryptocurrency succeed? February 14, 2018 Described by Forbes as the cryptocurrency to watch, cardano lifted the roof off expectations when in December 2017, its value appreciated to a $30bn market capitalisation no shorter than four months after launching. Impressive, even by the extremities of cryptocurrency volatility. So, what is cardano and – putting to one side the incredible investment returns [...]