Markets wrap: FTSE 100 falls as bond yields jump, sterling falls agains the US dollar (GBPUSD) and bitcoin (BTC) swings February 2, 2018 The FTSE 100 today fell to its worst weekly performance since the summer in spite of the weaker pound – usually a boon to big multinationals with big dollar earnings. London’s blue-chip index lost more than 0.6 per cent to reach 7,443.43 points, its lowest close since 14 December to cap a week in which [...]
Janet Yellen gets new job as fellow at Brookings Institution think tank in Washington February 2, 2018 Janet Yellen’s tenure as Federal Reserve Chair might end this weekend, but instead of taking a well-earned break, she is moving on to a new job. She will begin work on Monday morning as a distinguished fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington DC. The Brookings Institution is a self described “non-partisan” American research group [...]
London’s top gyms are competing with each other to have the most stylish interiors February 2, 2018 The new year has come and gone, and our gyms are still fuller than they’ve ever been. The UK fitness industry is in exceptional health. The UK market is worth £4.7bn a year and even more health clubs are opening in the capital in 2018, so we have more choice than ever before. With so [...]
Intercontinental Exchange ups stake in Euroclear | City A.M. February 2, 2018 Intercontinental Exchange (Ice) has increased its stake in Euroclear, Europe’s biggest settlement house for securities, to 10 per cent. The US-based firm bought more shares from members of the consortium of banks that own group, building its stake in the financial infrastructure group. The Financial Times first reported the purchase. The Ice bought a €275m [...]
Non-farm payroll: Pound falls against the dollar after US job openings beat expectations (GBPUSD) February 2, 2018 The dollar rocketed in lunchtime trading in the UK after official data showed the number of job openings in the US rose above expectations last month, following a disappointing showing in December. The closely-watched non-farm payroll figure came in at 200,000 in January, while last month’s figure was revised up from 148,000 to 160,000. Economists [...]
Co-operative Bank appoints Bob Dench as new chair to try to steer turnaround February 2, 2018 The Co-operative Bank has poached Bob Dench from Paragon Banking Group to be its new chairman as the struggling lender tries to turn around its business, it announced today. Dench will join the board as chair on 14 March, after Dennis Holt, who has been chair since October 2014, steps down to retire in May. [...]
UK jobs: These are the best-paying industries for freelancers to work in, finance and tech top the ranking February 2, 2018 The best paying contracting jobs are mostly in the finance, change and IT sectors, according to new research from Emolument.com. The best-paid role for a contractor is in the finance sector, with risk modelling/quant jobs coming with an average daily rate of £760. And despite the headlines about technology ‘wonderkids’ being offered eye-watering pay packages, [...]
Super Bowl 2018: Punters to illegally bet $4.6bn on Philadelphia Eagles showdown with New England Patriots February 2, 2018 Most of the money wagered on Sunday’s Super Bowl will be through illegal channels, due to a near-blanket ban on full-scale betting in the US. Some $4.6bn (£3.2bn) or 97 per cent of bets will be made through sports books that are not licensed in Nevada, research has suggested. Nevada is the only US state [...]
Bitcoin (BTC) price heads towards $8,000 as concerns mount over regulatory crackdown February 2, 2018 Bitcoin continued its downward trajectory this morning, edging closer to $8,000, as concerns escalate over a potential regulatory crackdown. The cryptocurrency was down 7.1 per cent to $8,411.67 at the time of writing, after falling below the £10k mark in the early hours of Thursday morning. Yesterday, research revealed bitcoin’s losses for January totted up [...]
Six Nations betting: France to start fast and silence Six Nations doubters against Ireland February 2, 2018 Never write off France. Given all the issues in French rugby right now, winning their first Six Nations title since 2010 doesn’t appear to be on the cards and the bookmakers agree at around 20/1. They’re a young side under new management and, having failed to win any of their seven games since last year’s [...]