Billionaires’ march continues as Asian surge drives 17 per cent increase in wealth October 26, 2017 Billionaires across the world piled on more riches with the ultra-wealthy in Asia now outnumbering the traditional leaders, the US, according to research published today. The total wealth of billionaires worldwide rose by 17 per cent in 2016 to reach $6 trillion (£4.5 trillion), equivalent to more than double the UK’s annual economic output, according [...]
The UK’s gender pay gap is at its smallest since records began October 26, 2017 The UK’s gender pay gap fell to the lowest since records began in April – although it still stood at 9.1 per cent, according to official figures. The Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) annual survey of hours and earnings showed full-time employees in the UK earned £550 a week in April, up 2.2 per cent [...]
What the peer-to-peer lending industry learnt from Lego October 26, 2017 Fidget Spinners are out. Loom bands are out. Pokemon Go? So out. What’s the latest craze sweeping the nation’s playgrounds this term? Lego. And more precisely, Lego figurines. These little Lego people have broken free to become one of the must-have tradeable toys this autumn. Lego is no longer just about the bricks, and the [...]
Pharrell Williams takes stake in British startup Roli and becomes creative chief October 26, 2017 A British startup which wants to reinvent musical instruments has attracted US music heavyweight Pharrell Wiliams to join its venture. Roli, the eight-year-old startup behind two new instruments – Seaboard and Roli Blocks – has named the producer and singer known for the song “Happy” as its creative chief and Williams will take a stake [...]
Deutsche Bank share price falls as “challenging” revenue environment weighs despite profit rise October 26, 2017 Deutsche Bank third-quarter profits more than doubled year-on-year but the lender warned of a “challenging” revenue environment following a global trend of weakness in investment bank trading revenues. Shares in the Frankfurt-based lender fell by almost two per cent at the time of writing. The figures Net income rose to €649m (£578m), compared to €278m [...]
Love it or hate it, you can’t halt the momentum of Silicon Valley October 26, 2017 Opposition and doubt always accompany any great change. The rise of computer technology over the last 30 years is no different than the invention of the car or the light bulb in this respect. The innovations that Silicon Valley has produced have shaken just about everything we thought we knew, and made us question the [...]
10 reasons the UK should not fear a ‘no deal’ Brexit outcome October 26, 2017 The good cop, bad cop routine between the European Council and Commission makes it very difficult to assess whether or not the Brexit negotiations will lead to acrimony and breakdown. My guess is that there is a 50:50 chance that the UK could end up walking away with no deal. And we know what would [...]
Dutch private equity firm Waterland establishes a UK office to give British businesses access to its €2bn fund October 26, 2017 Netherlands-rooted Waterland Private Equity Investments has established its first UK office and dedicated team, based in Wilmslow. The new office will give lower mid-market businesses, which generate earnings of £3m to £10m, access to Waterland’s €2bn seventh fund which was raised last month. Headed by Andy Scaife, who was Quantum Pharma’s chief executive throughout the [...]
Claude Puel described as “perfect fit” for Leicester after being appointed Foxes boss October 25, 2017 Former Southampton boss Claude Puel has been billed as the perfect fit for new club Leicester by the club’s vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha after being appointed Foxes manager. Puel has signed a three-year deal at the King Power Stadium and becomes Leicester’s third boss of the calendar year after succeeding Craig Shakespeare, who was sacked last [...]
London-listed firms warned they will be named and shamed on investor pay revolts in new public register October 25, 2017 A raft of London-listed firms will be warned this week of their inclusion in a new government-backed public register compiling investor revolts over pay, as well as corporate governance issues. The trade body for Britain’s fund management industry, the Investment Association, is writing to firms which recorded at least a fifth of shareholders opposing resolutions [...]