Sink or swim: The peril of floating as an online media firm July 7, 2022 The excitement surrounding Buzzfeed’s IPO was palpable. It had a loyal following of millennials, millions of investment, and a private-market value of around $1.7bn (£1.4bn). Last summer, Buzzfeed founder and CEO Jonah Peretti said the float was about “taking the next step in BuzzFeed’s evolution, bringing capital and additional experience to our business”. He said [...]
Pandemic-born businesses could add over £20bn to UK economy, study shows July 7, 2022 Businesses started during the Covid pandemic could add £20.4bn to the UK economy as the number of start-ups during the pandemic grew. About 800,000 companies were registered in the first year of the pandemic in the UK, 22 per cent more than the year before, a joint report by CBI Economics and NatWest showed. 80 [...]
UK mental health crisis sends disability benefits bill soaring, IFS says July 6, 2022 The UK’s mental health plight has led to a rise in disability benefits spending as claims increased. Research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies today showed that the number of people on disability benefits rose to 6 per cent of the working age population in 2020-2021, at 2.2m, with spending soaring by 70 per cent. [...]
UK competition watchdog opens EU copycat investigation into Amazon July 6, 2022 The UK competition watchdog launched an investigation into whether Amazon has a dominant market position this morning and if it was abusing this power. The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) probe will hinge on whether the US giant is giving an unfair advantage to its own retail business or sellers, compared to other third-party sellers [...]
Ofcom ‘bares its teeth’ with new roadmap for new online safety laws July 6, 2022 Ofcom has urged tech firms to start preparing now for new online safety rules, setting out a plan for the first 100 days of the regime.
AS IT HAPPENED – LIVE BLOG: Boris Johnson clings on as Tory rebellion gathers pace July 6, 2022 The prime minister is under increasing pressure to quit amid a series of high-profile cabinet resignations over the last 48 hours. Over the course of Wednesday’s drama, we followed all the latest news, opinion and analysis from Westminster on ourCity AM’s live blog. From resignations and letters of support, to the latest policy changes and [...]
Pound still at lowest level since start of pandemic amid government chaos July 6, 2022 The British pound is at its lowest level since the start of the Covid pandemic in March 2020 as the UK government faces a political crisis. The pound has slid 0.6% today to $1.1883 as a wave of ministers resigned from Boris Johnson’s government. Sterling initially dropped more than a cent to below $1.20 for [...]
Crypto market risk profile similar to oil prices and technology stocks, Coinbase says July 6, 2022 Crypto risk profiles are like those in oil prices and tech stocks, according to crypto exchange Coinbase. “The market expects crypto assets to become more and more intertwined with the rest of the financial system, and thus to be exposed to the same macro-economic forces that move the world economy,” Coinbase Institute Chief Economist Cesare [...]
UK firms slash debt levels as interest rates rise July 6, 2022 UK firms are paying off debt for the first time in eight years as rising interest rates dissuade further borrowing and strong cash flows are channelled into repaying existing debt, a new survey has revealed.
Crypto lender Voyager Digital files for bankruptcy amidst crash July 6, 2022 Voyager Digital has filed for bankruptcy as the crypto crash deepens. A week after halting withdrawals, deposits, and trading on its platform, the crypto lender filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US on Tuesday. “This comprehensive reorganization is the best way to protect assets on the platform and maximize value for all stakeholders, [...]