Data scientists top the hiring wishlists of the UK’s CEOs | City A.M. August 7, 2018 Chief executives of the UK’s biggest businesses have identified data scientists as the most important workforce capability for supporting their plans for future growth. The skill scored the top spot in 69 per cent of answers by UK bosses, followed by experts in emerging markets and emerging technology. Data compiled by KPMG revealed that the [...]
Search engine giant Baidu is unfazed by Google’s potential return to China | City A.M. August 7, 2018 The chief executive of domestic Chinese search engine Baidu has said he is prepared to take on Google if the US giant returns to the market. In a posting on a private social media account today, Robin Li said if the two companies come head to head, “Baidu will win again”. “Chinese companies today have [...]
The creator of the Lion King just raised $1bn for a new Netflix | City A.M. August 7, 2018 The former Disney chairman who produced films such as The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Aladdin has scored a total of $1bn (£772m) for his Netflix and Youtube competitor startup, in a seed funding round closed today. Led by Jeffrey Katzenberg alongside former Hewlett Packard and Ebay chief executive Meg Whitman, the startup temporarily [...]
Donald Trump: Anyone doing business with Iran will not do business with US | City A.M. August 7, 2018 Donald Trump has thrown down the gauntlet, warning that any businesses trading with Iran would not be allowed to trade with the US. Hailing the re-introduction of sanctions against the state, the US President tweeted: “These are the most biting sanctions ever imposed, and in November they ratchet up to yet another level. Anyone doing [...]
London fintech serves up UK-wide partnership with sushi chain Itsu | City A.M. August 7, 2018 London-based fintech firm Flux will roll out a UK-wide deal with sushi chain Itsu that could see users receive nutritional information sent straight to their phones. Starting today, users who have opted in with Flux’s banking partners will receive an itemised digital receipt inside their banking app when they pay with their card at any [...]
Halifax house price index: House prices hit new record – but activity remains ‘soft’ | City A.M. August 7, 2018 House prices rose by 3.3 per cent in the second quarter of the year, hitting a new record of £230,280 – but caution still reigns over the property market. Prices rose 1.4 per cent in July, according to the Halifax house price index, up 1.3 per cent on a quarterly basis. Russell Galley, managing director [...]
Softbank’s Indian Uber challenger brand Ola is launching in the UK | City A.M. August 7, 2018 Ola, the Indian ride-hailing firm backed by Japanese mega-investor Softbank, is bringing its services to the UK. Ola’s app will allow riders to choose from services across both private hire vehicles and black cabs, in a bid to shake things up by challenging major UK taxi disruptors Uber and Gett at the same time. The [...]
Hargreaves Lansdown tops up dividend as profits rise 10 per cent | City A.M. August 7, 2018 Investment manager Hargreaves Lansdown gave investors a summer treat as it hiked the dividend on the back of impressive full-year results. Despite the decent results, shares in the company were down three per cent in early trading on Tuesday. The figures Before tax profits shot up 10 per cent to £292.4m, as it added a [...]
Stan Kroenke tables £1.8bn cash offer to buy Arsenal | City A.M. August 7, 2018 US sports tycoon Stan Kroenke has made an all-cash offer to buy Arsenal in a deal valuing the club at £1.8bn. Kroenke already owns 67 per cent of the football club’s shares, but wants to buy the remaining stock and make the company 100 per cent privately owned. The second largest shareholder of the club [...]
Elon Musk’s SpaceX successfully ‘reflights’ its Falcon 9 ‘Block 5’ rocket | City A.M. August 7, 2018 Elon Musk’s aerospace company Space X has successfully launched one of newest Falcon 9 rockets back into space for the second time, in the early hours of the morning US time. The Falcon 9 ‘Block 5’ rocket is designed to be able to go into space and return 100 times, while heat shields and other [...]