City regulator proposes easing suspension rule for listed SPACs April 30, 2021 The financial watchdog is consulting on a raft of changes to UK SPAC listings, including the rules around SPAC trading suspension when the vehicle identifies an acquisition target. Following a surge of SPAC or “blank check” company listings on Wall Street and more recently in Europe, London is keen not to be left behind. The Financial Conduct [...]
FCA looks into high risk investment promotion amid Bitcoin boom and TikTok ‘finfluencer’ trend April 29, 2021 The City regulator is looking for views on how to tackle the issue of high-risk investment promotions, fearing too many consumers are unwittingly taking too much risk with their money. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is concerned consumers are investing in inappropriate, high-risk investments that are unsuitable for most people. The watchdog has recently warned [...]
FTSE 100 leaps as strong earnings drive index higher April 29, 2021 London’s FTSE 100 was boosted by a series of positive earnings this morning as the index shot up by 0.6 per cent. The blue-chips were buoyed by gains in medical products maker Smith & Nephew, who accelerated to the top of the index after revenue growth in the first quarter. The increase was also supported [...]
Funds under management swell to a record £135bn at St James’s Place April 29, 2021 Funds under management at St James’s Place have reached a record high and strong inflows in the first quarter it said this morning, as government spending and Covvid-19 vaccination drives positive investor sentiment. Funds under management jumped to £135bn at the end of March, surpassing the previous record of £129bn it touched in 2020. Net [...]
Funds are failing to deliver top-quartile returns April 29, 2021 The funds industry is failing to deliver top-quartile returns with the average falling to a historic low in the first quarter, according to new research. Just 1.8 per cent of funds consistently achieved top quarterline performance over the past three years, according to BMO’s latest FundWatch survey. BMO analysed 1,085 funds with a three-year track [...]
FTSE 100 rises while US stocks mixed as investors await Fed meeting April 28, 2021 The FTSE 100 closed higher after a busy day of results while US stocks are mixed as investors awaited the outcome of the US Federal Reserve’s policy meeting. London’s blue-chip index closed 0.27 per cent higher boosted by a series of positive earnings updates from WPP and Lloyds. Investors’ focus now turns to the US [...]
FTSE 100 weighed down by Aveva while Wall Street slips ahead of tech earnings April 27, 2021 The FTSE 100 closed in the red this afternoon despite a strong day of results for heavyweights BP and HSBC, while US stocks were muted ahead of bumper tech earnings. London’s blue-chip index closed down 0.26 per cent this afternoon as Aveva slumped nearly five per cent following its CEO’s exit. The drop was limited [...]
Neil Woodford registers new firm in Cayman Islands – report April 25, 2021 Disgraced stockpicker Neil Woodford has registered a new firm in the Cayman Islands as his bid to relaunch his career goes on. According to CityWire, new firm WCM Partners, which Woodford announced two months ago, has been registered in the tax haven. The move comes two months on from the start of the former star [...]
Why the going is about to get tougher for investing in climate change April 23, 2021 | City Talk 2020 was an extraordinary year for climate change action. Public opinion, governments, businesses and financial markets all had major shifts in their appreciation of the urgent need to address the climate crisis. More investment, research and development, and international collaboration will now come together to enable a faster transition to a net zero economy. While [...]
London market recovery continues following grim start to the week April 22, 2021 London’s main market continued to rise on Thursday, after rebounding yesterday following a disastrous Tuesday, in which the market fell two per cent in one day. By mid-afternoon the FTSE 100 was up 0.42 per cent, boosted by mining and industrials stocks, although the gains were capped by a stronger pound. Meanwhile, the mid-cap FTSE [...]