Neil Woodford in talks with investors as he plots comeback March 7, 2020 Neil Woodford and a number of colleagues from Woodford Investment Management (WIM) are in talks with investors about snapping up a number of the fallen fund manager’s old investments. Woodford has held talks with institutional and wealth managers in recent weeks about creating a vehicle to buy back some of the unquoted WIM stakes, according [...]
City watchdog outlines tougher climate change disclosures for top firms March 6, 2020 The UK’s top listed firms must disclose how their business is affected by climate change using globally-agreed guidance or explain why they cannot, under proposals outlined today by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Under the plans, firms with a premium listing would have to either make climate-related disclosures in line with the approach set out [...]
Bob Diamond appoints ex-Barclays colleague Rich Ricci to lead Panmure Gordon March 6, 2020 Bob Diamond has hired his former right-hand man from his time at Barclays to head up loss-making stockbroker Panmure Gordon. Diamond appointed Rich Ricci as chief executive of London-based Panmure, which he acquired two years ago. The former Barclays boss will be reunited with 56-year-old American investment banker Ricci, who ran the old Barclays capital [...]
PSSL threatens Pollen Street Capital with legal action to obtain documents March 5, 2020 Pollen Street Secured Lending (PSSL) has hit back at Pollen Street Capital and is threatening legal action to obtain due diligence materials. In a punchy letter to shareholders, PSSL chairman Simon King said that PSC is trying to ensure that Waterfall Asset Management’s bid will not proceed. In January, Waterfall made a possible cash offer [...]
Gresham House acquires Trade Risks amid strong 2019 performance March 5, 2020 Gresham House announced the acquisition of Trade Risks as it reported a double digit rise in its assets under management. The figures Gresham House reported a 23 per cent increase in assets under management from £2.3bn to £2.8bn. Total income rose 124 per cent from £14.7m to £32.9m, while adjusted operating profit rose 237 per [...]
Schroders profit falls as investors turn their back on equities March 5, 2020 Schroders posted a four per cent fall in profit before tax as market uncertainty prompted investors to ditch equities. The figures Schroders reported that profit before tax fell four per cent from £649.9m to £624.6m. The asset manager reported total net new business of £43.4bn, with positive net inflows across all asset classes as the [...]
Coronavirus: the economic impact March 5, 2020 | City Talk The coronavirus threatens to derail the revival in global economic growth which began in the latter part of 2019. Economic indicators up to January continued to show an improvement in activity with business surveys signalling rising orders and output. However, confidence in the sustainability of the upswing has been undermined by the virus, officially known [...]
Investors demand companies manage climate change risk ahead of AGM season March 5, 2020 Investment managers will demand to know what companies are doing to manage climate change in this year’s AGM season. The Investment Association (IA), whose members own one third of the value of UK listed companies, is asking companies to report the impact of climate change will have on their business model and how it will [...]
How to select a quality investment manager – or at least a decent one March 4, 2020 Humans are bad investors. Unfortunately, they think they are great at it. So how can you protect yourself from yourself? Here are your need-to-knows in finding an investment manager who might help. You are a bad investor If you have money, you were probably successful. Congratulations. That does not make you a good investor. Research [...]
How does the stock market perform when the VIX fear gauge surges? March 3, 2020 | City Talk The spread of the coronavirus has sent shock waves through global stock markets. Alongside plummeting share prices, the VIX index, the market’s so-called fear gauge, has shot up. At the time of writing, on 28 February, it stands at over 40. This is very high compared to long-term norms. Since 1990, it has averaged 19 [...]