Goldman Sachs-backed startup Neyber in talks with administrators February 20, 2020 A London-based startup that has been backed by Goldman Sachs is reportedly in talks with administrators in a bid to secure its long-term future. Neyber, a consumer finance provider that enables employees to borrow against their salaries, is in discussions with accounting firm BDO about a range of strategic options, Sky News reported. Possible outcomes [...]
Morgan Stanley to buy brokerage firm E-Trade in $13bn deal February 20, 2020 Morgan Stanley is to buy discount brokerage firm E-Trade in an all-share deal worth around $13bn (£10bn), the biggest deal by a major Wall Street bank since the financial crisis. The deal will help Morgan Stanley boost its wealth management division, which chief executive James Gorman is trying to grow in order to help the [...]
A quarter of FTSE companies faced shareholder dissent in 2019 February 20, 2020 Investors cranked up the pressure on British companies last year, with a quarter of firms on the FTSE All-Share hit by shareholder dissent, according to new figures. Some 158 of the 641 firms on the index experienced significant investor rebellions in 2019, with executive pay and the re-election of directors among shareholders’ biggest concerns, according [...]
Softbank set to invest $100m in AI startup Behavox February 19, 2020 Softbank is reportedly close to investing $100m (£77m) in a startup which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help financial firms monitor employees’ behaviour. Softbank’s second Vision Fund is on the verge of signing the deal with Behavox, Sky News reported, which could be finalised as soon as next week. Behavox, which was founded in the [...]
Follow the yellow brick road: the investment case for gold February 19, 2020 Investing can often feel like a rollercoaster, with the value of stock investments rising and falling sharply based on breaking news and geopolitical events. Certainly, the last few months may have felt bumpy. From the build-up to the UK General Election in December, to the tit-for-tat missile volleys between the US and Iran, to the outbreak [...]
Franklin Templeton set to buy Legg Mason in $4.5bn deal February 18, 2020 Franklin Templeton is set to acquire rival asset manager Legg Mason in the latest sign of consolidation in the asset management industry. The investment manager announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Legg Mason for $50 per share in an all-cash transaction of $4.5bn. It will also assume $2bn of outstanding debt. [...]
Retail investors exposed to too much risk, says City watchdog February 18, 2020 Retail investors are being pushed into purchasing higher risk products that expose them to more risk than they can afford, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has warned. In its annual report on the areas that could harm consumers, the City watchdog said that the sale of “unsuitable or fraudulent products” represents the most significant harm [...]
New Cenkos appointment is second female chair of a UK stockbroker February 18, 2020 Cenkos has today announced the appointment of Lisa Gordon as its new chairman, the second female to be appointed as chair of a UK stockbroker. Gordon was the youngest woman to be made director of a listed company when she joined the board of media group Chrysalis at the age of 28. She is currently [...]
Responsible innovation: how can European asset managers lead? February 18, 2020 | City Talk By Alejandro Hiniesto, CFA, Fabrizio Palmucci, CFA and Rhodri Preece, CFA Technology, regulation, and competition, as well as macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds, mean the investment industry stands at a pivotal juncture. Pressure on profit margins and evolving client expectations serve to underscore that ‘business as usual’ is no longer sufficient. How can firms and practitioners adapt? Responsible [...]
Seven reasons why London will thrive regardless of Brexit February 17, 2020 | City Talk In the three-and-a-half years since the UK voted to leave the European Union (EU) much has been written about how London’s status as a global leader in financial services could be weakened. However, with a diverse economy, highly skilled workforce, wide tourist demand, world-class universities and cultural appeal, London will not only survive Brexit, but [...]