How to invest your bonus: If you’re not off to the McLaren dealership, topping up a pension makes good sense January 18, 2017 Industry experts have warned that bonus season in the Square Mile might not be so bumper this year. In December, research by Emolument.com indicated that just 40 per cent of bankers in mergers and acquisitions found their sweetener satisfactory. And this week, the market leader of PwC’s global financial services HR consulting practice has warned that [...]
Thursday will be the poorest day of the year for Britons after Christmas spending sprees January 18, 2017 After the party, the hangover. Christmas cheer is set to run out for good tomorrow, as a new survey shows Thursday will be the poorest day of the year for Britons. A perfect winter storm of high spending during December and payrolls being brought forward before the holidays begin will leave Brits with a New [...]
Why the Bank of England could turn more hawkish in 2017 January 17, 2017 Suppose the UK had voted to stay in the EU. Would the Bank of England have hiked its benchmark interest rate by now? Yes, probably. But that didn’t happen. Instead, the central bank aggressively expanded monetary policy in August, shortly after the UK voted for Brexit. The Bank's efforts, in conjunction with Theresa May’s ship-steadying [...]
How to earn passive income: 22 ways to create multiple streams of income January 16, 2017 Making money while you sleep. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? After reading books like "Rich Dad Poor Dad" and "4 Hour Work Week," I became interested obsessed with making passive income. Whenever someone needs additional income, the stereotypical suggestion offered is to “get a part-time job.” But what if you don't have [...]
Tata Steel pension scheme edges towards safety January 13, 2017 Tata Steel is one step closer to saving its £15bn retirement scheme from falling into the government's pension lifeboat. A statement from the British Steel Pension Scheme trustees revealed Tata Steel had initiated talks with both scheme trustees and "relevant regulatory bodies". Read more: German steel giant in talks with Tata hit by "massive" cyber attack Tata Steel, [...]
Why banks could actually prove a less stressful part of your portfolio January 13, 2017 | City Talk Market consensus tells us the banking sector remains a risky place for investors to put their money. After all, the prevailing wisdom runs, banks are cyclical, poorly capitalised and in lousy shape for the next downturn, as and when it comes. Of course, as contrarian investors, we believe market consensus and prevailing wisdom primarily [...]
Why banks could actually prove a less stressful part of your portfolio January 13, 2017 | City Talk Market consensus tells us the banking sector remains a risky place for investors to put their money. After all, the prevailing wisdom runs, banks are cyclical, poorly capitalised and in lousy shape for the next downturn, as and when it comes. Of course, as contrarian investors, we believe market consensus and prevailing wisdom primarily exist [...]
Under Press-ure: Activist takes 19 per cent stake in regional press group January 12, 2017 Regional newspaper group Johnston Press could come under pressure after an activist investor took a 19 per cent stake in the company. Crystal Amber today increased its stake from 6.7 per cent to 18.6 per cent. Read more: Johnston Press reduces debt woes by flogging papers for £17m Johnston Press was among many newspaper companies [...]
Increasing levels of cyber security will be vital as fintech approaches “watershed moment” January 12, 2017 | City Talk In 1993, cartoonist Peter Steiner of The New Yorker coined the phrase: ‘On the internet, no-one knows you’re a dog.’ More than 20 years later, the issue of internet privacy and a user’s ability to send and receive messages anonymously, remains a significant barrier to building online trust. “The reality is, as individuals, if we [...]
Chancellor Philip Hammond praises “success story” Funding Circle as it announces $100m investment January 12, 2017 Chancellor Philip Hammond has praised Funding Circle as a “real success story for British fintech” after the peer-to-peer (P2P) platform announced a new $100m (£82.5m) equity capital. The funding round was led by Accel Partners and included participation from existing investors Baillie Gifford, DST Global, Index Ventures, Ribbit Capital, Rocket Internet, Sands Capital Ventures, Temasek and Union Square [...]