Exclusive: City fund manager calls for reforms as UK first-time funding is down by a third from 2018 peak July 20, 2021 The number of first-time funding rounds into UK seed-stage startups declined for a second consecutive year in 2020, to 36 per cent below the 2018 peak for such deals, according to new research shared with City A.M. this afternoon. The data provided by Square Mile based SFC Capital also points to reductions both to the [...]
Regulation and investors’ demands push fund managers towards ESG July 20, 2021 Regulatory imperatives and investor demand are driving an increased focus on environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) principles, according to a PwC report published today. The study found that three-quarters of the fund managers questioned – holding £15.5 trillion in assets – are being influenced by investors and policymakers to drive sustainability outcomes. Regulation 76 [...]
‘What I Know Is…’: black professionals share their experiences July 20, 2021 | City Talk One of the main reasons for the under-representation of black professionals in investment management is the lack of knowledge and information about joining the investment profession and the opportunities that it can deliver. For the financial sector which is increasingly focused on sustainability and where corporates are increasingly rewarded for good ESG policies, ensuring that [...]
Women on City board seats up by more than a third since 2016 July 19, 2021 Women hold 39 per cent more positions on boardrooms than they did five years ago, according to a report by New Financial. The think tank published its evaluation of the impact of a government effort to increase gender diversity in the City’s financial services firms. The proportion of women sitting on boards across the UK [...]
Exclusive: Two City lawyers on a mission to make their fintech the ‘Amazon of Islamic finance’ July 19, 2021 Islamic Finance Guru (IFG), a UK-based Islamic finance platform, has closed an investment round led by Outward venture capital, as the market for Islamic fintech grows. The UK-based startup has raised £3m from Outward VC and B&Y Venture Partners. The news come just a week after the Boubyan Bank Group announced that the world’s first [...]
Lenders set to increase interest-free periods on credit cards July 15, 2021 Households could be offered longer interest-free periods on credit cards over the summer, according to a survey of lenders. Banks and building societies also anticipate that mortgage availability to households will rise, according to the survey published by the Bank of England. The Bank’s Credit Conditions Survey is carried out every quarter to help it [...]
London records strongest half year IPO performance since 2014 July 15, 2021 The UK retained its dominance as the most attractive European IPO venue by funds raised, continuing the deal momentum witnessed in the previous two quarters. Both the main market and Alternative Investment Market (AIM) have built on the resurgence of activity seen in the last two quarters, with 10 IPOS raising £3.1bn on the main [...]
Revolut becomes UK’s most valuable fintech after bumper funding round July 15, 2021 Challenger bank Revolut has become the UK’s most valuable fintech company after seeing its valuation surge to $33bn (£24bn) following a fresh funding round. The British fintech favourite has secured $800m in new funding in a round led by Softbank’s Vision Fund and Tiger Global Management. It makes Revolut one of the most valuable fintechs [...]
Sale rates soar for online retailer ASOS July 15, 2021 Online fashion giant ASOS saw sales continue to skyrocket despite physical competitors re-opening, per the firm’s latest market update. UK sales increased 60 per cent for the retailer in the four months to the end of June, with active customers growing by a further 1.2m. Chief executive officer Nick Beighton said, “ASOS has delivered another [...]
Online fraud up by a third during the pandemic July 15, 2021 Online fraud has risen by a third during the pandemic as almost all everyday activities went digital, according to a consumer rights group. The number of cases of fraud reported to UK police unit Action Fraud cost consumers £2.3bn last year and had affected over 410,000 victims, according to analysis by consumer rights group Which? [...]
