Another dog for Softbank as it sells Wag stake back to company December 10, 2019 Japanese investment giant Softbank has been left with its tail between its legs after selling its stake in Wag back to the dog-walking startup, capping off a disappointing year for its $97bn Vision Fund. Softbank has agreed to sell its almost 50 per cent stake in the company and will no longer have representation on [...]
When did making money in tech become so unfashionable? December 10, 2019 It is commonly accepted that technology companies have irrevocably changed the world we live in. This is especially true in the finance industry where fintech companies are successfully disrupting the status quo, forcing incumbent firms to evolve alongside these new challengers. While competition and technological innovation in any market is to be welcomed with open [...]
It would be a colossal error for the UK to opt out of the creative thinking study December 10, 2019 Each of the major parties’ manifestos for the upcoming election recognises the importance of creativity in our schools and workforces. It seems that policymakers are finally responding to a growing body of international evidence that employers, as they navigate an increasingly digital and complex world, will value human skills like original thinking and complex problem [...]
EU approves €3.2bn research fund for battery development December 9, 2019 The European Commission has approved a €3.2bn (£2.7bn) state aid fund from seven European Union countries for “ambitious and risky” research and innovation in battery technologies. Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Sweden will provide up to €3.2bn of funding for the project, which is planned to complete in 2031. Read more: Electric cars [...]
How global cities are promoting sustainability and helping to fight climate change December 9, 2019 | City Talk The 2016 Paris Agreement gave the world a sense of hope that politicians could work together to limit temperature rises to 2 degrees centigrade. However, much has changed since the milestone agreement. More frequent extreme weather events, increasing political nationalism and growing economic inequality are making the goal of a carbon neutral world by 2050 [...]
All we want for Christmas is… for politicians to commit to helping disabled workers December 9, 2019 As we hurtle towards the polls this week, my thoughts are turning to how disabled people can make their voices heard during an unusually festive election period (the last December General Election was in 1923). I love Christmas and the time I get to spend with my family and friends, but for many of us, [...]
City regulator toughens up financial accountability rules after scandals December 9, 2019 Tougher accountability rules have today been extended to cover around 47,000 firms across the financial sector, as the financial watchdog seeks to clean up the City’s reputation following a string of scandals. The Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR) holds firms’ senior managers directly accountable for their actions, and is intended to help regulators punish [...]
What’s driving capital market developments in South Africa and Namibia? December 9, 2019 | City Talk CFA Institute has examined Africa’s 10 largest capital markets in a major report compiled by Heidi Raubenheimer, CFA, our senior director for journal publications. Here we highlight key developments in different countries, starting with neighbours South Africa and Namibia. South Africa: Johannesburg Stock Exchange facing competition South Africa – the second-largest economy in Africa after Nigeria [...]
You’re virtually there: How MelodyVR is helping music fans see their favourite artists December 9, 2019 Most music lovers will probably be familiar with the scramble for gig tickets, the eye-watering cost to see your favourite artist, figuring out the logistics of travelling to and from the venue. A large proportion of events are oversubscribed, so many fans end up missing out anyway. But one upbeat company is giving fans the [...]
Debate: Are young people today prepared for the future impact of automation on the workplace? December 9, 2019 Debate: Are young people today prepared for the future impact of automation on the workplace? Yes — Nigel Vaz is global chief executive of digital consultancy Publicis Sapient. As automation becomes increasingly effective and accessible for businesses to perform administrative and data-driven tasks at scale, human input and creativity will remain essential. Graduates who have [...]
