Next generation finance: How London can cement its leadership in fintech August 19, 2014 The launch of Innovate Finance, a new body dedicated to supporting fintech (or financial technology) in the UK, at Canary Wharf this month highlighted London’s ability to become the global centre of the sector. They say there is no “fin” in San Francisco and no “tech” in New York – but there is certainly both [...]
Reformed pensions can provide an alternative to the payday lenders August 17, 2014 For millions of households, the most significant risk to financial security lies in their lack of any form of a short-term cash account on which they can draw in the event of an emergency. The consequence of this lack of reserves, for some, is that a financial shock (a suddenly disrupted income, or an unexpected [...]
Intelligent design: Oliver Bonas founder talks Hong Kong, princes and the art of letting go August 17, 2014 After a tough period during the recession, the fashion industry has bounced back with a vengeance. In the last five years, it’s grown by 22 per cent, and is now worth £26bn to our economy, according to figures out earlier this year from the British Fashion Council. Oliver Tress, founder of high street favourite Oliver [...]
How the government can help you set up a business from home August 17, 2014 My parents built a software business from scratch at our home near Chester when I was growing up. My youth was spent surrounded by the early computers and cables of their small firm. Today, all my siblings run their own startups, so I know from close experience what it takes to run a business from [...]
Gimme 5: Companies crowdfunding this month August 11, 2014 All Star Minerals 12 per cent; 540-day convertible loan A listed UK mining company focused on the Queensland area of Australia. Current focus is on two near-term production copper-gold mines. It’s seeking £50,000. Crowd for Angels Mughals, The Series 10 per cent equity A television drama series about the Mughals, in the style of [...]
Latis Homes founders Robert Luck and Krishan Pattni talk dream designs and planning nightmares August 10, 2014 Without the regulatory constraints imposed on our housing market, between 1974 and 2008, average house prices would have risen from £79,000 to £147,000, rather than to £226,000. That’s according to a new report by Christian Hilber of the LSE and Wouter Vermeulen of UV University that looks at the impact of supply constraints on house [...]
Aviva weathers pensions storm as bulk annuity sales rocket up August 8, 2014 Aviva was one of the top risers on the FTSE 100 yesterday, following publication of its half-year results. Its shares rose almost three per cent after reporting that operating profit for the half-year period was up four per cent to £1.05bn. The strong results prove Aviva is weathering the storm created by chancellor George Osborne [...]
Japan pension fund rumours boost markets August 8, 2014 JAPANESE stocks swelled yesterday on reports that the country’s colossal public pension fund was now preparing to make a significant move into domestic equities. The Nikkei, which had dropped during the day, jumped upward around an hour before the end of trading, finishing at 15,232.27, a rise of 0.48 per cent. The Topix index, which [...]
George Osborne makes a quick buck on £20 Bitcoin buy at Level 39 August 6, 2014 As the Chancellor of the Exchequer, you might expect George Osborne would like to keep his own pocket money in good old, Bank of England-regulated, sterling. But it’s apparent a trip to trendy FinTech den Level 39 has left Osborne with a sense of adventure – he’s gone where no chancellor has gone before – [...]
Forget pensions: We need radical Isa reform to really tackle the UK savings crisis August 4, 2014 The UK’s pensions crisis is no longer looming. It’s here. We are dangerously over-heating, and millions of British households, who are simply not saving enough for later life, face a bleak financial future – unless there is swift, radical action. UK adults need and deserve a solid framework that will help them save and plan [...]
