The UK government now has its first official blockchain provider for public services August 1, 2016 Every single public sector organisation across the UK will be able to use blockchain technology for the first time after the government rubber-stamped fintech startup Credits as one of its approved suppliers in a major step forward for the potentially revolutionary technology. It's the first time a company working with blockchain's distributed ledger technology (DLT) has been given the thumbs up, and [...]
Crunching the numbers: Mazars completes on deal with Corality Financial Group August 1, 2016 Get ready for a whole bunch of number crunching: Accountants Mazars has completed its acquisition of financial modelling and training firm Corality Financial Group. As part of the deal, Corality's training academy and financial modelling services will be rebranded as Corality by Mazars. The new brand will be led by Rickard Warnelid, previously Corality Group's chief executive who will now [...]
Ascential step away from print advertising exposure helps media company grow August 1, 2016 Ascential, the business-to-business media company that floated in London this year, has reported a 13.5 per cent revenue growth in the first half of the year. The figures Turnover on a reported basis was £202.5m, up from £178.4m in the first half of 2015. The company’s adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda), [...]
There is a 98 per cent chance the Bank of England will cut interest rates August 1, 2016 The Bank of England is almost certain to slash interest rates when its rate-setting monetary policy committee (MPC) meets for the second time since the EU referendum this week. Futures markets indicate there is a 98.1 per cent probability the MPC will cut rates to a new record-low of 0.25 per cent, slightly up on [...]
India’s largest mortgage lender issues world’s first “Masala bond” in London August 1, 2016 The world's first ever "masala" bond has been issued in London today, in what chancellor Philip Hammond described as a major win for the UK economy in the aftermath of the EU referendum. India's largest mortgage provider, Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC), became the first Indian company to list corporate rupee-denominated debt outside of India, with the [...]
Trading in Unicredit shares suspended as investors digest bank stress tests August 1, 2016 Shares in Italian bank Unicredit were suspended from trading this morning as the lender plunged by eight per cent following the publication of stress test results on Friday evening. Its counterpart Monte dei Paschi, which came bottom of the results but managed to secure new terms on a potential bailout, climbed four per cent in the [...]
China urges Hinkley approval as its state media scolds security concerns August 1, 2016 China urged the UK government to press ahead with the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant, after it delayed making a final decision until October. Reports suggest Prime Minister Theresa May pushed back final approval last week because of security concerns regarding the involvement of China's state nuclear company, which would own about a third of the project. [...]
Google parent Alphabet’s life sciences arm and GSK are teaming up and investing millions into bioelectronics August 1, 2016 Google's parent company Alphabet and pharma firm GSK are banding together to form a new company that will explore the science behind using small electronics to treat disease. The pair will plough £540m over the next seven years into Galvani Bioelectronics, which will explore technology which combines electronics and biology to treat illnesses, with headquarters in the UK. Alphabet's Verily Life [...]
Trinity Mirror boss: New Day failed because consumers didn’t want what they said they wanted August 1, 2016 Trinity Mirror’s New Day newspaper – launched this year and closed after less than three months – failed because consumers did not want what they said they wanted, according to the publisher’s chief executive. Asked why the daily title did not succeed, Simon Fox told City A.M.: “I think because, at the end of the day, what [...]