Capgemini: The finance industry can’t afford to ignore bitcoin technology blockchain November 18, 2015 Blockchain technology is winning new friends by the day, with computer consultancy Capgemini announcing in a fresh report that financial services can no longer “afford to ignore” the distributed ledger technology that underpins bitcoin. Calling blockchain a “fundamental” shift for the finance industry, the report suggests that distributed ledgers will both slash costs and be [...]
French private equity firm Ardian raises €1.1bn for co-investment fund November 18, 2015 French private equity firm Ardian has completed a €1.1bn (£769m) fundraising for its fourth co-investment fund. The fund's strategy is to co-invest a minority stake in larger private equity transactions, with two pools, so investors can choose their exposure to the US and European markets. Ardian, which until 2013 was AXA Private Equity and is [...]
Apple’s share price will soar predicts Goldman Sachs as it places it on “conviction” buy list because it’s no longer a hardware stock – it’s “Apple-as-service” November 18, 2015 Shares in Apple could hit dizzying new heights, says Goldman Sachs, which has added the superstar tech stock to its "conviction" buy list. Analysts said the market will increasingly see the California company as a source of recurring revenue rather than simply a transactional seller of one-off devices, citing TV, Music, and Pay, as a "significant multi-year opportunity" after the launch [...]
Oil prices: US crude WTI falls below $40 for first time since August November 18, 2015 US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) plunged below $40 a barrel for the first time since August, as a global supply glut continues to weigh heavily on oil prices. WTI dipped to trade below the $40 a barrel mark in late-afternoon trading, before recouping somewhat to $40.15. This puts WTI at its lowest point since [...]
Private sector workers are optimistic about the next 12 months but public sector employees think they will be worse off November 18, 2015 Brits’ optimism on their finances has risen this month with a strong outlook for private sector workers lifting overall confidence while those in the public sector were more downbeat, according to new survey figures released today. Markit's index for financial wellbeing over the next 12 months increased this month, rising to a score of 50.4 from 49.1 and [...]
Sky Q: Seven features to tempt customers and everything you need to know – including release date and price November 18, 2015 TV viewing is no longer just a living room event. New devices – smartphones, tablets – and services – Netflix, Apple TV, YouTube – are changing the way we watch, and we do it wherever and whenever we can. Now, keen not to miss out, Sky has liberated its service from the gaze of the sofa, with Sky [...]
Black Friday UK 2015: Amazon, Currys PC World, John Lewis and Asos to be winners – while AO World, Home Retail Group and Game Digital will be losers November 18, 2015 Black Friday is less than 10 days away (27 November for those who haven't marked it in their calendar/had it tattooed on their forehead) and UK retailers are falling over themselves to get the sales bonanza right. Some, like Asda and fashion brand Jigsaw, have walked away from the discount day. But others are planning to [...]
Is Barack Obama preparing for a career in TV? The US President loves a high-profile interview November 18, 2015 Move over Parkinson – it looks like Barack Obama is getting into TV. The US President took time off at an Asia-Pacific summit on Wednesday for a less conventional errand: putting questions to Chinese internet billionaire Jack Ma and a young Filipina entrepreneur on government-business ties during a panel discussion. Obama joked with the eccentric founder and chairman of e-commerce firm Alibaba, probing Ma on how [...]
Flood Re secures £1.29bn in first phase of reinsurance tender process, putting it on track to accept first policy in April 2016 November 18, 2015 Flood Re, a reinsurance body aimed at limiting the cost of flood insurance for high-risk households, has secured £1.29bn in phase one of its reinsurance tender process, it was announced today. This figure means the project is on track to secure £2.1bn by early 2016, allowing it to accept its first policy in April 2016. “Flood [...]
Tech unicorn bubble? When building a business, watch out or you could end up swimming with sharks November 18, 2015 We see it all the time: the latest tech darling pouring time and money into raising their profile. The company sponsors every event going, turn up to panels flanked by more advisors than a politician and their picture is in every newspaper going. Don't get me wrong. In many cases this is deserved attention, as good [...]