Quantexa: London-based AI startup’s valuation hits £2bn March 5, 2025 London-based artificial intelligence (AI) startup Quantexa‘s valuation has jumped to more than £2bn following a new round of funding. The firm, which uses AI to interpret data sets and help financial firms manage risk, secured a $175m (£137.66m) investment in a funding round led by the Teachers’ Venture Growth (TVG), which will bring the firm’s [...]
UK’s ‘AI divide’ puts economic growth at risk, warns Microsoft March 5, 2025 A growing divide between UK leaders who do and don’t leverage AI could threaten the country’s economic potential, and the efficiency of its public services. According to a report from Microsoft, businesses and public sector organisations with clear AI strategies are significantly outperforming those without, highlighting an urgent need for broader adoption of AI driven [...]
Government told to improve education for young entrepreneurs March 5, 2025 A new report has exposed the education system’s failure to boost business knowledge among aspiring entrepreneurs. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and Simply Business have called on the Government to incorporate business education into the national curriculum, in a bid to unlock “a gold mine of enterprise potential”. The study revealed just a third [...]
Global dividends reach record high in 2024 despite UK fall March 5, 2025 Global dividends reached a record high of $1.75 trillion (£1.38 trillion) in 2024, despite a slight fall in UK payouts. Dividends rose 6.6 per cent on an underlying basis last year, according to the latest Janus Henderson Global Dividend Index. Underlying payouts in the UK fell slightly (-0.6 per cent), although this masked some growth [...]
Government set to slash red tape for investment industry March 5, 2025 The government is set to launch a consultation aiming to slash red tape from the alternative investment industry, City AM understands. City minister Emma Reynolds is set to launch the consultation, which will begin in the coming weeks, while addressing top brass in the private equity and venture capital sector later today. Speaking at a [...]
Events, dear boy, events: Starmer’s defence challenge could be his biggest opportunity March 5, 2025 In July 2020, the then chief executive of the Environment Agency, Sir James Bevan, gave a speech to the Whitehall & Industry Group titled: ‘“Events, Dear Boy”: managing incidents before they become crises’. He told listeners: “When Prime Minister Harold Macmillan was asked what was the greatest challenge for a statesman, he replied: ‘Events, dear [...]
The slow death of billable hours at law firms March 5, 2025 With the rise of AI and the cost of lawyers going through the roof, law firms are rushing to change how they bill clients in the hopes of avoiding awkward questions
Dollar risks losing safe haven status, says Deutsche Bank March 4, 2025 The dollar is at risk of losing its traditional status as a safe haven for global investors following a tariff backlash, a European banking giant has warned. German-based Deutsche Bank said: “This needs to be acknowledged as a possibility” after the speed and scale of geopolitical uncertainty accelerated the dollar’s turmoil. The concerns were shared [...]
Legal trouble brewing between Ocado and M&S: What might this tiff deliver? March 4, 2025 Five years ago, M&S began listing its products on Ocado; however, this relationship has since turned sour. What happened between the pair?
Abrdone: Can the vowel U-turn save Aberdeen? March 4, 2025 Abrdn has re-added the vowels to its name as part of a shocking branding U-turn. But will it play a role in rebuilding the asset manager’s fortunes? Does it even matter in the grand scheme of things? The much-mocked corporate moniker was finally retired today after years of Square Mile sniggering and, it must be [...]