H&M Group takes minority stake in e-commerce firm Centra May 7, 2025 H&M has taken a minority stake in e-commerce firm Centra as it looks to deepen its relationship with the company. The stake, which is less than 10 per cent, values Centra at just over half a billion Swedish kronor, according to Di Digital. H&M will invest SEK 50m (£3.9m) in the company, which supports retail [...]
Rachel Reeves has promised UK fintech the world – now she must deliver May 4, 2025 Judgement day looms for Rachel Reeves, and UK fintech will be handing her the verdict. In a keynote speech at Innovate Finance’s 11th global summit, the Chancellor confirmed the Treasury’s inaugural Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy would be published on 15 July. Reeves has lauded the industry’s growth and touted the achievements of fintech [...]
IoD: Business leaders remain frustrated with Reeves May 1, 2025 UK business leaders are less optimistic about wage growth and cost expectations remain high, a new survey has suggested, in signs that Chancellor Reeves will continue to face a “strong sense of frustration” from company bosses. The Labour government could yet offer businesses olive branches as it rolls out its industrial strategy and spending review [...]
FTSE 100 continues longest winning streak since 2017 April 30, 2025 The FTSE 100 is on track for another strong day after 12 days of positive performance, marking its best winning streak since 2017 amid a calming of investor nerves over an erratic US tariff policy. London’s main index has had a positive performance every day since 10 April, and is currently up 0.12 per cent [...]
FCA vows to slash red tape by 70 per cent for investment firms April 24, 2025 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has laid out new rules as it bows to government pressure to slash the amount of red tape on investment firms. The move, designed to streamline what types of funds investment firms must hold to absorb losses and maintain financial resilience during periods of stress, is expected to reduce the [...]
Firms must move faster to prepare for T+1 April 23, 2025 Two thirds of the global investment industry is now preparing for the UK’s transition to a shorter settlement window, but more firms should act now to avoid a last minute scramble, says Chris Elms A new survey of financial firms reveals that almost two thirds of the global investment industry is now actively preparing for [...]
Hargreaves Lansdown co-founder returns to board after £5.4bn takeover April 21, 2025 The billionaire co-founder of Hargreaves Lansdown has made a surprise return to the investment platform’s board following its private equity takeover last year. Peter Hargreaves, who helped set up the investment site in 1981 and stepped down as a director a decade ago, will reappear on the company board in a non-executive role. Hargreaves has [...]
British investor eyes 23andMe rescue as it files for bankrupcy March 28, 2025 A major British investor is exploring a potential rescue plan for 23andMe, after the consumer genetics company filed for bankruptcy protection in the US. Richard Magides, director of Singapore-based Zentree Investments, and one of the firm’s largest shareholders, had been reportedly increasing his take in the firm in the lead up to its Chapter 11 [...]
Reeves urged to drive financial literacy in Spring Statement March 25, 2025 In what will be a busy week for the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves has been urged to not forget the importance of improving financial literacy in her Spring Statement. Jordan Sinclair, the president of financial services firm Robinhood UK, told City AM the UK has “the ingredients in order to improve” but now was the time [...]
Will the government’s £2bn affordable housing top-up make a difference? March 25, 2025 The government has ploughed a ‘top-up’ investment of £2bn into the UK’s affordable housing sector as part of its pledge to revitalise residential construction. Officials say it will get working people and families into secure homes, while detractors say it doesn’t go far enough and might even be less money than the sector had anticipated. [...]