Kickstarter says hackers stole customer data February 16, 2014 KICKSTARTER, the crowdfunding platform used by thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises, admitted yesterday that US law enforcement had informed it of a major data breach last week. The company said that user’s credit card information had not been accessed, but that some usernames, email addresses and encrypted passwords had been compromised. “We set a [...]
Moshi Monsters owner welcomes Index Ventures partner on board February 16, 2014 MIND Candy, the London-based tech firm behind the Moshi Monsters children’s game franchise, has appointed Index Ventures partner Saul Klein to its board. Klein was one of the first investors in Mind Candy and is said to have been playing an active role in the business prior to the appointment. “His appointment to the board [...]
UK’s first ever peer-to-peer bond platform launches for small firms February 16, 2014 UK BOND Network (UKBN) has launched the UK’s first peer-to-peer bond and loan platform for businesses looking to raise up to £4m. The launch comes following a trial in December that saw Red Rock Resources, a mineral exploration and production company, raise £500,000 though a bond sale on the platform. “There are high-quality small and [...]
Best of the Brokers for 17 February 2014 February 16, 2014 To appear in Best of the Brokers, email your research to notes@cityam.com DE LA RUE Numis tells investors to “add” shares in the banknote printer following an investor day that left the broker impressed by a new technology centre and more efficient paper mill. Numis, which has a target price of 854p, said De La [...]
London Report: Inflation data to show economy improving in UK February 16, 2014 INFLATION figures due out tomorrow are expected to show further signs of improvement for the UK’s economic recovery. With the cost of living down, consumer prices inflation (CPI) may now be below two per cent. Jonathan Loynes, of Capital Economics said: “CPI inflation looks set to fall below the two per cent target in January [...]
Wall St The Week Ahead: US economy in focus as the Fed reveals minutes February 16, 2014 WITH economic data being shovelled aside like snow and earnings season winding down, US stock investors could zero in this week on the Fed’s view of the economy and technical analysis charts as the S&P 500 nears its record high. The Fed writes the script for Wall Street. The minutes of the Federal Reserve’s most [...]
Time to worry: The Iranian nuclear crisis still threatens global stability February 16, 2014 ONE OF the areas of overlap between the business and political worlds concerns negotiation; any businessman or government-type worth their salt surely loves the chance to play at being that master actor-negotiator Peter O’Toole, if only for a limited audience. Some of my fondest memories of my decade in Washington involve behaving outrageously – asking [...]
City Matters: Why opponents of City development ignore our true Victorian heritage February 16, 2014 GUILDHALL is currently playing host to a public inquiry that has major ramifications for planning in the Square Mile and London. The future of the derelict Smithfield General Market and Annex (not the operational meat market next door) – or Smithfield Quarter for shorthand – is under deliberation. The secretary of state for local government [...]
Stamp duty is feeding the growing bubble in London’s house prices February 16, 2014 SUPPORTERS of financial transaction taxes (FTT), often known as Robin Hood taxes, claim that they can make markets safer. But a look at London’s frothy housing market makes this argument difficult to sustain. FTTs remove liquidity from markets, making bubbles more likely to form. And it looks like London house prices are booming thanks to [...]
Letters to the Editor – 17/02 – Big bluff, Futures markets, Best of Twitter February 16, 2014 Big bluff [Re: The Scottish nationalists aren’t credible on keeping sterling, Friday] The Westminster politicians would soon change their minds in the event of a “Yes” vote. A vote for Scottish independence would force all interested parties to negotiate over UK asset and debt sharing, bank recovery and rescue plans. Ross McEwan of RBS thinks [...]
