London SMEs committing over half of annual revenue to tech investment, data reveals August 22, 2023 London’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are ramping up their tech budgets, allocating over half of their annual revenue to technology investments, according to a report by Barclays. In the capital, SMEs are directing an average of 54 per cent of their annual revenue to technology investments, such as data analytics and artificial intelligence tools, [...]
Mass tech layoffs appear to be over – so when will the hiring start again? August 21, 2023 The episode of mass job cuts across the tech sector appears to have drawn to a close, with some research firms halting their regular data updates on tech layoffs. Tech analysts at Bernstein Research declared the “magnitude of tech layoffs” has settled after its peak in January, in an email sent to clients last Friday [...]
UK firms asked to disclose China investments as Sunak mulls trade curbs August 21, 2023 A host of British firms have been asked by the government to hand over information on their investments in China, as the UK looks to take stock of its business ties to the state amid increasing geopolitical tensions. The government confirmed today that a survey was sent to a number of UK firms last month [...]
Horizon 22: London sky-high viewing gallery set to elevate the capital August 21, 2023 London is preparing to level up its skyline game with the unveiling of Horizon 22, Europe’s highest free public viewing gallery. Set to open its doors this September, Horizon 22 is perched on Level 58 of the towering 22 Bishopsgate – City of London’s tallest building. Horizon 22 is “yet another huge vote of confidence” [...]
Citi eyes shake up to give Brit-born boss more influence August 21, 2023 Citigroup boss Jane Fraser is reportedly contemplating a major corporate shake up, potentially dissolving the bank’s largest division, the Institutional Clients Group (ICG). Under this plan, according to the Financial Times, the ICG would be divided into its core segments: investment and corporate banking, global markets, and transaction services. In what would mark the most [...]
Sky-high pay for broadcaster chief despite poor performance August 20, 2023 Sky’s head honcho Dana Strong has pocketed more than $30m (£23.6m) in just two years making her one of the UK’s highest paid executives, despite the broadcaster’s finances taking a nosedive last year. Sky owner Comcast delivered a pay check of $15.2m to Strong in 2022, even as revenues plummeted 11.5 per cent. In 2021, during [...]
Nvidia: Analysts say “more juice for the orange” as share price spikes August 20, 2023 Ahead of its second-quarter results, American chip designer Nvidia is riding high after a successful first half, with shares skyrocketing over 200 per cent since January, and analysts foreseeing more gains. Nvidia, the S&P 500’s star of the year, is anticipated to report a 65 per cent year on year sales surge to $11.1bn (£8.7bn). Earnings [...]
HomeServe founder pours £110m in crusade to revive flailing British high street August 20, 2023 HomeServe founder Richard Harpin is injecting £110m of his own cash into medium-sized businesses, aiming to breathe life back into the UK’s beleaguered high streets. After cashing in on the sale of insurance company HomeServe to Brookfield last year for a cool £4.1bn, the home repairs mogul Harpin said he is trying to “help others [...]
Sunak pledges extra £100m to buy semiconductors as global AI race heats up August 20, 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is dedicating a further £100m of public funds to procure more semiconductors to help Britain in the global AI race. Through ongoing negotiations with tech giants Nvidia, AMD, and Intel, the government is looking to ramp up their chip supply and establish a national “AI Research Resource”, after a recent report [...]
FTSE 100 live: London slow as retail sales dip and China concerns weigh UK down August 18, 2023 The FTSE 100 continued Friday in sluggish fashion as UK retail sales fell almost double the amount expected. London’s premier blue-chip index dipped as much as 0.8 per cent in early trading, slouching at 7,251.32, 0.8 per cent down by midday. Nearing market close, it fluctuated between 0.8 and one per cent with largest caller [...]