The investor’s dilemma: do sustainable funds need a digital detox? March 3, 2021 Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma makes for uncomfortable viewing for users of social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube or Twitter. i.e. pretty much all of us. And as a sustainability specialist who invests (at the time of writing) in Alphabet , the parent company of Google and YouTube, I find the issues covered extra [...]
Brian Mattingley leaves 888 to become Playtech chair March 3, 2021 Gambling software developer Playtech has concluded its near two year search for a chairman, appointing 888 chair Brian Mattingley to the role. Mattingley will become the long-term successor to Alan Jackson who announced he was stepping down from Playtech almost two years ago. He replaces Claire Milne who has served as interim chair since May [...]
Persimmon profit falls as spring site closures dent builder March 3, 2021 Housebuilder Persimmon said that its profit fell about a quarter in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The FTSE 100 firm reported profit of £783.8m over the last 12 months, down from £1.04bn in 2019. Despite the fall, shares in the firm rose 2.9 per cent after the open, as traders welcomed optimistic [...]
Shakespeare: Dunelm brand sees a boost as Brits improve their homes during lockdown March 3, 2021 Shakespeare: Dunelm brand sees a boost as Britons improve their homes during lockdown
Royal aides reveal Meghan Markle faced bullying allegation March 3, 2021 Royal aides have revealed Meghan Markle faced a bullying complaint made by one of her closest advisers during her time at Kensington Palace. The complaint claimed Markle drove two personal assistants out of the household and was undermining the confidence of a third staff member, the Times reported. The news comes ahead of an [...]
Is Bitcoin still bullish? March 3, 2021 A study of the ups and downs in the cryptocurrency markets with 'That Martini Guy'.
Precious metal price surge boosts Russian miner Polymetal March 3, 2021 Russian miner Polymetal today said that earnings hit a record high in 2020 as surging precious metal prices boosted the firm’s profit. The FTSE 100 firm said that earnings reached $1.1bn last year, up from $483m in 2019. In addition, revenue jumped 28 per cent to $2.9bn. A combination of higher production volumes, higher commodity [...]
Rishi Sunak must take his time balancing the books or risk punishing those hardest hit by Covid March 3, 2021 Timing is everything. The Chancellor, as he weighs up his options to make some initial headway in his avowed “sacred duty” to balance the books, knows this only too well. His income support schemes are being closely managed to match the extension and easing of pandemic restrictions on the economy. While this is significant, so [...]
Recruiter Page Group profit slumps as hiring comes to a standstill March 3, 2021 Recruitment firm Page Group has reported an almost 90 per cent drop in full-year profits after the pandemic prompted hiring freezes. Page Group, which operates in 36 countries, reported pretax profits for the year ended 31 December 2020 of £15.5m, down from £144.2m the previous year. Revenue in its EMEA business, which brings in more [...]
Insurer Beazley appoints new CEO as Horton leaves for QBE March 3, 2021 Beazley has today announced that its CEO Andrew Horton will leave the company to take over at QBE Insurance Group in Australia. Adrian Cox has been appointed as his replacement, having worked under Beazley for 20 years. He has over 25 years of industry experience, most recently as the firm’s Chief Underwriting Officer. “I am [...]
