UK government secures deal for 35 million Pfizer vaccines August 23, 2021 The UK government has agreed a contract for 35 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine to “future proof” the country from the threat of Covid-19. The deal, announced today, will ensure that more vaccines are available in the second half of 2022 to protect against current and future variants of the virus. Health and Social [...]
Deloitte: digital assets seen as strong fiat alternative August 23, 2021 Deloitte’s Global Blockchain Survey 2021 has revealed that digital assets are becoming a major priority for the financial services industry (FSI). The survey, which polled a sample of 1,280 respondents worldwide, found that 76 per cent of respondents thought that digital assets will be “a strong alternative to or replacement for fiat currencies in the [...]
Tax and accounting bodies call for government to delay reporting reforms August 23, 2021 UK tax and accounting bodies have urged the government to delay reforms to the tax system which would affect how self-employed people and businesses report their profits. In a letter sent to Treasury financial secretary Jesse Norman, representatives from five tax and accounting bodies, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales and [...]
Three quarters of UK professional investors to increase crypto exposure August 23, 2021 A survey has found that the UK is one of the most attractive markets for hedge fund managers focussed on crypto and digital asset funds. The research, commissioned by Europe’s largest digital asset management fund, Nickel Digital, found that 74 per cent of UK institutional investors and wealth managers plan to increase their exposure to [...]
PayPal launches cryptocurrency services for UK customers August 23, 2021 Online payments giant PayPal has announced its UK customers will be able to buy, sell and hold cryptocurrencies using its platform. In an update being rolled out this week customers will be able to acquire a selection of four crypto currencies – Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash – using their Paypal accounts. Users will [...]
Tony Blair’s son Euan raises £65m in funding round for start up August 23, 2021 An education start up founded by Euan Blair, son of former prime minister Tony Blair, has secured £65m in funding. Founded in 2016, Multiverse provides school leavers with apprenticeships and training, helping to secure people work in companies such as Google, Unilever, Facebook and Morgan Stanley. The investment is understood to be part of upcoming [...]
Argo Blockchain prepares for Nasdaq listing August 20, 2021 Argo blockchain, the only London listed crypto mining company, is planning to sell shares on the US-based Nasdaq exchange. In a filing made to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the company today confirmed its intention to list American Depositary Shares (ADS) on the Nasdaq exchange. According to the filing, Jeffries and Barclays will be [...]
Interactive Investor prepares for initial public offering August 20, 2021 Interactive Investor (II), the online retail investment platform, is lining up bankers as it mulls an Initial Public Offering that could value it at £2bn. Britain’s second largest DIY investment fund this week invited investment banks to pitch for a role on a London floatation, a source told Sky News. Unlike many investment funds, II [...]
Cinema box office sales at half of pre-pandemic levels August 20, 2021 Cinema sales have been slashed in half compared to pre-pandemic levels despite the easing of lockdown restrictions a month ago. According to Comscore’s Box Office tracker, £65.7m was spent at the cinema in the four weeks after lockdown released on July 19. Cinema-goers paid £129m over the same period in 2019. The weekend after lockdown [...]
Binance to restrict access to services until users complete identity checks August 20, 2021 Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange by trade volume, has today introduced new security checks as it seeks to placate regulators. Binance is upping its Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements for new and existing customers and has announced that everyone must complete ‘Intermediate Verification’ in order to access services. Existing users will have their permissions [...]
