‘What I Know Is…’: black professionals share their experiences July 20, 2021 One of the main reasons for the under-representation of black professionals in investment management is the lack of knowledge and information about joining the investment profession and the opportunities that it can deliver. For the financial sector which is increasingly focused on sustainability and where corporates are increasingly rewarded for good ESG policies, ensuring that [...]
Hong Kong leader brushes off fears of exodus from the territory July 20, 2021 Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam on Tuesday brushed off the recent scenes at the city’s airport packed with thousands of Hongkongers leaving for Britain. The city’s leader said emigration is a personal choice, and her government held no official position on the phenomenon. “Every now and then in the history of Hong Kong, there [...]
“E-commerce winner” Virgin Wines confident in post-pandemic sales July 20, 2021 Wine subscription service Virgin Wines raised its annual financial forecasts as a result of strong customer demand, it told markets this morning. Their customer base grew by 24 per cent in the previous 12 months. The pandemic saw people at home stock their bars and fridges causing increased demand in alcoholic products over lockdowns, as [...]
HMV backs the High Street by putting in place plans for 10 new stores July 20, 2021 Music and entertainment retailer HMV has announced plans that it plans to open 10 new stores as it continues to show faith in the High Street. It includes plans for a flagship London site. Following its decline into administration two years ago its Oxford Street store – along with many others – were closed. However, [...]
BlackRock flexes shareholder muscle and ups votes against company management July 20, 2021 The world’s largest asset manager has toughened its stance on corporate governance and increased its votes against board proposals and executive pay at large public companies worldwide. In its quarterly stewardship report published on Tuesday, BlackRock said it voted against management on 33 per cent of “say-on-pay” proposals in European companies in the year to [...]
FCA warns fund managers to improve their “poor-quality” ESG applications July 20, 2021 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has told fund managers that their “poor-quality” ESG fund applications must improve. The UK watchdog said it has received “numerous” applications with a sustainability focus that were “poorly drafted” and fell below its expectations. “They often contain claims that do not bear scrutiny,” the FCA wrote in a letter to [...]
New creative projects will help power City’s COVID recovery July 20, 2021 Five creative schemes designed to help the Square Mile recover from the pandemic have been given the green light today. Under the plans, businesses and creatives will work together to animate shops, offices and foyers across the City with art, boosting footfall and attracting people back into the Square Mile. Young people will learn new [...]
London tops rankings for foreign investment July 20, 2021 London tops the table of regions in the UK with the greatest amount of foreign investment, according to figures published by the ONS. The value of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the capital reached £660.8bn in 2019, representing 42 per cent of the aggregate amount of inward FDI in the UK. The value of FDI [...]
Swiss bank UBS hits highest profits in over five years across all regions July 20, 2021 Swiss bank UBS posted net profits north of $2bn today, as handling assets for the ultra-wealthy proves to be a money-maker for world’s largest wealth manager. Net profits saw a 63 per cent jump in the second-quarter, which exceeded analyst forecasts by more than half a billion dollars. “The momentum is on our side. We [...]
Alliance Pharma revenues rise, as pandemic recovery underway July 20, 2021 Alliance Pharma reported stronger revenues for the first half of the year, as the healthcare sector continues goes from strength to strength. The international healthcare group saw revenues grow to £80.9m for the six months ended 30 June 2021 – representing an increase of just under 25 per cent, compared to the same period last [...]
