BHP hits iron ore, coal and copper guidance despite coronavirus July 21, 2020 Mining giant BHP today said that it had hit its guidance for production of iron ore, coal and copper despite the disruption caused by the coronavirus crisis. However, it warned that so-called second waves of the new disease could hit short-term demand for its commodities, prompting it to broaden the range of its output forecasts [...]
Companies borrow £48bn through UK coronavirus loan schemes July 21, 2020 Close to £48bn has now been lent out through the government’s coronavirus loan schemes, with the bounce back loan (BBL) programme offering by far the most support for businesses. It comes as the UK government accelerates plans to reopen the economy. Pubs, restaurants and cafes were opened at the start of this month and gyms, [...]
You Can Hold Politicians To Account Using Blockchain July 21, 2020 Politicians – and lots of other people, but mainly politicians – are continually trying to duck and dive around what they have committed to and what they have achieved. The media, as well as activist groups and regular citizens, spend countless hours trying to hold politicians to account. There has never been a better situation [...]
Blockchain technology will only reach its full potential through industry cooperation July 21, 2020 Blockchain has come a long way since I first entered the space in 2011. Back then, altcoins were all just forks of Bitcoin, the same code with some cosmetic differences here and there. These days, we have multiple generations of blockchain with entirely different systems, each with varying and exciting capabilities. There has been a [...]
Effective and efficient capital markets in an increasingly digitised world July 21, 2020 The past few months have seen a real shift in the way we are all living and working. Many of the previously accepted ways of doing things are suddenly no more, and the appetite for doing things differently and embracing new modus operandi is now rife, globally. We are witnessing a real paradigm shift, and [...]
Is the Coronavirus rocking the foundations of capital markets? July 21, 2020 Market commentators and practitioners alike have been at a loss trying to make sense of current events. The economic crisis we are experiencing is unique in history, as it was self-inflicted at a time when, in general, things had been going relatively well. It has been spurious to discuss the technical effects on employment, economic [...]
Russia ‘interfered with Scottish referendum’, report to say July 21, 2020 A forthcoming report into Russia’s influence on British politics is set to conclude the Kremlin attempted to influence the result of the Scottish independence referendum, it is reported. Russia tried to split the UK in the 2014 referendum, the Daily Telegraph reported ahead of the official publication later this morning. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin [...]
Begbies Traynor hails ‘strong financial performance’ as revenue surges July 21, 2020 Corporate restructuring specialists Begbies Traynor hailed a year of “strong financial performance” as revenue rose 17 per cent. Shares in the AIM-listed firm rose 0.6 per cent as markets opened. The figures For the full year, Begbies Traynor said that revenue rose from £60.1m to £70.5m, an increase of 17 per cent. However, profit before [...]
HMRC expands probe into Ladbrokes owner GVC July 21, 2020 HMRC has expanded its investigation into Ladbrokes owner GVC’s former online business in Turkey. The probe by the tax authority began in late 2019 and was initially directed at former third-party suppliers over processing of payments at the business GVC disposed of in December 2017. GVC’s chief executive Kenny Alexander stepped down last week after [...]
