Millennial savings app Plum moves into pensions June 8, 2021 The popular savings app which has turned to TikTok to lure young investors is now turning its attention to retirement savings. Plum, which launched in 2017, is rivaling the cheap trading apps like Robinhood by moving into the investment space. It anticipated a growing interest among millennials around savings and investments with which has only [...]
Bitcoin dips after Donald Trump says cryptocurrency ‘seems like a scam’ June 7, 2021 Bitcoin’s price dipped today after former US President Donald Trump said the cryptocurrency “seems like a scam” and called for regulators to take action. In an interview with Fox Business Network, Trump ramped up the rhetoric against Bitcoin, complaining it posed a risk to the US dollar. “Bitcoin, it just seems like a scam,” he [...]
Despite Bitcoin mania, the Bank of England is in no rush to ‘go crypto’ June 7, 2021 The Bank of England today published a summary of responses to a discussion paper on digital currency. The central bank said payments made with ‘stablecoin’ should be regulated in the same way as payments made by banks if they become widely used. Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, clarified that “the prospect of [...]
‘Stablecoin’ payments must be regulated like banks, says Bank of England June 7, 2021 The Bank of England has said payments made with ‘stablecoin’ should be regulated in the same way as payments made by banks if they become widely used. Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency usually pegged to a traditional currency and thus are intended to avoid the volatility usually associated with crypto. “The prospect of stablecoins [...]
Johanna Kyrklund: Time to slow down (but not too much) June 7, 2021 In my family I am often mocked for being a cautious and slow driver. So it was ironic and a source of great amusement to them that I recently received a speeding ticket and had to attend a speed awareness course. One of the main messages from the course was that as a driver you [...]
Former Barclays boss in line for £200m windfall as Blackrock takes 10x stake June 5, 2021 Former Barclays boss Antony Jenkins is said to be on the brink of a deal that will see his personal wealth surge by £200m as Blackrock funds close in on his new fintech venture. Jenkins, who was ousted as chief executive of Barclays in 2015, is close to selling a stake in 10x Future Technologies [...]
UK PMIs: Construction activity grows at fastest rate in nearly seven years June 4, 2021 Construction output grew at the fastest rate in nearly seven years in May as a record increase in new orders spurred on the industry. IHS Markit’s Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index jumped to 64.2 from 61.6 in April, its highest level since September 2014. The reading surpassed economists’ forecasts of 62.3, with anything over 50 signifying [...]
Lenders hand out most mortgages to first-time buyers in nearly 20 years June 3, 2021 Banks and building societies handed out more mortgages to first-time buyers in March than any time since 2002. Across the UK, 42,330 mortgages were issued to first-time buyers in March, marking the highest monthly total since December 2002 when 44,000 were advanced, according to trade association UK Finance. Many people who would have taken their [...]
Services sector expanded at fastest rate in 24 years in May June 3, 2021 The UK’s service industry saw business activity grow at its fastest rate in 24 years last month as the reopening of the country’s economy after the pandemic continued apace. The UK Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for services rose to 62.9 in May, up from 61 in April. Any score above 50 indicates growth. It [...]
Foxtons expect profits to shoot ahead of past two years June 3, 2021 Foxtons confirmed to markets this morning that they expect profits to be “significantly ahead of both 2020 and 2019” after a bumper start to the year. The firm has seen a 49 per cent increase in Q1 sales revenues versus both 2020 and 2019, and the sales commission pipeline is now 65 per cent ahead [...]