SSE-Npower merger: Competition and Markets Authority launches probe into the proposed merger February 28, 2018 The competitions watchdog has opened an investigation into the proposed merger of SSE’s retail unit and German-owned Npower. In November, the firms announced a deal where Britain’s second-largest supplier, SSE, would merge and spin off its household energy and supply business to create an independent supplier with Innogy’s Npower. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) [...]
3 ways to get the most out of a mentorship February 28, 2018 In mid-2015, Lars van de Loo, CFA, jumped at the chance to participate in a newly formed mentoring program offered by CFA Society VBA Netherlands. He had just returned from a four-month sabbatical from his job as a strategy analyst at a clearing bank in Amsterdam and wanted to consider his next career steps. “I [...]
Disruption is everywhere – but so are the investment opportunities February 27, 2018 I’m not usually a subscriber to “this time it’s different”, but when it comes to the emerging disruption in so many industries, “this time it’s more than average” doesn’t really seem to cut it. This time I have a feeling it really may be different, because today’s disruptions are everywhere, and that means that there [...]
The ‘big tech’ backlash: How sustainable is the success of Google, Facebook and Amazon? February 22, 2018 In recent months it has felt like the tide is turning against big tech. Google has been fined for market abuse in the EU. Silicon Valley heads have been hauled in front of the US Senate and the UK Parliament to answer for the abuse of their platforms by extremists and Russian saboteurs. The repeal of [...]
Where next for markets as Europe moves from recovery to expansion? February 16, 2018 Market volatility rose at the start of February against a backdrop of strong economic data, causing many investors to question whether the bull-run for the stock market was over. Can Europe’s economic momentum continue and how will tighter monetary policy affects investments? At the 2018 Schroders Investment Conference investment experts discussed the economic outlook for [...]
IoD: Business leaders push for hybrid Brexit model to include a customs union February 16, 2018 Business leaders believe they have a compromise proposal for post-Brexit trade that would reduce barriers while allowing the UK to pursue free trade deals. The plan – a partial customs union covering industrial goods and processed agricultural products – has been put together by the Institute of Directors, who argue it would help maintain the [...]
Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox pledges Sky News’ independence as media giant seeks to keep takeover alive February 12, 2018 Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox has said it would keep Sky News independent, as it seeks to smooth the way for its takeover to go ahead. The media giant this afternoon committed to running Sky News for at least five years and would establish a fully independent board for the channel. Fox has been trying [...]
River and Mercantile fund head Philip Rodrigs has left the business following an investigation into professional conduct February 7, 2018 A portfolio manager at River and Mercantile Asset Management has left the business after an internal investigation into a “professional conduct issue”. Philip Rodrigs, a 36-year-old German-born fund manager who graduated from Oxford University, was previously lead manager of the River and Mercantile (R&M) UK Equity Smaller Companies Fund, the R&M UK Dynamic Equity Fund, [...]
The City has more serious things than Brexit to worry about February 7, 2018 Brexit has been the centrepiece of the City’s agenda this week, with two planned Brexit Select Committee meetings alongside Michel Barnier’s visit to the UK. Despite the fractures Brexit has caused within the government, there seems to be more coherent understanding in the Square Mile on the future shape of regulatory architecture. Any future deal [...]
Strong results from Hargreaves Lansdown fail to beat a FTSE slump February 6, 2018 Investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown succumbed to the FTSE slump this morning, as its share price fell more than three per cent despite a strong set of first-half results. The figures Hargreaves’ net revenue climbed 17 per cent year-on-year to reach £216m, smashing through consensus predictions of £212.9m. Profit before tax meanwhile jumped 12 per cent [...]