These are the seven fintech startups being backed by Mastercard June 21, 2016 Mastercard is backing seven fintech startups hoping to change the way we use money and disrupt the finance world. London startups Revolut and Everledger are among the tech firms chosen for Mastercard's six month Start Path programme from among more than 500 applications from 60 countries. The startups, from as far afield as Israel and Argentina and announced at London [...]
What will happen to UK equities if we leave the European Union? June 21, 2016 The pound and the FTSE soared yesterday, as the Remain camp wrestled back its lead in the polls. But the outcome of Thursday’s EU referendum is far from clear, with pundits saying that voter turnout will be pivotal in determining whether the UK stays or leaves. If Article 50 is triggered and sterling dives, what should [...]
Why Avant’s Al Goldstein is excited about partnering with big banks June 16, 2016 Despite being just four years’ old, Avant Credit is one of the largest marketplace lenders in the alternative finance industry. The US firm has been operating in the UK since 2013, and has issued over half a million loans to consumers, totalling more than $3bn in originations. Avant isn’t a P2P lender – it uses [...]
Fintech boom means Brexit won’t hurt exports June 14, 2016 Exporting can be a powerful driver of business growth, and small and medium-sized enterprises that sell overseas often find themselves more successful in their domestic market as a result of what they learn from exporting. So, I was disheartened to see at a recent seminar hosted by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, that only around 20 per [...]
Poundland faces profit plunge after delayed takeover of 99p Stores last September June 12, 2016 Discount retailer Poundland might need a few quid as it braces for a plunge in profits this week. The company’s full-year results have been dragged down by its delayed takeover of high-street rival 99p Stores. Earnings per share are forecast to fall almost 43 per cent, from 15.01p to 8.58p per share, when the company [...]
European banking shares skid lower as FTSE 100 sinks June 10, 2016 European banking shares finished sharply lower today, making their biggest intraday decline since the beginning of February. The Stoxx 600 Banks index finished 4.2 per cent lower, its biggest one-day fall since 11 February. It was pushed down by the likes of Deutsche Bank, which skidded 4.6 per cent to €14.06, and Credit Suisse, which fell 3.8 per cent [...]
EU referendum voter registration deadline is today: Here’s everything you need to know about how to register to vote June 7, 2016 There isn't much time left to register to vote in the EU referendum – the deadline is rushing towards us faster than the Vote Leave battlebus… What you need to know about registering to vote in the EU referendum When is the deadline? Midnight on 7 June (that's today) is the last time you can register to vote in [...]
City Moves for 26 May 2016 | Who’s switching jobs May 26, 2016 Ayming International business performance consultancy group Ayming has appointed Alejandro Alvarez as UK director for operations performance. Alejandro has been brought in to launch Ayming’s UK operations performance business unit, which will focus on helping clients to improve their operational efficiency, procurement & supply chain performance and working capital. Prior to joining Ayming, Alejandro was [...]
This London proptech startup’s landed £2m to help make renting less awful May 18, 2016 A London property technology startup which aims to be the Amazon of renting has landed several millions of pounds in funding from renowned tech investor Robin Klein, among others. Goodlord simplifies renting via an app which takes the hassle out of the paperwork with a "rental passport" that keeps hold of renters' information as well as making [...]
The next great tax reform: Universal Basic Income May 12, 2016 Radicalism and popularity rarely march in step. Yet, there is one policy that the Chancellor has pursued, urged on by the Liberal Democrats when in coalition, that has achieved both: the expansion of the personal tax allowance. By the end of this parliament, the personal allowance is likely to have nearly doubled in cash terms [...]