KPMG sets up fund to invest in tech firms November 11, 2013 ACCOUNTING giant KPMG is making its first move into investment management by setting up a fund focused on providing early-stage capital to data and analytics firms. KPMG said the London-based fund, named KPMG Capital and not open to outside investors, will acquire and set up partnerships with data companies worldwide. Several offices in the global [...]
Investment into UK energy sector rose to £11.6bn last year November 4, 2013 PRIVATE sector investment in the UK’s energy sector rose to £11.6bn last year, a £1.6bn rise from the year before, new research said yesterday. The investment led to a £24bn direct contribution into the UK economy and over 600,000 jobs, according to a report by Ernst & Young for industry body Energy UK. The energy [...]
Risk aversion threatens to dampen economic recovery November 3, 2013 AS THE great and the good of UK business congregate for the CBI’s Annual Conference today, the atmosphere is likely to be much more upbeat amongst business leaders compared to last year. This is understandable. Business confidence in the UK has soared over the last 12 months and executives are now more confident about the [...]
City women honoured at awards dinner October 28, 2013 THE Capitalist never needs an excuse to celebrate the brightest female minds that contribute to London’s thriving business sector, but one was nonetheless provided last Thursday at the Women in the City’s Woman of Achievement award. At a celebration evening hosted by law firm Bryan Cave, talented female executives from across London and the Home [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 24 October 2013 October 23, 2013 FINANCIAL TIMES Brevan Howard moving out of UK Brevan Howard, the world’s third-largest hedge fund, has moved most of its operations out of the UK, shifting dozens of jobs to the Channel Islands, Switzerland, Asia and the US to escape EU regulation and grow internationally. Three years after opening a satellite office in Geneva, Brevan [...]
The range of premium mixers produced to raise gin’s spirits October 21, 2013 Annabel Palmer talks luck, liquor and a lightbulb moment with Charles Rolls, co-founder of drinks label Fever-Tree WHILE gin may not be the most popular global spirit (that prestigious title goes to Korean rice wine brand Jinro), the world consumes 440m litres of it each year. But back in 2000, Charles Rolls, co-founder of the [...]
September profit warnings hit six-year high as targets missed October 20, 2013 PROFIT warnings from listed companies spiked to the highest level since the height of the financial crisis in September, despite warnings for the quarter falling by 17 per cent, according to an EY report. September’s spike of 26 profit warnings, the highest number of warnings in that month since 2008, clouded an otherwise improved outlook [...]
European car sales rise above two-decade low in September October 16, 2013 EUROPEAN car owners bought 5.4 per cent more vehicles in September compared to last year, taking the market slightly off the two-decade low seen over the summer. New car registrations hit 1.16m last month, marking the third monthly gain in the last two years, figures from industry body ACEA showed yesterday. Having fallen to their [...]
Accountants relieved as audit shake-up plan watered down October 15, 2013 THE COMPETITION Commission yesterday watered down its audit reforms, pleasing big accountants and their clients but putting itself at odds with tougher reforms looming from the European Union. The Competition Commission now wants FTSE 350 companies to put their book-keeping out to tender at least once a decade, to shake up a market dominated by [...]
Consumers forecast to push economy back to trend growth October 13, 2013 THE BRITISH economy will start to grow at around its long-run average level again in 2014, ending years of stagnation, according to one group’s new forecast. EY’s Item Club has hiked its predictions for economic growth today. The group now expect an expansion of 1.4 per cent this year, and 2.4 per cent next year. [...]