Is it still worth investing in bank shares? May 31, 2017 Bank shares rose sharply toward the end of 2016 leaving many investors questioning whether the rally would continue. The global banking sector returned 13.7% in 2016 with dividends included, according to MSCI data. In comparison, the MSCI World index returned a more modest 8.2%. Among banks, the biggest gains were made by the US and [...]
Which UK stock market sectors have performed best over two decades? May 19, 2017 When the stock market rises and falls the sectors within it can move very differently, especially in the short-term. Perhaps the best example was the dotcom boom and bust, when technology shares soared in 1999 and then spectacularly crashed in the three years that followed. A balanced and carefully managed portfolio can ease the impact [...]
Canadian pension fund PSP boss Andre Bourbonnais: We’ve picked London as our base as it’ll be Europe’s financial heartland after Brexit May 10, 2017 One of Canada’s largest pension fund managers has picked London as its new European headquarters, insisting the UK capital “is and will remain the financial centre of Europe”. The Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP), which serves the Royal Canadian Mounted Police alongside other civil servants and boasts C$125.8bn (£70.7bn) of assets under management, will [...]
Chatbots could save business $8bn a year by 2022, with banks and healthcare gaining the biggest cost savings May 9, 2017 Chatbots could save business billions of pounds a year with banking and healthcare expected to be the biggest sectors to benefit. Responding to customer queries using automated messages for instance, or advising patients on symptoms, could save $8bn (£6bn) in costs every year across global business by 2022, analysts at Juniper Research forecast. “We believe [...]
Towergate to merge with four UK insurance firms, Autonet, Chase Templeton, Ryan Direct and Price Forbes, forming an “independent market leader” May 9, 2017 Insurance firm Towergate is to join forces with four other firms in a shake-up of the UK insurance sector. US private groups HPS and Madison Dearborn (MDP) will merge the firms they already own into one company. Autonet, Chase Templeton, Ryan Direct and Price Forbes will join Towergate. Read more: City watchdog fines Towergate and [...]
How to make Brexit the insurance industry’s next big opportunity May 5, 2017 Singapore, Qatar, Dubai and Bermuda. Forget worrying about British-based businesses moving to EU capitals – these are the jurisdictions with which we must compete if our vital insurance industry is to thrive. Over the next two years, there is a risk that so much energy will be expended on Brexit negotiations that we will neglect [...]
What’s the biggest opportunity for UK fintech after Brexit? Here’s what those in the know say ahead of the Innovate Finance Global Summit April 10, 2017 Six experts give their opinion on what the biggest opportunity for UK fintech us after the vote to leave the EU. Mike Laven, CEO Currencycloud Continued international investment in UK businesses, such as ours, indicates faith that the UK continues to be the epicentre of fintech. Entrepreneurs are the masters of dealing with a changing [...]
Inside the Luxembourg bid to lure City firms after Brexit: How the Grand Duchy lines up against Frankfurt, Paris, Dublin and other rivals April 3, 2017 Alongside large and threatening Frankfurt, loud and opportunistic Paris and plucky Dublin, Luxembourg has kept a relatively low profile in the scramble to soak up some of London’s financial services power since the UK’s Brexit vote. But make no mistake, Luxembourg will be growing as a result of the UK’s decision. The city’s business area [...]
Lloyd’s of London EU move shows the UK must win the battle for parallel Brexit talks March 31, 2017 Lloyd’s of London chairman John Nelson said last year the iconic insurance market would have to move part of its business out of the UK if it was not given guarantees about access to European markets. Those guarantees could not be made, so a move has now been confirmed. It’s important to note that the [...]
WhatsApp messages landed an investment banker a £37k fine from the FCA for sharing confidential client information March 30, 2017 A former investment banker has been fined by the City watchdog for sharing messages on WhatsApp which contained confidential client information. Christopher Niehaus, an ex-managing director at Jefferies, has been handed a £37,000 fine by the Financial Conduct Authority which said he wanted “to impress the people that he shared the information with”. Read more: [...]