Bank shares and stress tests: the value investor’s verdict December 8, 2016 The Bank of England’s latest stress tests of the UK banking system attracted many column inches of space in the newspapers last week. The aim was to calculate whether these institutions would have enough capital to withstand certain grim scenarios. Moving away from some of the inflammatory headlines, it is worth looking in more detail [...]
These are 2016’s top 100 influential leaders in fintech (part 1 of 4) December 7, 2016 It is no secret that the financial services industry continues to be transformed by the digital revolution. According to PWC, roughly 20% of financial services business is at risk of disruption to fintech companies by 2020. It follows that investment into the sector continues to rise. In 2015, funding of fintech businesses more than doubled [...]
Financial sector’s tax contribution hits a record £71.4bn December 6, 2016 The tax take from Britain's financial sector has hit record levels, underscoring its economic importance as talks between the government and the City enter a new phase in the run up to Brexit. Fifty financial services firms, largely UK-listed and including the Square Mile's banking titans, paid £71.4bn into HM Treasury's coffers for the year [...]
House prices are already shooting up along the Elizabeth line December 5, 2016 Property prices along the much-anticipated Elizabeth line – formerly known as Crossrail – are already shooting up. Average house prices near the stations along the route have up gone up by 22 per cent over the last two years, according to research by Lloyds Bank, even though the line won't be fully-functioning until the end [...]
City Moves for 30 November 2016 | Who’s switching jobs November 30, 2016 Close Brothers Asset Management Close Brothers Asset Management (CBAM) has strengthened its financial education corporate relationship team, making key appointments in senior positions. Mike Hardy (pictured) has been appointed as director of strategic partnerships having over 15 years’ experience in this area with senior positions at three FTSE companies; HSBC, Aviva and Lloyds Bank. His role [...]
Confidence in UK business prospects reaches 10-month high but economic optimism falls 20 per cent November 30, 2016 Confidence in business prospects has risen to a 10-month high for UK businesses, despite a big rise in concerns over the country’s economic health, according to a new survey. Over half of companies said that they expected business prospects to improve in the next year, and only five per cent said they expected their business [...]
The London mayor’s ploughed £2.5m into startups since Brexit November 28, 2016 The Mayor of London has ploughed more than £2.5m into the capital's soon-to-be star startups since the vote for Brexit in a bid to show the world the city's "open for business", as he unveiled a new line up of advisors drawn from the UK's ranks of top entrepreneurs and business leaders. Sadiq Khan hailed the London Co-investment [...]
Sadiq Khan’s new tech-heavy business advisory board will include executives from Facebook, Citymapper and Love Home Swap November 27, 2016 Sadiq Khan will name executives from companies including Facebook, Citymapper and Love Home Swap as part of his business advisory board Monday, according to Sky News. Nearly one-third of the 16-memeber-group work directly in the tech sector, including Nicola Mendelsohn, vice-president of Facebook and head of its European operations. Last week, Facebook announced plans to create [...]
City Moves for 22 November 2016 | Who’s switching jobs November 22, 2016 TROWERS & HAMLINS International law firm Trowers & Hamlins announces the expansion of its real estate team in Exeter with the return of partner Georgina Savill James. Georgina was at Trowers & Hamlins between 2000 and 2015, and joins the firm again after a short time at Foot Anstey LLP. She specialises in acquisition and [...]
TSB moves to snap up £16bn Bradford & Bingley portfolio November 20, 2016 TSB has put an offer on the table for a £16bn mortgage loan portfolio which belonged to Bradford & Bingley. The government has been slowly but surely selling the assets it picked up in the fallout of the financial crisis, which includes parts of Bradford & Bingley's business. Now, the Sunday Times has reported UK [...]