LGIM reported to FCA over ‘compliance and risk failings’ by whistleblower July 31, 2018 Legal and General Investment Management (LGIM) has been reported to regulators by a whistleblower over allegations of multiple failures in its risk management processes. At least three employees have reported the fund management house to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Financial Times reported. One of the whistleblowers' complaints said the culture of LGIM had [...]
Retail tech startup behind Tesco and Argos valued at almost £70m, after scoring additional funding | City A.M. July 31, 2018 Virtualstock, a London tech startup which provides cloud-based inventory solutions for retailers like Tesco, Argos and John Lewis, today announced a further £3.4m in funding which has valued the business at almost £70m. Rene Schuster, the former chief executive of telecoms giant Telefonica in Germany, is also joining the firm as its chairman. The funds, [...]
Pensions dashboard: Why it would be crazy to ditch one of the most common sense ideas to come out of government July 25, 2018 "What have you lost?” your colleague asks as you desperately retrace your steps. “My pension!” you cry. Okay, well that never happened. But imagine for a second that we were to treat our misplaced pensions in the same way we treat lost phones. In the UK, billions of pounds of pension money is currently [...]
Facebook leases huge Kings Cross offices to join Silicon giants Google and Youtube in new Silicon area | City A.M. July 23, 2018 Facebook has leased a huge plot of new offices in Kings Cross, joining Silicon neighbours like Google and Youtube nearby in one of the area’s largest ever commercial deals. Comprising 611,000 square feet (sq ft) and 6,000 workstations, the two buildings mark a significant step in the commercial development of Kings Cross, with the new [...]
Two years on: how Brexit has affected the UK economy July 22, 2018 The UK economy was supposed to plunge into recession soon after the vote to leave the EU, but the majority of forecasters were wrong. Consumer confidence remained positive, encouraging increased spending, despite a slowdown in almost every other sector of the economy. As household consumption is a large contributor to GDP growth, it more than [...]
Last Week in the City: August rate rise now less likely July 20, 2018 Garry White, chief investment commentator, looks at the market-moving events that have shaped the UK equity markets this week (16 to 20 July 2018). The chances of an interest rate rise at the Bank of England’s August meeting appeared to recede this week after inflation data was more subdued than expected and retail sales data [...]
Demand for London retail space slumps as high street woes deepen | City A.M. July 19, 2018 Demand for retail space in London has dived as woes around high street closures grow, according to a highly-regarded survey out today. Roughly 68 per cent more chartered surveyors in London’s retail sector noted a quarterly fall, rather than a rise, in demand for space in the capital, reaching levels not seen since 2008. The [...]
The co-founder of Urban Massage on the gig economy and disrupting the spa industry July 16, 2018 Years ago, Jack Tang paid £100 for a massage. But, even though the therapist was at the top of her game, it turns out that she was getting a measly £20 of the total payment. Tang found out that it’s not uncommon for spas to charge customers huge amounts, and dish out a tiny [...]
Retailer The Works which is backed by private equity firm Endless and the founder of the Card Factory launches £100m London float | City A.M. July 13, 2018 Retail chain The Works plans to float on the London Stock Exchange later this month with a valuation of £100m. The offer price has been set at 160p per share and dealings are expected to start on 19 July. The Works sells arts, crafts, gifts, toys, books and stationery from more than 430 stores in [...]
Bank of Cyprus offloads UK subsidiary for £103m to ‘Cynergy’ consortium July 10, 2018 The Bank of Cyprus has agreed to sell its UK banking operations to a consortium of investors in a £103m deal. The all-cash sale, which will complete by the end of the year, comes as Bank of Cyprus refocuses its efforts on the Cypriot economy. The lender was bailed out in 2013 by European authorities, [...]