Equity crowdfunding: What motivates an investor? February 25, 2016 How do retail investors really make decisions when investing through crowdfunding platforms? A new paper, released today by the London School of Economics, sheds some light. The focus is whether equity crowdfunding provides a robust alternative to financing entrepreneurship. To answer this, authors Saul Estrin and Susanna Khavul have looked at the rationality of investor behaviour, [...]
Shopping centre giant Westfield pushes ahead with $10.5bn expansion as annual profits rise February 24, 2016 Westfield Corporation, the Australian shopping centre behemoth that owns two of London’s biggest malls, delivered upbeat results for 2015, in its first full-year since splitting its empire into two. The retail landlord, which spun off its Australian and New Zealand operations into a separate business in 2014 to focus on its growing international business, made [...]
Crossrail’s new name confuses New Yorkers after a woman named Elizabeth Line finds overnight fame February 24, 2016 The project formerly known as Crossrail was rebranded the Elizabeth Line yesterday, in deference to her maj, but the news has caused unexpected confusion in the states. Elizabeth Line, a 40-year old businesswoman from New York, was flattered to wake up this morning and discovering London's newest addition to the underground had been named after her, too. [...]
EU referendum: HSBC has warned a Brexit will create a labour shortage, ramp up food and retail prices and harm banking industry February 24, 2016 It's safe to say HSBC has come off the fence when it comes to Brexit, predicting what can only be described as a Brexocalypse. Just don't try saying that out loud. The bank, which recently committed to staying in the UK, has issued a note warning that the UK leaving the European Union would have [...]
Airbus full year results miss expectations but hikes dividend as chief executive Tom Enders hails a “solid performance” February 24, 2016 Civil aviation and defence company Airbus has reported net profit rose by 15 per cent over the course of 2015 to €2.7bn (£2.1bn), while sales were up by six per cent to €64.5bn. The numbers came in just below analyst expectations but Airbus still managed to eke out at dividend rise of eight per cent [...]
City Moves for 24 February 2016 | Who’s switching jobs February 24, 2016 GN2 Tim Warren has joined central London property firm GN2 after nearly eight years at Cluttons LLP to lead in the expansion of their investment advisory offer. Tim has over 23 years’ experience and has been appointed director and head of the central London sales & investment team, based in the West End. Tim will [...]
Powa layoffs off 74 of around 100 London employees after entering administration February 23, 2016 Powa Technologies, once billed by its chief executive Dan Wagner as the future biggest tech company in the world, has made 74 of its London employees redundant after burning through its massive cash pile. Powa Technologies Group was placed into administration on Friday, appointing Deloitte to oversee a potential sale after lead investor Wellington Management called in its loans. [...]
HSBC’s decision to keep its HQ in London is a ringing endorsement of the whole UK February 22, 2016 HSBC has not been far from the headlines in the past few days, and we can expect more news from the global banking giant today as it publishes its Annual Results. The issue that has kept so many City figures interested in the company for the past few months has been its decision over where [...]
Proptech: Technology is poised to transform the UK housing market February 19, 2016 The phrase “fintech” has long since entered mainstream use, while buzzwords like adtech, edtech and medtech are becoming increasingly familiar too. Now a newish category is entering the technology startup lexicon: “proptech”. The UK’s property industry has remained stubbornly resistant to change, even as innovation reshapes entire verticals across the wider economy. Compared with, say, [...]
Open outcry lives on at the London Metal Exchange February 19, 2016 The message the London Metal Exchange (LME) is sending with its new office, including a tech heavy open call trading ring, is clear: “we’re embracing the future, while retaining the tradition.” The 139-year-old London Metal Exchange closed the doors on its previous two-decade home in January, and has since moved to a purpose built space on [...]