‘Bond market tantrum risks’: Gilt traders brace for Labour leftward pivot as Starmer future uncertain
Beware the real Beast from the East: Chinese tech giants March 5, 2018 The last week has seen the UK battered by the worst snow we’ve seen in years, thanks to freezing temperatures coming from the east. But cold weather and heavy snow is not the only thing that is making the move from east to west. Chinese tech giants Alibaba, Tencent, Baidu and JD.com have started to [...]
Shenzhen, San Jose, Tel Aviv: global cities to watch in 2018 February 12, 2018 As investors in global cities we compile a biannual index using a number of factors to identify the most economically vibrant cities. With the publication of the latest version of the index, we’ve also taken the opportunity to highlight those cities that we believe have the greatest potential to move up the rankings in 2018. [...]
Europe lacks giant tech stocks – but it may lead with the ‘industrial internet’ February 1, 2018 In the US, tech firms have been responsible for 42% of the rise in the value of the US stock market since 2014, according to a report in The Economist. Emerging markets too have their own tech giants in Alibaba and Tencent. But where are the tech companies here in Europe? And could emerging technologies [...]
Tech stocks are booming in emerging markets, but don’t be passive aggressive January 30, 2018 Emerging market stocks have been on a rampage. The MSCI Emerging Markets index has climbed an impressive 49 per cent since the end of 2016, marking the end of a two-year bad spell. But this growth doesn’t necessarily stem from the rise of the middle classes as many would expect, nor does it come from [...]
Google and Tencent announce tie-up to cross-license patents January 19, 2018 Google has signed a tie-up with Tencent in a bid to enhance its presence in China. The patent cross-licensing agreement will be “long-term” and covers a range of technologies, according to Google. Further terms of the deal were not disclosed but the company said it could open the door to closer collaboration in the future. [...]
Apple acquires music app Shazam: Deal pleases early investors despite “unicorn” valuation loss of tech startup December 11, 2017 Apple is acquiring music discovery app Shazam, saying it is a “natural fit” and has “exciting plans in store” for the nearly two-decade-old British startup. The value of the deal was not disclosed by the tech giant but has been reported to be worth around the $400m mark. Apple said in a statement confirming earlier [...]
Engaging with the right app users globally without sacrificing your brand, appScatter speak to National Geographic November 29, 2017 Taking your app global is a process that requires a focused strategy and a clear vision of where you want to be – and who you want to engage – with your app. National Geographic, an iconic brand with over 360 million social fans around the globe, is laying the groundwork to do both. We [...]
Tencent takes a stake in Snap November 8, 2017 Chinese tech giant Tencent has bought up a more than 10 per cent stake in Snap, the maker of messaging app Snapchat. The stake was disclosed in regulatory filings overnight following earnings late on Tuesday evening. Snap’s ownership structure, which gives voting rights only to its founders, means the stake has not previously been disclosed [...]
The trials and tribulations of tapping new tech November 7, 2017 "Neither Redbox nor Netflix are even on the radar screen in terms of competition.” Those are the words of Jim Keyes, the former chief executive of video rental giant Blockbuster back in 2008. Just five years after Keyes made that statement, Blockbuster went bust, swallowed whole by the mighty online streaming service that is Netflix. [...]
Sink, swim, or build a lifeboat: Tips for surviving Open Banking November 7, 2017 Open Banking, which comes into place January 2018, is a landmark development for the banking industry. It will force banks to open up their Advanced Programming Interface (API). This may sound like a dry compliance point, but the reality is far from it. With customer permission, competitors will be able to access banks’ enormous – [...]