UK and European firms top gloomy profit predictions to start the year – but a crunch could be coming June 6, 2023 UK and European firms shrugged off recession fears and posted fatter profit margins than investors feared in the first three months of the year, analysts at investment giant Blackrock said today.
Explainer: How does Apple’s new virtual reality headset work? June 6, 2023 Yesterday, Apple did something that could revolutionise the way we interact with tech and with our surroundings: it launched Apple Vision Pro, its $3,499 virtual reality headset. Apple CEO Tim Cook described it as “the first Apple product you look through, not at”. The idea might feel a little daunting at first – but once [...]
Soaring inflation and recession fears trigger UK dealmaking slowdown June 6, 2023 Mergers and acquisitions in the UK tumbled sharply in the first three months of the year as recession fears and rapid rate hikes spooked dealmakers, official figures have revealed today.
Navigating Nordic M&A in 2023 June 6, 2023 At a recent event in Copenhagen, panellists met to discuss the headwinds and tailwinds affecting dealmaking in the Nordics. The conclusions? While inflation and higher interest rates will continue to challenge the market, realism and strategic discipline should help drive M&A in the region in the months ahead. Inflation and interest rates The record rate [...]
Investment slump amid higher interest rates risks finally sparking UK recession June 6, 2023 A mix of factors are buffeting the UK economy right now. Spending power is being crushed by high inflation eroding family finances. House prices are coming off their heady heights as sellers drop prices to source buyers amid higher mortgage rates. External demand is thinning in response to weak consumer confidence amid a global cost [...]
Privatbank’s $1.9bn UK fraud claim returns for trial after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine delays case June 5, 2023 One of the UK’s largest High Court claims in history is set to return to court next week as the trial commences in Privatbank’s $1.9bn (£1.54bn) fraud lawsuit against its former owners. Ukrainian lender Privatbank is suing the bank’s founders Igor Kolomoisky and Gennadiy Bogolyubov over allegations they embezzled billions of dollars from the bank [...]
FCA hits broker ED&F Man Capital Markets with record £17.2m fine over cum-ex trading June 5, 2023 The Financial Conduct Authority has hit City broker ED&F Man Capital Markets with a record £17.2m fine for “serious failings” in its oversight of a murky cum-ex trading strategy. In a statement today, the watchdog said the failings from ED&F Man allowed it to collect millions of pounds of fees for the trading strategy as [...]
BP and Heathrow join new BCC business council pitched as CBI rival June 5, 2023 Top global firms have led the charge to support a new rival to the under-fire CBI lobbying organisation. Energy giant BP, power firm Drax, Heathrow Airport and international hoteliers IHG have become founding members of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) business council. The organisation is set to take on the Confederation of British Industry [...]
London based IQ Capital raises $400m to fuel ‘deep tech’ AI and robotics startups June 5, 2023 London-based venture investor IQ Capital has bagged $400m across two funds today as it looks to ramp up its investment in ‘deep tech’ start-ups across areas including artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics.
London seals European finance investment crown every year since Brexit June 5, 2023 London is beating away the dire warnings that Brexit would knock it off its perch as Europe’s top finance hive and is even drawing in more investors amid high inflation and interest rates, a new report out today unveils. Foreign investors pumped cash into 46 financial services projects in the capital last year, up from [...]