Corona Impact Series: How an immersive Hackney entertainer blurs pandemic boundaries March 25, 2021 In this series, City A.M. looks at the financial and economic impact of the ongoing pandemic on a range of small and medium-sized businesses across London. This week: How an immersive entertainment agency in Hackney was forced to switch from physical to virtual overnight, without losing any of the power of the experiences. “As Covid hit and the [...]
Green investment surges as UK bosses sound alarm on climate change March 25, 2021 The majority of UK bosses intend to increase their long-term investments in sustainability initiatives as they grow concerned about the impact of climate change. A PwC survey of UK chief executives reveals 70 per cent are concerned about the impact of climate change, with almost a third “extremely concerned” about the issue. But climate change [...]
DEBATE: Should we have a right to work from home? March 25, 2021 Alison Newton, co-head of real estate at Addleshaw Goddard says No Up until March 16 last year, there was a common view among city firms that those who work from home were in some way slacking off. Coronavirus has given us a great opportunity to bury the presenteeism principle, demonstrating that working from home can [...]
Uncovering Japan’s hidden gems March 25, 2021 Chern-Yeh Kwok, manager of the Aberdeen Japan Investment Trust, says there is real value in Japanese markets, but it is often overlooked by investors. Japanese companies are used to dealing with a tough backdrop and their natural caution served them well in 2020 The Japanese market thrived amid widespread volatility last year, rising 16% Japanese [...]
Income investors need to broaden their horizons March 25, 2021 Investors with sufficient geographic and sector diversity have managed to side-step the worst falls in dividend payments Asia and emerging markets promise to be rewarding places for income again in 2021 Income stocks may be in prime position for economic recovery 2020 may have been a fallow year for income investors overall, but much depended [...]
Boohoo cuts ties with hundreds of suppliers following Leicester factory scandal March 25, 2021 Online fashion retailer Boohoo has cut ties with hundreds of suppliers as it seeks to improve conditions for factory workers. The e-commerce giant this morning announced it has “ceased doing business with a number of manufacturers who were unable to demonstrate the high standard of transparency required”. Boohoo published a list of its 78 approved [...]
Covid-19, a year on: How Big Pharma reinvented itself March 25, 2021 In this series, City A.M. looks back at the last year of the pandemic and Covid restrictions and takes stock of its impact on industries and issues at the heart of British society. Read more: Read the full Covid-19, a year on series here. Six years ago, pharmaceutical chief executive Martin Shkreli drew international condemnation when his [...]
Deloitte CEO: Significant audit reforms crucial for investor confidence in UK March 25, 2021 UK businesses are dealing with the economic fallout of the pandemic, the logistical issues of Brexit and huge societal challenges like climate change. It’s not surprising that some feel this is not the right time for a major overhaul of how the country’s businesses are governed and audited. Yet these complex issues are precisely why [...]
Ministers ‘missed the boat’ over BBC licence fee reform, MPs warn March 25, 2021 The government has no choice but to maintain the BBC’s licence fee funding model for the foreseeable future due to its failure to find an alternative, MPs have warned. In an in-depth report published today, the DCMS committee said that while the £157.50 annual charge has a “limited shelf life” in the modern media landscape, [...]
Jackpotjoy-owner Gamesys agrees £2bn takeover deal with US casino owner Bally’s March 24, 2021 US casino owner Bally’s has agreed a takeover deal for Jackpotjoy-owner Gamesys in a move which could value the UK firm at more than £2bn. Shares in online gambling firm Gamesys soared after Bally’s told US investors it had agreed on key terms regarding a potential deal. Bally’s Corporation, which operates casinos and racetracks in [...]