U.S. authorities seize Bitcoin linked to terrorist groups as billion dollar firm Bets on BTC August 18, 2020 This week the price of Bitcoin (BTC) started the week around the $11,800 mark, and after briefly surpassing $12,000 it faced a downward movement that took it to $11,200. The cryptocurrency has since been recovering and its trading at $11,870 at press time. Ether (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, started the week at [...]
ESG defies naysayers as ‘sustainable’ investments become mainstream August 18, 2020 Crises tend to accelerate trends. The upheavals of 2020 – from the global pandemic to the movement for racial justice and the ongoing threat of climate change – have undoubtedly helped propel environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing into the mainstream. ESG-related topics have never been so central to the investment conversation. Retail funds incorporating [...]
Petropavlovsk appoints interim CEO after boardroom battle August 17, 2020 Under-fire gold miner Petropavlovsk appointed an interim chief executive today after an activist investor succeeded in blocking the reappointment of its former boss. Maksim Meshcheriakov will also be a candidate for the permanent position after Pavel Mavlovskiy’s return was scuppered by 7.5 per cent shareholder Everest. Founder of the Russia-focused miner Peter Hambro, and temporary [...]
We clapped for carers – how about a hand for our unsung charity volunteers? August 17, 2020 It’s often said that a crisis brings out the best in people, and that has proven to be true during the coronavirus pandemic. In particular, the way in which charities and voluntary organisations responded to the unprecedented crisis which changed all our lives back in March has been magnificent to see. Many have found themselves [...]
Why artificial intelligence needs an open, decentralised platform to serve the world August 14, 2020 On the 15th of May 1911, the US government moved to break the Standard Oil Corporation into what would eventually be 34 different companies. The key resource at question then was oil. A century later, we are at the cusp of wondering whether the organisations of our time hold a similar monopoly on the most [...]
Why investors should pay attention to sugar August 14, 2020 Government action to promote healthy eating, especially in light of the spread of Covid-19, and ongoing changes in consumer tastes will continue to create headwinds for the food and beverage industry, and increasingly for food retailers and hospitality companies too. We’ve known for decades that obesity puts people at greater risk of serious and life-threatening [...]
Easyjet shares sink on France quarantine despite £203m aircraft sale August 14, 2020 Shares in low cost carrier Easyjet fell 5.5 per cent this morning as the government announced travellers from France would have to quarantine on return to the UK. The news came as the airline siad that it had completed the sale and leaseback of 23 aircraft, raising an extra £608m to bolster its liquidity amid [...]
The cold blast of popular opinion: ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s takes on the home secretary August 13, 2020 It was a young political journalist who summed up one of the oddest political storms of the summer so far when she tweeted on Wednesday: “Who had ‘MP argues with ice cream company’ on their 2020 bingo card?” In case you missed it, the story in brief: Priti Patel, the home secretary, has been making [...]
National Express falls to £30m loss as coronavirus decimates demand August 13, 2020 Coach operator National Express swung to a £30m loss in the first half of 2020 after the coronavirus pandemic sent passenger demand plummeting 80 per cent. Despite the drop in passenger numbers, the bus firm said it still managed to secure 50 per cent of revenue in the period, recording cash flow of £270m over [...]
London pubs and restaurants suffer sharp sales drop in July August 13, 2020 UK pubs, bars and restaurants suffered a 50 per cent drop in sales in July as the sector reopened after lockdown, with London the worst affected area in the country, according to the latest research. London venues were the worst hit, falling 58.3 per cent last month, compared to July 2019, while hospitality firms outside [...]