London AI startup Cytora raises £25m from Swedish backer EQT Ventures April 17, 2019 Cytora, a provider of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to transform commercial underwriting in insurance, has today closed a £25m series B funding round led by EQT Ventures. Existing investors Cambridge Innovation Capital and Parkwalk also participated in the round, as well as a number of angel backers. Read more: Startups eye bigger slices of the [...]
Sterling falls as doubts emerge over cross-party Brexit talks April 16, 2019 Sterling fell after reports emerged that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had said talks with the government were stalling, although the party has slapped down the claim. Read more: Tusk says he still dreams of UK U-turn on Brexit A falling pound sent the FTSE 100 to a six-month high, as investors responded to the news [...]
Crypto AM shines its Spotlight on Arteïa April 16, 2019 At $63bn and counting, the international art market is certainly not insignificant. Big-brand names such as Sotheby’s and Christie’s host blockbuster sales around the world selling precious works of fine art. In 2017 it’s believed the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia paid more than $450m for Salvator Mundi, a masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci. Although [...]
It’s time to write the next chapter in the City’s story of technological innovation April 15, 2019 When I travel across the globe, there is an issue I get asked about time and time again: what is it about London that makes it such a successful global financial hub? And what is it about the UK that makes us stand out from the crowd? A key part of the answer is innovation. [...]
London’s junior stock market sees fewest IPOs in ten years in first quarter April 15, 2019 Flotations on London’s junior stock market fell to the lowest level in a decade in the first three months of the year amid political and economic uncertainty, new analysis has shown. Read more: London Stock Exchange to buy €278.5m stake in Euroclear London’s Alternative Investment Market (Aim) saw just one company offer up shares for [...]
AA: A sustainable recovery of its own? April 12, 2019 After a decent start to 2019, our head of markets kicks the tyres after these uninspiring results. There is certainly a great deal going on under the bonnet at AA (LSE:AA.), although by its own admission there remains much to be done. One measure of progress is the number of contract wins the company has [...]
City watchdog accused of using legal red tape to delay report into RBS GRG unit April 11, 2019 The City watchdog has been accused of abusing legal red tape to delay a report into its controversial decision not to take action against senior individuals within RBS’s rogue unit GRG. Former business secretary Sir Vince Cable said the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is using Maxwellisation – a process whereby individuals criticised in an investigation [...]
Watchdog warns general insurers over value for money and high commissions April 10, 2019 The City watchdog has warned general insurers it is prepared to crackdown on distribution chains failing to give customers value for money. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said that poor manufacturing, sales and distribution approaches were rife in the sector. Read more: Dixons Carphone hit with £30m FCA penalty The regulator’s investigation found customers were [...]
Home insurers make 100 per cent of profits from loyal customers April 10, 2019 Home insurance companies make 100 per cent of their profits from penalising loyal customers, new research shows. A study published today by Citizens Advice found home insurers make all their profits – amounting to over £1bn a year – from loyal customers holding policies for six years or more. The research showed that loyal customers [...]
Did a monkey break your smartphone? Aviva reveals its most unusual insurance claims April 10, 2019 A horse mounting a car after mistaking it for a female companion, a monkey smashing a holidaymaker’s phone and a gorilla biting a trekkers arm, were just some of claims paid out by insurance giant Aviva last year. The insurer paid out more than £3.8bn last year as the Beast from the East and airport [...]