Mayweather vs McGregor: What does boxing’s bizarre box office smash signal for the future of sport? August 24, 2017 The sentiment among boxing’s luminaries has been near-unanimous. “A farce,” scoffed Lennox Lewis; “a circus,” blasted Oscar de la Hoya; “a one-sided onslaught,” forecast Ricky Hatton. Yet despite the cacophony of derision, Floyd Mayweather versus Conor McGregor — this century’s greatest boxer against a debutant — is expected to be the most financially lucrative bout [...]
Re-identification of personal data: The common crime you’ve never heard of August 24, 2017 There was a sense of inevitability to the Data Protection Bill announced by the UK government this month. What especially caught my eye was the new criminal offence: “of intentionally or recklessly re-identifying individuals from anonymised or pseudonymised data” punishable by an unlimited fine. It’s a welcome move that shines a spotlight on a relatively [...]
Ten reasons why true free trade is key to making Brexit a success August 24, 2017 Economists for Free Trade was re-launched this week by 16 of Britain’s leading economists to promote the case for true free trade, with zero tariff and non-tariff barriers (note this doesn’t mean zero standards) on imports, in the wake of Brexit. In the wake of the General Election result we feel there is a need [...]
How does ‘Purposeful Capitalism’ influence risk management? August 23, 2017 Purposeful Capitalism describes an evolution of capitalism wherein the investment industry becomes more professional, ethical, and client-centric. The scenario detailed in the Future State of the Investment Profession study examines ways in which organisations may evolve with greater focus placed on transforming culture; the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors; and their [...]
Amazon: Is this the end for ‘old-school’ retailers? August 22, 2017 If you are a regular reader of the financial press, you could be forgiven for thinking some kind of corporate serial killer is currently on the loose. On an almost daily basis, fresh obituaries appear for retail businesses and there is a strong consensus on who is to blame – the global phenomenon that is [...]
DEBATE: Should we take Jacob Rees-Mogg seriously as a leadership contender? August 16, 2017 DEBATE: Should we take Jacob Rees-Mogg seriously as a leadership contender? YES – Laura Perrins, co-editor of The Conservative Woman. It’s time for the Conservative party to drop the wishy-washy failed mantra of the middle ground. Not only is it a risky election strategy, it is morally bankrupt. Jacob Rees-Mogg is a classic constitutional conservative [...]
Brexit: Estonia is ramping up efforts to woo British entrepreneurs with e-residency August 15, 2017 The small but innovative eastern European country of Estonia is planning on ramping up its efforts to woo British entrepreneurs after Brexit. More than 800 people from the UK have applied to become e-residents of Estonia since the country voted for Brexit, fresh figures seen exclusively by City A.M. reveal. And that figure could be [...]
DAC Group has acquired Edinburgh-based digital marketing specialist Ambergreen August 15, 2017 Edinburgh based Ambergreen has joined forces with one of the largest independent digital marketing agencies in North America. When Canadian digital media agency DAC Group was exploring growth opportunities in Europe, Edinburgh-based digital marketing specialist Ambergreen was a natural fit. "DAC is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and has about 400 people across 16 offices,” explains [...]
Behind the hype: Machine learning in investment management August 11, 2017 In a recent article, I discussed some of the significant progress being made in machine learning–enabled artificial intelligence and some of its potential drawbacks as well as the challenges it poses for regulators. Now, I want to bring your attention to a very interesting Barclays report that looks at the deployment of quantitative fund strategies, [...]
Those who fear automation will be its only casualties August 11, 2017 Whatever can be automated, should be. And regardless of whether it should, it will be. Automation has been a persistent economic force since the first industrial revolution, and an essential feature of any competitive business. The use of machines and other forms of automation to boost productivity is a major factor behind the rapid global [...]