Data is the fuel for AI, so let’s ensure we get the ethics right December 4, 2017 Data is the propulsive energy behind the fourth industrial revolution – playing the same role as coal, oil and electricity did in the previous revolutions. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the new engine, just as the railways connected north and south, roads and cars connected our cities, and electrification lit up our homes and allowed domestic [...]
Shares in this FTSE-listed business Torotrak have just plummeted 48 per cent on failing to secure a refinancing December 1, 2017 London-listed engineering business Torotrak has certainly taken a wrong turn somewhere, as its market cap was halved today upon the announcement that it had failed to secure a refinancing. Torotrak, which focuses on emissions reduction and fuel efficiency technology, said it had been “trying to secure a refinancing of the company to address its financial [...]
14 years of investment returns: history’s lesson for investors November 30, 2017 The stockmarket has provided the best returns among the major asset classes over the last 14 years. But the total profits belie wild fluctuations year by year. Such volatility can cause problems for those who need to draw down money from their investments at certain points of their lives. A sudden drop in the stock [...]
A stroke of genius: How to get a loan by securing against art November 30, 2017 The world was stunned earlier this month when a 500-year-old Leonardo da Vinci painting smashed the world record by fetching $450m at auction. This figure might sound absurd, but understanding the multitude of factors that determine the value of art will remain a mystery to many of us. “Art is very personal,” says Freya [...]
The best contemporary, modern ski chalets in Europe November 30, 2017 Modern ski chalets are more like Bond lairs than rustic cabins. We grab our skis and take a tour of the best ones on the market. Cristal de Jade, Chamonix Described as “simple and contemporary” by selling agent MGM Properties, this chalet is one for those who appreciate modern furnishings and fantastic views. Two huge [...]
The nanny statists have been proven wrong – plain cigarette packaging does not work November 30, 2017 Tomorrow will mark the fifth anniversary of the introduction of plain packaging of tobacco in Australia. But don’t expect much in the way of celebrations. In the first 12 months of the branding ban, the number of cigarettes sold in Australia rose for the first time in years, and smoking rates proceeded to flatline for [...]
How herd behaviour affects your money November 29, 2017 We are not quite the independent thinkers we like to believe we are. People value safety in numbers. And while imitating the actions of others is sometimes a good thing, we should be aware of how making decisions without thoughtful analysis can have a negative impact on our finances. Animals regularly move together as a [...]
London’s house price to salary ratio has hit a record high November 28, 2017 The house price to salary ratio has hit a record high in London, piling even more pressure on the capital's strained property market. The average house price in London reached £496,000 in October, and average earnings were £34,200, representing house price ratio of 14.5 times Londoners' salaries. The ratios were also steep in Cambridge and [...]
UK small and mid cap shares: in search of growth November 28, 2017 For equity investors seeking exciting growth companies the UK market offers some compelling opportunities. Investors in UK-quoted companies have two key markets from which to choose: the main market of the London Stock Exchange with its well-established FTSE indices and 319-year pedigree (see footnote 1), and relative newcomer the Alternative Investment Market (AIM). For active [...]
As the first residents move into Television Centre, a new era is beginning for the BBC’s former home in west London November 28, 2017 When BBC Television Centre in White City, west London, was opened by the Queen in 1961, it was described by then director general Gerald Butler as “the largest, best equipped and most carefully planned factory of its kind.” Rather than goods, this building would manufacture culture and, at the time, it was the most ambitious [...]