Opportunities in an evolving financial industry December 12, 2019 | City Talk In today’s investment landscape, a paradigm shift is underway. Economic headwinds, ever-changing financial regulations, and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and financial technology are transforming the industry. What clients want is evolving, too. Returns alone are not enough. Clients today are looking for asset managers who can meet a comprehensive set of needs and deliver greater value [...]
John Laing shares drop after warning net assets will fall below expectations December 12, 2019 Shares in John Laing dropped this morning after the greenfield infrastructure investor said its net asset value (NAV) for the year would be below expectations. In a trading update issued this morning, the group said that uncertainty over a number of factors will impact its full-year results, including progress with ongoing transactions and the outcome [...]
Edinburgh Investment Trust sacks Invesco’s Mark Barnett over poor performance December 11, 2019 Edinburgh Investment Trust has fired Invesco stockpicker Mark Barnett as its manager following poor performance, in a further blow to the former Neil Woodford protege. Barnett, who took over the managing of the trust from Woodford in 2014, will be replaced by Majedie Asset Management in the first quarter of 2020. Read more: Woodford protege [...]
Are there any safe bets for investors this election? December 10, 2019 | City Talk Political parties have not been able to agree on much this election. Whether it is Brexit or how the economy is run, the Conservatives and Labour have opposite views on almost everything. The Conservatives want to ‘get Brexit done’ so the UK is out of the EU by January, have a new trade deal signed [...]
Election promises little relief for troubled UK markets December 10, 2019 | City Talk The election represents another ‘key risk’ moment for UK assets. Depending on the result, some parts of the UK stock market could suffer heavily, while others might be beneficiaries of a surprise result. This is the dangerous part – trying to work out what comes next. Memories of the predictions made before Brexit and Trump [...]
How do UK general elections impact the stock market? December 10, 2019 | City Talk General elections can have a profound long-term effect on the economy and people’s lives. The impact of elections on the stock market is less understood. Analysing the last seven UK elections, there is no definitive pattern as to how markets react, although there are historical patterns that may help investors and traders prepare for the [...]
Neil Woodford shuts offices as investment business winds down December 10, 2019 Neil Woodford’s investment company has moved out of its Oxfordshire offices as the business continues the process of closing down. Former star stockpicker Woodford announced that he was shutting down Woodford Investment Management in October, following a dramatic fall from grace that had seen his flagship fund frozen for several months. Read more: City regulator [...]
Another dog for Softbank as it sells Wag stake back to company December 10, 2019 Japanese investment giant Softbank has been left with its tail between its legs after selling its stake in Wag back to the dog-walking startup, capping off a disappointing year for its $97bn Vision Fund. Softbank has agreed to sell its almost 50 per cent stake in the company and will no longer have representation on [...]
EU approves €3.2bn research fund for battery development December 9, 2019 The European Commission has approved a €3.2bn (£2.7bn) state aid fund from seven European Union countries for “ambitious and risky” research and innovation in battery technologies. Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Sweden will provide up to €3.2bn of funding for the project, which is planned to complete in 2031. Read more: Electric cars [...]
City regulator toughens up financial accountability rules after scandals December 9, 2019 Tougher accountability rules have today been extended to cover around 47,000 firms across the financial sector, as the financial watchdog seeks to clean up the City’s reputation following a string of scandals. The Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR) holds firms’ senior managers directly accountable for their actions, and is intended to help regulators punish [...]