What you should make of Woodford’s unquoted asset sale March 7, 2019 | City Talk By Jemma Jackson from interactive investor. Here’s our take on Woodford Equity Income Fund’s sale of unquoted stock to Woodford Patient Capital. On Friday, we heard that the Woodford Equity Income (WEIF) has sold some of the portfolio’s individual unquoted stocks to Woodford Patient Capital Trust (WPCT) in exchange for shares in WPCT. Dzmitry Lipski, [...]
Schroders profits fall 15 per cent on weak investor sentiment March 7, 2019 Schroders saw profit drop 15 per cent last year as the asset management giant was hit by weaker investor sentiment due to political and economic uncertainty. The figures Profit before tax fell 15 per cent to £649.9m from £760.2m in the 12 months to the end of December last year. Read more: Schroders and Lloyds [...]
Three reasons why investors should consider the UK stock market March 6, 2019 | City Talk By Tom Bailey from interactive investor. UK shares are now at their 'cheapest' since the First World War, says JPMorgan fund manager. It's no secret that the UK market is out of favour right now, and has been since the EU referendum in mid 2016. Fearing the still-to-be-decided outcome of Brexit and the potential for [...]
Lord Rothschild warns on market volatility after ‘difficult and treacherous year’ for investors March 5, 2019 Last year was the “most difficult and treacherous year for investors” in a decade, Lord Rothschild said today as his investment trust RIT Capital Partners reported shrinking net asset value. The company said Net Asset Value (NAV) per share was 1,821p in the year to the end of December 2018, down from 1,839p the previous [...]
Bumper Persimmon fails to shake off uncertainty March 5, 2019 | City Talk Despite the housebuilder's £1 billion profit and generous dividend, Persimmon shares are under a cloud. Just when investors thought it was safe to go back into mortar, the government's reported review of the Help to Buy scheme has dealt another blow to the sector. Persimmon (LSE:PSN) 6% share price decline represented the brunt of the blow, [...]
Asset management firm Invesco lobbies US Securities and Exchange Commission over Mifid II implementation March 4, 2019 Global asset management firm Invesco is lobbying for the US financial regulator to allow it to implement Mifid II rules on paying for investment research. The firm attended a meeting with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last year to push for changes to rules which ban brokers from receiving research payments unless they are [...]
Leading UK charities call for legal guidance on ethical investments March 4, 2019 Leading UK charities have called on the government to provide legal guidance on ethical investment. In an open letter, signed by charities such as Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, the RSPB and the Quakers, the group also asked for specific guidance on whether they should invest in companies that contribute to dangerous climate change. Read more: [...]
More than half of UK private investors say Brexit will provide opportunity, according to a new survey March 4, 2019 More than half of UK private investors believe Brexit will provide an opportunity for investment, according to a new survey. A total of 15 per cent of investors surveyed by Master Investor said that the UK’s departure from the European Union would be a “disaster” while 51 per cent said it would be an opportunity. Read [...]
Ebay launches strategic review after activist investor pressure March 1, 2019 Ebay has given into pressure from activist investors Elliott Management and Starboard Value to launch a strategic review of the company. The online auction website will appoint two new board members and review the company’s Stubhub and Ebay Classifieds Group. Read more: Ebay shares spike as activist investor Elliott reveals $1.4bn stake Jesse Cohn of [...]
Hipster investor The Craftory leads $30m funding round in vegan startup March 1, 2019 New “hipster” investor The Craftory has led a $30m (£22.59m) funding round in artificial intelligence meat substitution company Notco. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ family office Bezos Expeditions and existing investors Kaszek Ventures and Indiebio also took part in the round. Read more: New 'hipster' firm is investing $300m in challenger consumer brands Notco produces plant based replacements [...]