Does WeWork spell the end of the unicorns? November 4, 2019 | Sponsored WeWork has undergone a dramatic fall from grace recently. Just two months ago the office rental start-up was expecting to offer shares to the public at a total business valuation of $47 billion. This soon halved and then investors rapidly pulled their support for an initial public offering (IPO) above $12 billion. The IPO was [...]
What does disruption mean for investors? November 1, 2019 | City Talk In this short video, Alex Tedder discusses the opportunities that disruption and innovation bring for investors. We’re really excited about disruption because it’s something that’s taking place around us every day. With disruption you typically get innovation. And innovation creates tremendous growth opportunities for investors. That’s why we’re so excited right now. You only have [...]
Wework could be worth ‘zero’, says Bill Ackman October 30, 2019 Influential investor Bill Ackman said he thinks there is a risk of Softbank having to write off the entirety of its multi-billion-dollar investment in Wework. “I think WeWork has a pretty high probability of being a zero for the equity, as well as for the debt,” Ackman told the Robin Hood investor conference in New [...]
Suspended Woodford fund outperforms FTSE benchmark October 30, 2019 Former star fund manager Neil Woodford’s suspended Income Focus Fund has outperformed the FTSE all-share benchmark in the two weeks since it was frozen. In a letter to investors this morning, Link Fund Solutions – which is managing the suspension – revealed that the fund’s returns had grown 1.39 per cent, while its benchmark return [...]
Standard Life Aberdeen to offer nine months’ fully paid parental leave October 30, 2019 Investment company Standard Life Aberdeen (SLA) is to offer all its employees nine months of fully-paid leave when they become parents, and one year’s total leave. SLA said the leave would be available to all new parents, irrespective of gender, family situation, or how long they have worked for the company. Read more: Martin Gilbert [...]
The death of yields in six charts October 30, 2019 | City Talk There has been a relentless downward move in global bond yields since the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. This trend – underpinned by highly supportive central bank policies and stubbornly low inflation – has been a defining characteristic of the post-crisis world. Another defining trait of this period, and a landmark for financial markets, has been [...]
After the Woodford saga, here are four signs that your fund is in trouble October 29, 2019 The industry is still reeling from the news of the Woodford fund closure, with investors left in limbo as to when they will get their money back. But the saga has also brought two more general considerations into sharp focus: first, whether star fund managers are the answer at all, and second, what red flags [...]
What do negative bond yields mean for investors? October 28, 2019 | City Talk As the synchronised slowdown in the global economy continues, central banks have yet again stepped in to attempt to extend what has already been the longest economic and stock market expansion in history. With interest rates across the world already low and in some cases negative, the stark reality is that the future impact of [...]
Keep retail investors in separate funds, says FCA head October 28, 2019 Retail investors could have their money separated from institutional funds to better protect individuals following the collapse of Neil Woodford’s investment empire, the head of the financial regulator has said. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) chief executive Andrew Bailey said in an interview with The Times that he did not think the mixing of institutional and [...]
Assets under management fall for top firms but ESG bucks downward trend October 28, 2019 Assets under management (AUM) at the world’s largest managers declined overall in 2018 as subdued equity markets weighed on the industry, but those managed in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) mandates grew substantially. AUM at the 500 biggest firms fell three per cent during the year but those managed in ESG mandates rose 23.3 per [...]
