The Leap 100: Does Brexit really mean business? July 12, 2016 Britain’s decision to leave the EU means taking a hit for The Leap 100. Sixty per cent say Brexit will impact their ability to grow in the short term. Long-term, that diminishes to 52 per cent, but the majority are still feeling the sense of uncertainty acutely. “We're waiting on further detail of what the [...]
YPlan’s co-founder Rytis Vitkauskas on pitching to Ashton Kutcher and how to secure other big-name investors July 12, 2016 Rytis Vitkauskas doesn’t strike you as the sort of person to court celebrities. The Lithuanian born co-founder of YPlan, the events discovery app, comes across as smart, focused and unostentatious. Nevertheless, YPlan has been remarkably successful at getting celebrity backers like Stephen Fry, Pharell Williams and Ashton Kutcher, and Vitkauskas spoke about this at a recent [...]
Raising finance carefully is more vital than ever post-Brexit July 12, 2016 There's no getting away from it: Brexit has been a shock to the system. Most entrepreneurs – particularly founders of fast-growing firms – wanted the result to go the other way, but they’re optimistic by nature, brushed themselves down and are getting on with business. There’s still plenty of waiting to come, though, with government and [...]
At the close: Sterling surge holds down the FTSE 100 July 12, 2016 The FTSE 100 closed flat this evening after ending yesterday's session at an 11-month high. The blue-chip index closed at 6,680.69 points, down just two points and flat in percentage terms. The end to yesterday's rally was put down to sterling being on course for its best performance against the yen in over three years after Theresa May [...]
Blockchain guru Blythe Masters named Santander adviser July 12, 2016 Santander has put blockchain guru Blythe Masters in charge of advising the bank on the fledgling technology. The former JP Morgan executive has sprung to fame in the world of blockchain with her startup Digital Asset Holdings, which has raised $60m (£46m) from the likes of Santander, JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs, among others. Read more: The government has quietly [...]
Defined benefit pension hole deepens to over £380bn following Brexit vote, according to pensions lifeboat figures July 12, 2016 The hole in the UK's pension pots became much harder to fill last month, according to figures released today by the pensions lifeboat. The numbers from the Pension Protection Fund revealed that, based on its calculations, the aggregate deficit across 5,945 defined benefit (DB) pension schemes had jumped from £294.6bn at the end of May to £383.6bn at [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open July 12, 2016 Major US markets are on a tear hitting record highs and the UK blue-chip index is in bull market territory. Here's what you need to know before the US market open at 2:30pm London time. It seems nothing can stop the equity ball rolling now, with futures pointing yet higher ahead of the open. The [...]
Why it could be a happy summer for stock market investors July 12, 2016 Are risk assets shaping up for a summer rally? That’s the question investors are asking themselves after Friday’s non-farm payrolls report. It’s raising hopes that the US economy is on a more stable footing than thought. It’s good news for risk sentiment – provided the Federal Reserve holds the line in commentary this week with [...]
Fixed or tracker: As Brexit prompts mortgage rates to tumble, how long should borrowers hold out for? July 12, 2016 Brexit might have thrown markets into turmoil, but if you’re thinking of taking out a mortgage, or are remortgaging, rates are about to get even more competitive. Since the referendum began in earnest, investors have clambered to buy government bonds, driving down yields and enabling mortgage lenders to offer more long-term funding. Banks have been [...]
Voice recognition: The way you speak could be holding you back July 12, 2016 It isn't just what you say that counts, it’s also the way you say it. Whether you’re answering questions from the boss or presenting to potential clients, using your voice more effectively is a learnable skill. Indeed, we can change the way we sound to appear more credible, persuasive and promotable. Think of a time when [...]
