Latest News | AI & Blockchain Trends in Quantitative Trading

Going for growth is a game of risk that ministers must embrace

January 20, 2025

In the words of the Lord Mayor of London, “the only way you get growth is via risk.” Alastair King made this observation early in November last year, before it was fashionable. These days, it seems everyone’s discovering their appetite for risk. The notion that professional regulators could magic up some pro-growth policies has attracted [...]

Aon: Pioneering Risk Analytics in a World of Shifting Sands

January 20, 2025

The global insurance market is a complex and dynamic landscape, constantly reshaped by emerging risks, technological advancements, and shifting economic tides. To navigate this evolving terrain, businesses need a partner that can provide clarity, foresight, and innovative solutions. Aon, a leading global professional services firm, is rising to this challenge with its cutting-edge analytics capabilities, driven by [...]

Saba Capital: Does the US hedge fund have a point on UK investment trusts?

January 20, 2025

US hedge fund Saba Capital triggered fury and an industry-wide defensive effort when it launched an activist campaign against seven UK investment trusts last month. The Manhattan-based hedge fund, led by Boaz Weinstein, has laid siege to the trusts, accused them of failing to perform, and pushed for shareholder votes to “elect new directors with [...]

London investors urged to shift assets as huge capital gains tax burden revealed

January 20, 2025

Investors from London and the Home Counties will be the hardest hit by April’s hike to capital gains tax and should consider moving their assets into tax efficient vehicles, a leading accountancy firm has warned. Taxpayers in the capital are set to pay a combined £430m of additional capital gains tax (CGT) this year, accountants [...]

Rents in this part of London rose faster than anywhere else in the capital last year

January 20, 2025

Shoreditch has claimed the crown as the most in-demand spot in the capital for renting, although the rate of increase still remains below 2022 levels. Rents in the trendy area, known for everything from tech start-ups to vintage clothes shops, climbed by 6.6 per cent per month in 2024. Across London as a whole, the [...]

Business rates to more than double in ‘final blow’ to UK retailers

January 20, 2025

Business rates are set to rise more than 140 per cent for thousands of high street businesses across the UK in yet another cost pressure for brick-and-mortar businesses. Business rates, which are levied on all commercial properties, were cut by 75 per cent in 2022 as high street stores found themselves unable to cope during [...]

UK sale of collapsed Bulb to Octopus under microscope in legal battle

January 20, 2025

The UK government's sale of collapsed energy firm Bulb is at the centre of focus of an appeal today as British Gas and E.ON seek a judicial review on the deal

Waterstones: Return to the office helps profit almost quadruple

January 20, 2025

The return of employees to offices in major UK city centres helped profit almost quadruple at Waterstones during its latest financial year. The bookseller cited the trend of the return to work as a key factor in its pre-tax profit surging from £11.2m to £42.9m in the 12 months to 27 April, 2024. In newly-filed [...]

New frameworks and updates to help European companies achieve compliance faster

January 20, 2025

To build customer trust, companies doing business in Europe must establish and maintain compliance with cybersecurity frameworks. However, changing regulations and new frameworks make managing compliance even more complex and burdensome for overworked security teams. To stay ahead and compete on a global stage, European companies need the right technology, local expertise, and trusted partnerships. [...]

‘Tone deaf’: Much-hyped AI bot triggers backlash with mock Trump email

January 20, 2025

Much-hyped AI startup Boardy faced backlash from users on Monday after a “tone-deaf” email campaign commented on its users’ appearance in the mock tone of Donald Trump. Boardy, a tech start-up which aims to forge connections between professionals, sent a mass email to its customers yesterday imitating the newly inaugurated president. However, users were left [...]

Boohoo shareholders shun Frasers and vote to keep co-founder Kamani on board

January 20, 2025

Boohoo shareholders have voted two to one against a resolution proposed by Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group to remove co-founder and vice chair Mahmud Kamani as a director of the fast-fashion giant. Four fifths of shareholders took part, and two thirds of participating shareholders voted to retain Kamani on the board of the Manchester-headquartered company. In a statement, [...]

Reeves wades in to motor finance scandal in bid to soften £30bn payout

January 20, 2025

Shares in some of Britain’s biggest motor finance lenders have surged today after the Chancellor Rachel Reeves revealed plans to intervene in a mis-selling scandal which could cost the industry billions of pounds. A court judgement handed down in October sent shockwaves through the motor finance sector and has opened the door to what analysts [...]

Will Heathrow’s third runway plans be halted by Miliband, Khan and Burnham?

January 20, 2025

Heathrow Airport’s long-delayed third runway plans took a major step forward this week, after it was revealed the government is prepping to give the project its backing. Chancellor Rachel Reeves will outline her support for expansion bids from three major London hubs – Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton – in a speech later this month, according [...]

Greggs share price falls after City broker says ‘sell’

January 20, 2025

Greggs’ share price has fallen nearly four per cent after a leading City broker downgraded its rating for the high street chain to ‘Sell’. Panmure Liberum analysts suggested that Greggs’ time of ‘supernormal’ growth – sales rose by nearly 20 per cent in 2023 – may be over. Analysts suggested that Greggs’ roll-out of evening [...]

Natwest share price rockets to 10-year high

January 20, 2025

The Natwest share price hit its highest level since February 2015 in early deals this morning as investors backed the bank for growth in 2025. The UK bank’s stock price is already up 95 per cent over the last year, making it one of the best performing stocks on the FTSE 100, and it shows [...]