By Paul Kelly The first and best-known cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, emerged in 2009 but interest in it and alternative digital assets (altcoins) like Ethereum and Tether has recently exploded. Critics of digital money raise concerns about its volatility and call for controls to protect public interest. Cryptocurrency fans view such demands cautiously, claiming strict rules will [...]
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By Paul Kelly London has for decades been a world leader in the financial education and training of young people, its universities and business schools equipping them with the skills needed for a successful financial services career. Preserving the capital’s status as Europe’s leading financial centre demanded a guaranteed supply of talent which was duly [...]
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The Financial Services Bill was introduced in the Commons on 21st October 2020 and, having received Royal Assent on 29th April, is now law.
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Covid and its aftermath stirred up global economic turbulence on such a dramatic scale some predicted the investment world would struggle for years to overcome its consequences.
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Emblazoned across the title of an article within The Wall Street International magazines are the words ‘the future is green’. The next frontier within the bonds market will see efforts to minimise pollution and energy consumption, whilst taking steps towards building and participating in the circular economy. The article goes on to explain that green [...]
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March 26th newspaper headlines announced the signing of a UK-EU post-Brexit agreement for financial services ahead of the specified March 31st deadline. Three months after the UK’s tense departure from the union, amidst the frustration of a no-deal Brexit for financial services, is this positive news for the industry and what does it mean for [...]
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Blockchain has been hailed as a radical technology that will forever disrupt the way we share data to buy, sell and verify the authenticity of everything in the world, from property titles to carbon credits. Combining the openness of the internet with the security of encoded information, enthusiasts praise its potential cost savings, efficiency and [...]
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Over the last few weeks, we have been exploring ESG investments, breaking down each element to get a better understanding of the whole. This time, we are exploring the role of G (governance). So what is governance? Governance includes a broad range of corporate activities. This includes company policies, information disclosure, compliance and auditing, as [...]
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Covid-19 laid bare the inadequacy of organisations’ strategies for managing crisis-driven change overnight. In some cases, incompetence rather than readiness was uncovered. Once the immediate battle for survival was over, however, the critical need for businesses to change the way they change became apparent. What does this transformation involve? Will there be a business-as-usual after [...]
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The use of cash plummeted in the days after the pandemic’s outbreak and has remained lower since then, but what is the longer-term outlook for physical banknotes and coins? As public health precautions in response to Covid restricted travel and movement outdoors, the need for cash dropped off dramatically. Retailers and service providers who traditionally [...]
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