General News

February 19, 2024 @ 11:48 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The latest KPMG and REC, UK Report on Jobs survey, compiled by S&P Global, highlighted that ongoing uncertainty around the economic outlook continued to impact hiring decisions at the start of the year. Permanent placements fell at “a sharp and accelerated pace, while the downturn… Read More

February 18, 2024 @ 7:20 pm By Michael Wong  |  

In the latest credit card lending survey released by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), figures for the fourth quarter of 2023 showed a significant uptick in credit card usage among Hong Kong residents. Total card receivables soared by 8.5% to HK$160.1 billion at the… Read More

February 18, 2024 @ 2:27 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Business expansion and automation are to address staffing challenges are top of mind for restaurants, retailers, according to an update from Fintech Square. Recently, Square released its Future of Commerce report, with comprehensive analysis on how business owners and consumers are “considering the evolution of… Read More

February 18, 2024 @ 12:37 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The New Startup Index from NatWest and Beauhurst has found that over 900,000 new companies were incorporated in the UK in 2023, making it a record year for new businesses. The startup boom brings the number of active companies “operating in the UK to 5.31m,… Read More

February 18, 2024 @ 12:05 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Capchase says it is interested in helping high-potential startups grow on their own terms with non-dilutive capital injections. According to Capchase, capital is only “one part of the equation.” To succeed, Capchase explains that startups need mentorship, guidance, and support. Capchase has announced their new… Read More

February 18, 2024 @ 11:45 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Engage People, the loyalty network that enables program members to pay with points (PwP) directly at checkout, reported “a 68% increase in transactions from 2022, with more than 23.3 billion points redeemed in 2023 across its Access Plus network, which allows loyalty program members the… Read More

February 18, 2024 @ 11:42 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Both buyers and sellers should prepare for a competitive real estate / property market season this spring. The latest real estate market report from Zillow (NASDAQ: Z and ZG) reportedly shows “that well-priced homes are being snapped up quickly, while those that linger on the… Read More

February 18, 2024 @ 10:07 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Organizations need a trusted data foundation to enable effective decisions that allow them to operate efficiently, plan for the future, and grow, according to an update from Quantexa. Yet many organizations continue to struggle with “a lack of a single customer view, duplicated records, inefficient… Read More

February 18, 2024 @ 8:48 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Following a recent collaborative “mystery shopping” exercise between the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) and the European Banking Authority (EBA), several credit institutions have “proactively taken steps to enhance consumer service levels based on the Authority’s recommendations.” The evaluation focused on personal loans and payment… Read More

February 17, 2024 @ 11:12 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Genesis Global, the software application development platform purpose-built for financial markets organizations, announced the launch of the web version of its multi-asset class middle-office solution, Trade Allocation Manager (TAM). TAM provides a robust foundation “for operational efficiency and regulatory compliance through a centralized application that… Read More

February 16, 2024 @ 10:37 am By Omar Faridi  |  

More employees than ever — nearly 9 out of 10 — are feeling stressed about their finances, with almost half saying they’re just getting by. Despite budgets for salary increases reaching a 22-year high in 2023, 48% of workers are worried they “don’t have enough… Read More

February 15, 2024 @ 12:43 pm By JD Alois  |  

Data pertaining to online capital formation, or crowdfunding, can be hard to come by. Several providers provide good numbers when it comes to Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF), but when it comes to Reg A+ and Reg D 506c – it is a bit of a… Read More

February 15, 2024 @ 11:13 am By JD Alois  |  

EuroCrowd is looking for four equity crowdfunding platforms to better understand their needs in regard to Intellectual Property (IP). According to a blog post, EuroCrowd, working with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) is seeking empirical information on platforms and IP. This follows an… Read More

February 14, 2024 @ 10:26 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In 2023, the Bank of Russia reports that it had identified 5,735 different entities (companies, projects, individual entrepreneurs and others) with signs of illegal activity , including signs of financial pyramids. According to a report from the Bank of Russia, this is 15.5% more than… Read More

February 13, 2024 @ 5:29 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Federal Trade Commission data show that consumers reported losing more than $10 billion to fraud in 2023, “marking the first time that fraud losses have reached that benchmark.” This marks a 14% increase “over reported losses in 2022.” Consumers reported losing more money “to investment… Read More

February 13, 2024 @ 5:24 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

During the rise and fall of an “unprecedented” bull market across 2021 and 2022, founders and investors had to navigate a wild ride of ups and downs, the team at Carta noted. That volatility diminished in 2023. The startup ecosystem trundled “along at a slow… Read More

February 13, 2024 @ 7:23 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Marqeta (NASDAQ: MQ), the global modern card issuing platform enabling some of the world’s most innovative embedded finance solutions, announced its new customer, Internet Travel Solutions (ITS), a provider of travel management software that will utilize Marqeta’s comprehensive credit card platform to launch a multi-use… Read More

February 12, 2024 @ 10:22 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Financial activities–from paying bills to checking bank balances to sending money to friends–have increasingly “moved online, making digital literacy critical to managing our finances,” according to an update from Capital One. Adam Davis, Vice President, Financial Health, Inclusion, and Liquidity at Capital One, said: “Financial… Read More

February 12, 2024 @ 6:16 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Though the venture market was in a state of declines over the past couple of years, much of the pricing pressure has not yet forced pre-seed or seed-stage valuations below the highs of 2021, according to an update from Pitchbook. While it’s true this area… Read More

February 12, 2024 @ 6:03 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Businesses in Australia are reportedly faring well despite changing economic conditions, says Westpac’s latest business snapshot. Australian businesses are largely managing “slowing consumer demand and are cautiously optimistic as they head into 2024.” Westpac’s latest Quarterly Business Snapshot), which “analyzes millions of daily business banking… Read More