Tagged: uk

September 2, 2025 @ 11:15 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Schroders Capital, the private markets division of global investment manager Schroders, has made significant strides in strengthening its real estate operations with a key leadership appointment in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region and a leasing achievement in the UK. These developments underscore the firm’s commitment… Read More

September 2, 2025 @ 9:48 am By JD Alois  |  

Zopa Group, a digital bank, has acquired payments platform Rvvup in a move that is expected to 3X its  embedded finance business in two years. The acquisition is predicted to boost its point of sale credit services supporting all payment options. The acquisition is Zopa’s… Read More

September 2, 2025 @ 3:47 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Recent findings from the Lloyds Bank Business Barometer reveal a complex but seemingly optimistic / favorable environment for UK businesses in August 2025. Despite a slight dip in economic optimism, overall business confidence has climbed two points to 54%, marking the fourth consecutive monthly increase… Read More

September 1, 2025 @ 5:13 pm By JD Alois  |  

Earlier today, an update from Open Banking Limited (OBL) reported that open banking in the UK has topped 15 million users, including individuals and businesses, as of July 2025. This represents a 50% increase from the 10 million users recorded just a year prior, highlighting the… Read More

September 1, 2025 @ 12:49 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The UK venture capital activity experienced a significant slowdown in the first seven months of 2025, with deal volume and value declining year-on-year. The pullback reflects a combination of “macroeconomic headwinds and the recalibration of investor strategies.” Yet, the UK’s diversified ecosystem and strong tech… Read More

September 1, 2025 @ 12:15 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The London Stock Exchange has become an operator that has been granted a PISCES Approval Notice (PAN) by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for its Private Securities Market. The new secondary market will, for the first time, “provide private companies with access to intermittent liquidity… Read More

September 1, 2025 @ 10:31 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a recent milestone for the UK’s financial sector, open banking has reached over 15 million users, encompassing both individuals and businesses, as of July 2025. This figure, equivalent to nearly one in three UK adults, reflects a remarkable growth trajectory since the technology’s introduction… Read More

August 31, 2025 @ 2:25 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Fuel Ventures Follow-On EIS Fund reportedly backs some of the United Kingdom’s most high-growth or high-potential technology companies. As mentioned in a recent update shared by Republic Europe, it is designed to double down on a selection of the “top-performing” portfolio businesses. The offering… Read More

August 30, 2025 @ 4:28 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Digital assets firm Gemini, founded by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, has launched staking services for Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL), enabling UK customers to earn passive income through its platform. Announced recently, this development removes previous barriers, making staking accessible to all users regardless of… Read More

August 29, 2025 @ 6:22 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Bank of England (BoE) continues to shape the United Kingdom’s monetary and financial industry through extensive research, reliable payments systems, and updated analytical frameworks. Three recent updates—key insights from Catherine L. Mann, the Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) and CHAPS Annual Report 2024/25, and a… Read More

August 27, 2025 @ 12:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

Financial services, including Fintechs, are investing in artificial intelligence (AI) at a rapid pace. Consumers and businesses are already benefitting from the new technology, which can automate more services while improving products. For banks, it is not just about saving money; it is about maintaining… Read More

August 25, 2025 @ 2:50 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Ten UK regions have recorded a rise in startup activity in the first half of 2025, signaling renewed confidence in the country’s entrepreneurial sector. According to the New Startup Index from NatWest and Beauhurst, the North East saw the fastest relative growth, with over 10,000… Read More

August 24, 2025 @ 11:54 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a recent statement, Andrew Ferguson, Chairman of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), issued a stern warning to American technology companies regarding their compliance with new online safety regulations in the United Kingdom and European Union. Ferguson emphasized that adhering to these foreign laws… Read More

August 22, 2025 @ 12:32 pm By JD Alois  |  

Bank branches are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Think floppy disks and fax machines. Consumers manage their financial existence on their smartphones. And they prefer it over queuing up for a teller. At the same time, there remains a segment of the community… Read More

August 22, 2025 @ 8:57 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a stride toward modernizing its banking infrastructure, Shawbrook Bank, a UK specialist bank, has gone live with Thought Machine’s core banking platform, Vault Core. The milestone seemingly marks a pivotal moment in Shawbrook’s digital transformation journey, with the launch of its first product—a buy-to-let… Read More

August 21, 2025 @ 1:12 pm By JD Alois  |  

Valereum Plc (AQSE: VLRM), operator of a licensed and regulated Digital Asset Service Provider (DASP) in El Salvador, has selected ZIGChain as a lead blockchain and white label tokenization provider, DigiShares, to enable the regulated issuance of digital assets on its real-world assets (RWAs) marketplace…. Read More

August 21, 2025 @ 8:16 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Phoenix Group, one of the UK’s long term savings and retirement businesses, announces a £75 million private debt investment with Worley, a  global professional services company of energy, chemicals and resources (ECR) experts. This deal reportedly marks Phoenix’s first private transaction with “an Australian counterparty,… Read More

August 21, 2025 @ 1:51 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Starling Group has entered into an agreement to acquire Ember, a UK based Fintech company. Ember’s tax and bookkeeping software will be “built into Starling Bank’s app and online bank, providing small business owners with an all-in-one solution to manage their finances, from bank transactions… Read More

August 20, 2025 @ 10:46 am By JD Alois  |  

Robinhood (NASDAQ:HOOD) is now offering artificial intelligence (AI) investment advice for its UK customers. The service is available at no extra charge. The AI service, called Robinhood Cortex, uses generative AI to analyse information like news, reports, technicals and more. The service is already in… Read More

August 20, 2025 @ 9:02 am By JD Alois  |  

The UK Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 3.8% in the 12 months to July 2025, up from 3.6% in the 12 months to June and hotter than anticipated. The UK Office of National Statistics reports that transport, particularly air travel, helped to drive CPI… Read More