The UK-based technology firms mobilized $3.6 billion (£2.5 billion) funds from venture capitalists (VC) in 2015 and this is 70 percent higher than $2.1 billion in 2014. London technology companies accounted for more than half of the mobilized VC funds. The increasing investor appetite for technology startups and fintech firms has been the main factor that propelled the VC funding.
Archives
California Fines Uber $7.6M for Failure to Share Data
The California Public Utilities Commission has fined Uber $7.6 million for failing to follow requirements that would protect passengers from discrimination. The company will pay the fine, but appeal the decision.
Morgan Stanley Refurnishes Fixed Income Division, Names Sam Kellie-Smith As The New Head
Morgan Stanley, has been reported to tatter with its fixed income division. Following the industry precedence of changing or reshuffling the executives, it has named Sam Kellie- Smith as the head of fixed income and commodities. The Wall Street Bank’s recent moves haven’t surprised the analysts at all.
Qualcomm & TDK Form $3 billion Venture To Develop Smart Phones Using Radio Frequency Chips
Qualcomm Inc. and TDK group tie up to form a $ 3 billion project in Singapore. After completion of the venture by 2017, Qualcomm will own 51% of the new company with a provision to purchase TDK’s stake at a later time. Following the joint venture, Qualcom’s share price has fall a little but TDK share price has jumped by 5.5%, highest change within last two moths.
Indonesia Slashes Benchmark Rate, First In 11 Months, to 7.25%, Rupiah Appreciates
Rupiah has been reported as the second worst performing countries during the first three quarters of 2015. But during the fourth quarter, the currency has around apparently due to the country’s cautious monetary policy. Bank Indonesia has announced cutting benchmark interest rate to 7.25% on Thursday and consequently Rupiah has appreciated some more value.
Latest News
The San Francisco-based cloud software company Anaplan has closed the latest round of VC funding to the tune of $90 million giving a valuation of the company at $1.09 billion. The latest investment round was led by Indian firm Premji Invest.
Several firms from Canada, China and Europe among 77 renewable energy firms have submitted bids for solar projects in Australia. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has shortlisted 22 projects, which will have capacity of 766 megawatts at combined project cost of $1.68 billion. The solar energy projects developers will also receive a grant of $30 million for each project from the Australian government.
Standard & Poor's (S&P) has downgraded credit rating of Tata Steel's bonds. S&P cited reasons such as the poor operating performance and high leverage at Tata Steel for downgrading. Indian steel industry is suffering from glut in production and surging imports.
Hyundai Corp is expected to recall Elantra model vehicles from February 2016 onwards. It's noticed that the malfunctioning of electronic stability control system will suddenly result in reduction of engine power. The South Korean automobile major may recall over 150,000 Elantra vehicles to fix the stability control system in the vehicles.
Bank of England has been keeping its interest rates at the lowest point at 0.5% since March 2009. However, some signals of the interest rate upsurge will be a shock to some people in Britain.
Samsung Electronics announced that it will produce the latest Qualcomm processor. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 will be mass produced using Samsung technology.
Google’s product management VP, Clay Bavor, is appointed as the head of its newly created virtual reality (VR) computing division, showing that the tech company is now taking aggressive moves in the VR industry.
Self-driving car manufacturers submitted their first disengagement reports to California’s Department of Motor Vehicles.
The operator of Turkey’s busiest airport, TAV Havalimanlari Holding AS, is in talks to invest in businesses in the Philippines and Belgrade.
