Monthly Archives: January 2015

Crowdfunding Platform Widens Intelligence Net

Symbid, a crowdfunding and analysis platform based in Holland, is set to revamp its take on crowdfunding. The platform originally focused on helping entrepreneurs find equity investors for their start-ups. But it seems the editorial remit is changing, to include more than just equity, but also debt funding. “When it comes to funding, one size […]

Reuters Reports On P2P Crowdfunding Growth, NISA Plans And Regulation

International news agency Reuters reports on the fast growth and increasing awareness of peer-to-peer (P2P) business lending. The article examines the likelihood of P2P loans being included in NISA savings plans, and cites Money&Co.’s CEO, Nicola Horlick, who emphasizes the importance of working closely with regulators in this burgeoning young market. “Britain’s peer-to-peer lenders provided 1.24 […]

Banks Rush To Join P2P Crowdfund Marketplace

It seems that everyone wants to join our sector of crowdfunding. Two of the world’s leading investment banks are looking at a move into the fast expanding peer-to-peer (P2P) lending sector, also known as marketplace lending, and the space inhabited by Money&Co. Societe Generale and Goldman Sachs, prominent financial institutions both, are racing to embrace […]

Greens Claim Banking Not Fit For Purpose – So What’s The Alternative?

The Financial Times (subscription required) reports that the Green Party believes that the “the existing banking system has failed and is no longer fit for purpose”.  It would retain the UK government stake in Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group, which were part-nationalised during the financial crisis, and use them to create a […]

P2P Marketing Materials Under Examination

Where next for marketplace lending – or peer-to-peer (P2P) business lending? Trade media outlet crowdfundinsider reports on an impending regulatory clampdown, as covered on this site yesterday. “The peer-to-peer lending industry has widely benefited from a regulatory approach that has been deemed quite progressive.  Lending firms must register and be approved by the FCA but […]

Regulators Scrutinise P2P Advertising And Marketing Claims

The Financial Times reports that regulators are set to clamp down on the marketing of peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms amid concerns that some are mis-selling their products as “risk-free” savings accounts. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is now scrutinising the clarity of advertising in an attempt to protect consumers, as the alternative finance sector rapidly […]

Irresistible Oil, Immovable QE – Negative Rate Storm Ahead?

Money&Co. CEO Nicola Horlick highlights her concerns over deflation in her latest Huffington Post blog. “The price of Brent Crude has been languishing around and under $49 per barrel for over a week at the time of writing – its lowest level since April 2009. This continued weakness has resulted in a continued fall in […]

What’s In A Credit Rating? Security, Access, Yield Re-Examined

Our mantra for savers is simple: security, access, yield. Today we take an in-depth look at one element of this troika. First, let’s deal with the easy bits. If hard-pressed savers and deposit accountholders are looking for a good return on their capital, the yield issue is easily settled. Banks are slashing their deposit rates […]

Peer-to-Peer Lending Heralds Mortgages Without Banks

The onward march of crowdfunding continues. At Money&Co. we are pleased – and not a little surprised – to see crowdfunding highlighted in New Scientist magazine. The magazine’s recent headline, reproduced above, is already earmarked as one of 2015’s stand-out pieces of reporting on our sector. “The rise of a new kind of crowdfunding website […]