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EUROVISION’S GREATEST SONGS 

Sam Allcock
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EUROVISION’S GREATEST SONGS 

Since the very first Eurovision Song Competition in 1956, the event has served as a showcase for the finest (and occasionally worse) of pop music. In the globe’s most renowned music contest, states from all across Europe – as well as a few from beyond the continent – present their most fantastic tunes to determine the best of the lot. In their acts, the contending artists frequently use cheesy lyrics, crazy costumes, extravagant stunts, and politics often leads to some strategic voting – but that’s all part of the thrill. 

Eurovision is one of the most unforgettable contests in the entire world, with voting and betting on reliable sites like Betway Online Casino. Let’s revisit the greatest moments in the contest’s six-decade history together with our top greatest Eurovision songs that are truly irresistible and unforgettable. 

1.WATERLOO BY ABBA (1974, SWEDEN)

Is there even any question about which song would take the top spot on our ranking of the finest Eurovision songs? Sweden’s winning entry in the 1974 contest was ABBA’s classic Waterloo, bringing the band to international recognition as it climbed charts across the globe. Waterloo is enchantingly catchy and features everything you’d expect from a pop song, along with a novelty reference to Napoleon’s loss at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, rendering it a sure-fire Eurovision hit. For good reason, it is also routinely chosen as the best Eurovision song of all time. Without ABBA, the Eurovision Song Contest wouldn’t be where it is currently, and ABBA would not be a household brand if they had not won in 1974.

2. MAKING YOUR MIND UP BY BUCKS FIZZ (1981, UK)

Making Your Mind Up by Bucks Fizz is a classic Eurovision entry. The 1981 performance by British pop duo Bucks Fizz took the top place by only four points, but it has endured the ravages of time. Basic yet cheerful dance steps accompanied the song, but the performance also featured a headline-grabbing scene in which the two male singers of the group took off the skirts of the two female members, unveiling short miniskirts hiding beneath. The unusual performance undoubtedly aided the group’s tight triumph, establishing a trend for musicians wanting to push limits to gain attention.

3. POUPÉE DE CIRE, POUPÉE DE SON BY FRANCES GALL (1965, LUXEMBOURG)

This winning performance for Luxembourg, written by the renowned amorous French artist Serge Gainsbourg for Paris-born vocalist France Gall, introduced a dash of yé-yé to Eurovision in 1965. Poupée De Cire, Poupée De Son – whose name translates as Wax Doll, Rag Doll – inspired a slew of toy-themed Eurovision entries from the 1960s pop musicians, notably Sandie Shaw’s Puppet On A String in 1967. Gall’s self-described “baby pop,” with its joyously naive and funky yet child-like tune, wonderfully captured the zeitgeist, selling more than 500,000 copies in her own country following her well-deserved Eurovision victory.

4. ZITTI E BUONI BY MÅNESKIN (2021, ITALY)

Zitti E Buoni, a glam-infused buster that combines the swagger of 80s hard rock with the angular melodies of 2000s indie, claimed Eurovision in 2021 by pure force of will. Maneskin demonstrated that a world suffering from COVID-19 was eager for raw rock’n’roll, with tattooed leader Damiano David dazzling crowds with his theatrical stage persona. With David’s rap-inspired chatter and its hypnotic funk-like beat, Zitti E Buoni was the clear winner that year, with 524 points total, and will undoubtedly be hailed as one of the finest Eurovision entries for years to follow.

5. NEL BLU, DIPINTO DI BLU BY DOMENICO MODUGNO (VOLARE) (1958, ITALY)

There are not many Eurovision songs whose influence transcends the competition, but Domenico Modugno’s 1958 song, Nel Blu, Dipinto Di Blu (commonly referred to as Volare), is widely regarded outside of the competition. The performance only received 13 points at the competition, ranking third overall, but it has grown on to be among the most acclaimed in Eurovision history. It received both Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 1959 Grammy Awards, marking it the only foreign-language single to do so and the only Eurovision performance to earn a Grammy. Modugno’s song has subsequently been recorded by Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and even David Bowie — an honour rarely bestowed upon many Eurovision contestants.

6. DING-A-DONG BY TEACH-IN (1975, NETHERLANDS)

Teach-In, a Dutch band, won the 1975 Eurovision Song Contest with Ding-A-Dong, a pitch-perfect rendition of vote-winning schlager. Ding-A-Dong, similar to the Europop style that made ABBA famous the year before, strikes you like a torrent of serotonin. It’s a joyful and uplifting track with nonsense lyrics that will have you mumbling its melody like only the finest Eurovision tracks can. However, the group didn’t last as long as ABBA, Ding-A-Dong demonstrates that they were one-of-a-kind. 

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FINAL THOUGHTS:

From classic songs and performances to funky lyrics and strange stunts, these were the most loved and famous Eurovision’s greatest songs. These songs were a hit at the contest and have been well-loved globally till now. People find it hard to forget these songs and their thrilling performances, and we are sure you love them as much as the world does. 

B2B research projects to drive winning strategies in your company

Sam Allcock
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0
B2B research projects to drive winning strategies in your company

You have probably thought about marketing your products and services to another business; it’s difficult. B2B comes from business to business and it’s a practice in which companies involved develop products for other businesses. This B2B companies can include marketing firms, and other businesses that sell various supplies.

As a business owner, you’re familiar with the idea of marketing your business. But selling to consumers requires different processes. So, in the business-to-business process, goods are exchanged. For example, your company may need to buy things from another stock, while other businesses may need promotion for their services and products, design their logo, or write content for their website. 

B2B Market Research help companies to:

  • Gain competitive intelligence
  • Strengthen their competitive rewards
  • Determine is there is a viable market for their goods and services
  • Discover new opportunities
  • Get a deeper insight of clients, which is a top priority for businesses
  • Develop compelling thought leadership for PR
  • Engage in audiences
  • Redefine a brand’s positioning and messaging
  • Understand the customer’s journey 

Why B2B Market Research is Necessary 

B2B companies need robust market research, as this tells them exactly who their customers are, and why they need to buy their products. It also helps divide metrics, such as the cost per acquisition of the client, giving a better understanding of what the market desires in a product or service. A B2B is same as a leading research agency, which require important in helping companies gain value info about the following:

  • Competitors
  • Economic shifts
  • New opportunities
  • Customer insights 
  • Current market trends 

B2B market research help businesses identify new chances and opportunities in an effective time. It can also help your business uncover the USP (unique selling proposition – businesses think about their competitive advantage and how competitors can easily copy your products or services. B2B market research provides ads, services, test products, and market opportunity for the following results:

  • Attractiveness
  • Uniqueness
  • Defensibility 

A product must be desirable, or the market will not develop a demand for it. Thus, customer should be able to tell a company’s products or services are different than other competitors in the market. Market research organizations must prevent competitors from copying strategic pros. 

B2B buyers act differently nowadays, and it’s why B2B market research is vital. Potential buyers use the search engine to evaluate a business, educate themselves, and measure other people’s experiences. They read news, articles, and keep track of the latest trends. B2B directors can check new analytics and big data to share measures of performance. As a business owner, you must have a variety of sources to access and keep yourself informed. 

B2B market research offers market opportunity insights, market sizing data, forecasts, customer insight, and market entry strategies. 

A B2B market research unique approach

A reliable B2B market research provides important insight regarding the voice of the customer, and how a company and its products must be perceived by the market. In addition, you should receive valuable information on important aspects of the market environment, like political, regulatory developments, competitor activities, and potentially troublesome tech advancements. If effectively integrated, market research shares vital management tool for decision-making. This perspective will help you evaluate better the underlying market expectations, and even simulate a variety of future market scenarios. Businesses can benefit when they best understand their competitor movements, and needed improvements within their organization. There’s a lot of interest in market research nowadays. 

Can you do the research yourself? Yes, you can. But in most cases, it is recommended to work with a B2B market research company. First, because they have valid and insightful skills create questionnaires that will help your business achieve its goals. Most surveys can produce a lot of data. This can dramatically affect your results, so it’s best if you leave it on experts’ hands, if possible. Plus, you will get more honest to yourself if another person conducts the research for you. What happens if you do it yourself? You will tend to get critical of your business. 

Type of B2B Marketing Research 

Here are some of the few common ways to approach marketing research. 

  • Market research
  • Brand research
  • Client satisfaction research
  • Client persona research
  • Client journey research

Market research will help you find who your competitors are, and what services you should provide. With brand research, you will learn how to perceive in the marketplace, and where your chances lie. You can use this info to make a different and strengthen your brand. Client satisfaction research refers to asking your clients how happy they are with your products and services. Client persona research will help you identify people that buy your products or services and influence others to do the same, making your marketing and sales more convincing.  

So, you must define your business goals – how well do you understand your target audience’s needs? Do you know what your buyers think of yourself and your services? Each question would require a survey, so before you begin developing it, you must decide who you’ll ask to participate in your survey. Your goals will affect your choices. 

How often should you do research? According to studies, businesses that do research three-monthly are higher growth and more profitable. But even those who do it once a year can be profitable. So, it’s best to consider doing it now – even if you won’t do it after for a while. A bit of information and advice can do miracles. It can greatly motivate your to make changes and be aware of your business’ strengths and weaknesses, as well as other opportunities. To ensure you do the market research right, you must seek a research company. Seek companies that know about your industry. A great company will help you create an email you can use to reach your target audience. Marketing research will help your company build thrust again. You just need the will to keep your competitive edge! 

5 Relevant Reasons for Renting a Boiler for Your Company or Home?

Sam Allcock
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5 Relevant Reasons for Renting a Boiler for Your Company or Home?

What are the benefits of owning a boiler, and when they’re most needed? These are some questions you might ask about boilers. Most of the time, people and business owners are curious about the subject of boilers and how they may benefit them. So, how about renting one? Or why not directly purchase one? 

Whether you’re running an office, a store, a workshop, any commercial premises, or just want to install a boiler in your home, keep reading to understand boilers’ benefits. 

As a business owner, it’s essential to keep the workspace warm during the cold season to ensure a comfortable environment for your clients and employees. But some entrepreneurs forget about upgrading their boilers, which leads to all types of negative consequences, like frozen pipes or enormous bills. Likewise, homeowners neglect their boilers, so they end up in the middle of winter with broken boilers and no hot water. So, it’s essential to have your boiler checked once in a while. Here’s why you should check or replace your old boiler. 

1. Having your old boiler replaced

If your boiler experiences frequent breakdowns or gives you headaches for a while, maybe you should have it replaced. Although boilers are designed to last for at least a decade, some experience faults that cause them not to work efficiently earlier than expected. Replacing your boiler proves to be highly beneficial for your heating expenses and efficiency. But before replacing it, how about having it checked? Whatever your choice, make sure it’s the one that fits your needs. 

Many homeowners and entrepreneurs are unsure of whether they should get their boiler repaired or replaced. Since you’re here, let’s assume you have the same curiosities. So, why should you have your boiler replaced? 

2. Consistent rise in energy bills

Compared to other appliances, boilers generally use the most energy in a home or business. But rightly so, they must supply heating in a relatively large space. However, it doesn’t mean it should cause a massive hole in your pocket. Owning a boiler is more than ordinary nowadays – efficient boilers use a minimum amount of energy. But if you’re witnessing consistent amounts of money in your energy bills, it may be a sign that your boiler needs to be repaired or replaced. Either the case, you’re likely to replace your boiler if you’ve owned it for more than 10 to 15 years. Also, a new boiler will save you money in the long run. 

Older boilers are not energy efficient and have outdated control systems and technology, which is why they’re inefficient with heating. You’ll find new, better, and more modern boilers – they come in different sizes, are designed using innovative technology for heating, and use the lowest energy for working. So, if your boiler is old, getting it replaced with a more advanced one might benefit you in the future. 

3. Highly Costly Repairs

If you do constant repairs to your existing boiler, it may be a good indicator that it won’t last long. You will be spending more money on repairs when you could simply hire or invest in installing a new one. It’s the most cost-effective solution. There are plenty of reasons why a boiler may not function anymore. Common fixes include no gas to the boiler, frozen pipes, low pressure, a system leak, or a faulty controller. Boilers can get complicated; too many people rely on them to get hot water quickly and proper heating system in their homes or businesses.

But like any other complex machine, boilers can simply stop working, even after the initial installment. Some boilers might be fixable, while others need immediate replacement. Sometimes, a boiler won’t work, no matter how much you try. It’s most familiar with boilers that have been recently installed, and something went wrong. If you’re facing such problems, there’s not much you can do but replace them. 

4. The warranty expired 

Since boilers are substantial investments and complex appliances, most producers offer a warranty, mainly around the 10-to-15-year mark. Sometimes, people use their boilers even after the contract expires. Fault can likely occur after the warranty period, so you’re accountable for paying for the repairs. After your boiler has finished its warranty period, consider replacing it with a new, more modern one immediately. 

5. Why should you invest in a commercial boiler?

If you’re a commercial premises owner, you must keep employees and clients safe and comfortable. Likewise, neglecting to repair or replace your boiler can lead to the aforementioned negative consequences. Investing in a new boiler can improve the value of your commercial space. If you think of selling your property, your property will be worth even more. You can enjoy the plenty of benefits of a new heating system. Also, new boilers tend to be slighter and softer, which is a great benefit, as they can be installed in a smaller room or on the shop floor. It also makes less noise, making the space more pleasant to work in. Happy stuff, happy customers! 

With new and modern boilers, you also reduce environmental impact. Research has shown that 80% of people say they’re likely to choose a brand that uses less gas, oil, and electricity. Replacing your boiler will reduce environmental impact, making your company eco-friendly. The only drawback is that new boilers require money to be fitted. But you should instead think of it as a long-term investment. It will reduce heating bills, increase property value, and productivity in the workspace, and make your business more attractive to visitors. Your assets will be paid off, and the benefits will last for years.

When boiler problems arise, it’s a sign that you have not allocated a budget and time to have it checked and fixed. It’s best to have it checked and fixed in time, so you won’t face the costs of replacing it right away. 

These are the most common reasons why boilers get broken and why you should have yours replaced with a new one. 

Is Forex Fury The Best? (An In-Depth Forex Fury Review)

Sam Allcock
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Is Forex Fury The Best? (An In-Depth Forex Fury Review)

In today’s Forex Fury review, we will discuss the mind-blowing features of Forex Fury. We will also talk about how Forex Fury can change your trading game and bring remarkable results in 2022 and beyond.

Forex trading is a skill that has helped people earn good bucks. The world’s largest market operates 5 days a week around the clock, giving traders 24 hours to buy, sell, or hold currencies.

But, as humans, we have our limitations. Our mind and body cannot stay focused to trade throughout the day and night for 5 days straight. But thanks to technology that created automated Forex EAs. These bots can trade currencies whenever you want and however you want.

The best part?

You don’t have to stay glued to your screens. You can relax while the EA will trade, seize money, or pull you out of trade to protect your investments.

So, which Forex EAs should you invest in?

Forex Fury is one of the most popular and trusted Forex EAs in the market. Let’s take a detailed look at it.

A Brief Introduction About Forex Fury

The mind and effort behind this great bot is Rypax Inc., which is also the creator of Forex Stream, a popular forex product.

The developing team understands the needs and requirements of beginner and advanced traders to ace the market. Hence, they have equipped Forex Fury with advanced features to provide amazing results to traders.

According to the developers, the win rate of this automated Forex EA is 93%. They also have 15 years of backtesting data to back their claims.

Let’s quickly overview some of the features of Forex Fury, but before that, see how this trader doubled his account with this Forex Trading Robot:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/oE_0SoWBLUY

What Are The Main Features of Forex Fury?

1. User-Friendly 

Forex Fury is one of the simplest and easiest to use Forex EA that you will find on the internet. A trader doesn’t need any coding or programming knowledge to install and use the robot. The UI and UX of this trading bot are remarkable, making it a no-brainer for traders to use.

Moving on to its next amazing feature, which is:

2. Easy to Download 

It takes less than 10 minutes to download and install Forex Fury. The Forex Fury team provides the user with an instructional video to guide the users to install and run the software without any hitch.

Another superb feature of this Forex EA is its…

3. Compatibility With Trading Platforms

Forex Fury understands that shifting to a new trading platform is an uphill task. Thus, this smart Forex bot is compatible with various platforms, including MT4, MT5, and FIFO.

Up next, we have:

4. Advanced Money Management System 

The forex market is highly volatile and risks your capital in an unfavorable situation. But with Forex Fury, traders can relax and count on this smart Forex bot. The failsafe money management system on Forex Fury is one of the favorite features of traders.

The 5th feature of this highly advanced bot is…

5. Wide Range of Filters 

Forex trading and analysis go hand in hand. A trader who trades without analysis is like a blind man shooting in a dark room.

Forex Fury offers a wide range of filters to traders to understand the market and price movements.

Forex Fury also provides terrific customer service. Let’s discuss it more in the infra paragraph:

6. Remarkable Customer Service

Forex Fury doesn’t only assist its customers during the buying phase. Instead, it provides lifelong customer support.

The customer support team quickly responds to its customers’ queries and provides them with the best solution.

Forex Fury Settings 

Forex Fury is designed to meet the needs of every type of trader. Forex EA is ideal for the beginner, intermediate, and seasoned forex traders.

Does Forex Fury Work?

Yes, Forex Fury works on live trading accounts and demo accounts.

The installation process is super simple. After buying the robot from the website, the user will receive a download link, installation instructions, and video via email.

The user can easily install the Forex EA and set it up for trading currencies without hiring anyone.

Is Forex Fury Free To Use?

Forex Fury is one of the most powerful, advanced, and well-performing Forex EAs. It is loaded with useful tools and features to enable traders to ace trading and inflate their accounts with profits. Thus, it is not free.

However, it is reasonably priced and super affordable even for a beginner trader. Currently, Forex Fury offers two buying packages, i.e., Diamond and Gold. Let’s discuss the price and features of each package.

Diamond Package 

  • The price of the Diamond Package is $439.99.
  • It is popular amongst seasoned forex players.
  • It licenses 2 live trading accounts and can be used with unlimited demo trading accounts.
  • The diamond package provides customers lifetime membership, software updates, and lifelong customer service.

Gold Package 

  • The price of the gold package is $229.99.
  • It licenses 1 live trading account and can be used with unlimited demo trading accounts.
  • Gold package customers receive software updates, lifetime membership, and remarkable customer service.

The customer has to pay once to buy the product and avail its other features. Forex Fury doesn’t charge any monthly fee, membership charges, or service costs from its customers.

Let’s take a look at the latest version of Forex Fury in 2022

Forex Fury’s Latest Version in 2022

The developers of Forex Fury are never at rest. They continuously strive to modify the Forex EA to equip it with the best features to enable traders to make profitable trades.

Let’s explore some of the newly included features in Forex Fury’s latest version:

1. Enable or Hide SL/TP

In Forex Fury’s latest version, you can enable or disable SL/TP without a hitch.

The second fantastic feature added to Forex Fury V5 is:

2. News Filter

News and forex trading have a hand-in-glove relationship. To ace your trades and mint good money, you must be well aware of all the important news that hits the market.

The forex market is highly volatile. The major economic, political, and other important news are easily affected by currency prices.

The helpful news filter feature in Forex Fury’s latest version is game-changing for traders. They can easily access all the major news while trading.

Up next, we have the 3rd feature of Forex Fury’s BETA version:

3. Trend Filter 

Trading without proper analysis is like diving into a deep-sea without any equipment. Traders analyze price movements and the overall market behavior before opening trades.

The powerful trend filter feature enables traders to review trends according to their desired timeframes and devise a foolproof trading strategy.

Moving on to the 4th newly added feature, which is:

4. Martingale Strategy Adjustments

Seasoned forex traders love martingale strategy adjustments. It protects their capital when the currency prices move in an unfavorable direction.

Forex Fury’s Martingale Strategy adjustment is fierce, which the traders absolutely love.

Another feature of  Forex Fury’s BETA version is:

5. Money Management Adjustment 

The Money Management Adjustment system enables the traders to maintain a stable trading performance and grow their accounts.

This newly included feature is super helpful for traders to minimize investment risks and open more profitable positions.

Is Forex Fury Good Enough to Make Nice Profits?

Forex Fury’s developers claim that its winning record is 93%. They have proven and tested SET files that indicate that this robot helps make profitable trades.

If you have doubts about this robot’s performance, look at 15 years of backtesting data on MyFXBook.

Forex Fury MyFXBook Trading Results

Unlike many other forex robots in the market, Forex Fury doesn’t make false claims or promises. When it says that its winning rate is 93%, it says so with proper proof.

The following is 15 years of backtesting data on MyFXBook:

Latest Forex Fury Client Reviews – 2022

Still, having seconds of doubts about purchasing this amazing Forex EA? No problem!

Forex Fury has a rating of 4.5/5 stars on Trustpilot.com. It has earned plenty of positive reviews from real Forex traders.

Let’s take a look at a few of the reviews:

Is Forex Fury The Best Forex EA in the Market?

The amazing features, remarkable performance, 15 years of backtesting data, and hundreds of positive reviews indicate that Forex Fury is one of the best Forex EAs.

One more thing that makes it amazing is its price plans. They are super affordable for the powerful features and outstanding services the company provides.

Forex Fury Review: Conclusion 

Using an automated forex trading bot is a smart move. It saves time, minimizes risks, and opens profitable positions for traders.

The internet has plenty of Forex EAs to select from. Traders must select a powerful Forex EA that actually works. Choosing the wrong Forex EA can land you in hot waters of huge losses. Thus, you should invest reasonable time researching for the right Forex EA that doesn’t cost you an arm or a leg.

The right Forex EA can protect traders from unfavorable market conditions, protect their capital, minimize the risk of losses, and maintain a stable trading performance.

Forex Fury is one of the leading Forex EAs in the market that you can trust in 2022 and years ahead!

Women finance leaders must ‘leave the ladder down’: deVere Group COO

Sam Allcock
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Women finance leaders must ‘leave the ladder down’: deVere Group COO

Female financial services leaders must “leave the ladder down” for other women in order to increase much-needed representation in the still male-dominated industry, affirms the COO of one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory, asset management and fintech organisations.

The assessment from Beverley Yeomans, Chief Operating and Diversity Officer at deVere Group, where half of all employees across the globe are now women, comes as concerns grow on the back of new research about the lack of female representation at the top of the financial services sector.

She says: “There has been some progress in recent times but, there can be no doubt, that the world of finance is still hugely male-dominated, especially in senior positions.

“The status quo is maintained by structural inequalities, social norms, and economic disparities.

“But this needs to change for many reasons.

“Studies show that financial services organisations with women in C-suite roles are more stable, more future-proofed, have better risk management, and have higher capital buffers.

“In addition, top-level female representation helps companies build long-term client relationships, become more socially conscious and are more diverse which leads to happier and more productive employees.

“It also makes a firm more relevant. Globally, women’s wealth has shown unprecedented growth over the last decade. Women now control 32% of the world’s wealth, according to Boston Consulting Group. This will rise at a compound annual growth rate of 5.7% to $97 trillion by 2024.

How, then, to increase the number of women in senior roles in the financial services industry?

“I believe that one of the key reasons that so few women make it to senior roles is the stark lack of female role models and mentors, compared to other sectors,” says the deVere COO.

“Without more women trail blazing, those coming into the world of finance will inevitably find the path more of an uphill challenge or, perhaps, may not even know there is a path.

“This is why it is essential that those of us in C-suite positions, leave the ladder down for other women.

“It’s often the case that women put themselves forward less due to social biases so they might not perceive themselves as suitable or ‘enough’.

“As such, women need an advocate; to be empowered and given the opportunity to nurture their potential.

“If change is to happen, female leaders have to do something about it themselves.”

deVere Group appointed Beverley Yeomans as its inaugural Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) in September 2021. Based in Malta, Ms Yeomans, who is also the Chief Operating Officer for the game-changing group, reports directly to the founder and CEO, Nigel Green.

At the time of her appointment as CDO, Nigel Green said: “Beverley has been at the top of her game in a senior executive role and on the Board, for some 22 years in a highly male-dominated sector.  Due to traditional industry biases, it’s a depressing reality that very few women have ever achieved this level, so young, and for this long in international financial services.

“But Beverley tore-up that ‘rule book’, breaking down barriers and leading by example. She was the ideal person to become our first-ever Chief Diversity Officer.

Activision CEO Bobby Kotick Reflects on Running a Global Business

Sam Allcock
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Activision CEO Bobby Kotick Reflects on Running a Global Business

Long before he would lead a video gaming empire, Bobby Kotick started a software company in his dorm room at the University of Michigan. He had a knack for tech and created productivity software for the Apple II. Today, he’s the CEO of Activision Blizzard, the video game developer and publisher responsible for such hits as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush Saga. The success of those games and many more helped his company earn $8.80 billion in revenue in 2021, according to the company’s Q4 report. While he works at the Southern California headquarters, the company has businesses and offices around the world, including Sydney, São Paulo; Mississauga, Canada; Shanghai; Berlin; Cork, Ireland; and Dublin.

“We have six business units,” Kotick told David Rubenstein during an appearance on his show Leadership Live With David Rubenstein. “One business unit is headquartered in Santa Monica, one in Irvine, California, one in London, and then a few different places. We also collaborate across the world. So we have studios in Sweden, in Spain, in the United Kingdom, in places like Albany, New York, and Madison, Wisconsin. Those studios collaborate with each other.”

Bobby Kotick Learning From Activision Blizzard’s Gaming Legacy

Activision Blizzard is responsible for many of the largest franchises in the video game industry. Kotick considers them to be “a very good road map for a long-term future.” He explained that to keep the millions of people who actively play Candy Crush on a monthly user basis happy, the company needs to constantly deliver new content. “So there are probably 600 or 700 people on the development team on a game like Candy Crush who are constantly introducing new content for the players,” said Kotick. “There are 1,600 people in six studios around the world creating content regularly for a game like Call of Duty.” It’s no small feat to continually create new aspects and evolutions of famous Activision Blizzard games. According to Bobby Kotick, there are hundreds and sometimes thousands of people working on a franchise.

How personally involved is Kotick in the whole process? “I participate in the process of determining what new ideas we’re going to pursue,” he said. “But remember, our company was founded in 1980. We have hundreds of franchises in the Activision Blizzard library, so it is very easy for us to go back and look at new ideas in that collection. And then every year, we’re creating new potential franchises from the ground up as well.” Kotick said, “Our business is unusual for two reasons: first is that we have franchises, and second is because we can test the content before we commercially release it.”

He added, “I have a lot of patience. So, we’ll iterate and then release content to test it and iterate again. That is how we can get a much better commercial and creative and critical result than I think you can with film or television.”

From Video Games to Improving the Lives of Vets

Activision CEO Bobby Kotick co-created a nonprofit, the Call of Duty Endowment, in November 2009 to help veterans in the United States get placed in good jobs after their military service ends. In 2017 it expanded to include veterans in the United Kingdom.

“These efforts are focused on providing employment support to veterans of Britain’s armed forces with the goal of finding the high-quality jobs that fully leverage their experience, skills, education, and character,” said a spokesperson for the organization. The Activision Blizzard company has answered the call of duty and donated more than $125 million to the nonprofit.

In May 2022, the Call of Duty Endowment reached its goal of connecting 100,000 veterans to jobs, two years ahead of schedule. “We are proud of the accomplishments achieved by the Call of Duty Endowment. We recognize that our heroes need even more post-service employment support and opportunity than is currently provided,” said Bobby Kotick. “To date, we have invested over $60 million in support of veterans’ employment initiatives to secure 100,00 job placements. Today, we are committing an additional $30 million of funding for new veteran employment initiatives. With our even more efficient programs we expect to generate another 50,000 job placements through Call of Duty Endowment grants.”

Investor Presentations Best Practices. Building a Strong IR Presentation

Sam Allcock
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Investor Presentations Best Practices. Building a Strong IR Presentation

Investor presentations serve to educate, engage and positively influence investors and analysts. After financial statements, a company’s investor presentation is one of the first places investors go to learn the story. Building comprehensive presentations following best practices and guidelines generates deep, high-quality engagement with long-term investors. The presentation should tell a story, and like any good narrative, it should be compelling, credible, and concise.

Investor presentations, in particular, have to fulfill the needs of existing and potential investors. They should be focused and consistent with creating confidence among investors, and they should be structured into three sections. First, the introduction is essential because it outlines the topic and is used to get the audience’s attention. The main ideas, results, and solutions are presented within the body section. Finally, a summary and an outlook are a must-have to ensure that the information is effectively conveyed.

IR presentations contain certain forward-looking statements and expectations of future events and financial performance. Corporate strategy should be the focus of such presentations because investors want to understand the growth strategy and the strategic initiatives that are either underway or implemented. In addition, investors want to know how the company will drive revenue, earnings, and cash flow over the mid-to long term. Ultimately, preparing an IR presentation is an exercise in communications – telling a story that hits all the right notes.

 IR Presentations Best Practices

IR teams can adopt the following best practices to develop and deliver their presentations for investors and stakeholders effectively.

Tailor the IR presentation for your target audience. Before IR teams deliver their investor deck, they need to know their target audience ahead of meetings. This can be done by researching investors, any companies or interests they represent or are affiliated with, and what type of businesses they have supported in the past. This information allows IROs to tailor the presentation according to the target audience’s needs.

Create compelling content that grabs investor attention. IROs need to develop persuasive investor deck content that includes material that can easily garner investor attention. As such, the key aspects that IROs should aim to cover in their presentations include, but are not limited to, the company’s investment thesis, competitive advantages over its competitors, strategies that can make the company reach its targets, management’s industry experience, financial highlights, and critical KPIs to look for, and recent and upcoming milestones.

Make the presentation concise and to the point. IROs should ensure that the investor deck is straightforward but to the point and covers every important aspect that makes the company an attractive investment. As a best practice, such presentations should last 20 to 30 minutes, providing a good overview and leaving sufficient time for the management to answer investor questions.

Get a third-party view by enlisting expert IR advisers. A company’s advisors may be made insiders regarding its results to assist in the preparation of the related statements and presentation. In addition, they can help define a cohesive message illustrating the firm’s investment story. Expert IR advisers will bring industry-leading research and deep best practice knowledge to build and support investor presentation development. Their ability to effectively organize your equity story and overarching messages into a powerful investor presentation is critical to targeting, cultivating, and converting investors into shareholders and maintaining their trust over the long term.

Deliver the presentation digitally and include it on the IR website. Including the latest version of the investor presentation on the IR, the website is also a great way to make the company’s investment thesis and goals accessible to interested investors. It is a practice adopted by many top-tier companies. Doing this also drives traffic to the IR website and improves the company’s visibility in the investment community.

 Closing Line

The investor presentation isn’t a regulatory requirement; it’s an excellent platform to communicate your business strategy, structure, culture, and performance. It should be part of an integrated communications strategy. Assets such as infographics, charts, and even content can be used across multiple channels on your website or in an annual report. This creates a consistent message that communicates your story clearly and engagingly and reinforces your brand. It’s not just what you communicate – it’s how you do it. So the layout, structure, and hierarchy of information are as important as the information itself.

The Sager IR team takes the time to understand your company and develop a compelling equity story reflective of the value and opportunities they identify during our discovery process. They help our clients to build up comprehensive and compelling communications and IR strategies that deeply engage high-quality, long-term investors.

Despite rising house prices, number of first-time buyers increases by 93% over the last decade

Sam Allcock
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0
Despite rising house prices, number of first-time buyers increases by 93% over the last decade

New research shows that the number of first-time buyers hit a record high in 2021

David Hannah, Group Chairman at Cornerstone Tax, discusses the increase of first-time buyers and the outlook of the UK property market in 2022

Despite inflation hitting a 40-year high of 9%, and Brits across the country grappling with the worst cost-of-living crisis seen in over a generation, a new study from Stipendium has shown that the number of first-time buyers in the UK has increased by 93% in the last decade. Soaring property prices have not been a major deterrent for purchasers as the introduction of the stamp duty holiday in 2021 saw a surge of buyer activity, causing first-time homeowners to increase by 46% from the previous year, hitting a new high of 410,000 – the highest annual total seen in the last ten years. In the same time period, the price of an average first-time buyer home has increased from £141,572 to £216,826 – representing a 53.2% rise. 

A big contributor to the increase in first-time property owners seems to be the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’, with new forecasting from Savills showing that the percentage of first-time buyer home sales with family assistance in 2021 rose to 46% with an average contribution of £56,000. Predictions show that this will continue to rise to 47% in 2023. Prices in the property market are becoming increasingly volatile, as an unbalanced supply and demand level pushing the average asking price to £360,101 – representing a £19,082 increase over the past three months. Buyer inquiries are 65% above the levels of 2019 and 53% of properties are selling at or over their final advertised asking price.

However, overall property sales have started to decrease for the first time since the end of the stamp duty holiday in October 2021. Completed sales in April came to 106,780 – 12% lower than the same period last year, according to HM Revenue & Customs. The latest decrease in property sales is an indicator that the housing market is starting to cool which would represent an opportunity for first-time buyers. April’s rise in prices is down on the 1.4% increase in March according to Halifax’s monthly property index. House price growth is expected to continue to slow due to the Bank of England’s decision to raise the Bank Rate to 1%.

David Hannah, Group Chairman at Cornerstone Tax, discusses:

“The introduction of the stamp duty holiday caused a substantial rise in first-time buyers. It’s inspiring to see that the percentage of first-time homeowners is growing in a challenging landscape. Even though house prices have continued to climb, I think we will inevitably see a slow down in the property market, but it won’t be as substantial as some people think. If we look at what has been going on – house price growth, retail inflation, energy costs surging, that’s going to put pressure on employers to raise wages. I believe wages will rise, meaning real spending power will not actually decrease as much. However, if this doesn’t happen at the required rate, the act of renting or purchasing property will become more and more unaffordable in the UK. 

“The problem we do have is the rate of demand and supply. If builders are building and they’re over supplying, it will soften the increase and the appreciation in asset value. But, if the number of people wanting to buy houses continue to exceed the supply, then those prices are going to rise. This is exactly what is happening currently, with just 216,000 new homes being built in 2020/21, falling some way short of the government’s 300,000 a year target.
 
“We also have an open market in the UK which means not only are domestic purchasers and investors looking to buy but we have inbound investors. We also have quite a number of people relocating to the UK. Overall, I expect demand for UK housing to continue to outstrip supply – pushing price increases ahead of inflation and provided wages are increased, the affordability of housing will stay in lockstep.”

The pound faces ‘perfect storm’ despite UK Johnson’s narrow win

Sam Allcock
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0
The pound faces ‘perfect storm’ despite UK Johnson’s narrow win

The British pound – already showing ‘emerging market’ traits – faces a difficult time ahead amid political storms in the UK, warns the CEO of one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory, asset management and fintech organisations.

The warning from Nigel Green of deVere Group comes despite sterling holding gains against the dollar and euro as Boris Johnson survived a No Confidence Vote on Monday. 

It also follows Bank of America Corp. strategists last week urging investors to hedge for an “existential” sterling crisis as the British currency faces struggles usually seen in emerging markets.

Nigel Green says: “Johnson may have won the No Confidence Vote, but only by a small margin; it was not a convincing win – 41% of his own MPs voted against him.

“Modern history teaches us that his time in office is likely to be coming to an end. It now seems more unlikely that he will get the opportunity to fight the next general election.”

When his predecessor Theresa May faced a confidence vote in 2018, she secured the support of 63% of her MPs – but was still forced out within six months.

When Michael Heseltine challenged Margaret Thatcher’s leadership in 1990, he won 40.9% of the vote. The contest had to go to a second round because she did not achieve the 55% required for an outright victory. She would fight on but ultimately the “men in grey suits” persuaded her to resign.

“If Johnson is, in effect, a dead man walking, investors need to prepare for potentially choppy times ahead for the British pound.

“Whilst sterling has not yet been immediately negatively affected by the latest twists and turns in Westminster, we believe that it is likely that there will be a leadership challenge before the next election,” says the deVere Group CEO.

“When names are put into the ring to become the next leader, and policy agendas of the frontrunners are known, the pound can be expected to become highly volatile – just as it did during the testy Brexit negotiations.

“The issues laid bare by Johnson’s possible successors that will impact the pound would include the UK’s relationship with the EU and single market access, fiscal stimulus and the Northern Ireland protocol, amongst others.”

He goes on to add that a leadership contest “combined with well-flagged, international and domestic concerns” that the Bank of England is in danger of losing its mandate as it struggles to contain inflation, which is at its fastest rate in four decades, could create the “perfect storm for the pound.”

Nigel Green concludes: “Johnson has suffered a major Tory rebellion. Despite him narrowly winning the No Confidence Vote, and now, under current rules, being immune from a leadership challenge, he’s clearly in political hot water. 

“The already beleaguered pound will likely become, yet again, an important bellwether of political events. Investors should brace themselves and position their portfolios accordingly.”

Advantages of Digital Signatures: How Secure Are They?

Sam Allcock
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0
Advantages of Digital Signatures: How Secure Are They?

The advancements in technology have brought us many great things. Among them are digital signatures. In simple terms, these are unique fingerprints through which a document may be deemed authentic and no two persons share the same one.

A digital signature can be used to sign a legally binding document. Because it’s secure by design, it’s deemed as compliant with industry regulations. This has several practical implications, meaning that a contract between two entities can be established without the physical presence of either.

Underneath the lid is what’s referred to as Public Key Infrastructure (or PKI for short). This is a mathematical scheme that’s used to identify who signed the document and even the time when it was signed. The complex architecture of the technology prevents someone from falsifying it and tampering with it, even during transit.

In practice, digital signatures can be used in a myriad of scenarios that go beyond the signing of documents. Examples include verifying the validity of a credit card transaction, an email, etc. When the technology is used in the latter, virtually the whole email acts as a building block of the digital signature.

Every digital signature employs the power of public and private key cryptography. As the name implies, only the signer can view the private key and it’s part of the encryption. The public key, on the other hand, is what’s used for decrypting the message so the intended recipient can view it.

A picture containing text, circuit, electronics Description automatically generated

Powerful encryption is at the heart of every digital signature.

Source: Pixabay.com

This gives people the confidence to conduct their business online rather than having to be physically present in the same room. Nowadays, when it’s very much the norm to collaborate with people from all over the world, the technology truly is a lifesaver.

At any time you wish to sign a document using a digital signature, you can use any computer or smart device. To create one, you need to work with the appropriate Certificate Authority. During the process, an online form will pop up and you will be asked to populate it with relevant details.

When the contents of a digital signature are formed, the algorithm looks at the content of the documents to calculate the unique hash value. Together with the sender’s private key, an encryption is formed. When the document arrives to the receiver, their computer uses the public key to decrypt it and thus make the content readable.

The advantages of digital signatures are numerous:

– Time and cost savings. Since a legally-binding document can now be signed with the click of a button using a plethora of smart devices, this allows for substantial time and money savings since no traveling is required and no paper or ink is consumed in the process.

– Efficiency. Digital signatures can be placed on a myriad of documents within minutes. This not only speeds up the process but also allows for tracking what documents still need to be signed.

– Security. The underlying technology prevents someone from tampering with the signature and ensures its validity.

– User experience. Since digital signatures allow you to conduct business from anywhere in the world in a streamlined fashion, this makes things easier for those who live in remote areas.

Conclusion

As people are getting more comfortable using digital signatures during their day to day lives, the benefits of this technology are cast in the spotlight. Thanks to their practicality and secure design, conducting business from every nook and corner of the world is now a streamlined experience.

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