Record payday for EML teases bigger year ahead
EML Payments (ASX: EML) had a big year in FY18 and the company has no plans to slow it down anytime soon. The payments solution provider posted a record year of earnings in FY18, up 43 per cent to $20.8 million. Revenue also increased to $71 million, up 23 per cent, and the company recorded a net profit of $4.83 million, up by a staggering 200 per cent on FY17. While these results speak to the company’s achievements in FY18, EML Payments’ recent acquisitions and new international partnerships could suggest an even more impressive financial year is on the horizon. The company recently acquired 100 per cent of Presend, a […]
eToro adds IOTA cryptocurrency
IOTA is now the most technically distinctive cryptocurrency on eToro. IOTA is now available on eToro as the social trading platform’s 12th crypto-asset, so users are able to buy and sell it. IOTA has also been added to eToro’s Crypto CopyFund – a contract for difference (CFD) set-up which lets users diversify across a basket of cryptocurrencies, weighted by market cap, with one click. As a social trading platform, eToro also lets users set up systems to automatically copy each other’s trades across cryptocurrency, as well as forex, stocks and other instruments. The full range of cryptocurrencies now available includes bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, XRP, Litecoin, Ethereum Classic, Dash, Stellar, […]
Banks and fintechs lock horns on consumer data
If you’re interested in the design of policy to put data into the hands of customers, there’s three weeks to provide Treasury with a response to its draft bill that will introduce a “consumer data right” into the Australian economy. Banking will be the first sector to which the new right will apply – and fintech innovation is set to proliferate as a result. It will then extend to energy and telecommunications, meaning the law will stir competitive forces across some of the most important industries in the country. The Treasury Laws Amendment (Consumer Data Right) Bill 2018, released for comment last week, is being closely scrutinised by banks, fintechs […]
BetaShares to launch three new ETFs to the ASX
The new ETFs will track international companies and offer exposure to blockchain and artificial intelligence technologies. Australian exchange traded funds (ETF) manager BetaShares has today announced its plans to launch three new ETFs on the ASX. The ETFs will track international markets and will provide exposure to new technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI). The three new ETFs are BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX:ASIA), BetaShares Global Blockchain Innovators ETF (ASX:BLOK) and BetaShares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX:RBTZ). Unlike a listed investment company (LIC), which has fund managers actively picking stocks in an attempt to beat the market, ETFs simply mirror the performance of a particular […]
UK fintech ‘unicorn’ Ebury heads to Australia
British fintech firm Ebury has set up shop in Sydney, having identified the Australian market as a good foothold for southern hemisphere expansion.
VendorPanel raises $2.35 million to simplify procurement and drive positive social and economic outcomes
VendorPanel, a leading Australian procurement platform, announced it has secured AUD$2.35 million Series A capital led by Microequities Venture Capital Fund, with strategic investment by Aconex founders Leigh Jasper and Rob Phillpot.The financing will be used to accelerate growth, extend product development, and expand into new international markets. With Microequities Venture Capital Fund, Jasper and Phillpot all holding globally successful track records in the SaaS B2B marketplace, the investment is a significant vote of confidence in the Melbourne-based technology company.Following the investment, Justin Lipman of Microequities Venture Capital Fund will join the VendorPanel board. He commented: “VendorPanel’s vision and expertise are helping to simplify procurement. Over 1,000 organisations have seen the benefits so […]
Homeloans to fund and use Athena’s new home loan platform
Homeloans Ltd will provide debt funding to Athena Home Loans and has joined Macquarie and SquarePeg as a shareholder of the new home loan platform, which is preparing to launch later this year with technology to link mortgage borrowers directly with super funds and non-bank lenders. Athena, founded by two former National Australia Bank executives, is targeting $1 billion of lending in its first year, a drop in the ocean compared to the $1.7 trillion mortgage market. However, the strategic partnership announced by ASX-listed Homeloans on Monday morning shows major banks, which are grappling with a loss of customer trust due to the banking royal commission, are under growing pressure […]
Cointree and Gobbill partner to let Aussies pay their bills with cryptocurrency
Major telcos, utility providers and insurers may not have jumped on the cryptocurrency bandwagon, but thanks to two local fintech startups that no longer matters, with cryptocurrency owners now able to pay any bill in crypto. Cryptocurrency exchange Cointree and automated billing platform Gobbill will let Australians pay bills with cryptocurrency, regardless of whether the business itself accepts the digital currency. Gobbill acts as a go-between, taking the funds from its users and paying the bills on their behalf. Gobbill co-founder Shendon Ewans admits that he was late to the cryptocurrency party, only beginning to dabble in it early last year, but said that’s what made a partnership with Cointree […]