Author: Paul Christophersen

Carmaker Stellantis announced on 21st April 2021 that it would replace current generation digital speedometers with more outdated analogue ones in part of its Peugeot line-up, as a result of the current global shortage of semiconductor chipsets battering the auto industry. As of writing, this change only affects the Peugeot 308 model, which lies among Stellantis’ grand line-up of Chrysler, Citroen and Jeep post PSA group’s merger with Fiat Chrysler to form Stellantis. It is unclear why the Peugeot 308 has been singled out specifically. But the model’s dwindling popularity and aging status may play a part. “It’s a nifty…

The Financial Conduct authority has recently published research into less risk averse investors, and the motives behind high-risk investments. Forex, Cryptocurrency and derivatives. The research details that there is a new group of customers investing in higher risk instruments. A cohort far younger and more diverse than would traditionally be expected. This group ignited by the ‘accessibility offered by new investment apps’. However, the FCA finds that investment in high-risk instruments may not actually meet these young investor’s needs. 59% of young investors clam that ‘a significant investment loss would have a fundamental impact on their current or future lifestyle’.…

A wise man once said, there is no greater blessing than a financial calculator. That man was not Socrates, nor Aristotle. But me – humble business student, Paul Christophersen. Here I sit, tears streaming down my face as I stare in orgasmic ecstasy at my Hp10bii +. These are tears of joy, tears of emphatic victory as I know: this is my greatest purchase. The Hp10bii+ is the gold standard in financial calculation. Many of my peers struggle to quickly calculate bond values, annuities and cash flow analyses. Their diminutive little brains muddle through textbook after textbook. Pudgy hands covered…

By Paul Christophersen Full name: George Buckley  From: Buckinghamshire  Course(s) studied: Economics  Year graduated: 1993 How has your career developed since graduating from Bangor University, and what is your current job role?   After leaving Bangor I spent a year studying for my Masters (Economics & Finance) followed by a PhD (housing market economics), both at Bristol University. Upon completing my PhD I worked for Deutsche Bank’s global markets research department, eventually becoming Chief UK Economist. Most recently, in 2017, I moved to Nomura where my current role is Chief European Economist. How has your degree and experiences at Bangor Business…

GameStop, a traditional brick and mortar retailer who sell video games. Struggling from the demise of the high street, online retailers, and worst of all, the COVID-19 pandemic. Sales decreased over the last 3 years, much like its market value. Ticker GME on the NYSE has been in slow decline for half a decade. Trading at around $17 in December 2020. Yet as of 30.01.21, GME’s price is $325 a share, having seen a high of $347. Experiencing a 451% price increase between the 25th and 27th of January. So how has middling GameStop seen an increase like this? No…

Photo by alh1 (CC BY-ND 2.0)  Walk out of Bangor via beach road and take the first left. You’ll find yourself ambling down to Porth Penrhyn. The initial impression is that of your average boatyard.  A few fishing boats, yachts and occasionally some interesting cargo. A good place for a different view of Bangor.  Yet leaving the harbour you may notice the markings of a train line. A tunnel under the bridge leads you out of the port and along the river Cegin. It was along this path that the Penrhyn Quarry Railway once stood, transporting slate from the Penrhyn…

Photo by Giuseppe Milo (CC-BY-3.0) Crowd 1: a marketing platform, where users can distribute products, tap into burgeoning industries, and make millions. All users have to do is pay for training, pick a product from their portfolio, and start selling it. Festooned with cruises, luxury dinners in Stockholm, and ever more ‘millionaires’, it’s hard to see why anyone wouldn’t want to be a part of this self-proclaimed revolution. The praises go on. From their South African beginnings, Crowd 1 is now expanding into South East Asia and India. Soon they’ll have a partnership with an Australian esports company, then a partnership…

Photo by flazingo_photos (CC BY-SA 2.0) The Universities Business Challenge has started, and Bangor’s most enterprising business students have entered the contest. Six teams from Bangor are up against teams from universities across the country.  For a chance to progress into the next round they must first prove their skills in the boardroom, taking up positions in a virtual company and nurturing it back to profit. Students will need to balance production, marketing, product development, and a plethora of other factors if they are to succeed. This may require a decent dose of business acumen! I caught up with some…

When looking at the modern world of financial crime, the immediate image conjured is one of cryptocurrencies and digital communications allowing for the sale of arms, drugs and other contraband to pass through borders unchecked, making criminal gangs large sums of money. Yet to launder this money and make these transactions without trace there’s a more traditional culprit. Cash. And one specific purple hued piece of paper, until 27th April 2019, was the currency of choice for criminals worldwide.  Robert Saviano described young Camorristi of the Neapolitan mafia as being obsessed with its significance. Theodorous Rakopoulous described how during his…

Work is due to ‘start soon’ to repair the damage caused by the fire which burned Noodle One last year. This news comes with praise from Arfon’s representatives in the Senedd and Parliament, as well as Bangor’s mayor, but all three have expressed the need for a firm start date. In Dec 2019, fire broke out in the flat above Noodle One on Bangor High Street, resulting in the permanent closure of the business and significant fire damage. All that currently remains is a scaffold supporting what was a very popular restaurant. For nearly a year now this scaffold has…

Wales re-entered what is known as a ‘firebreak’ lockdown last Friday, shutting down all non-essential businesses. Mark Drakeford, first minister of Wales, has described the lockdown as a “short, sharp, shock to turn back the clock, slow down the virus and buy us more time”. With some non-essential businesses having only been allowed to open as late as August, this 17-day firebreak is sure to be a serious blow. Seren decided to talk to a number of small business owners to find out how they feel about the newest government lockdown. Sparx – Costume Shop – High Street – “It’s…

The Welsh government ordered on Friday that supermarkets can only open the parts of their business selling essential goods, for the duration of the Welsh firebreak lockdown. On Sunday, the incumbent government confirmed that the ban would remain in place. Mark Drakeford has cited the purpose of the new restriction as creating a “level playing field” between supermarkets and non-essential businesses which have been forced to close entirely. “Well what do they define as non-essential? What’s essential to one person might be non-essential to another,” said Eleri ‘Clena’, owner and manager of Café Clena, in Upper Bangor. “You don’t know…

If you are interested in the markets and want to start trading stocks, you will have most likely come across the fetid pool of commission free trading apps. These have sprung up over the last few years and provide a free service with apparently no catch.  Services like trading 212, etoro, Robinhood (US only) and plus500 may ring bells due to their seemingly never-ending slew of recent online ad campaigns. In one etoro advert, big name boss baby Alec Baldwin berates the potential user for missing out on massive tech stock opportunities when they could have simply signed up for…