Technology

Nucleus has signed two more IFA companies, taking its number of member firms to 80.

Standard Life has agreed a £42m takeover of software provider Focus Solutions.

Axa Wealth has posted a 48% increase in sales to £2.9bn for the first nine months of the year, driven by strong results from its Elevate wrap and multi-manager offering.

There's a lot of buzz right now about Twitter, which has emerged as one of the most popular social media tools.

Fidelity has expressed "sympathy" for wraps following plans for a cash rebate ban - a move it says will be difficult to implement - and thinks the regulator may reconsider its position.

Elevate says the cash rebate ban is "not a massive deal" but has nevertheless vowed to lobby the FSA in an effort to understand the "confusing" rationale behind it.

Holly Mackay, managing director of The Platforum, believes the FSA's Platform Consultation paper is broadly good news, but there are some key points to answer.

Transact says the proposed ban on cash rebates could lead to "unintended consequences" and consumer detriment and suggests the issue could be better dealt with through improved disclosure.

Despite the hegemony of the big three platforms there is still plenty of room for newer players to thrive, according to research house Fundscape.

Ascentric has announced a new charging structure as it looks to reach out to advisers placing lower value cases on the platform.