LOS ANGELES, Feb. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BlackLine, Inc. (Nasdaq: BL), the future-ready platform for the Office of the CFO, has announced the winners of its 2025 Global and Regional Partner Awards, celebrating firms that have shown exceptional dedication to customer success, innovation, and transformative growth. This year’s honorees are recognized for their deep expertise, strong collaboration, and commitment to setting new standards of excellence in finance transformation. “Our partners play a vital ...

Investment Rating - The report indicates a cautious but positive outlook for the UK office market, with a focus on Grade A space and a potential increase in investment activity in 2026 [5][11]. Core Insights - The UK office market showed resilience in 2025, with a total take-up of 5 million sq ft, slightly below 2024 levels but in line with the five-year average [6]. - Demand for Grade A office space remains strong, accounting for 61% of total take-up, driven by the Financial and Professional Services sector [6]. - The overall vacancy rate reached 14.1% in Q4 2025, with Grade A vacancy slightly increasing to 3.4%, indicating a competitive market for premium space [6]. - Investment volumes in the UK regional cities totaled £916 million in 2025, down 38% from the ten-year average, but the second half of the year saw increased activity [12]. - Prime rents across the UK regional cities rose by 3% annually, with the average now at £41 per sq ft, reflecting strong demand for quality office space [6][12]. Summary by Sections Leasing Overview - Total take-up for 2025 was 5,021,202 sq ft, which is a 5% decrease compared to the five-year average [4]. - Active demand at year-end was 3.9 million sq ft, with Financial and Professional Services leading at 43% [6]. - The development pipeline remains constrained, with only 1.7 million sq ft under construction [6]. Investment Overview - Investment volumes reached £916 million in 2025, which is 28% below 2024 levels [12]. - The second half of 2025 accounted for 60% of total investment activity, indicating a shift in buyer and seller pricing expectations [11]. - Prime office yields remained stable, ranging from 6.50% to 10.00% across various cities, highlighting the relative value outside London [12]. Leading Markets - **Aberdeen**: Total take-up was 294,709 sq ft, with Grade A vacancy at 1.7% [21]. - **Birmingham**: Annual take-up reached 651,507 sq ft, with a strong demand for Grade A space [27]. - **Bristol**: Total take-up was 604,119 sq ft, with a notable increase in demand for fitted space [33]. - **Cardiff**: Annual take-up was 289,808 sq ft, with a tightening supply of Grade A space [39]. - **Edinburgh**: Total take-up was 371,659 sq ft, with Grade A vacancy at 7.0% [45]. - **Glasgow**: Total take-up reached 471,753 sq ft, with a strong demand for prime offices [52]. - **Leeds**: Annual take-up was 632,790 sq ft, with a focus on high-quality workspace [59]. - **Manchester**: Total take-up was 1,059,264 sq ft, with a significant flight to quality [65]. - **Newcastle**: Total take-up was 458,893 sq ft, with a strong demand for modern, amenity-rich spaces [72]. - **Sheffield**: Total take-up was 192,399 sq ft, with a focus on refurbishment projects [76].

Key Takeaways SNOW is set to report Q4 fiscal 2026 results on Feb. 25 with revenue seen up 26.85%. Snowflake's AI push drove 50% of Q3 bookings and a $100M AI revenue run rate. SNOW trades at 10.19X forward sales, reflecting a premium valuation amid competition. Snowflake (SNOW) is set to release fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Feb. 25.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings has remained steady at 27 cents per share over the past 30 days, indicating a year-over-year declin ...

Core Viewpoint - WISeKey International Holding Ltd is relocating its headquarters from Geneva to Pont-Rouge in August 2026, aiming to enhance its position in the digital and quantum technology sectors [3][12]. Group 1: Relocation Details - The new headquarters will be situated in Pont-Rouge, a modern and sustainable business district completed in 2023, which offers exceptional connectivity and a vibrant ecosystem for innovation [4][5]. - Pont-Rouge spans over 100,000 m² and includes premium office facilities, co-working spaces, and iconic buildings, already hosting major firms like EY and KPMG [5]. Group 2: Geneva Quantum Center of Excellence - The headquarters will house the Geneva Quantum Center of Excellence, aimed at establishing Geneva as a global leader in applied quantum technologies [6][12]. - The Center will integrate various technologies including quantum computing, cybersecurity, and AI, creating a comprehensive ecosystem for industrial applications [6][12]. Group 3: SEALSQ Quantum Computer Hub - The Quantum Computer Hub, operated by WISeKey's subsidiary SEALSQ Corp, will focus on practical quantum architectures for secure integration into critical infrastructures across various sectors [7]. - The hub will emphasize hybrid quantum/classical computing models and secure interfaces between quantum processors and embedded systems [8]. Group 4: SEALSQ Quantum Fund - The SEALSQ Quantum Investment Fund, with over USD 100 million, aims to build a root-to-quantum vertical stack and accelerate the deployment of secure quantum technologies in the US and Europe [10]. - The fund's strategy seeks to eliminate fragmentation in the quantum value chain, promoting sovereign and certifiable quantum solutions [11]. Group 5: Strategic Commitment - The relocation and establishment of the Geneva Quantum Center of Excellence reflect WISeKey and SEALSQ's commitment to technological sovereignty in Europe and the development of trusted digital infrastructures [12][16]. - The initiative aligns with Geneva's role in sustainable innovation and human-centric technology, focusing on security, trust, and ethics [16].

Core Insights - SEALSQ Corp and WISeKey International Holding Ltd are relocating their Geneva headquarters to Pont-Rouge in August 2026, reflecting their rapid expansion and ambition in digital and quantum technologies [3][12] - The new headquarters will host the Geneva Quantum Center of Excellence, aimed at establishing Geneva as a global reference for applied quantum technologies [6][12] Company Overview - SEALSQ specializes in developing and selling semiconductors, PKI, and post-quantum technology hardware and software products [3][13] - The company is focused on creating post-quantum semiconductors that provide robust protection for sensitive data across various applications, including healthcare, defense, and IoT [14][17] Quantum Center of Excellence - The Geneva Quantum Center of Excellence will serve as a deep-tech convergence platform, integrating quantum computing, post-quantum cybersecurity, and other advanced technologies [6][10] - The center will feature a live demonstration environment showcasing the interoperability of the group's technologies across different domains [9] Quantum Investment Fund - The SEALSQ Quantum Investment Fund, with over USD 100 million, aims to build a root-to-quantum vertical stack and accelerate the deployment of secure quantum technologies in the U.S. and Europe [10][11] - The fund's strategy focuses on eliminating fragmentation between research, hardware, and deployment to create scalable quantum solutions [11] Strategic Commitment - The relocation and establishment of the Geneva Quantum Center of Excellence highlight SEALSQ and WISeKey's commitment to technological sovereignty in Europe and the development of trusted digital infrastructures [12][16]

LATEST: ⚡ StarkWare has integrated EY's Nightfall ZK privacy layer into Starknet, intended to let institutions run private payments and DeFi transactions on Ethereum rails while maintaining auditability. https://t.co/8TQ4Nfshuf ...

Privacy is the last missing piece to bring the entire financial world onchain 🥷Now the stack is ready: institutions can execute confidential payments and DeFi with compliance, scale, and security.Powered by Starknet and EY.StarkWare (BTCFi arc) 🥷 (@StarkWareLtd):1/ The Starknet stack now enables confidential payments & DeFi for institutions.Today, we’re bringing Nightfall, EY’s ZK privacy layer, to Starknet.Ethereum-secured rails, now ready for enterprise scale 🧵 https://t.co/irme37L276 ...

StarkWare integrates EY-built Nightfall privacy tech into Starknet to provide confidential institutional transactions on public blockchains https://t.co/m2knvxohQ9 ...

Core Insights - The focus of sustainability efforts by European enterprises is shifting from regulatory compliance to achieving measurable financial and operational outcomes [1] - European firms are aligning their strategies with the renewable energy transition to manage energy exposure, support decarbonization, and capture new growth opportunities [1] Group 1: Sustainability Practices - Enterprises are investing in integrated environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data architectures that connect sustainability information across various functions such as finance, procurement, HR, and operations [1] - Organizations are seeking solutions for supply chain and product-level transparency to gain deeper insights into carbon emissions and workforce practices [1] - Digital sustainability solutions are being adopted as the region's energy mix shifts toward renewables and emissions decline [1] Group 2: Market Trends and Provider Insights - The digital sustainability market in Europe is maturing, with providers focusing on clear, outcome-driven use cases [1] - Enterprises are looking for providers that can deliver concrete environmental, social, and economic outcomes through transparent, data-driven models [1] - The report evaluates 70 unique providers across three quadrants, naming leaders such as Accenture, Capgemini, and IBM in multiple categories [1] Group 3: Technology and Data Integration - By integrating sustainability data with real-time decision-support tools, organizations are gaining visibility into industrial processes, which supports cost control and reduces environmental impact [1] - Providers are facilitating this shift with data-driven blueprints and operating models that clarify roles and responsibilities across various functions [1] - The deployment of GenAI is noted for producing qualitative narratives for corporate sustainability reporting [1]

Core Viewpoint - Italy's competition authority has initiated an investigation into Procter & Gamble for allegedly misleading advertisements regarding the Braun Skin i-Expert epilator, claiming it can keep users hair-free for two years, which the regulator deems exaggerated and inadequately demonstrated [1]. Company Summary - Procter & Gamble is facing scrutiny from Italy's competition authority over its advertising practices related to a body hair removal device [1]. - The specific product in question is the Braun Skin i-Expert epilator, which is claimed to provide long-lasting hair removal effects [1]. Regulatory Context - The investigation highlights the regulatory environment in Italy concerning consumer protection and advertising standards, particularly in the beauty and personal care sector [1].