TSB becomes latest bank to press pause on some mortgage lending June 19, 2023 TSB has become the latest lender to press pause on sales of some of its mortgages. The bank said it was removing some mortgages from sale as of 4pm on Monday. The changes apply to products sold both direct and via brokers and TSB is expecting to reintroduce residential deals on Wednesday. For residential mortgages, [...]
Bank of England launches first ‘system-wide’ stress test to shed light on shadow banks June 19, 2023 The Bank of England launched its first system-wide stress test today of the financial sector as it attempts to shed light on the shadow banking sector. Through the tests, the Bank of England hopes to better understand how, during a period of market stress, the behaviour of shadow banks could amplify financial shocks. Shadow banks [...]
Rishi Sunak rules out help for homeowners as mortgage rates top six per cent June 19, 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today ruled out helping struggling mortgage holders despite rates breaching the six per cent mark for the first time since December. Amid surging mortgage rates, the Prime Minister said the government needed to “stick to the plan” to halve inflation rather than offer support to mortgage holders. Speaking on ITV’s Good [...]
Risk-taking is the key to reinvigorating London’s equity markets June 19, 2023 So, structural weakness in London or the unique circumstances of an emerging market family business? That’s the question on many lips after WE Soda bailed out of its London float last week. The chief exec is (unsurprisingly) in the former camp, suggesting that institutional investors are somehow failing to step up in the capital’s battle [...]
Banks tell Sunak that big tech firms need to do more to tackle fraud June 18, 2023 A group of the UK’s largest banks have told Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that big tech firms should help contribute to the reimbursement of fraud victims. According to Sky News, the banks said the rising tide of fraud in the UK is having a “material impact on how attractive the wider UK financial sector is [...]
Mortgage chaos set to hit banks’ bottom line as demand dries up June 18, 2023 Chaos in the mortgage market is likely to lead to big changes in lending as banks seek to find ways to capitalise on rising interest rates, analysts suggest. Over the last few weeks, the mortgage market has been in turmoil after stubbornly high inflation raised the prospect of further rate hikes. “Mounting base interest rates, [...]
Zopa: C-suite hiring spree continues with ex Sainsbury’s, Moonpig and KPMG execs June 16, 2023 Digital bank Zopa has drafted in top figures from Sainsbury’s, Moonpig and KPMG as part of a major leadership shakeup before an expected flotation. The lender announced today Peter Donlon and Kate Erb have been brought in as chief technology officer (CTO) and chief operating officer (COO) It said the moves were made as it [...]
Bank of England survey finds public has all time low confidence in its ability to tackle inflation June 16, 2023 Public confidence in the Bank of England’s ability to tackle inflation has plummeted according to a fresh survey by… the Bank of England. The central Bank issued its quarterly poll of public attitudes to tackling inflation as speculation grows that it will hoist interest rates to 5.75 basis points next week, amid out-of-control inflation. Asked [...]
Peel Hunt records £1.5m loss as revenue down almost £50m amid ‘extraordinary’ market turmoil June 16, 2023 Investment banking firm Peel Hunt recorded a loss of £1.5m after warnings the UK is experiencing “extraordinary” market turmoil. The company reported revenue of £82.3m, down £48.7m on last year’s £131m, it made a loss before tax of £1.5m – a drop from the previous 12 months’ pre tax profits of £41.2m. CEO Steven Fine [...]
Natwest boss: We’re managing loan book ‘very very closely’ as rates spike June 15, 2023 Natwest boss Dame Alison Rose said the bank was seeing “no material signs of distress” in its loan book despite the impact of rising interest rates. Speaking at the Goldman Sachs financial conference, Rose said: “We have seen no increase in defaults or impairments and the same on the business side… What we’ve actually seen [...]