Payments regulator in Treasury crosshairs as firms revolt December 16, 2024 As the government hunts for ways to make Britain more competitive, the country's payments regulator has become caught in the crosshairs.
Regulator set to limit card fees after Visa and Mastercard price hikes December 13, 2024 The UK’s payments regulator has confirmed plans to introduce price caps on card fees paid by British merchants when European consumers make online purchases, after Visa and Mastercard hiked prices post-Brexit. After proposing some restrictions a year ago, the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is moving ahead with a consultation to decide at what level they [...]
FTSE bosses should be paid like top footballers, says ICAP founder December 11, 2024 Bosses of London-listed firms should be paid like the best footballers without facing a backlash, Michael Spencer has argued. The founder of brokerage ICAP and former Conservative party Treasurer said that to attract top talent to run major companies, the UK needed to tackle the “political hot potato” of FTSE bosses’ pay. “We don’t mind [...]
Equals finally strikes £283m takeover deal with Lord Hammond-led group December 11, 2024 Equals Group is set to merge with the payments firm chaired by Lord Hammond after striking a £283m takeover deal today, potentially drawing a line under a protracted period of talks that has dragged on for more than a year. The Aim-listed payments outfit, which first addressed a potential takeover by a separate group of [...]
Motor finance: Close Brothers shares rise after Supreme Court green lights appeal December 11, 2024 Bank share prices are up this morning, including Close Brothers, following the news the Supreme Court has granted an appeal in the motor finance case.
HSBC plots $3bn cost savings in new chief’s restructuring December 11, 2024 HSBC is reportedly hoping to realise at least $3bn of cost savings as part of its biggest restructuring in a decade under new chief executive Georges Elhedery. Europe’s biggest lender aims to complete its revamp by next June, Bloomberg News reported. The overhaul will see the London-based lender reorganise into four new divisions and split [...]
S&U says Budget and motor finance scandal weighing on performance December 11, 2024 S&U said the Budget and a scandal over motor finance commissions have dragged on the specialist lender’s financial performance. Anthony Coombs, a former Conservative MP who has been S&U’s chair for the last 16 years, argued Labour’s first Budget had “curtailed the sector’s growth ambitions and cast doubt over the new government’s plans to ‘Get [...]
FCA rejects ‘light-touch’ regulation in push for City growth December 10, 2024 The heads of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) told MPs they will not adopt a “light-touch” approach to regulation today after criticism the City watchdog has hampered growth with burdensome red tape. Appearing before the Treasury Committee on Tuesday, FCA chief executive, Nikhil Rathi, and chair, Ashley Alder, warned of the challenges in delivering on [...]
Former HSBC banker to lead Australian lender ANZ December 9, 2024 Australian bank ANZ has appointed former HSBC banker Nuno Matos as its next chief executive after he missed out on the same position at the London-based lender this summer. Matos is set to join the Melbourne-based bank in July 2025 and replace Shayne Elliott, who is retiring from ANZ after nine years at the helm. [...]
FCA facing High Court over interest rate hedging redress scheme December 9, 2024 The City regulator faces the High Court this week over its IRHP redress scheme, as a cross-party group aims to overturn the scheme