Bank of England slashes UK growth forecasts amid Brexit uncertainties and global slowdown February 7, 2019 The Bank of England today decided to leave interest rates unchanged as expected, but slashed UK growth forecasts as Brexit uncertainties mount. The bank's monetary policy committee (MPC), which last raised rates to 0.75 per cent in August last year, unanimously voted to hold interest rates for a fourth consecutive meeting. Read more: How will the [...]
Audit watchdog ‘whitewashed’ my HBOS evidence, says whistleblower February 6, 2019 The UK audit watchdog has been accused of brushing-off a whistleblower who claimed HBOS had understated loan-loss provisions in its 2007 accounts. An MP described the handling of the case as “astounding”. Rob Kennedy, a former employee in the lender’s corporate division, was part of the team that worked directly to calculate the provision and [...]
RBS shareholders approve scheme to buy shares back from government February 6, 2019 Royal Bank of Scotland shareholders have agreed to a plan that allows it to buy up to £1.5bn worth of shares from the government, hours after Labour said it would halt such a move if it came to power. At a general meeting, 98.7 per cent of investors backed the proposal designed to speed up [...]
Noel Edmonds’ lawyer to take on Lloyds Banking Group over Bristol allegations February 6, 2019 Noel Edmonds’ lawyer Jonathan Coad is set to open a new front in his battle against Lloyds Banking Group. Coad tweeted today that he has been instructed by a “lady who is a victim of Lloyds Bristol”. Speaking to City A.M. Coad said: “I have spoken to a number of people who are victims of [...]
ING profits dented by money laundering scandal but Dutch bank ends year with a flourish February 6, 2019 Dutch bank ING saw its full year profits dented by a costly money laundering scandal but ended 2018 with better-than-expected earnings in the fourth quarter. The financial services group reported net profit of €4.7bn (£4.13bn) for the year, a 4.1 per cent increase on 2017, despite paying €775m to settle a court case after admitting [...]
Former Barclays boss Bob Diamond steps down as chairman of Atlas Mara amid strategic review February 6, 2019 Former Barclays boss Bob Diamond has stepped down as chairman of Atlas Mara as the pan-African financial group launches a strategic review to improve performance. Diamond, the firm’s co-founder, will retreat to the role of non-executive director, further scaling back his involvement. Read more: Former Barclays boss Bob Diamond says banks need to take more [...]
BNP Paribas cuts targets for 2020 after global markets revenue plunges 40 per cent February 6, 2019 French banking giant BNP Paribas has cut its targets for 2020 after revenue in its global markets arm plunged 40 per cent amid volatility at the end of last year. The bank’s global markets investment banking and trading division reported revenue of €650m (£571m) in the fourth quarter, a sharp drop from €1.07bn the previous [...]
Softbank Vision Fund sells entire stake in struggling chipmaker Nvidia February 6, 2019 Softbank’s Vision Fund has sold its stake in chipmaker Nvidia, which saw shares plummet after it cut its fourth quarter revenue estimate by $500m last week. In Softbank’s third quarter report it revealed that the drop in Nvidia’s share price following the forecast cut reduced the fund’s valuation gain by ¥299.5bn (£2.11bn). Read more: Chipmaker [...]
CYBG shares soar as it boosts mortgage lending but warns of ‘uncertain’ market conditions February 6, 2019 CYBG has unveiled 1.5 per cent mortgage growth for the first quarter of its financial year, but warned of uncertain market conditions ahead. The bank, which acquired Virgin Money on October last year, said mortgages had hit £60bn in the three months to 31 December, which it said was the result of a strong pipeline and good [...]
Activist investor Edward Bramson makes fresh attempt to secure place on Barclays’ board February 5, 2019 Activist investor Edward Bramson has submitted a resolution to be appointed to Barclays’ board of directors at the banks annual general meeting (AGM) in May. Bramson, the chief executive of Sherborne Investors which holds more than five per cent of the bank's shares, has previously called for Barclays to downsize its investment banking division. Read more: Barclays [...]