Charter Court signals ‘confident’ outlook as profits jump and it announces maiden dividend August 21, 2018 Buy-to-let lender Charter Court reported a big jump in profits today and its first dividend less than a year after its initial public offering. Profit before tax rose by 57 per cent year-on-year to £93.1m for the first half of 2018, almost reaching the £111m profit made for the entirety of 2017. Charter Court listed [...]
European Central Bank fines Credit Agricole €5m for reporting errors August 20, 2018 French bank Credit Agricole must pay almost €5m (£4.5m) in fines after the European Central Bank (ECB) found it had misreported key balance sheet information. The lender classified instruments as common equity tier 1 (CET1) without obtaining permission, the ECB said in a statement. Banks must hold a certain amount of equity capital to protect [...]
Crispin Odey: Banks ‘luring investors to their deaths’ like fading department stores August 20, 2018 Renowned hedge fund manager Crispin Odey told investors in his hedge fund that the banking sector giants now resemble struggling department stores, luring investors to a sticky end with an outdated business model. Banks' profits are under threat from smaller fintech rivals who have targeted areas where lenders have traditionally charged large fees, Odey said. [...]
Lehman Brothers ex-bankers plan London reunion 10 years on from investment bank’s disastrous collapse August 20, 2018 Former bankers from Lehman Brothers are reportedly planning to reunite next month at an event marking a decade since the investment bank collapsed, triggering the global financial crisis. Some 210 bankers, who occupied roles spanning from analyst to managing director at the time of the crash, will meet in London around the middle of September, [...]
Deportation fear: UBS rogue trader Kewku Adoboli afraid he could be detained today August 20, 2018 Former UBS rogue trader Kweku Adoboli, who was sentenced to seven years in prison after causing a £1.8bn loss, fears he could be detained today ahead of deportation from the UK to Ghana. The 38-year-old told City A.M. he would walk into Livingston police station today, where he reports to immigration officials once a month. It [...]
Leisure billionaire Trevor Hemmings sues former plaintiffs over unpaid RBS legal fees August 19, 2018 A vehicle controlled by the enigmatic billionaire Trevor Hemmings has accused a swathe of groups, including nine Lloyds subsidiaries, of attempting to “unjustly enrich” themselves dodging litigation costs related to a £200m claim against RBS. Manx Capital, a group owned by Hemmings, is leading thousands of shareholders in the claim, which has been fraught with [...]
Standard Chartered executive warning over Brexit jobs exodus August 19, 2018 A Standard Chartered executive has warned that more jobs could leave the UK after Brexit. Europe and Americas regional chief executive Tracey Clarke said UK headquartered banks could be forced to move more jobs to mainland Europe than originally planned in a bid to meet banking compliance rules. The bank is planning to convert its [...]
RBS announces interim chief financial officer as Ewen Stevenson prepares to depart August 17, 2018 The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) said today it is to appoint deputy chief financial officer Katie Murray as interim CFO in October, replacing outgoing CFO Ewen Stevenson, who is set to join HSBC. Stevenson will step down after four years in the role on 30 September and will be placed on gardening leave until the end of November. Stevenson [...]
Pound sinks to 11-month low after Liam Fox’s no deal Brexit warning August 17, 2018 The pound has fallen to its lowest in 11 months this morning, following warnings over the weekend by international trade secretary Liam Fox that it was now more likely the UK would leave the EU without a deal. Sterling fell 0.3 per cent to $1.2954, its lowest since July 19, making it the biggest loser [...]
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development plans to remain in London after Brexit August 17, 2018 The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is planning to stay in London after Brexit, in spite of the departure of other agencies with a remit covering Europe. The partly EU-owned development bank is considering a move out of its offices overlooking Exchange Square, by Liverpool Street Station, but will remain in London if [...]