City watchdog receives nearly two coronavirus complaints from whistleblowers per week November 30, 2020 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has received 47 whistleblower reports on coronavirus-related conduct at financial services firms in the six months to 30 September, equivalent to nearly two complaints per week. Many of the reports were related to a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) and non-compliance with the government guidance on social distancing. Other [...]
Playing FTSE: How a global index was born in London November 30, 2020 It is now more than two decades since FTSE was founded – becoming common parlance not just in the City but across the business world. FTSE’s founder Mark Makepeace has teamed up with respected business journalist James Ashton to tell the story of the FTSE – and how it grew from nine people in an [...]
To qualify or not to qualify? Auditors move to ditch risky clients November 30, 2020 Qualifying an audit could lead to unhappy clients and litigation risks, so it is safer to ditch clients instead, an expert has told City A.M., after several auditors dropped clients in October. Last month three separate auditors terminated contracts with clients in compromising circumstances. At the time the reputational risk of being associated with the [...]
Business as usual: Mid-tier firms predict rapid recovery after vaccine rollout November 30, 2020 The vast majority (94%) of mid-sized businesses in the UK believe they will fully recover from Covid-19 within a year if a vaccine is made available. More than two-thirds of mid-tier businesses – those with revenue of between £10m and £300m – think they will be fully recovered in just six months, according to new [...]
Troubled Moss Bros launches CVA proposal to tackle ‘perilous’ situation November 27, 2020 Struggling retailer Moss Bros has launched a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) proposal to give it the best chance of emerging for the challenges brought on by the coronavirus. A CVA allows companies to settle debts by paying creditors over a fixed period, and it could see the closure of some of Moss Bros’ 125 UK [...]
The Mandalorian season 2 episode 5: S2E5 a Clone Wars showdown November 27, 2020 With the broadcast of S2E5, we’re past the midpoint of The Mandalorian Season 2, and those who were wondering where this is all going got a big boost with this episode, subtitled The Jedi. Almost immediately we are treated to a James Bond-esque pre-credit sequence where a mysterious figure with two lightsabers (!) slashes their [...]
German minister does not expect big insolvency wave until end of year November 27, 2020 German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said today he expects emergency aid will prevent a big wave of insolvencies in November and December among businesses, such as restaurants and hotels, that have been forced to close due to coronavirus curbs. “I believe that for the sectors primarily concerned (…) we have – through the November and [...]
Oppo Reno 4 Pro review: An all-rounder but no killer blow November 26, 2020 Last week I reviewed two new phones, one you’ve definitely heard of, and one you almost certainly haven’t. The latter was a handset from one of the biggest manufacturers in the world, Chinese firm Vivo, which has virtually no footprint in Europe (the camera-focused X51 is its first official launch over here). This week I’m [...]
Football’s coming home: Tier 2 London allowed to have fans at matches : CityAM November 26, 2020 London’s Premier League clubs will be allowed to have up to 2,000 people attend matches from next month, after the capital was placed into Tier 2 Covid restrictions.The new restrictions mean that fans can enter through the turnstiles at their favourite grounds from 3 December.Read more: Breaking: London to enter Tier 2 next WednesdayArsenal’s Europa [...]
Out of Covid isolation, Johnson to give press conference today November 26, 2020 PM Boris Johnson will hold a press conference later today to explain local Covid-19 restrictions, Reuters reports, meaning he will emerge from self isolation two weeks after attending meeting with a MPs infected with the novel coronavirus. Downing Street announced on 15 November that Johnson, who was admitted to intensive care in a London hospital [...]