FCA chief: We can’t solve every problem with new rules Regulation The Financial Conduct Authority will avoid introducing fresh rules as its stock response to new forms of market failure, its boss has said, as the regulator looks to avoid time-consuming consultation processes and speed up its action. Nikhil Rathi told the Fairer Finance podcast that “not every problem can be solved quickly” by the watchdog [...]
Firms are needlessly ‘gold plating’ Consumer Duty rules, FCA policy director says Regulation Scores of wholesale financial services firms are needlessly “gold plating” their compliance with Consumer Duty rules, the financial watchdog’s policy chief has claimed, as the regulator pushes back over concerns the rules have become too burdensome for businesses. Charlotte Clark, director of cross-cutting policy and strategy at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), admonished companies who [...]
Motor finance lenders still on the hook after Supreme Court ruling Banking A lukewarm win in the landmark motor finance case has allowed City banks to skirt a nightmare scenario, whilst still remaining open to a regulatory redress scheme. The Supreme Court found that the customers’ claims against the lenders couldn’t succeed based on fairness, known as equity, or tort, which refers to any wrongful actions worthy [...]
FCA promises to go ‘harder and faster’ in reforming financial sector May 7, 2025 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has promised to go “harder and faster” in overhauling the financial sector amid government pressure to shake up a variety of regulatory burdens on firms. The watchdog has pledged to “take another look” at the rules around ongoing advice after wealth managers were forced to set aside hundreds of millions [...]
Financial Conduct Authority: Lenders ‘unclear’ on bereavement policy April 14, 2025 Lenders “can improve” their treatment of bereaved customers, the Financial Conduct Authority has said. The City watchdog has published a framework outlining good and poor practice to help firms “provide the right support” to consumers who are facing difficult times. The FCA said the introduction of the Consumer Duty in July 2023 has helped provide [...]
FCA chief vows to support growth agenda ‘with urgency’ March 25, 2025 The chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has said the watchdog is “going so much further” on its mission to boost growth in the UK, amid pressure from the government for regulators to cut red tape. Writing in City AM this morning, Nikhil Rathi said the FCA had presented the Prime Minister with [...]
FCA looks to ease consumer duty burden as Reeves pushes regulators for growth January 17, 2025 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will look to ease the burden of complying with its stringent consumer duty rules as part of a push to cut red tape in the City and unlock growth. In a letter to the Chancellor Rachel Reeves this week, FCA boss Nikhil Rathi said the regulator would drop a requirement [...]
Is the UK government right to put consumer duty on the chopping block? January 16, 2025 This morning, business secretary Jonathan Reynolds made one of this government’s targets for deregulation clear: consumer duty. “On regulation, I talk to business people every day, as you would expect, and this is the biggest thing that they raise,” said the minister on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, while being interviewed by former shadow chancellor, Ed [...]
St James’s Place: More changes in mandates to come, CIO says October 25, 2024 There will continue to be a significant shake-up in who manages some of the biggest funds at the UK's largest wealth manager, the chief investment officer of St James's Place has told City AM.
The Notebook: City bosses need to get honest about corporate culture September 30, 2024 Corporate culture remains riddled with problems. It's time for an honest conversation, writes Lucy McNulty, editor of Following the Rules, in today's Notebook.