Big Four accountants push back against breakup proposals February 7, 2019 The Big Four accountancy firms have fired back at the competition regulator’s proposal to break-up their UK operations. In their responses to the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) outlines for shaking up the audit market, Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC all resisted a suggested split. David Barnes, managing director for public policy at Deloitte UK, [...]
Restaurant sector defies confidence slump as UK leisure spending grows February 6, 2019 Restaurant goers continued to show an appetite for dining out towards the end of last year, with net spending in the UK’s leisure sector rising in the final three months of 2018. According to a new report from Deloitte, the UK’s leisure industry grew by two percentage points year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2018, [...]
Regional construction activity booming despite Brexit gloom, says Deloitte February 5, 2019 Construction activity at four major regional UK cities is at record levels, despite uncertainty around Brexit causing industry growth to falter, according to research. Accounting firm Deloitte’s regional crane survey covering Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester and Belfast showed growing activity across sectors including projects building office space, hotels, retail sites, education facilities and student housing. Read [...]
More than three quarters of CFOs believe the UK will be worse off out of the EU, says Deloitte February 4, 2019 More than three-quarters of chief financial officers believe the UK will be worse off as result of leaving the EU, a new Deloitte survey has found. Approximately 80 per cent of CFOs surveyed by the big-four accountant said they expected the long-term business environment to be worse on leaving the EU. The UK is scheduled to leave [...]
Premier League clubs’ January transfer window spending falls for first time since 2012 February 1, 2019 The amount Premier League teams spent in the January transfer window fell for the first time since 2012, according to football money experts Deloitte. England's top tier clubs spent just £180m on permanent signings, some way off the £430m that was lavishly shelled out last winter. Nearly a third of this window's total outlay was [...]
Deloitte fined in connection with 1MDB corruption scandal January 30, 2019 Big Four accountancy firm Deloitte has today been hit with a 2.2m Ringitt (£409,559) fine by Malaysian regulators for failures in its audit of a firm linked to the scandal-hit 1MDB fund. The Securities Commission Malaysia issued a reprimand and fine for four breaches connected to the 2.4bn Ringitt Sukuk Murabahah Programme, an Islamic bond issued [...]
We’re not as stuck as the Brexit blues would have you believe January 28, 2019 IF YOU’RE looking for a meaningful vote of confidence tomorrow, look elsewhere than the sentiments of our 650 MPs. Instead try the 650,000 British businesses registered last year – each one a vote of confidence in the future. But when you’re surrounded by extremes, it’s hard not to get swept away by it all. As [...]
Confidence hits 18-month low as Brexit jitters fuel uncertainty January 28, 2019 Consumer confidence has plunged to its lowest level in 18 months, as uncertainty over Brexit takes its toll on shoppers’ spirits despite rising wages and record low unemployment. Confidence among consumers fell for the second consecutive quarter in the final three months of 2018, sliding from -7 per cent to -9 per cent, according to data [...]
Kier Group negotiating sale of its housing maintenance business in a bid to reduce debt January 27, 2019 Kier Group, the troubled outsourcing company, is nearing an agreement to sell its housing maintenance division. The deal, if agreed, would be part of a previously announced plan to shore up the balance sheet of the construction and building services provider by selling non-core assets. Read more: Short sellers release pressure on construction outsourcing giant Kier [...]
KPMG and Deloitte under investigation for role in 1MDB corruption scandal January 26, 2019 International auditors KPMG and Deloitte are being investigated in Malaysia for their role in the 1MDB corruption scandal. Malaysian authorities said today they are looking into the state fund’s auditors, without identifying the firms. Read more: Goldman Sachs chief executive apologises to Malaysian people over 1MDB scandal “The Securities Commission’s review of the conduct of auditors [...]