New audit watchdog chair pledges tougher rules for company executives June 16, 2022 The new chair of the UK’s audit watchdog has vowed to make company directors accountable for corporate accounting scandals, in his first public speech as head of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC). FRC chair Sir Jan du Plessis said the government’s decision to water down plans for a British version of the USA’s “Sarbanes-Oxley [...]
UK’s financial watchdog vows to crack down on greenwashing June 9, 2022 The UK’s financial watchdog has said it is “actively” monitoring the markets for instances of greenwashing, involving false and exaggerated claims around ESG. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) told City A.M. that it has “made it a priority that investors are given clear and reliable information about ESG products,” as the watchdog said it is [...]
ESG is moving to the heart of property portfolios June 7, 2022 | Sponsored The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the need to transform the spaces where we live, work and socialise. And it’s clear that commercial and residential developers and those working in property finance are becoming keenly focused on sustainability and affordability. Whilst environmental, social and governance (ESG) certainly isn’t new, its principles are vital and it’s imperative [...]
Deutsche Bank unit raided in Germany over ‘greenwashing’ allegations May 31, 2022 Prosecutors in Germany raided Deutsche Bank’s asset management unit DWS and the bank’s headquarters yesterday.
Exclusive: KPMG to hire 3,500 tech workers to staff newly launched digital products business May 27, 2022 KPMG today launched a new digital solutions business which is set to see the firm more than double the size of its 3,000 strong technology focused workforce by hiring 3,500 new data scientists and engineers. The UK arm of the Big Four firm said it plans to create 1,000 London tech jobs, in its efforts [...]
Editorial: HSBC brouhaha should kick off a worthwhile ESG debate May 23, 2022 It is ironic that in a speech criticising hyperbole, the now-suspended HSBC Head of Responsible Investing Stuart Kirk went to some effort to out-hyperbole even those who he sought to lambast. As a former journalist, Kirk will surely have known that criticising alarmist “nut jobs” was unlikely to do anything but stir a hornet’s nest. [...]
UBS appoints two officials to shore up its ESG unit May 9, 2022 Swiss banking giant UBS has made two appointments to its ESG team as it looks to shore up its clean energy credentials. Josiane Fanguinovény and Viv Sedov will join the company’s Europe, Middle East and Africa division, according to the Financial News. The dealmakers will work on transactions related to environmental and social governance. FN reports many [...]
Saturday Sitdown: MovePlan’s EMEA chief on rethinking ESG as working policies are being rewired April 30, 2022 Over the last few years, ESG has become integral in any business strategy, and rightly so. It’s a deal-breaker not just for investors but also for those considering new roles. In fact, City A.M. recently reported how businesses with poor ESG credentials are struggling to attract talent, a sure sign of the importance of substantive [...]
What impact is “greenflation” having on commodities? March 24, 2022 | City Talk Under-investment in the supply of commodities across energy, metals and agriculture, as a result of policies to mitigate climate change, is limiting supply growth and driving prices higher. Commodities outperformed bonds and equities for the first time in almost a decade in 2021. Even before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, these trends looked set to [...]
City set for ‘dramatic growth’ of funds that combine ESG and Shariah as Islamic Finance underserves demand March 3, 2022 London could see a dramatic growth in the number of investment funds that combine ESG and Shariah compliance over the next two years, finance experts have told City A.M. today. Professionals working across a wide range of sectors in the Square Mile and beyond expect a dramatic growth in these funds, while half think a [...]