FCA eyes 90-day redemption rule on illiquid funds to end mass withdrawals October 8, 2026 The UK’s financial watchdog has proposed changes to retail investment fund rules in a bid to reduce the risk of rushed asset sales during market volatility. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) floated a minimum 90-day notice period for investors withdrawing from long-term investment funds holding illiquid assets such as infrastructure and private equity, in its [...]
Volkswagen takes £725m hit from motor finance scandal October 7, 2026 The finance arm of Volkswagen has taken a mammoth hit from the motor finance scandal plunging it to a loss for the year. Volkswagen Financial Services UK (VWFS) set aside £725m for expected expenses under the City watchdog’s industry-wide car finance redress scheme, according to new account filings. The provision swung the firm to a [...]
‘Serious concern’: City watchdog accused of withholding information in motor finance row October 7, 2026 The City watchdog is coming under pressure to release its communications with the Treasury and modelling data for its controversial motor finance redress scheme, City AM can reveal. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is facing legal challenges from the finance arms of Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz as well as French-owned CA Auto Finance over its [...]
City watchdog launches probe after whistleblower’s death raises questions October 6, 2026 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched a probe into how the regulatory body interacted with a whistleblower who recently took his own life. Simon Andriesz, a former managing director at BGC Partners, had blown the whistle on alleged links between the US secretary of commerce Howard Lutnick and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He [...]
Motonovo hikes motor finance provision as buyers circle Aldermore September 30, 2026 Car finance firm Motonovo has ramped up its provisions for the motor finance scandal as top banks and private equity firms explore a takeover of its parent company Aldermore. The Cardiff-headquartered company recognised a £153.2m charge in its latest accounts for historical motor finance commissions. This was more than double the £60.6m recorded last year. [...]
£250m lawsuit against crypto firm Binance grows with 1000 new investors September 30, 2026 A thousand new UK-based retail investors have been added to a group legal claim against crypto trading platform Binace and its founder, alleging they were sold high-risk, complex products that did not have regulatory authorisation from the financial watchdog. There are now approximately 2,700 claimants in the case in England and Wales, with the total [...]
City watchdog begins legal action against loan notes firm Hunter Jones September 21, 2026 The City watchdog has begun High Court proceedings against a loan notes firm and its chief executive, according to court filings, amid growing scrutiny of the high-risk instruments and their availability to retail investors. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has initiated proceedings against Osborne Baldwin, which trades as both Hunter Jones and Hunter Jones Group, [...]
City watchdog targets London crypto traders in latest clampdown September 18, 2026 The City watchdog has targeted three London premises suspected of illegal peer-to-peer crypto trading as it increases its scrutiny of digital assets. In a joint operation with HMRC and the Metropolitan Police, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said on Thursday it had issued three cease-and-desist letters to individuals trading through UK businesses, ordering them to [...]
Aldermore’s sale interest shows banks are over motor finance September 17, 2026 Lloyds, Nationwide and Investec are all tipped to be circling Aldemore as its South African over prepares a sale. Samuel Norman takes a look at the runners and riders and what it could do for the market. Has the banking industry finally moved on from motor finance? The number of suiters circling Aldermore suggest as [...]
Clean up or lawyer up: The FCA’s culture war gets real September 16, 2026 With the City watchdog empowered to penalise non-financial misconduct and fresh off a win at the Upper Tribunal, lawyers now expect to be flooded with work from businesses that are grappling with the focus on culture, as bullying, harassment, and serious misconduct are no longer just HR matters, writes Maria Ward-Brennan. The Financial Conduct Authority [...]