City watchdog takes on advice gap to unlock growth June 30, 2025 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched a new form of financial help dubbed ‘targeted support’ in a bid to encourage greater consumer participation in financial markets and unlock more investment-led growth. The City regulator will target consumers with common financial characteristics, such as unsustainable pension drawdown, inadequate retirement savings and excess cash not being [...]
FCA reviewing bank risk appetite to boost home ownership June 24, 2025 The Financial Conduct Authority has said it will review lenders’ risk-taking in its bid to boost home ownership. The City watchdog said it was seeking a “public conversation” on the “future of the mortgage market” as it looks to support economic growth through an overhaul on mortgage rules. An update to “responding lending rules” was [...]
Saga shares jump after revealing banking tie-up with Natwest June 24, 2025 Shares in over-50s group Saga rose on Tuesday after the firm revealed it was in “final negotiations” with FTSE 100 juggernaut Natwest for a banking partnership. The London-listed company quickly climbed three per cent in early trading to 176.80p. The firm posted the update ahead of their AGM on Tuesday, confirming it had “agreed heads [...]
FCA vows to take action faster amid jump in whistleblower reports June 24, 2025 The UK’s financial regulator has said it is “closing reports faster” after receiving more whistleblower reports than ever during its latest financial year. The Financial Conduct Authority said it had received 1,131 reports in the 12 months to end March, a small increase on last year and a jump of 8 per cent on five [...]
AIM turns 30: Delistings, doubt and a dose of optimism June 19, 2025 AIM turns 30 today, but birthday celebrations are bound to be overshadowed by swathes of bleak data on the market’s performance. London’s junior stock market has had a woeful period, with projections indicating the index will shrink by a fifth as a result of delisting plans. The number of companies listed on the City’s Alternative [...]
Toyota braced for motor finance pay out as ruling nears June 18, 2025 Toyota has set aside millions in case the Supreme Court rules the company and the wider industry should pay customers compensation when it delivers its verdict on the motor finance saga in the coming weeks. The UK-based financial services arm of the car giant has earmarked the funds to shore itself up in the eventually [...]
S&U shake off motor finance woes as verdict looms June 18, 2025 Specialist lender S&U said it remains confident in the group’s turnaround from motor finance woes after a strong start to the financial year. The bank said in a trading update on Wednesday that optimism in their annual report was “clearly being justified” by the firm’s performance since April. S&U’s profit for the financial year ending [...]
Pisces edges closer to fruition after Avenir launches securities register June 17, 2025 Pisces edged a step closer to fruition today after one of Britain’s best-known share registrars launched a new set of products set to be compatible with the new market framework. London-based Avenir Registrars has launched its new “Register-lite” suite of products, designed to accommodate the needs of growth companies, including those who may be considering [...]
Metro Bank shares soar after takeover interest from Shawbrook owner June 16, 2025 Shares in Metro bank boomed as markets opened on Monday after reports the high street lender had been approached for a takeover. The FTSE 250 bank’s stock was up nine per cent to 122.00p during early trading. On Friday, shares closed at 112.2p, giving it a market capitalisation north of £750m. This follows private equity [...]
City regulators’ growth mandate ‘pointless’ without major reform June 13, 2025 The “entrenched culture of risk aversion” at the City’s two flagship regulators has stymied meaningful progress on their mandates to aid economic growth, a House of Lords report has argued, despite persistent pressure from Westminster for them to boost UK competitiveness. In a withering assessment of the efforts made by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) [...]