Arrests after police and City watchdog smash ‘criminal insider dealing ring’ Legal Three people have been arrested following a joint operation between top cops and the City watchdog following an investigation into a “criminal insider dealing ring”. Over 100 staff from the City watchdog and National Crime Agency (NCA) took part in raids on five residential premises across London and Manchester on Tuesday. Authorities seized more than [...]
We have to take difficult decisions with whistleblowers, says FCA boss Regulation The boss of the UK financial watchdog has said “difficult decisions” have to be taken with some whistleblowers after an investigation was triggered following the suicide of a banker who flagged alleged ties between Jeffrey Epstein and the US commerce secretary. Nikhil Rathi, the chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority, told MPs on Tuesday [...]
Volkswagen takes £725m hit from motor finance scandal Banking 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 [...]
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. [...]
Treasury sought to cap motor finance payouts, court filings claim September 1, 2026 The government sought to cap payouts in the motor finance scandal at a level lenders could absorb and the City regulator acted “unlawfully” in failing to protect consumers, new court filings seen by City AM allege. Both the Treasury and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) are facing fresh scrutiny over the motor finance redress scheme as [...]
Revealed: Natwest banked company used by MFS founder to ‘siphon off’ funds August 12, 2026 Natwest provided banking services to a company allegedly used by the founder of collapsed property lender MFS to divert investors’ cash and “siphon off” funds, City AM can reveal. The bank held the day-to-day account for Twinwin, a company that was allegedly used by Market Financial Solutions founder Paresh Raja to generate fees from clients’ [...]
Questions raised over FCA’s new short-selling rules July 18, 2026 Apparent errors in the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)’s first batch of new short-selling data have raised questions over the accuracy of information used by traders and regulators to track bets against UK-listed companies. The Financial Times first reported that the regulator’s new disclosures contained a series of apparent errors, including positions that were changed or [...]
FCA boss takes aim at motor finance lenders and claims firms July 15, 2026 The boss of the City watchdog has taken a fresh swipe at the parties opposing the regulator’s motor finance redress scheme. Nikhil Rathi, chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), told the Treasury Committee that he was “concerned about the integrity of the claims management market” and took a shot at lenders for trying [...]
Close Brothers shares fall as motor finance scandal threatens worst returns in Europe July 6, 2026 Close Brothers shares tumbled on Monday morning after a damning broker downgrade warned the bank was poised to deliver the “lowest value-creation” of Europe’s top 50 banks. The FTSE 250 bank’s stock was down nearly nine per cent in early trading to 401.70p as investors scurried for the exit door. The loss came on the [...]