City grandees call for revival of ‘animal spirits’ on Big Bang anniversary Markets City grandees have called on the government to revive “animal spirits” in London’s capital markets and accelerate regulatory reform on the anniversary of the Big Bang. Industry leaders told City AM the City has enjoyed decades of success since the sweeping deregulation of the Square Mile in 1986 but Britain’s financial services industry is now [...]
Braddick sets out her vision for banking watchdog with £2bn overhaul Banking Katharine Braddick has kicked off her revamp of the UK banking’s watchdog with a regulatory overhaul aiming to generate £2bn in savings for City firms. The Prudential Regulation Authority chief, who took the reins in July, told a City audience on Thursday evening the watchdog would focus on four key priorities of resilience, growth, innovation [...]
FCA revokes ban on Libor traders after court overturns rate-rigging convictions Banking The financial watchdog has revoked bans it had placed on four City traders convicted of rigging Libor and Euribor interest rates after the Court of Appeal overturned their convictions. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said on Friday it “has reviewed its regulatory action against individuals whose convictions have recently been overturned by the Court of [...]
Arrests after police and City watchdog smash ‘criminal insider dealing ring’ October 14, 2026 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 October 13, 2026 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 [...]
Motor finance legal battle set for February 2027 October 13, 2026 The City watchdog has confirmed that the legal battle over its motor finance redress scheme will take place early next year following widespread backlash against its multi-billion-pound programme. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will face challenges from three lenders, Volkswagen Financial Services, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, and Crédit Agricole Auto Finance, as well as the advocacy [...]
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. [...]