The City is the goose that lays the golden eggs December 3, 2018 The Financial Conduct Authority has taken its boldest step yet into the debate about banks' Brexit contingency plans. In a letter to lenders the City watchdog warned that it will not accept “steps being taken which could expose clients or markets to unacceptable risks.” Specifically, the FCA warns that they will intervene if they suspect [...]
Six-bedroom Mayfair mansion snapped up for £39m December 3, 2018 A Grade-II listed mansion in Mayfair has been bought for £39m. According to documents filed with the land registry it was acquired by a British Virgin Islands-registered company for £38.8m at the start of November. Fees and stamp duty mean the total cost of the house will be closer to £45m. The six-bedroom house has a [...]
Trade is a long game, so we must look beyond FTAs and make marginal gains December 3, 2018 New York and London frequently vie for the crown when it comes to the title of the world’s leading financial centre. But as well as competing, we share a special relationship. The Big Apple was the first stop on my visit last week to the United States, which came at an opportune moment as the [...]
Aim companies have markedly improved corporate governance reporting, study finds December 3, 2018 Companies listed on the Alternative Investment Market (Aim) have significantly upped their corporate governance standards since a September 2018 rule change, an annual review has revealed. The market, which lists smaller companies and has less onerous regulations, was reviewed by accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young and lobbying group Quoted Companies Alliance. Their findings showed improvements in transparency [...]
Crossrail and HS2 chair Sir Terry Morgan faces sack after costs spiral December 1, 2018 The chair of the Crossrail and HS2 infrastructure projects reportedly faces the sack over fears the rail link between London and Birmingham could exceed its £56bn budget by a large margin. Sir Terry Morgan has only been chair of HS2 for four months but could now be fired within weeks after his poor performance was [...]
UK banks can pat themselves on the back, but the system is still feeling the stress November 30, 2018 Breathe a sigh of relief: once again, all financial institutions have passed the Bank of England’s annual stress tests. But look beneath the surface, and suddenly the various allowances made this week start to undermine the good news. First, if the impact of the new accounting standard IFRS 9 that came into force in January was [...]
A new hope: Backing firms of the future November 30, 2018 If you missed the big news of the last couple of weeks, you must have been hiding under a rock. And no, I’m not talking about the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal – but rather Small Business Saturday, which is returning for a sixth year on 1 December. This is the most important day in the calendar [...]
Tulip tower may interfere with radar systems, warns London City Airport November 28, 2018 Plans to build the City’s Tulip had just begun to blossom last week after developers submitted proposals for the new 1,000 ft tower, but now concerns over whether the building might interfere with air traffic radar systems have threatened to stall the project. London City Airport has insisted that construction cannot be given the green [...]
Vita Mojo shakes things up with a £10m series A fundraise, backed by Investec November 28, 2018 Healthy food-focused restaurant chain Vita Mojo has raised £10m in a series A fundraising round led by Investec Bank, as it heads for expansion. The firm said it is now "coming out of stealth mode" to help other businesses with its technology, having already signed up a few major customers such as Virgin Active, Chilango and Wokit. [...]
UK braces itself for a battering from Storm Diana as winds approach 70mph November 28, 2018 Brits are set to endure a downpour and buffeting winds as Storm Diana hits the UK today. The Met Office issued yellow weather warnings for western part of the UK this morning, with delays expected to public transport and routes carrying large vehicles from gales of up to 70mph. Severe rainfall will affect other parts [...]