FCA: ‘Large number of consumers’ wronged in motor finance deals September 9, 2025 The UK’s financial watchdog is gearing up for an industry-wide redress scheme on the historic motor finance scandal where huge swathes of customers could be eligible for compensation. Nikhil Rathi, chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority, said there was “evidence that there have been unfair relationships between lenders and their consumers” and that a [...]
Firms are needlessly ‘gold plating’ Consumer Duty rules, FCA policy director says September 9, 2025 Scores of wholesale financial services firms are needlessly “gold plating” their compliance with Consumer Duty rules, the financial watchdog’s policy chief has claimed, as the regulator pushes back over concerns the rules have become too burdensome for businesses. Charlotte Clark, director of cross-cutting policy and strategy at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), admonished companies who [...]
Close Brothers shares downgraded despite motor finance win August 18, 2025 Analysts have slapped a downgrade on Close Brothers stock despite the bank’s motor finance win last month at the Supreme Court. The FTSE 250-listed bank’s stock rating was lowered to ‘Sector Perform’, down from previous ‘Outperform’ expectations. Close Brothers shares were down over four per cent in early trading to 494.80. It comes after the [...]
UK must change Bitcoin rules to catch up with Trump August 18, 2025 While Donald Trump pledges to make the US the “crypto capital of the world” the UK is slipping behind with outdated Bitcoin regulations.
Banks ombudsman fights for relevance amid Treasury crackdown August 18, 2025 The Financial Ombudsman Service is battling against a litany of obstacles as the government looks to “fundamentally” change its regulatory makeup. The organisation was rocked earlier this year by a leadership crisis following the abrupt departure of chief executive Abby Thomas in February. A Treasury Committee report, published in July, revealed Thomas had been dismissed [...]
The five fintech segments to watch August 18, 2025 Global fintech funding slumped to its worst half-year in five years in the first six months of 2025. Investment reached $44bn (£32.47bn), falling from $54.2bn the year prior, whilst the number of deals fell from 2,376 to 2,216. Weak investment in the three months to June 31 2025, hurt the headline figures, with just $18.7bn [...]
Rank Group: Grosvenor casino owner posts strong profit as UK gambling reforms boost outlook August 14, 2025 Grosvenor casino owner Rank Group has posted a sharp jump in profit on the back of double-digit growth across its venues and online arm, with fresh government gambling reforms set to boost future earnings. For the year to 30th June 2025, like-for-like net gaming revenue climbed 11 per cent to £795.3m, while underlying operating profit [...]
City watchdog sacked 12 for misconduct amid crackdown on firms August 13, 2025 The Financial Conduct Authority sacked 12 workers as a result of misconduct allegations, City AM can reveal. Official figures show nearly 40 members of staff were formally disciplined by the City watchdog between 2022 and 2024 due to misconduct. A dozen of these were dismissed from their post with 10 handed a “final written warning”. [...]
CMA’s Google crackdown will put the UK’s AI revolution on hold August 13, 2025 The heavy hand of the CMA, on Google and tech companies it barely understands, will stop the UK from capitalising on AI, writes Matthew Lesh.
S&U shares jump as bank predicts profit ‘resurgence’ August 12, 2025 Shares in specialist lender S&U rallied as markets opened on Tuesday after the bank said its “resurgence in profitability” had begun to materialise. The London-listed firm’s stock was up over three per cent in early trading to 1,940. The jump came after the lender provided an upbeat trading update, anticipating building momentum for the second [...]