Big Four continue to dominate FTSE 100 despite growing pressure March 2, 2020 The dominance of the Big Four serving the FTSE 100 continued in the first quarter despite growing regulatory pressure. The Big Four were the only auditing firms to serve the FTSE 100 last quarter with PwC retaining the top spot with 27 clients, closely followed by KPMG’s 26. Deloitte and EY served 25 and 22 [...]
Numis Securities remains City’s most popular stockbroker March 2, 2020 Numis Securities remains the City’s most popular stockbroker despite its first large decline in client numbers for over a decade. The stockbroker has lost net six clients since last quarter but retains its top position 221 clients, according to figures from Adviser Rankings. Despite Numis’ popularity, Morgan Stanley has moved into the lead by aggregate [...]
Goldman-backed Neyber set to be rescued by rival Salary Finance March 1, 2020 The Goldman-Sachs backed lender Neyber will reportedly sell its assets to rival Salary Finance. Neyber is expected to appoint administrators this week, according to Sky News reports. The consumer finance provider will offload its assets including its blue-chip customer contracts to Salary Finance. Sky News sources said the deal was almost certain to happen in [...]
Lloyds faces fresh police probe over fraud claims March 1, 2020 Lloyds Bank is reportedly facing a fresh police investigation over allegations of fraud against small business. The Sunday Telegraph first reported that Avon and Somerset Police are investigating allegations made against the bank by property investor Kashif Shabir. Shabir lost his business after Lloyds foreclosed on his loans and appointed a receiver to sell his [...]
NMC Health hires investment bank Moelis for debt restructuring March 1, 2020 NMC Health has hired investment bank Moelis to advise on a debt restructuring, in the latest turn of events for the embattled healthcare operator. Reuters reported that three sources familiar with the matter said NMC had hired the bank in relation to its ability to meet debt obligations. Last week the Financial Conduct Authority announced [...]
Schroders set to change results reporting to woo City analysts March 1, 2020 Asset manager Schroders is reportedly changing how it reports results in a bid to highlight individual parts of its business to analysts. The Sunday Times reported that the move could result in a revaluation of the fund manager’s shares. It currently trades on a price-to-earnings multiple of 17 times, compared to fellow wealth manager St [...]
FTSE 100 loses £143bn as WHO declares coronavirus is at a ‘decisive point’ February 27, 2020 The FTSE 100 has lost £143bn this week after a string of heavy losses prompted by a worsening of the coronavirus outbreak outside of China. London’s blue-chip index plunged 3.5 per cent to 6,791 points after the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that the virus is at a “decisive point” and has “pandemic potential”. The [...]
Wealth managers reduce exposure to UK property February 27, 2020 Following the high-profile suspensions of the M&G and Prudential UK property funds last year, UK wealth managers have significantly reduced their exposure to property. Six adviser groups have removed direct property funds from their portfolios for investors across all risk profiles, according to FE fundinfo’s Adviser Fund Index. Ten funds in the sector were removed [...]
FRC tells Big Four auditors to accelerate break-up plan February 27, 2020 The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has told the Big Four to accelerate the ring-fencing of their audit businesses by strengthening independent governance and improving financial transparency. The regulator wrote to Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC this week to set out details of the ‘operational separation’ blueprint, according to Sky News. The FRC is reported to [...]
Pound falls as UK threatens to walk away from Brexit trade talks February 27, 2020 The pound is down against the euro after Downing Street threatened to walk away from Brexit trade talks in June if it appears an agreement is unlikely. The pound fell 0.79 per cent against the euro to €1.175 and down to $1.288 against the dollar, as Britain reiterated its no-deal Brexit threat. Boris Johnson published [...]
