Exclusive: Stricken burrito chain Chilango set to enter administration July 22, 2020 Mexican restaurant chain Chilango is preparing to enter administration putting over 150 jobs at risk, after the coronavirus pandemic hammered the already struggling casual dining company. In an email sent to shareholders today, a spokesperson for the company said that while Chilango had “done our very best to mitigate the pandemic’s impact… these efforts have [...]
‘Utterly inadequate’: Experts slam watchdog’s Big Four audit split July 6, 2020 The audit watchdog’s move to force the Big Four accountancy firms to ring-fence their audit units has been condemned as a “cosmetic exercise” by industry experts. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) today announced that the Big Four — PwC, Deloitte, KPMG and EY — must separate their audit and non-audit businesses by 2024 to ensure [...]
Watchdog orders Big Four to separate auditing units by 2024 July 6, 2020 The Big Four accounting firms — PwC, Deloitte, KPMG and EY — must separate their audit units from the rest of their businesses by 2024, the audit watchdog said this morning. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is asking the companies to agree to operational separation by June 2024 to ensure their audits “do not rely [...]
UK banks ‘draw up code of conduct’ for coronavirus business loan defaults July 6, 2020 UK banks are reportedly drawing up a code of conduct for pursuing businesses that default on government-backed coronavirus interruption loans, amid concerns that a high proportion of the loans will never be repaid. Industry body UK Finance and the state-owned British Business Bank (BBB) have begun talks with commercial lenders in the hope of setting [...]
Banks push Britain and EU to sort out financial market access July 6, 2020 Britain and the European Union must make progress on post-Brexit financial market access as the coronavirus pandemic will make it even harder to cope with potential disruptions if no deal is reached, a banking lobby group said today. Continued uncertainty over the pair’s future relationship combined with the economic downturn caused by Covid-19 could “aggravate [...]
Lloyds chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio to step down next year July 6, 2020 Lloyds chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio will step down in 2021 after a decade at the helm, the bank said this morning. The lender also announced the appointment of industry veteran Robin Budenberg as its new chairman, who will take over from Lord Norman Blackwell next year. Read more: FCA puts UK banks on notice on [...]
Asian markets jump as Chinese blue chips hit five-year high July 6, 2020 Asian markets climbed to four-month highs on Monday as investors bet on a revival in Chinese activity to sustain global growth, even as coronavirus cases continued to surge in the US. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan climbed 1.5 per cent to its highest since February, while Chinese blue chip stocks surged 4.7 [...]
European politicians reject banking regulator candidate for a second time July 3, 2020 A panel of European Union politicians has rejected the candidate for executive director of the bloc’s banking regulator for the second time, in a bid to attract more women to top EU jobs. The European Parliament’s economic affairs committee voted by 24 to 23 to recommend that the full parliament rejects Francois-Louis Michaud as the [...]
HSBC to invest further in China amid row over support for Hong Kong law July 3, 2020 HSBC has announced plans to make new investments in its wealth management and insurance operations in mainland China, after coming under fire for backing the controversial new security law in Hong Kong. The UK-based lender has been criticised by investors and politicians over its support for the new National Security Law in Hong Kong, which [...]
Hong Kong man charged with terrorism in first use of new security law July 3, 2020 A man carrying a sign reading “Liberate Hong Kong” as he drove a motorbike into police at a protest has become the first person charged with inciting separatism and terrorism under a new security law. Beijing imposed the legislation on the former British colony earlier this week despite protests from Hong Kongers and Western nations, [...]
