Ofgem demands Ovo Energy tackles unresolved customer complaints August 21, 2023 Ofgem has ordered one of the UK's largest energy firms to improve its customer service after 'serious' concerns were raised.
‘Clouds are lifting’: UBS looks back to the stock market as recession risks recede August 21, 2023 The “clouds have started to lift” on the global economy and investors are beginning to warm to the idea of backing stocks again, according to a UBS executive.
Retail shares may rise as profit upgrades boost investor confidence August 21, 2023 Retail shares could shoot up over the coming months despite recessionary headwinds, reports from City analysts suggest. Analysts at Peel Hunt said the market was “undervalued,” following a season of profit downgrades issued by major UK retailers that sent investor conference sinking. Many retailers were hit hard by red-hot inflation which led consumers to be [...]
Public firms could be allowed to extract £50bn from staff pension schemes in bid to boost investment August 21, 2023 Public firms could be permitted to withdraw up to £50bn from staff pension schemes if government plans for a sweeping shake up of the industry’s rules go ahead. Returns on investments in government bonds – known as gilts – have seen workplace pension schemes go from being well in the red to significantly cashed up [...]
Ryanair and Wizz Air the worst offenders as airlines face ‘drip selling’ allegations August 21, 2023 European airlines have come under fire for ‘drip-selling’ after a report revealed 97 per cent of carriers on the continent are charging at least one “hidden fee” for their services amid already-rising air fares. Drip selling refers to companies hiding the true cost of products and services, by proclaiming one price initially but then charging [...]
Mass tech layoffs appear to be over – so when will the hiring start again? August 21, 2023 The episode of mass job cuts across the tech sector appears to have drawn to a close, with some research firms halting their regular data updates on tech layoffs. Tech analysts at Bernstein Research declared the “magnitude of tech layoffs” has settled after its peak in January, in an email sent to clients last Friday [...]
Aviva’s UK unit testing AI for ‘quicker solutions’ August 21, 2023 The head of Aviva’s UK unit has revealed that the insurance giant is experimenting with artificial intelligence across its business. Adam Winslow, CEO of Aviva UK & Ireland General Insurance, told the Insurance Post that virtual assistants and chatbots were the “obvious next step” for offering customers “quicker solutions to whatever their query is”. “There [...]
Goldman Sachs weighs investment adviser sale as it doubles down on ultra-rich clients August 21, 2023 Goldman Sachs is weighing the sale of a part of its wealth business catering to high net worth clients, it said on Monday, as it shifts its focus back to serving the ultra-rich. The Wall Street bank is evaluating alternatives for its registered investment adviser unit, called Personal Financial Management (PFM), which manages about $29bn (£22.8bn), [...]
Markets look for clues on future direction of interest rates as central bankers meet for Jackson Hole Symposium August 21, 2023 Central bankers from around the world will descend on Wyoming for the annual central banking jamboree later this week, with markets looking closely for any signals about the future direction of interest rates. Last year the discussion focused on the near certain recession that commentators thought would develop in the face of rapidly rising interest [...]
UK competition agency clears Broadcom’s £54bn deal for VMware August 21, 2023 Broadcom’s proposed purchase of VMware would not substantially reduce competition in the supply of server hardware components in the UK, the industry regulator has said. The UK’s competition watchdog has cleared the largest deal in its history as it said that the tie-up of US companies Broadcom and VMware would not damage UK competition. The [...]
