Many questions remain unanswered – and unconsidered – on access to financial services, finds report published by watchdog May 24, 2016 The financial industry is not asking the right questions to address problems with access to services, a report published by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) today argues. The study cautions that those organisations which could help to improve the financial services marketplace need to be more strategic in their approach and urges stakeholders, including the government, regulators [...]
Shareholders grant their blessing to Royal Dutch Shell’s executive pay, but here’s why some investors are not happy May 24, 2016 Royal Dutch Shell's resolution on executive pay was passed with relative ease at its AGM today, but some investors are less than pleased about what the company had to offer. Royal London Asset Management, which holds shares worth £936m in the oil company, has revealed that it voted against the resolution relating to the directors' remuneration [...]
How your pension could cost you £13,500 May 24, 2016 Those who haven't reviewed their pension contributions since a string of rule changes came into force earlier this year could find themselves facing a hefty tax bill, a London accountancy firm is warning today. Blick Rothenberg has cautioned that people who haven't altered the amount they are topping up their pension pot with since the annual allowance was lowered [...]
US serves up profits for HomeServe May 24, 2016 HomeServe today announced that its profits and revenues have edged up for the year ending in March, with its US business performing particularly well. The home emergency repairs company revealed that its revenues had grown to £633.2m, up eight per cent on £584.2m the year before. Meanwhile, reported profits before tax inched up to £82.6m, also an increase [...]
PPF and administrator in discussions over possibly placing BHS into liquidation May 24, 2016 The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) is in talks with BHS' administrators over placing the retailer into liquidation, as fears grow that the company cannot be saved. The PPF, which is the company's largest unsecured creditor, is thought to have entered the discussion because it wants to maximise the potential returns for creditors. The conversations between the [...]
Expats told they cannot appeal to Supreme Court for right to vote in EU referendum May 24, 2016 Two British expats have today been blocked from appealing to the Supreme Court over their right to vote in the upcoming EU referendum, on the grounds that there is no basis in law for them to do so. In April, the High Court decided that expats who have lived outside of the UK for more than 15 years should not be allowed [...]
Fraud squad governance much improved since David Green’s appointment, finds report May 24, 2016 Governance at the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has improved significantly since the appointment of David Green as director, a report out today has found. The HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate report discovered that the fraud squad had achieved a fundamental shift in its leadership over the last four years. In particular, the report praises the agency for [...]
Poor disclosure of people issues is leaving investors at a third of FTSE 100 companies in the dark May 24, 2016 Annual reports at a third of FTSE 100 firms are giving investors an inaccurate overview by withholding relevant information, a study out today has found. The research by the Valuing Your Talent partnership – which consists of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and the Chartered Management [...]
Libor latest: Accused ex-Barclays trader says he was just doing what he was trained to May 23, 2016 A former Barclays trader accused of Libor-rigging related offences told the court today that email requests by staff for certain rates were indicative of what they were trained to do. Jay Merchant, along with fellow former traders Stylianos Contogoulas, Alex Pabon and Ryan Reich and former Libor submitter Jonathan Mathew, is standing trial charged with conspiracy to defraud [...]
