Small business confidence slumps amid rising rates and stubborn inflation July 26, 2023 Confidence among small businesses slumped in the second quarter as the impact of rising rates and a stalling economy hit SMEs. The Federation of Small Business’s (FSB) Small Business Index fell to minus 14.2 points in the second quarter, down 11.4 points in the first quarter of the year. The fall in confidence reflects the [...]
Three quarters of UK small businesses want to spread their deposits after SVB collapse, research shows July 26, 2023 Three quarters of small businesses in the UK are considering spreading their deposits among a range of different banks following March’s banking crisis. According to new research from payments provider Neo, 75 per cent of UK SMEs are considering diversifying their bank pool while six per cent already have. Neo surveyed 100 CFOs and treasurers [...]
New SFO director has ‘a massive mountain to climb’ as the anti-fraud agency looks to rebuild July 26, 2023 The new director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) faces a herculean task in rebuilding the agency’s reputation after a number of failures over the last few years, top City lawyers have warned. Earlier this month Nick Ephgrave, the former assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, was appointed as the next director of the agency [...]
Rose has made a stupid error, but Natwest’s decision is fine for now July 26, 2023 Polticians getting grouchy about anonymous leaks – you couldn’t make it up. What Alison Rose has confessed to doing, in the white heat of a media storm, was unwise. Her job at the top of an FCA-regulated entity requires her to be alive to risk, integrity and professionalism, and on that note she has failed. [...]
Borrowing a Netflix password? You’re part of a generation of customer frauds July 26, 2023 You'd think it's only criminal gangs committing fraud, but if you are returning clothes after wearing them or sharing your Netflix password with friends, you're effectively doing the same, writes Martin Sweeney
A chief exec pay boost won’t make up for ministers failing to stick up for scale-up firms July 26, 2023 Adding an extra zero onto chief executives’ salaries won’t restore the London Stock Exchange to its former glory.
Business groups cheer plans to speed up planning process for big infrastructure projects July 25, 2023 Top business groups have welcomed government plans to speed up the planning process for key infrastructure projects as a “major signal” on green growth. Ministers want to overhaul the system and create a new fast-track route for major schemes, such as offshore wind farms, transport connections, waste facilities and nuclear power stations. Prime minister Rishi [...]
Tory MPs pile pressure on Sunak to retain green policies July 25, 2023 Senior Tory MPs have warned Rishi Sunak against backing away from policies aimed at tackling climate change. Labour’s loss in the recent Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election has been interpreted by some as a de-facto referendum on the controversial ULEZ expansion. Danny Beales, who lost to the Conservative candidate Steve Tuckwell by just 495 votes, [...]
AMTE Power secures fresh £1m loan from investors as it scrambles to avoid administration July 25, 2023 AMTE Power has announced a fresh loan facility from a US asset manager, an eleventh hour lifeline as it scrambles to secure its future.
LVMH: Demand for leather sends revenues soaring £36.2bn July 25, 2023 Revenues at LVMH reached €42.2bn (£36.2bn) in the first half of the year, as the luxury conglomerate was boosted by demand for leather handbags and fashion goods. The company, which is owned by one of the richest men in the world, Bernard Arnault, said that revenue was up 15 per cent compared to last year [...]
