Lloyds reprivatisation expected to raise over £3.2bn September 16, 2013 A statement from the government agency managing the state's stake in Lloyds has given the green light to the chancellor to begin reprivatising state-backed bank Lloyds. UK Financial Investments (UKFI) has given the nod shortly after the Office for Fair Trading said that TSB should be given more financial help by parent Lloyds. Our banking [...]
Barclays faces £50m fines over “reckless” Qatari agreements September 16, 2013 Barclays has announced that it expects fines of £50m over payments between Qatar and the bank, where a regulator found that the bank had "acted recklessly", in a right issue prospectus released today. The bank said that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) had investigated agreements entered into by Barclays with Qatar Holding in June and [...]
Barclays expects £50m fine over Qatari payments investigation September 16, 2013 Barclays banks has confirmed that it faces fines of £50m over payments between Qatar and the bank, in a right issue prospectus released today. The FCA has investigated certain agreements, including two advisory services agreements entered into by Barclays Bank with Qatar Holding LLC (“Qatar Holding”) in June and October 2008 respectively, and whether these [...]
Lib Dems look to up tax on cider with reclassification September 16, 2013 One of the more bizarre recommendations from the Liberal Democrat party conference comes in the form of a push to redefine cider, revealed in notes first published by City A.M.. We want to alter the definition of cider for duty purposes to exclude the mass-produced, lower quality products from the beneficial low duty rates (compared [...]
Barclays sees significant drop in investment bank income September 16, 2013 It's prospectus release day for Barclays – as they prepare to raise £5.8bn of capital through a rights issue (release). In an update on their current trading and prospects, things are looking less than rosy at the bank's investment banking arm: The Group's adjusted income for July and August 2013 was £0.5 billion lower than [...]
Soak the rich: Lib Dem plans to hit those earning over £50,000 with higher tax bills September 16, 2013 In notes first published by City A.M., it has been revealed that the Liberal Democrats are looking for those earning over £50,000 to pay more in tax. The Liberal Democrat press team calls this "looking at how the richest … could make a further contribution". In these difficult times, it is important that everyone makes [...]
Victory for Clegg on economics as left-leaning Lib Dems fail to scupper motion September 16, 2013 Liberal Democrats have supported Nick Clegg's motion "Strengthening the UK Economy" (pages 37-39). The proposed and largely rejected changes – put forward by the left-leaning faction the Social Liberal Forum (SLF) – are below. The party leadership were happy to accept the first amendment if the first four lines of that did not pass, and [...]
Lib Dem lines to take for interviews – in full September 16, 2013 The Lib Dems appear to have given journalists their full lines to take for every interview: Five things to remember for every interview This conference sees the party in a confident mood We have a strong record of achievement in Government Our priorities are jobs and easing the squeeze on household budgets Labour cannot be [...]
Anglo American withdraws from Alaskan copper project September 16, 2013 Miner Anglo American has announced that it is withdrawing from its Pebble copper project in Alaska (release). he Pebble Limited Partnership (PLP) was created in 2007 between AA Pebble and an affiliate of Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. ("Northern Dynasty"), who are equal partners in PLP. Following the withdrawal, PLP will proceed under the sole ownership of [...]
Regulator launches investigation into PwC audit of Berkeley September 16, 2013 Regulators have announced the launch of an investigation into auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) (release). The Financial Reporting Council is looking into PwC's audit of Berkeley. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has launched an investigation under the Accountancy Scheme into whether PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was independent when it conducted the audit of The Berkeley Group Holdings plc’s financial [...]
