UK banks reduce fossil fuel financing 31 per cent last year – but will the trend continue? April 13, 2023 Most of the UK’s largest banks cut back on fossil fuel financing last year but activists argue the sector needs to make firmer commitments to ensure it meets its net zero commitments. According to an annual report from the Rainforest Action Network, the FTSE 100’s five banking giants lent $35.7bn to fossil fuel companies in [...]
CBI crisis deepens as police now investigating misconduct claims after Danker’s dismissal April 12, 2023 Police have launched an investigation after the Confederation of British Industry sacked boss Tony Danker and suspended three other employees following a series of misconduct allegations. The board of the business group said Mr Danker’s conduct “fell short” of what was expected of him and said there had been “serious failings” in how it acted [...]
Flight to safety: Money market funds see 5,998 per cent inflow in first quarter April 11, 2023 Money market funds and short term money market products have seen a staggering 5,988 per cent increase in net flows in the first quarter, according to data from Hargreaves Lansdown Money market funds invest in high-quality, short-term debt, and they generally offer slightly higher returns than bank deposits. As interest rates have risen at their [...]
Netflix and starve: Cash strapped Brits cut back on groceries and spend more on TV subscriptions April 11, 2023 Cash strapped Brits have cut back on grocery shopping and dining out last month, but spent more on streaming services services Netflix. Consumer card spending grew just 4.0 per cent year-on-year in March, less than half of the latest inflation rate of 9.2 per cent, as the cost of living crisis drives consumers to cut [...]
CBI boss Tony Danker ‘dismissed with immediate effect’ amid investigation into sexual misconduct claims April 11, 2023 Tony Danker has been “dismissed with immediate effect” as head of the CBI following an investigation into workplace misconduct. It comes after the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Britain’s biggest trade body, launched an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. Danker stepped aside as director general amid allegations of misconduct in March, while three other [...]
Junior doctors launch four-day strike over pay: What does it mean for you? April 11, 2023 Junior doctors across England have launched a four-day strike in a worsening dispute over pay which threatens huge disruption to the NHS. An estimated 350,000 appointments, including operations, will be cancelled as a result of the walkout by members of the British Medical Association (BMA). Doctors mounted picket lines outside hospitals from 7am on Tuesday [...]
Why has an Enfield Barclays branch been given Grade 2 listed status? April 10, 2023 An “exuberant” Barclays branch in London, home to the world’s first automated teller machine (ATM), has been given heritage status as the number of ATMs around the country continues to decline. The bank branch, situated at 20 The Town, Enfield, was fitted with the world’s first ATM in 1967 by the actor and comedian [...]
Four-day junior doctor strike could impact ‘patient safety’ April 8, 2023 Up to a quarter of a million appointments and operations could be postponed due to four days of strikes by junior doctors, the NHS Confederation has warned, amid fears over patient safety. Dr Layla McCay, director of policy at the confederation, said health bosses were more concerned about the impact of the latest walkout – [...]
Is it over now? Where next for the banking crisis in Europe April 7, 2023 Is that it? After a few weeks of exhilarating volatility, European banking stocks have settled into a more reliable pattern. It seems dramatic regulatory interventions have stemmed the possibility of immediate financial difficulties. The question now is whether the events of the past few weeks are symptoms of wider financial problems which will be brought [...]
Barclays shareholders urged to vote against excessive executive pay package after ex-CFO cost bank millions April 6, 2023 Glass Lewis has recommended that Barclays’ shareholders vote against a pay plan for its executive team, citing excessive pay for its former finance chief who was in charge when a trading blunder ended up costing the bank hundreds of millions. While Barclays docked £1m from the pay of its top executives in February, proxy advisor [...]