Mark Carney’s net zero group disputes data showing only 7 per cent of banks’ energy financing goes to renewables January 24, 2023 Only seven per cent of global banks’ energy financing between 2016 and 2022 went towards renewable energy projects, according to new data, although Mark Carney’s net zero financial coalition has disputed the claim. A report by a group of campaign groups, including BankTrack and Rainforest Action Network, indicates “major failings” by financial institutions to help [...]
Asda owners explore £13bn merger with petrol business EG Group January 22, 2023 Asda’s owners are exploring merging the business with petrol forecourts business EG Group before EG’s 2025’s £7bn refinancing, The Times reported on Saturday. The two businesses are both jointly owned by Mohsin and Zuber Issa and private-equity company TDR Capital. The paper said the merger would create a business worth between £11bn and £13bn, with [...]
Sports TV: What’s on, what time is it on, where to watch? January 20, 2023 European rugby groups conclude this week as the sports schedule begins to look towards February. There’s free-to-air football on the television while the Australian Open continues. Here’s what you need to add to your sporting calendar this weekend. Rugby: Harlequins v Sharks, Saturday This weekend sees the final round of the group stages of rugby [...]
Tech Nation ‘working round clock to secure future’ after Govt strips it of £12m contract and awards it to Barclays January 20, 2023 Start-up body Tech Nation said it is facing an existential crisis and was scrambling to secure funding for its future today, after the government stripped it of a major £12m government contract and handed it to Barclays. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) confirmed it had handed the new tech deal to Barclays [...]
Where are Lloyds and Halifax closing 40 branches in 2023 and what does the high street exodus mean for you? January 20, 2023 Lloyds Banking Group said it will close a further 40 branches this year, as the exodus of banking branches from Britain’s high streets continues. Lloyds will close the doors at 22 branches while there will be 18 closures at Halifax. The branches will be closed between April and June this year. The bank noted that [...]
UK banks’ shares slide on fears of recession and bad debt January 19, 2023 UK banks’ share prices dipped on Thursday as increasing fears of recession, bad debt and a fairly poor set of US bank earnings this week spooked investors. Barclays shed 2.8 per cent, HSBC 0.6 per cent and Standard Chartered 0.8 per cent. Domestic-focused lenders Lloyds and Natwest also traded lower, finishing down 1.0 per cent [...]
The Square Mile and Me: David Postings on Barclays, the Jampot and watching Wolves January 19, 2023 This week David Postings, UK Finance CEO, tells us why he's pining for southern Spain, Sweetings remains a top spot and the City should be optimistic
US lawsuit alleges Jes Staley saw Jeffrey Epstein abuse young women – report January 18, 2023 A US lawsuit filed today has accused former head of Barclays Jes Staley of “personally observ[ing] the sexual abuse of young women” by Jeffrey Epstein. Staley is named in a lawsuit filed by one of Epstein’s victims, known as Jane Doe 1, who is suing JP Morgan for allegedly facilitating her sexual abuse. Staley was [...]
Which senior bankers have made the trip to Davos? January 16, 2023 The world’s rich and powerful return to Davos this week as the world grapples with a challenging set of economic issues. The topic for this year’s meeting – which has returned to its normal January timeslot – is Cooperation in a Fragmented World. The basic tenet guiding the meeting is that “the current crises, [...]
Barclays’ staff shortages force it to turn away new business January 16, 2023 Barclays has been turning away companies with more than one director apply for new bank accounts as staff shortages have left the lender unable to complete anything but the most basic background checks. Barclays has struggled to open new business accounts for more than four months, and will probably continue to reject companies with more [...]