Bank of England orders lenders to strengthen reserves amid ‘deteriorating’ economy July 5, 2022 The Bank of England yesterday ordered lenders to fortify their defences in preparation for the looming economic downturn, warning the City against “excessive” cuts in lending to households and businesses. The central bank, which oversees Britain’s banking sector and the country’s monetary policy, doubled the proportion of money lenders need to keep in reserve to [...]
Venues plead Chancellor to reduce tax burden as pubs and restaurants face ‘bleak summer’ July 4, 2022 Night time economy bosses have urged the Chancellor to slash VAT to 12.5 per cent in a bid to help businesses recover to their pre-Covid glory. Pleas for help from sector leaders followed reports last week that Downing Street was mulling reducing the headline rate temporarily to help UK households navigate the cost of living [...]
UK Finance chair Bob Wigley: We need to create ‘reasons for banks to be in London’ July 4, 2022 Bob Wigley, a seasoned City veteran, knows a thing or two about banking. He has chaired UK Finance, the British banking sector’s representative body, since its creation in 2017 by condensing several lobby groups into one. He was also instrumental in setting up TheCityUK, spent over a decade with investment banking giant Merrill Lynch and [...]
UK banks’ profits surge past French rivals for first time since before Brexit vote July 4, 2022 Profits at Britain’s banks have topped their French counterparts for the first time since before the Brexit vote, reveals a fresh study published today. The UK’s largest lenders posted pre-tax profits of $55.1bn (£45.6bn) last year, slightly higher than the $54.8bn (£45.3bn) registered by French banks, according to The Banker’s annual top 1,000 world bank [...]
Sainsbury’s and M&S walk into shareholder storm over minimum living wage versus bumper bonuses July 4, 2022 As activists mobilise in the first shareholder resolution of its kind, supermarket giant Sainsbury’s will be put under pressure this week to pay all staff and contracted workers the national living wage. Responsible investment campaign group ShareAction is driving the experimental motion at the supermarket giant’s annual general meeting on Thursday 7 July. Legal & [...]
Sainsbury’s and M&S walk into shareholder storm over minimum living wage versus bumper bonuses July 1, 2022 Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s will be put under pressure next week to pay all staff and contracted workers the national living wage, as activists mobilise in the first shareholder resolution of its kind. Responsible investment campaign group ShareAction is driving the experimental motion at the supermarket giant’s annual general meeting on Thursday 7 July. Legal & [...]
No 10 moves towards VAT cuts for millions of Brits as cost of living crisis rages July 1, 2022 Downing Street is proposing to reduce value-added tax in an effort to ease the cost of living. The Prime Minister’s chief of staff Steve Barclay suggested reducing the 20% headline rate of tax temporarily, The Times reported on Thursday. He said the temporary cut would bring down the tax bill for millions across the UK [...]
Barclays fights cost of living crisis with £1,200 pay rise for 35,000 employees June 30, 2022 Barclays is giving 35,000 of its UK-based staff a £1,200 pay rise to tackle the cost of living. The banking giant will provide this salary increase to customer-facing, branch, and junior support workers from 1 August. “Barclays will continue to monitor the economic situation globally and consider our approach to pay in each country in [...]
‘I’m left wondering what price The Hundred franchises could one day fetch’ June 30, 2022 “What does Ed Warner know about tennis?” What indeed? My critique last week of the Lawn Tennis Association’s performance drew this feisty query in the Sport inc. comment section from Tom (no surname provided). It also garnered a response column in City A.M. from the LTA’s CEO, Scott Lloyd. Both Tom (no surname provided) and [...]
Wise profit leaps as news of fintech chief’s FCA tax probe settles June 28, 2022 Fintech giant Wise today revealed profits hit £371.9m last year on the back of a surge in revenues and customer growth. The London-listed fintech said gross profit rose 43 per cent on 2021 levels while revenues topped £559.9m, up a third on last year. Customer numbers meanwhile hit 4.6m in the last quarter of 2022 [...]