Bank of England holds interest rates amid Brexit deadlock despite sunnier economic data March 21, 2019 The Bank of England's monetary policy committee (MPC) has voted unanimously to hold interest rates at their current level of 0.75 per cent, after weighing up “mixed” economic data, it said today. Read more: Government borrowing falls to fresh 17-year low The central bank said it will not change its primary bank rate from where [...]
UK retail sales grow as consumers shrug off Brexit worries March 21, 2019 British retail sales showed strong growth last month compared to a year before, in a sign that consumers remain unaffected by the Brexit impasse. The quantity of goods UK shoppers bought increased by 0.4 per cent in February compared to January, with strong growth in non-store retailing and fuel, figures released today by the Office [...]
The FCA has to show it really means business March 20, 2019 THE CITY watchdog is back in the doghouse again following the collapse of mini-bonds lender London Capital & Finance (LC&F). Yesterday, Treasury Select Committee chair Nicky Morgan MP wrote to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Treasury demanding an investigation into possible “regulatory failings” surrounding the lender’s collapse. Read more: Nicky Morgan calls for [...]
City Moves for 20 March – who’s switching jobs at Crowell & Moring, Delta Capita and DWF? March 20, 2019 Who’s switching jobs today? Crowell & Moring Andrew Knight is joining Crowell & Moring’s London office as a partner in its corporate and financial services practices to strengthen the firm’s ability to advise clients on debt finance and asset-based lending.His practice focuses on international financial law in the context of asset-based lending, syndications, restructurings, loan [...]
Barclays rallies shareholders to vote down Ed Bramson’s ‘destructive and destabilising’ board bid March 19, 2019 Barclays has issued a plea to shareholders to reject Ed Bramson’s bid for a seat on the board, warning his presence would be “destabilising and destructive” to the bank. The bank published a comprehensive 1,500 words explanation as to why shareholders should fend off the activist investor’s advances at its AGM in May. Bramson, whose [...]
UBS fined £27.6m by City watchdog for transaction reporting failures March 19, 2019 UBS has been fined £27.59m by the City watchdog for misreporting 135.8m transactions. The Swiss investment bank failed to provide complete and accurate information in relation to 86.6m reportable transactions, and also wrongly reported 49.1m transactions over a period of nine years and six months, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said. Read more: Former graduate [...]
Theresa May gathers cabinet after Bercow deals fresh blow to her Brexit deal March 19, 2019 Theresa May is set to push on with her deal despite Commons speaker John Bercow threatening to derail the process yesterday. Read more: 'Constitutional crisis' as Bercow blocks another vote on May's Brexit deal Today Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay suggested a vote could occur next week despite Bercow saying “substantial changes” must be made to [...]
Brexit delay on the way after MPs back Theresa May’s postponement plan March 14, 2019 MPs have given the green light for Brexit to be delayed beyond March 29, but the divisions at the heart of Theresa May’s government were once again laid bare. The Commons voted 413 to 202 in favour of asking the EU to postpone the Brexit date – either by three months if MPs back a deal by [...]
One Savings Bank and Charter Court announce terms of £1.6bn merger March 14, 2019 Challenger banks One Savings Bank and Charter Court have confirmed the terms of a £1.6bn merger. Following the completion of the deal One Savings Bank shareholders will own around 55 per cent of the combined company, the firm announced as it posted its full-year results for 2018. Read more: One Savings Bank and Charter Court [...]
City Moves for 14 March 2019 – Who’s switching jobs at Marex Spectron, Digital Catapult and Clifford Chance? March 14, 2019 Today's City Moves include Marex Spectron, Digital Catapult and Clifford Chance. Marex Spectron Marex Spectron has announced the appointment of Carla Stent as non-executive chair of the group board. Carla, who has sat on the board for the past four years and was until recently chair of the audit and compliance committee, takes over from Simon [...]