What Storm Katie? FTSE 100 opens higher as insurers Prudential, RSA and Standard Life rise March 29, 2016 The FTSE 100 was 0.5 per cent higher in mid-morning, at 6,136.6 points, as insurers led the index higher – despite the UK taking a battering from Storm Katie over the weekend. Prudential led the risers, up 2.3 per cent at 1,305p – while RSA Insurance rose 1.9 per cent to 476p, and Standard Life was up [...]
Why those with a head for compliance and regulation are in hot demand, as skills shortages cause salaries to rise March 29, 2016 Believe it or not, the red tape brigade look set to become the rock stars of the City as a study out today has found that demand for highly-skilled compliance professionals is outpacing supply. The report by specialist recruiter Barclay Simpson discovered that three-quarters (75 per cent) of managers believe that workers skilled in compliance are [...]
Barclays warns of oil prices falling back to the low $30s per barrel as investors “rush for exits” March 29, 2016 Barclays has warned oil prices could be heading back towards $30 per barrel, ending this year's rally which has sent the black stuff up around 50 per cent. The investment bank has predicted a broad-based plunge in commodity prices, arguing that the recent gains fail to correspond with market fundamentals. It said this could lead to a mass [...]
Barclays sued by Syrian billionaire Wafic Saïd over blacklisting after 40 year relationship March 23, 2016 Barclays is being sued by one of its oldest and richest customers, Syrian-born billionaire businessman and philanthropist Wafic Saïd after the bank cut ties with him after a 40 year relationship. Saïd, a 76-year-old Monaco resident and Conservative-party donor, today instructed his lawyers to file proceedings at the High Court in London according to a statement released by public [...]
Google’s Android Pay is coming to the UK, letting you pay with mobile on the Tube and across the high street, including Pret, Starbucks, Waitrose and more March 23, 2016 Users of Android will soon be able to use their smartphone to pay for items and even travel to work, as Google prepares to launch Android Pay in the UK following hot on the heels of Apple Pay. Google said it will roll out "in the coming months" with the backing of Britain's biggest banks, but did not [...]
Micro Focus share price rises after UK company announces $540m deal to acquire US firm Serena Software March 22, 2016 UK software company Micro Focus has announced a $540m (£379m) deal to acquire US firm Serena Software. Privately-owned Serena Software is headquartered in California, but is managed from Hillsboro, Oregon, and St Albans in the UK. It also operates in 10 other countries. Serena reported revenues of $176.2m in the year to 31 January 2015 and adjusted [...]
Moody’s: Conduct litigation charges for Lloyds, HSBC, Barclays, RBS and Santander UK rose 40 per cent to £15bn last year March 22, 2016 Legal fees and remediation costs for conduct issues will continue to pose downside risks for Britain's biggest banks, Moody's Investors Service is warning today. In a new report out this morning, the credit rating giant said conduct charges are on the rise – and will continue to constrain profitability at the UK's five largest lenders for years [...]
30% Club founder Helena Morrissey warns plans to link bonuses to gender equality targets may backfire as Virgin Money boss Jayne-Anne Gadhia publishes women in finance review March 22, 2016 Proposals for bonuses to be tied to the number of senior women at financial institutions have been criticised by top City figures, who say the move threatens to deter women from working in the Square Mile. In a government-backed review out today, Virgin Money chief exec Jayne-Anne Gadhia recommends financial services firms “connect parts of [...]
Peg bonuses to gender targets: Bank boss reveals plan, but fellow City leaders warn it could backfire March 21, 2016 Proposals for bonuses to be tied to the number of senior women at financial institutions have been criticised by top City figures, who say the move threatens to deter women from working in the Square Mile. In a government-backed review out today, Virgin Money chief exec Jayne-Anne Gadhia recommends financial services firms “connect parts of the remuneration [...]
Euribor trials: European arrest warrants secured for the five former traders who declined to appear at court hearing in January March 20, 2016 The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has secured European arrest warrants for five former traders who declined to attend a court date earlier this year. The fraud squad obtained the warrants from a London court late last week in relation to four Germans and one Frenchman accused of playing a role in manipulating the Euro Interbank [...]