Top Hong Kong official to take over as FCA chair July 8, 2022 The Financial Conduct Authority has announced today that one of Hong Kong’s top financial officials will take over as chair of the watchdog next year.
‘Pump-price competition is broken’: AA disagrees with watchdog’s verdict that 5p tax duty cut WAS passed on at the pump July 8, 2022 Motoring groups have disagreed with Competition and Markets Authority’s verdict that the 5p fuel duty cut was reflected in pump prices, as the watchdog calls for further investigation and more transparency. The CMA’s urgent review, ordered by Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, found an increase “refining spread” added 24p a litre to petrol and diesel over [...]
EU’s stamp of approval for digital laws risks putting the UK behind July 7, 2022 The European Parliament gave the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA) the final green light this week, setting out key obligations on Big Tech.
Fund managers call for FCA blockchain taskforce in plans for ‘Investment Fund 3.0’ July 7, 2022 The UK’s top investment body called on government and regulators to harness the benefit of cryptocurrencies and decentralised finance today, as it claimed the industry was on the cusp of a “major technological transformation”.
UK competition watchdog opens EU copycat investigation into Amazon July 6, 2022 The UK competition watchdog launched an investigation into whether Amazon has a dominant market position this morning and if it was abusing this power. The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) probe will hinge on whether the US giant is giving an unfair advantage to its own retail business or sellers, compared to other third-party sellers [...]
UK competition watchdog digs into Microsoft’s £58bn mega deal with Activision Blizzard July 6, 2022 Microsoft is under the spotlight of UK’s competition watchdog after snapping up “Call of Duty” maker Activision Blizzard for $68.7bn (£57.8bn) earlier this year in the biggest deal in gaming history. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it had until 1 September to make a call on whether the deal would reduce competition in [...]
Petrol prices drop slightly for first time since April, but motoring associations say it’s not enough July 6, 2022 Petrol prices have slightly dropped for the first time since mid-April, according to reports from motoring association the AA. Figures have shown that the average price of a litre of petrol at UK pumps went down by 0.3p between Sunday and Monday. The price of petrol yesterday was around 191.3p, well below Sunday’s record price [...]
New research warns fresh Digital Markets Unit risks stifling UK innovation July 6, 2022 A new report has warned that proposals to introduce a new Digital Markets Unit (DMU), housed at the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), will have dire consequences for innovation, investment and dynamism in the digital sector.
Petrol June surge smashes previous records July 6, 2022 The average cost of a litre of petrol has jumped 16.6p in June, smashing previous records, according to data released today. Figures from the RAC Fuel Watch revealed that petrol costs surged from 174.8p to 191.4p, meaning that the cost of filling up a family car has increased by £9 in 30 days to £105.29. [...]
Police vow to act ‘promptly’ against drivers who don’t pay for fuel at pump despite ‘difficulties’ investigating July 4, 2022 The police have vowed to act “promptly” against anyone caught driving off from petrol stations without paying amid soaring prices. The force admitted there “can be difficulties in investigating” the crime in part because each incident is different is handled by a different force across the country. This comes as motorways across the country were [...]