Knowledge of financial markets desirable but not essential for new FCA boss February 18, 2020 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) today published an advert for its top job where it listed familiarity with the workings of financial services and markets as “desirable” but not essential. Outgoing FCA chief executive Andrew Bailey is joining the Bank of England next month to replace Mark Carney as governor. Bailey’s tenure at the FCA [...]
Retail investors exposed to too much risk, says City watchdog February 18, 2020 Retail investors are being pushed into purchasing higher risk products that expose them to more risk than they can afford, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has warned. In its annual report on the areas that could harm consumers, the City watchdog said that the sale of “unsuitable or fraudulent products” represents the most significant harm [...]
Responsible innovation: how can European asset managers lead? February 18, 2020 By Alejandro Hiniesto, CFA, Fabrizio Palmucci, CFA and Rhodri Preece, CFA Technology, regulation, and competition, as well as macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds, mean the investment industry stands at a pivotal juncture. Pressure on profit margins and evolving client expectations serve to underscore that ‘business as usual’ is no longer sufficient. How can firms and practitioners adapt? Responsible [...]
Tesco ‘unlawfully’ blocked rivals from opening nearby stores, CMA finds February 14, 2020 Tesco has been told to stop illegally blocking rival supermarkets from buying its land or leasing nearby sites by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). An investigation from the competition regulator found that Tesco had blocked access to rivals using restrictive contracts on 23 occasions. The UK’s biggest supermarket chain has agreed to take action [...]
Water industry hits back at Ofwat over price determinations February 14, 2020 Two more water companies have referred Ofwat to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) today over its five-year financial plan for the sector, after Yorkshire Water did so on Monday. Both Anglian and Northumbrian Water have referred the regulator’s price determinations, with the latter claiming that the plan runs “contrary to the long term best [...]
CMA approves £1.2bn Stonegate pub merger deal February 14, 2020 The owner of Slug & Lettuce has today been cleared to takeover Ei Group in a move that would make it the UK’s largest pub company. Last year the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a probe into Stonegate’s £1.2bn deal to buy Ei’s assets over fears that it could damage competition in 51 local [...]
Google gets the green light for $2.6bn Looker acquisition February 13, 2020 Google today completed its $2.6bn (£2bn) acquisition of analytics firm Looker after the deal was approved by the competition watchdog. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened an investigation into the merger in December amid concerns it could damage competition in the UK’s cloud computing market. However the regulator today said it had cleared the [...]
Takeaway.com looks ahead to Just Eat after rise in revenue February 13, 2020 Takeaway.com saw a sharp rise in revenue prior to its merger with UK peer Just Eat. The figures Takeaway processed 159.2m orders in 2019, representing a 70 per cent compared with the year before. The average commission rate increased to 12.6 per cent in 2019 from 12.1 per cent in 2018, mainly driven by an [...]
JD Sports may have to sell off Footasylum, says CMA February 11, 2020 Shoppers could be worse off online and in store if JD Sports’ acquisition of Footasylum goes ahead, the UK’s competition watchdog found today. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) warned the merger could lead to fewer discounts and worse customer service, as well as less choice in its preliminary ruling. “We’re currently concerned that shoppers [...]
Competition watchdog tells Viagogo and Stubhub to pause merger February 10, 2020 The UK’s competition watchdog has told ticket resale websites Viagogo and Ebay’s Stubhub to pause any integration of the two businesses while it probes their $4.1bn (£3.2bn) merger. In an enforcement order published today, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) banned the two firms from taking any action which might “lead to the integration of [...]