PwC global chair says firm ‘cannot rest on laurels’ as global revenues pass $40bn October 2, 2018 The global chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has said audit remains “at the heart of what we do”, after global revenues at the professional services giant rose above $40bn (£30.66bn) for the first time despite a series of accounting scandals. Total revenue across PwC’s international network of firms hit $41.3bn, a seven per cent rise in [...]
Aldi may drop prices to compete with Tesco’s new budget venture Jack’s October 1, 2018 Low-cost supermarket chain Aldi "will never be beaten on price", and could even drop them in response to Tesco's new low-cost venture Jack's, it said today. UK and Ireland chief executive Giles Hurley said Aldi welcomes competition from new players such as Jack's, adding: "If we need to reduce retail prices we will." Read more: Drastic Dave's no-frills move must [...]
Pressure mounts on the CMA to break up accountancy’s Big Four October 1, 2018 The UK’s competition body has been told to “bare its teeth” and investigate breaking up the Big Four accountancy firms, as it prepares to announce a decision on whether it will investigate the sector. Three senior politicians from across the main parties have called on the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to find ways to [...]
Business secretary Greg Clark orders competition watchdog to carry out review of audit sector September 29, 2018 Business secretary Greg Clark has ordered the competition watchdog to carry out a sweeping review of the UK's audit sector. In a year when the Big Four audit firms have been hit by numerous scandals, Clark has told Andrew Tyrie, head of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to carry out the review into competition in [...]
Citizen’s Advice Bureau launches super-complaint over £4bn consumer rip-off September 28, 2018 The Citizens Advice Bureau will today lodge a super-complaint with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over what it believes to be a £4bn annual loss to UK consumers. The claim sits across mobile, broadband, home insurance, mortgages and savings over the so-called loyalty penalty, which is the difference between what loyal and new customers [...]
Sainsbury’s-Asda merger will impact competition in 463 local areas, competition watchdog warns September 27, 2018 The UK competition authority today warned the mega merger between Asda and Sainsbury's could Seriously lessen competition in 463 local areas across the country. To solve the issue, the new business may have to sell off hundreds of the overlapping stores. Last week, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said its concerns around the merger were [...]
Mercer slams competition watchdog for data errors in pension fund industry investigation September 25, 2018 A leading player in the pension fund industry has slammed the competition watchdog for using inaccurate data in its probe into the sector. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) report released in July found that there was a lack of competition in the investment consultancy which could cause "material customer detriment". The UK chief [...]
EU regulator sets October deadline to rule on Sony’s EMI takeover September 25, 2018 Sony will find out by 26 October if its $2.3bn (£1.8bn) takeover of EMI Music Publishing will win approval from antitrust authorities. The European Commission set the provisional deadline after being formally notified of the deal on Friday. Sony is already a major shareholder in EMI, having bought 30 per cent of the firm [...]
Competition watchdog says proposed minicab cap would lead to fare hikes for Londoners September 24, 2018 The competition watchdog has criticised proposals to grant councils the power to cap the number of minicabs in the capital following a plea last month by London mayor Sadiq Khan. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) was responding to a government-commissioned review into taxi and PHV licensing after stakeholders suggested that current legislation was no longer fit for purpose. [...]
Why broadening your definition of risk might prove beneficial September 24, 2018 Risk. Many financial commentators and industry professionals agree it is one of the most important considerations for any investor. In our review of financial media, we see near-constant coverage of it—particularly the risk of loss. Commentary often dwells on the potential for current events to drive equity market declines, warning risks lurk. We, too, [...]