Don’t listen to the naysayers: The City is Brexit-proof and will remain the world’s financial hub February 5, 2018 The City of London is in a strong position to maintain its status as the world’s financial capital. Many of the City’s strengths are deeply embedded and therefore “Brexit-proof”. Moreover, London is in pole position to become the centre of global fintech. But we cannot be complacent. The international environment is competitive. The biggest challenge [...]
‘Supermarket giants doomed’ – no, just history repeating February 2, 2018 Investors, analysts, journalists or other market commentators often become convinced some scenario or trend definitely will or will not play out. Check back a few years later, however – always anyone bothers – and that certainty may prove unwarranted. Three or four years ago, for example, many were arguing it was ‘game over’ for supermarket [...]
One month after the Mifid II tsunami, the City is keeping its head above water February 2, 2018 This Saturday, City workers will be able to celebrate surviving through one month of a dreaded new regulatory environment. Bankers, traders and fund managers were welcomed back from the Christmas break – if they were lucky enough to have one – by the second Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, or Mifid II, touted as the [...]
Digital Innovators: Q&A with Julian Ranger, executive chairman and founder of digi.me February 1, 2018 digi.me enables the Internet of Me by putting individuals at the centre of their digital life, owning and controlling their own data. Last year digi.me was identified as one of 50 of the freshest and most inspiring digital companies using technology and innovation to shake up their sectors in our Digital Innovators Power List. Following [...]
SSE share price up as it starts early talks with the CMA over its merger with Npower January 31, 2018 SSE has revealed it is in early talks with the competitions watchdog over its plan to merge and spin off its household energy supply and services businesses with German-owned Npower. The firm, Britain’s second-largest energy supplier, announced late last year that it planned to create an independent supplier with Germany’s Innogy. SSE said it has [...]
Challenger bank Paragon boosts mortgage lending despite crackdown on buy-to-let loans January 23, 2018 Mortgage specialist Paragon has pulled a rabbit out of the hat once more, as it has boosted mortgage lending by 84 per cent year-on-year despite a government crackdown in its core buy-to-let market. The challenger bank increased its buy-to-let mortgage book by 85 per cent to £342.9m, battling through stricter underwriting rules introduced by the [...]
Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox takeover of Sky would be against the public interest, says Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) January 23, 2018 An initial report from the competition watchdog has found the merger of Fox and Sky in its current form would result in the Murdoch family and too much influence over public opinion and news providers in the UK. Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox plans to take control of the 61 per cent of shares it [...]
Boom time: Clear Bank founder Nick Ogden on his efforts to start a British banking revolution January 15, 2018 Even in the ancient world of City banking, 250 years is a long time. Yet that was how long the UK has had to wait for a new clearing bank until Nick Ogden launched Clear Bank out of the blue last year. A decades-long consolidation of clearing banks – which provide banking services to other [...]
Gina Miller is planning to sue the FCA over its lenient approach to new Mifid II regulation January 15, 2018 Brexit campaigner Gina Miller has once again stolen the limelight, with a plan to sue the City watchdog over its lenient approach to new regulation. Miller, who came to public fame after winning a high-profile case which ruled that parliament had to legislate before the government could begin to withdraw the UK from the EU, [...]
Open Banking explained: Everything you need to know about the initiative but were afraid to ask January 12, 2018 You'll be hearing a lot of talk about Open Banking, which is set for take off this Saturday. Here's everything you need to know about it but were afraid to ask. What exactly is Open Banking? The markets watchdog told nine of the biggest banks that they must open up the information they hold so [...]