Your overdraft could be about to become cuddlier after the FCA outlined new rules November 3, 2016 Your overdraft could be about to become a lot friendlier, after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said it wants to improve competition in the market. This morning the FCA said it wants to improve transparency in the overdraft market by introducing a maximum monthly charge, which it hopes will increase customers' engagement with their "overdraft [...]
The influential Treasury Committee has launched a stinging attack on a probe into competition in retail banking November 2, 2016 An influential group of MPs has lashed out at a light-touch report into high street banking, days before the City watchdog publishes its verdict on the sector. Treasury Select Committee chair Andrew Tyrie said the failure of the Competition and Markets Authority to propose dramatic reform smacked of “complacency”, while Labour MP Rachel Reeves said the [...]
Lloyds Banking Group shares recover as profits slide and it puts £1bn aside for PPI claims October 26, 2016 Lloyds shares recovered from a drop this morning, after the bank revealed profits tumbled during its third quarter – and it set more money aside to cover payment protection insurance (PPI) claims. The figures Statutory pre-tax profits dropped to £811m for the three months to September, down 15 per cent from £958m the year before. Net interest income also [...]
Competition and Markets Authority launches probe into online betting companies’ complex small print October 21, 2016 Online gambling firms are facing a crackdown from the UK's consumer rights watchdog over fears they may be "conning" their customers with opaque and unfair terms and conditions. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has today launched an investigation into the £4bn a year industry after complaints were raised by the official regulatory body, the Gambling [...]
What the other papers say this morning October 20, 2016 Here are today's top stories from across the papers: Financial Times Wells Fargo boss apologises for scandal Wells Fargo’s new chief executive apologised yesterday to the bank’s 278,000 workers for the sales-fraud scandal that has engulfed the US bank. In his first big address to staff, Tim Sloan told an audience of 1,200 workers that [...]
How one buccaneering family dominated the UK scampi market October 20, 2016 "At the tender age of 32, I got involved in buying assets from the receivership of what was the Whitby Shellfish Company”, says Graham Whittle, founder of Whitby Seafoods. From relatively humble beginnings, in just over thirty years, the business has gone from one that was sinking to the biggest producer of scampi in the UK, [...]
Pass the popcorn: Competition watchdog considers AMC takeover of Odeon cinemas October 19, 2016 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an inquiry into AMC Theatres’ acquisition of Odeon. AMC agreed a £921m deal to buy Odeon from private equity group Terra Firma Capital Partners in July. Read more: AMC Theatres set to buy Odeon cinema chain in £921m deal The CMA today announced the launch of an [...]
Watchdog moves to quash misleading rankings in investment banking October 18, 2016 The City watchdog has today proposed putting an end to misleading league tables used by banks looking to woo clients. Publishing its final findings from its investment and corporate banking market study, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) noted it was not uncommon for banks to use league tables in pitches which inflated their performance, and added it [...]
Attempt to revamp retail banking was “feeble”, Treasury committee hears October 18, 2016 Recent efforts to improve banking for customers have been weak, the man at the helm of a leading consumer interest body has said today. Speaking in front of the Treasury Select Committee today, Peter Vicary-Smith, chief executive of Which?, slammed the Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) recent report into the retail banking sector as "feeble", remarking it [...]
Ladbrokes grows revenue in third quarter as it revs up for Gala Coral deal October 18, 2016 Ladbrokes said today that revenue grew for the fourth consecutive quarter in the three months to 30 September. The bookmaker reported a 12.1 per cent increase in group net revenue in the third quarter, and said it remains on track to meet full-year expectations. The company announced the figures as it prepared to sell off 185 [...]