Why leaving the EU will undermine London’s global competitiveness June 2, 2016 London is at the forefront of the huge changes buffeting our society and our economy, as we confront and cope with the realities of globalisation. India and China, and the emerging economies of Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Brazil and others, are overturning Europe’s traditional dominance. In Africa, Senegal, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia all had growth [...]
Tyrie writes to regulators over crowdfunding fears June 1, 2016 Treasury Committee chair Andrew Tyrie has raised fears of insufficient regulation around crowdfunding in letters to the chief executives of the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulatory. In letters dated 1 June, Tyrie has asked the regulators to question whether they are paying enough attention to the risks associated with the growth of peer-to-peer [...]
EU membership matters to Britain’s advanced manufacturers – and it’s about far more than the Single Market June 1, 2016 A car consists of elements and components that have been sourced from right across the globe. The metal that forms the panels will have been quarried as an ore in one place, been through a foundry in another before being pressed into shape somewhere else. It will then be fitted with an engine that has [...]
Megabrew: South African regulator provisionally clears AB InBev’s £71bn takeover of SABMiller May 31, 2016 Anheuser-Busch InBev’s megabrew takeover of SABMiller took a step closer to completion today after the Competition Commission of South Africa provisionally approved the £71bn deal. The South African antitrust regulator has recommended to the country’s Competition Tribunal, which will make the final decision on the merger, that the proposed tie-up be approved with conditions. The conditions [...]
One year after Amber Rudd challenged the Big Six energy providers over pricing, there is still more to do to get a better deal for energy consumers May 31, 2016 One year ago, energy secretary Amber Rudd wrote to the Big Six to demand why hard-pressed consumers weren’t seeing bigger reductions in their gas and electricity bills. Fresh to her role in charge of the department for energy and climate change, she challenged suppliers to explain why they had failed to pass on significant wholesale [...]
Why the City of London will be better off if we leave the European Union May 31, 2016 Too much of the debate about what the European Union referendum means for the City has been frustratingly narrow and short-term, confined to the immediate financial implications of leaving. Far too little attention has been paid to the longer-term health of the City, in particular the implications of remaining inside the EU. Inside the EU, [...]
Privatising the Land Registry sounds like a great idea – but this is why it’s not May 27, 2016 It not uncommon to read about government policy decisions and count yourself lucky that you’re not the one making them. But when it comes to the current debate over whether to privatise the Land Registry, while a good idea on the surface, rejecting this proposal should be a no-brainer. It may not be a conundrum on [...]
David Cameron’s former adviser Steve Hilton says we need to rip up the banking system to promote competition May 25, 2016 David Cameron's former adviser Steve Hilton has branded the banking sector a "stitched-up, corrupt cartel" that needs to be completely overhauled. In an interview with City A.M.'s Bespoke magazine, Hilton, who this week declared his support for Vote Leave, labelled the industry chronically uncompetitive, and said that new regulations, such as America’s Dodd-Frank reforms, are making the [...]
City Moves for 25 May 2016 | Who’s switching jobs May 25, 2016 Carter Jonas Carter Jonas has recruited Paul Astbury as a partner and new head of compulsory purchase, working within its infrastructure team. Paul, who will be based out of Carter Jonas’ HQ in London, will work closely with the planning and development teams across the country, providing a market-leading compulsory purchase service to local authorities [...]
Bank customers missing out on financial advice as mobile channel fails to drive engagement May 24, 2016 Banks are failing to provide customers with enough financial advice, a new survey has shown. The second annual Performance Against Customer Expectations (PACE) index from banking software firm FIS has revealed 82 per cent of UK banking customers receive no financial advice as the fast growing mobile channel struggles to offer the same level of engagement [...]