Eurotunnel’s ferries are set to be banned from crossing the Channel May 20, 2014 EUROTUNNEL’S ferry service is heading for the rocks after the British competition watchdog said the firm controls too much of the cross-Channel travel market. The Competition and Markets Authority said it intends to uphold an earlier ruling that will force Eurotunnel to halt its MyFerryLink services within six months. Eurotunnel said the market has undergone [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 20 May 2014 May 19, 2014 FINANCIAL TIMES EU banks face debt sale clampdown European regulators are seeking to clamp down on the sale of debt by banks to their own retail customers, amid fears savers do not realise the risks posed by such assets. The European Banking Authority is concerned about the sale of bank debt that could be bailed [...]
MPs quiz Ofgem boss on energy competition and prices May 13, 2014 Ofgem’s chief executive Dermot Nolan faced a grilling from a committee of MPs earlier today, who questioned the timing of – and motivation behind – the regulator’s decision to refer competition in the retail energy market to the Competition and Markets Authority in March. Nolan – who joked that he was “a masochist” for taking [...]
How London’s housing crisis threatens City businesses May 12, 2014 The high cost of London housing is affecting the capital's competitiveness, according to a new report from the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Soaring house price increases have outstripped wage increases, and so make "living in London unaffordable for many, affecting both employees and employers." 42 per cent of London businesses feel that their [...]
Market authority set to greenlight Sky Europe deal May 11, 2014 THE UK’s newly established Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) yesterday said it would likely greenlight a deal by Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox to consolidate its pay-TV European holdings were it to be approved by the EC. In 2010, European authorities approved News Corp’s bid to take full control of BSkyB. Murdoch is said to [...]
Centrica slides after surprise profit warning May 8, 2014 CENTRICA’S share price dropped yesterday, after the energy giant issued its second profit morning in six months. The FTSE 100 firm, which owns big six supplier British Gas, said lower energy consumption due to mild winter weather in the UK and losses from its UK gas-fired power stations had caused the company to lower its [...]
Why making it easier to volunteer would narrow Britain’s gender pay gap May 1, 2014 WILL the Conservatives’ flagship initiative, the Big Society, again occupy a prominent position in the upcoming elections? In deciding, the Tories might like to consult the surprising results of our recent research on volunteer work. We asked the following question: when you work for free to help others in society, does it also increase your [...]
How to narrow the gender pay gap by encouraging volunteering May 1, 2014 WILL the Conservatives’ flagship initiative, the Big Society, again occupy a prominent position in the upcoming elections? In deciding, the Tories might like to consult the surprising results of our recent research on volunteer work. We asked the following question: when you work for free to help others in society, does it also increase your [...]
Why Britain shouldn’t fear a stronger pound April 30, 2014 THE RISING pound is causing some concern. “City squeezed by stronger pound” proclaimed the headline in Monday’s City A.M. – reporting the impact of sterling’s rise on the translation of overseas profits. There have also been worries that a rising pound could stifle the recovery of manufacturing output and exports. So what are the facts? [...]
Watchdog hires two city veterans April 23, 2014 THE CITY watchdog has hired veteran investment banker Gunner Burkhart (left) as an adviser on wholesale and markets issues. Burkhart has worked at Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Asset Management, Lehman Brothers and most recently Nomura. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has also hired ex-Competition Commission boss David Saunders to study competition.