Chief executive turnover in decline as more firms hire from within July 11, 2019 The turnover rate among chief executives is in decline as blue-chip firms increasingly turn to internal candidates for the top jobs. New figures published today revealed the turnover rate for FTSE 100 chief executives over the past year was just 10 per cent, down from 14 per cent in the previous 12 months. Read more: [...]
US stock markets hit record highs as Fed chair hints at rate cuts July 10, 2019 Chairman of the US Federal Reserve Jay Powell has boosted the market’s expectations that the first interest rate cut in ten years will come this month with a gloomy testimony to a congressional committee. Read more: Fed holds interest rates but hints at future cuts In a prepared statement Powell said “trade tensions and concerns [...]
Swiss stocks buoyant despite Berne-Brussels bust-up July 9, 2019 For a market locked in a bitter battle with the European Union, Switzerland’s top-flight share index is looking remarkably chipper. But then, this may have something to do with the fact that since the breakdown of relations between Berne and Brussels, anyone wanting to deal in Swiss company stocks has to do so inside Switzerland’s [...]
City Moves for 2 July – Who’s switching jobs? July 2, 2019 Today’s City Moves includes Weatherbys Private Bank, Personal Group and Ocean Outdoor Weatherbys Private Bank David Green has joined Weatherbys Private Bank as head of credit from C. Hoare and Co and will be responsible for ensuring that the bank’s prudent and responsible approach to lending continues. Prior to nearly 19 years at C. Hoare [...]
CVC abandons IPO or sale of Domestic and General after tepid investor response June 18, 2019 A sluggish response from investors has forced one of Britain’s biggest home appliance insurers to abandon plans for a public float as soon as this month which it hoped would value it at more than £1bn. Domestic and General has decided in the last few days to shelve the plans, Sky News reported. Read more: [...]
Bad debt insurance claims at highest since 2009 June 14, 2019 The number of insurance claims made this year by UK businesses facing bad debts has reached its highest level in ten years, figures published today show. In the first quarter 57 firms every day were helped by trade credit insurers, data from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) show. The high volume of claims is [...]
Philip Hammond’s virtue signalling on low pay is hypocritical June 7, 2019 Philip Hammond may soon be out of a job. In fact, I would be very surprised if he remains chancellor of the Exchequer for more than a day or two after our new Prime Minister is chosen. Hammond is fond of reminding his critics that his demise has been predicted before. Yet while the Tory [...]
French bank Credit Agricole raises profit target to €5bn by 2022 June 6, 2019 French bank Credit Agricole has increased its profit target to €5bn (£4.34bn) by 2022 after reaching this year’s goal ahead of schedule. The bank reached its 2019 targets a year early and has unveiled higher profit targets for the next three years. Read more: European Central Bank fines Credit Agricole for reporting errors Its new [...]
Rise in customers with multiple current accounts as fintech boom hits high street banks June 3, 2019 An increasing number of Britons now have products from a range of different financial providers, as the rise in fintech has shifted the focus away from traditional high street banks. Research by peer-to-peer lending firm Zopa revealed one in three Brits holds two or more current accounts, an increase of 36 per cent on the [...]
Uber partners with insurtech startup to offer digital insurance May 30, 2019 Ride sharing giant Uber has struck a deal with a US insurtech startup to offer digital insurance for its drivers. Inshur uses information about average trips, locations and driver ratings in near real-time to calculate the price of the driver’s policy. Read more: Uber facing £1bn VAT tax bill after HMRC opens investigation The startup [...]