What’s behind market volatility in China? March 23, 2022 It’s been a rollercoaster week for Chinese stock markets. We explain why and get the views of Schroders’ experts Robin Parbrook, Maggie Zheng and David Rees. In the last week, equity markets in mainland China and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region have experienced a rout, and a subsequent rally in the past two days. At [...]
One in five Brits expect to fall into debt as cost of living soars March 22, 2022 One in five Brits are anticipating being plunged into debt by spiralling energy prices and the rising cost of living, fresh data has revealed.
Gazprom chases buyers amid mass exodus March 20, 2022 The British arm of Kremlin-backed gas giant Gazprom is scrambling to find buyers to prevent its collapse with customers fleeing the company.
Major shakeup is needed to fix the Big Four, expert says March 18, 2022 A prominent academic has called on the government to expedite its audit reforms, after arguing a serious shakeup is needed to prevent an “appalling” situation from getting worse. Speaking to City A.M. accountancy expert Professor Atul Shah said, “the record of the UK’s auditing industry has been appalling over the last two decades and it’s [...]
Big Four auditors EY, KPMG, Deloitte and PwC face SEC probe over conflicts-of-interest March 16, 2022 The US watchdog tasked with regulating financial markets has launched an investigation into potential conflicts of interest in the Big Four accountancy companies. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has set up a probe into whether the Big Four’s businesses selling consulting and non-audit services undermine their ability to provide objective and independent audits, [...]
Lambeth tower proposal causes resident rebellion March 15, 2022 A tower-block-proposal in Lambeth has come under fire from local residents, with attention turning to the record of council-owned housing company Homes for Lambeth. The proposal for three towers all above nine storeys will block sunlight reaching a nearby park, playground and school and involve the uprooting of 43 trees. Residents complain that the project [...]
UK accountancy watchdog fines KPMG £1.25m over audit of bar chain Revolution March 8, 2022 Britain’s accountancy watchdog today fined KPMG £1.25m over its audit of bar chain company Revolution. The UK’s Financial Reporting Council (FRC) fined Big Four accountancy giant KPMG £1.25m and former-KPMG director Michael Neil Frankish £50,000, over failures in the audit of Revolution Bars Group’s accounts for the financial year 2015/16. The fines come after FRC [...]
Ukraine war day four: Russian Army enters country’s second-largest city as fighting continues February 27, 2022 Russian troops have entered Ukraine’s second-largest city of Kharkiv and fighting is under way in the streets, Ukrainian authorities have said. Oleh Sinehubov, head of the Kharkiv regional administration, said Ukrainian forces are fighting Russian troops in the city and asked civilians not to leave their homes. Russian troops approached Kharkiv, which is located about [...]
Fall from your royal grace: York councillors taking steps to remove Prince Andrew’s 1987 freedom of the city February 19, 2022 Councillors in York have said this weekend that they are taking steps to remove the Duke of York’s freedom of the city. Prince Andrew was given the Honorary Freedom of the City of York in 1987 but Liberal Democrats, who form the largest group on City of York Council, said a motion to begin the [...]
UK government to set out plans for audit watchdog overhaul imminently after years of delays February 14, 2022 UK government ministers will set out their plans to reform regulation of the UK’s auditing industry within the coming weeks, after calls for an overhaul first emerged in 2018 in response to the collapse of UK construction contractor Carillion. The proposals are currently being circulated and are set to be signed off imminently, according to [...]