Wettest February on record leads to poor month for retail March 5, 2024 New figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) showed that retail sales increased 1.1 per cent in the year to February, down from 5.2 per cent last year and below the three-month average of 1.4 per cent.
Regulator hits KPMG and partner with near £2m in sanctions over M&C Saatchi scandal March 4, 2024 The accountancy regulator has fined KPMG and a partner over its audit of advertising agency M&C Saatchi. Back in 2019, the Big Four firm resigned as the ad giant’s auditor amid an accounting scandal which saw the company set aside £6.4m after it had spotted an error in its accounts. The business had also overstated [...]
UK must embrace open finance to be a global fintech leader and boost IPOs, industry chief says February 29, 2024 Open finance is key to making the UK a global leader in fintech and unlocking more public listings, the boss of a government-backed industry hub has told City A.M., as the sector struggles to lure investors.
Homebase could be on the market again after £1 sale February 27, 2024 Homebase could reportedly be put up for sale again after it was sold for £1 to Hilco Capital back in 2018. A number of parties have reportedly held talks with the restructuring giant about snapping up the garden chain including The Range and B&M Bargains. It was reported by The Times that there was speculation [...]
Audit fees for London-listed firms skyrocketed by 75 per cent since 2017 February 26, 2024 Over the last five years there has been a significant increase in the fees paid by London-listed companies to auditing firms, due to the increase in both financial reporting requirements and auditing standards. According to a report by the Quoted Companies Alliance, its sample of 220 listed companies across the main market, AIM and Aquis, [...]
UK consumer confidence falls in February as technical recession is a bummer for Brits February 23, 2024 UK consumer confidence fell two points in February as reports of a technical recession dampened hopes.
Lloyds, HSBC, Barclays and Natwest post record £44bn profits from global interest rate hikes February 22, 2024 The UK's biggest banks notched their highest combined annual profits ever last year as interest rate hikes around the world gave lenders gaping margins.
Major GB snowsport sponsor calls on London to back British athletes February 20, 2024 One of British snowsports’ biggest sponsors has called on the City of London, the capital and other big businesses to back the country’s athletes and help to build on their underdog success in winter sports. With winter sports in the UK granted a fraction of the funding that their summer counterparts receive, athletes such as [...]
Deloitte set to shrink UK deals unit after profitability review February 18, 2024 Consultancy firm Deloitte is set to downsize its UK deals unit following a profitability review.
Bank of England still on course for May interest rate cut despite strong pay growth February 13, 2024 In the final quarter of last year, regular pay dropped to 6.2 per cent from 6.7 per cent, above the Bank of England's forecast of six per cent. Not a big overshoot, but an overshoot nonetheless.