Bank of England warns lenders of ‘fiendishly unpredictable’ risks from climate change July 4, 2023 The Bank of England has cautioned lenders that they need to keep a close eye on commodities and private credit to avoid financial problems. Speaking at a UK Finance event, Nathanaël Benjamin – who is responsible for authorising the UK arms of international banks – warned there were a range of dangers facing banks. Benjamin [...]
FTSE 100 close: London index’s downbeat run extends into second half of 2023 July 3, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 kicked off the second half of the year in subdued style today, despite a rally among Britain’s largest banks and industrial giants. The capital’s premier index was up for most of the day, before eventually closing marginally lower, down 0.06 per cent to 7,527.27 points. The domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which [...]
HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds and NatWest under fire for ‘measly’ savings rates… again July 3, 2023 Banks are in the firing line for low savings rates once again after the big four lenders received another letter from the influential Treasury Committee. Writing to the UK heads of the big four banks, Harriet Baldwin – chair of the Treasury Committee – said the Committee was “concerned that banks’ savings rates remain too [...]
FCA: Insurers must put ‘wrongs right’ and are failing the vulnerable in cost of living squeeze July 3, 2023 Insurers are failing vulnerable customers and need to put “wrongs right” as Brits are hammered by a cost of living crunch, the Financial Conduct Authority has warned today.
Higher interest rates tipped to accelerate UK house price decline in quiet week for City July 3, 2023 Higher interest rates are set to accelerate UK house prices’ decline, new figures in what will be a quiet week for markets are expected to reveal. Analysts at consultancy Oxford Economics reckon Halifax’s house price data on Friday will show they dropped 2.5 per cent over the last year and 0.1 per cent over the [...]
London life back on top as country homes drop in price July 3, 2023 Soaring interest rates have softened the prices of luxury homes outside of London, according to new data, in a signal that the ‘move to the country’ trend fuelled by the pandemic is showing signs of slowing. The average value of luxury homes across UK markets outside of London – broadly the top five per cent [...]
Exclusive: London businesses shake off UK economic doom and gloom July 3, 2023 London businesses are shaking off all the doom and gloom swirling around the UK economy and are poised to power the country’s recovery, exclusive research shared with City A.M. has found. The capital’s firms are standing up to rising costs and shaky consumer demand, but are still alive to inflationary threats, according to the London [...]
Tories facing biggest by-election defeat in UK history as Nadine Dorries’ seat goes up for grabs July 3, 2023 The Conservative Party is facing the biggest by-election defeat in British history in Nadine Dorries’ Mid Bedfordshire seat, pollsters at Opinium have warned. Labour is set to overturn the former culture secretary’s 24,664 majority in the ‘safe’ seat, which has voted blue since 1931. Adam Drumming, from Opinium, said: “The Conservatives are holding onto just [...]
Sizing up Whitehall: a Labour reshuffle must focus on potential ministers July 3, 2023 In his next reshuffle, Keir Starmer must choose where to position his allies keeping in mind they might become his Cabinet if Labour wins the next elections, writes Eliot Wilson
Insurers back Bank of England Brexit Solvency II reforms and new investment push June 30, 2023 Insurers welcomed proposals released yesterday detailing potential post-Brexit reforms to the EU’s Solvency II regime. The EU’s Solvency II regime imposed rules on how much capital insurers had to hold and where it could be invested. Plans to reform the regime were announced last year and are designed to unlock billions in capital from the [...]