As households cut spending, the big beasts of insurance need to get up to speed October 7, 2022 When the economy is fragile, sectors must adapt. This is a truism repeated again and again because it is the nature of financial growth and innovation. As household budgets shrink, customers are shopping around for better deals – for food, for bills and almost all other outgoings. Insurance is no exception, though it is unique [...]
Letters: Covering up the faulty cover October 7, 2022 [Re: FCA vows to take action against insurers falling short on business interruption claims, Oct 4] During the pandemic, businesses faced unprecedented disruptions to their supply chain, some had to close and many perceived a lack of support from their insurers during their time of need. Insurers argued that pandemic impacts were not anticipated or [...]
Pound slumps against US dollar after Fitch sounds alarm on UK finances October 6, 2022 The pound slumped against the US dollar today while UK debt sold off after one of the world’s top credit rating agencies issued a sombre warning to investors about the country’s finances. Sterling weakened 1.55 per cent against the greenback to buy 1.115. It fell by a slightly smaller amount against the euro too. The [...]
FCA slaps City broker with £531,000 fine over missing suspicious transactions October 6, 2022 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has slapped City stock broker Sigma with a £531,000 fine after it failed to identify 97 suspicious transactions. The watchdog also found the firm guilty of inadequately reporting 56,000 contracts for difference – an insurance tool used by market participants – between December 2014 and August 2016. Both former and [...]
Matrixport secures $50m insurance cover for Cactus Custody digital assets October 6, 2022 Matrixport has secured $50m of insurance coverage for digital assets held in cold storage with Cactus Custody, its institutional custodian.
Lloyd’s of London investigates possible cyberattack October 6, 2022 Lloyd’s of London has launched an investigation into “unusual activity on its networks” that could possibly be linked to a cyberattack. The centuries-old insurance marketplace said it has “turned off” all external connectivity and has begun “resetting the Lloyd’s network and systems” as a “precautionary measure,” whilst it investigates the possible hack. “We have informed [...]
Amazon to pay staff £500 cost of living payment as union urges tech giant to do more October 6, 2022 Amazon will make a one-off payment of up to £500 for its hourly paid employees to help them with the cost of living crunch while it attempts to fend off union criticism on pay. Employees will receive two instalments of £250, one this month and one later in December. It comes as Amazon has received [...]
Truss ‘giving with one hand and taking with other’ through stealth taxes, IFS says October 6, 2022 Liz Truss is “giving with one hand and taking with the other” by keeping stealth taxes, a new study out today reveals. Some £2 for every £1 returned to Brits in the prime minister and chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s tax cutting mini-budget will be lost to “fiscal drag,” the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said today. [...]
HSBC mulls ditching Canadian business amid Ping An breakup pressure October 5, 2022 HSBC is mulling hiving off its Canadian business in a move that could raise billions for Britain’s biggest bank. The banking giant has asked JP Morgan to identify possible buyers of its Canadian arm. Sky News first reported the news today. If HSBC did leave Canada – where it has built up a sizable £6bn [...]
FCA vows to take action against insurers falling short on business interruption claims October 4, 2022 The UK’s financial watchdog has warned insurers are falling short of its requirements in their handling of business interruption (BI) claims. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said it will “consider using all regulatory tools” it has available to ensure insurers meet its standards after a review carried out by the watchdog determined insurers have “fallen [...]