Tara Cemlyn-Jones takes aim at the gender gap March 16, 2022 This article first appeared in ICAS’ CA magazine. Fintech specialist and former investment banker Tara Cemlyn-Jones co-founded the 25×25 initiative with a target of 25 female FTSE 100 CEOs by 2025. She talks to Lysanne Currie about the progress made and the critical role of data. Just over two years ago, prior to pandemic lockdowns, a [...]
New business growth in London at eight year high amid concern about inflation and input costs March 14, 2022 New business activity in the capital has reached an eight-year high, but optimism remains cautious with rising inflation and pressures on input costs. There has been a resurgence in trade across the London, with growth rising from 57.3 per cent in January to a three month high of 63 per cent, in February. Growth reported [...]
Letters: Can we be friends again? February 25, 2022 [Re: UK’s leading fintech bosses call on government to ramp up efforts to overhaul regulation, Feb 21] I’m surprised to see fintech leaders calling on the government to overhaul regulation. A year on from the Kalifa Review, and with investment hitting a record $37.3bn in 2021, the UK’s fintech space is thriving. I’d argue this [...]
Lloyds Bank’s profits in the lift as lender’s mortgage book surges to £293bn February 24, 2022 Lloyds Banking Group has become the latest lending giant to post a bumper annual profit haul after releasing Covid loan loss provisions thanks to the UK’s economic recovery. The group has reported pre-tax profits surging to £6.9bn in 2021, up from £1.2bn the previous year after releasing Covid loan loss provisions thanks to the UK [...]
City banks launch record recruitment drive February 24, 2022 The City banking jobs market is booming as lenders rush to reverse jobs cuts launched during the pandemic, reveals fresh figures published today. The UK’s top banks are looking to hire nearly 3,000 new candidates, according to research by recruiter Morgan McKinley and Vacancysoft. A shortage of skilled workers is intensifying competition between City banks [...]
Barclays freezes ex-boss Staley’s bonus until Epstein dispute resolution February 23, 2022 Barclays has frozen all scheduled bonus payments to its former boss Jes Staley until a dispute between he and Britain’s financial regulators over the way he characterised his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is resolved. The high street lender said today all bonus payments, which amount to around 70 per cent of Staley’s total [...]
London indexes slump amid Russia-Ukraine escalation February 21, 2022 London’s top indexes plunged yesterday as investors were spooked by an apparent escalation in Russia-Ukraine tensions. The capital’s premier FTSE 100 index lost 0.39 per cent to dip to 7,484.33 points, while the domestically-focused FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, dropped 1.24 per cent to 21,097.19 points. [...]
Oil remains well above $90 per barrel amid looming prospect of war in Ukraine February 21, 2022 Oil remains stable with prices hovering near the seven-year highs recorded last week amid continued concerns over supply.
More banker bonuses on the way this week February 21, 2022 Big banker bonuses are back on the table amid a robust rebound in lenders’ profits, annual results are expected to reveal this week. The City is expecting Barclays, which publishes finals on Wednesday, to register a £8.1bn profit haul, up sharply from £3.1bn in 2020 when the pandemic sent the banking sector spiralling. Investors will [...]
Natwest reveals £1bn cut in lending to oil and gas sector February 18, 2022 NatWest cut lending to the oil and gas sector by 21 per cent in 2021, with the bank pushing to decarbonise its loan book and hit net zero.