Bank of England to hike interest rates for 14th time in a row to 2008 high of 5.25 per cent July 31, 2023 The Bank of England this week is tipped to hike interest rates for the 14th time in a row as it extends its fight against roaring inflation. Members of the nine-strong monetary policy committee (MPC) are expected on Thursday to back a 25 basis point increase to the UK’s official interest rate, which would send [...]
Crying misogyny over Alison Rose’s downfall won’t do Labour any favours July 31, 2023 Rachel Reeves made a mistake in attributing Alison Rose's fate to misogyny. The government had a right to get involved in the Coutts saga, but Reeves was out of tune in her intervention, writes Eliot Wilson
Contrary to group think, businesses have a right to choose clients July 31, 2023 As Shakespeare would have surely written were he alive today, what a tangled web we weave, when we first practice to debank a former UKIP leader. The fallout from Nigel Farage’s highly publicised spat with Coutts and, in turn, Natwest, will continue for some time yet, but the details of the saga are less interesting [...]
Interest rate boost slowing for banks as changing customer behaviour cuts margins July 30, 2023 The UK’s high street banks have warned that the boon from rising interest rates might be coming to an end as changing customer behaviour and an increasingly competitive mortgage market hits margins. Natwest, Barclays and Lloyds recorded bumper profits last week, but investors were dismayed by the more cautious outlook. Both Natwest and Barclays UK [...]
Debanking: Number of account closures since 2016 skyrockets as banks take tough line on financial crime July 30, 2023 The number of bank accounts being closed climbed to nearly 350,000 last year as banks adopted an increasingly vigilant stance towards their customers. According to data from a freedom of information request submitted by the Daily Mail to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the number of accounts being closed has increased from under 50,000 in [...]
Not helpful if NatWest chair quits over Farage feud, says City minister July 29, 2023 It would not be “helpful” for the NatWest chairman to quit now as the bank seeks to rebound from the crisis over Nigel Farage’s Coutts bank account, the City minister has said. Andrew Griffith, who has led the Government’s response to the row, offered his backing to Sir Howard Davies after days of pressure on the [...]
Anti Brexit activist Gina Miller warns ‘we don’t have a functioning democracy’ after party’s Monzo account shut July 28, 2023 Anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller has warned that “we don’t have a functioning democracy” if new political parties cannot access banking services after she was told her own party’s account would be shut. The Government and financial services watchdog must step in and ensure new parties and MPs can access banking to be able to operate, [...]
I’m no fan of Nigel Farage, but he’s suddenly shown us how Bitcoin can safeguard our freedoms July 28, 2023 Nigel Green believes Nigel Farage has shown how Bitcoin emerges as a powerful and transformative force for financial good.
FTSE 100: London markets mixed as rate jitters soften Standard Chartered’s boost July 28, 2023 The FTSE 100 had a subdued start to the day as interest rate jitters rippled across the Atlantic and weighed down the boost of Standard Chartered and British Airways owner IAG.
Natwest chair Howard Davies WILL stay on after Nigel Farage Coutts scandal July 28, 2023 Natwest chair Howard Davies said he would stay on as boss of the bank’s board while the lender tries to recover from the scandal involving Nigel Farage’s Coutts bank account. Speaking to reporters after the bank published its results, Davies said “my intention is to continue to lead the board and ensure that the bank [...]