Watchdogs with City past wanted: FCA fines top £1.47bn as experience of executives called into question December 15, 2014 The City watchdog has issued over £1.47bn worth of fines to financial services firms so far this year, while issuing over 100 disciplinary measures such as bans. But, its critics say, it has done all this with an organisation that is lacking in commercial experience on its executive committee, its most senior board of full-time [...]
The FTSE 100 slumps to a new yearly low amid crumbling oil prices December 15, 2014 Britain's FTSE 100 closed down again today taking the index to its lowest level this year, as crumbling oil prices and fresh concerns about Russia's economy scared investors. The FTSE 100 shed another 1.9 per cent to close down 117.9 points at 6,182.7 which was its lowest closing level since mid-2013. It fell 6.6 per [...]
The UK has the most valuable online shopping market in the developed world December 12, 2014 The UK spends more money per head online than any other developed country, with the average Brit spending £2,000 per year on the likes of Amazon, Asos and John Lewis. In the UK, 59 per cent of people said that they had use online shopping at least once a week to buy products, according to [...]
Brits spend £2,000 on online goods December 11, 2014 PEOPLE in the UK spend an average of £1,968 online on goods from the likes of Amazon, Tesco and Asos every year, far more than people in the US, France or South Korea. Australia followed in second place with an average spend of £1,356 and the US came in third with an average spend of [...]
FTSE falls back but airlines soar after Osborne’s tax cut – London Report December 3, 2014 LONDON’S top share index edged down from a one-week high yesterday, with moves in stocks exposed to measures announced in the Autumn Statement dominating in an otherwise quiet session. The blue chip FTSE 100 index closed down 0.4 per cent at 6,716.63 points. Large-cap airlines easyJet, up 2.46 per cent at 1,668p, and British Airways [...]
Exclusive: TalkTalk chief Dido Harding says watchdog must consider BT and Openreach split December 2, 2014 TalkTalk chief executive Dido Harding has called on Ofcom to consider the separation of BT and its infrastructure arm Openreach, a move she said could create a new FTSE 100 business better incentivised for consumers. Her call comes as BT is believed to be considering asking the regulator for permission to fold its wholesale arm [...]
Ed Richards delivers blow to Royal Mail as Ofcom rejects competition claims and launches investigation December 2, 2014 The postal service is finding it tough grappling with rivals while having to provide the universal service. Royal Mail was hit by a double-whammy of bad news yesterday after Ofcom rejected its claims that competition was undermining its ability to deliver a nationwide service. On top of that rejection, the regulator said it was launching [...]
Royal Mail share price drops as Ofcom says the postal service “isn’t under threat” December 2, 2014 The UK’s postal service is not under threat, Ofcom has said, delivering a blow for Royal Mail, whose boss Moya Green told MPs it faced competitors which made a universal service “unfinanceable and uneconomic”. Shares in the newly-privatised Royal Mail fell 3.2 per cent in mid-morning trading, after it emerged its complaints competitors were undercutting [...]
Broadband industry slams BT’s monopoly for stifling innovation November 23, 2014 A trade group comprised of a dozen British telecoms firms, including Sky, Vodafone and TalkTalk, yesterday labelled BT’s control of national infrastructure a “monopoly position” that blocked competition and restricted innovation. The UK Competitive Telecommunications Association (UKCTA) called on Ofcom to let its members lay their own cables in BT ducts, use their own equipment [...]
Ofcom appoints Steve Unger as CEO until next year November 19, 2014 Communications watchdog Ofcom yesterday announced the appointment of Steve Unger as interim chief executive until the post is filled permanently in early 2015. He will replace Ed Richards who leaves his post at the end of the year. Unger is currently director of the strategy, international, technology and economist group at the regulator. Richards resigned [...]