HSBC scraps executive floor in Canary Wharf in favour of hot-desking April 19, 2021 HSBC has scrapped the entire executive floor at its Canary Wharf headquarters in the latest change to its post-pandemic working practices. The 42nd floor, which was previously home to executives, will be used for client meeting rooms and collaborative spaces while top managers will hot desk on the open-plan 40th floor. “Our offices were empty [...]
National Audit Office launches investigation into Greensill’s involvement in Covid loan schemes April 16, 2021 The National Audit Office (NAO) has launched a probe into supply chain finance firm Greensill Capital following its collapse. Last month the supply chain finance firm appointed Grant Thornton as its administrators, warning it is in “severe financial distress” as its practices came under severe scrutiny. Now the NAO will investigate Greensill’s involvement in the [...]
UK population growth hit record low, ONS data suggests April 16, 2021 The UK population grew by just 0.5 per cent from 2019 to June last year, in what would be one of the smallest increases on record. Preliminary analysis by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) suggested that the population grew by 316,000 people, to 67.1m in total. “There is significant interest in what impact the [...]
EU will pursue legal action over Brexit rules in Northern Ireland for ‘as long as necessary’ April 16, 2021 The EU this morning warned that it would continue to pursue legal action against the UK “for as long as necessary” over post-Brexit trade issues in Northern Ireland. In talks last night, European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic urged his British counterpart David Frost to pursue jointly agreed solutions to the issues. In a statement [...]
City of London Corporation appoints new top team to lead transformational change April 16, 2021 Following its decision in December 2020 to endorse a new Operating Model, the City of London Corporation’s governing Court of Common Council today welcomed the appointment of eight new senior officers and formally confirmed the appointment of the first woman as Chamberlain, the Corporation’s Chief Financial Officer, since the post was created in 1237. Chair [...]
Looking for a fresh outlook for your business? April 15, 2021 With many businesses re-evaluating their ways of working and their property requirementspost Covid, there is a real ripple effect being felt in small suburban towns. Start up rates are rocketing, home workers are accessing local services, spending priorities and consumer behaviour has changed; the impacts are only just beginning to emerge and businesses will almost [...]
Wall Street opens flat as big banks kick off earnings season April 14, 2021 U.S. stock indexes opened flat today as Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan kicked off the first-quarter corporate earnings season, against the backdrop of a swift vaccine-led global economic recovery The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 8.32 points, or 0.02 per cent, at the open to 33,668.95. The S&P 500 opened lower by 0.01 points, or -0.00 [...]
City Moves: Who is switching jobs in the Square Mile this week? April 14, 2021 Snakes and Ladders provides a roundup of the most important hires and job moves across the City, every Wednesday afternoon. Email citymoves@cityam.com to be featured. John Lewis hires ex-Experian lead John Lewis has appointed a new director of financial services in London this week, who will step into the new role on 14 June. Amir Goshtai, who joins [...]
Judge to decide if PwC US lawfully sacked whistleblower April 14, 2021 Following a nine-day trial, a judge will decide if PwC US broke the law by firing a senior manager for blowing the whistle on the Big Four firm’s allegedly cosy relationship with two tech companies it audited. Former PwC senior manager Mauro Botta accused audit giant of firing him because he submitted complaints to the [...]
EU property giants make €1.6bn move for London’s Globalworth April 14, 2021 Czech CPI Property Group and German real estate company Aroundtown SA have confirmed a €1.57bn cash offer for London-listed Globalworth Real Estate Investments this morning. The offer will go through CPI-owned Zakiono, giving the Cyprus-incorporated company 2.8m shares – which represents around 1.28 per cent of the company. CPI and Aroundtown currently hold 113.8m Globalworth [...]