IMF boss indicates opposition to Sunak’s call for City of London exemption to G7 tax deal June 13, 2021 The head of the International Monetary Fund has strongly indicated City of London firms should not be exempt from the global tax plan agreed at the G7, after Rishi Sunak called for a special carve-out for the UK’s financial services industry. When asked by City A.M. if she supported Sunak’s push, IMF managing director Kristalina [...]
BoE and BIS launch London banking hub for post-pandemic tech boom June 11, 2021 The Bank of England (BoE) and Bank for International Settlements (BIS) have launched a London coordination hub today, that seeks to coordinate central banks on technological innovation. The BIS Innovation Hub London Centre, the fourth new BIS Innovation Hub in two years, will help banks in the era of digital acceleration post-pandemic. “The UK is [...]
UK economy grew by 2.3 per cent in April as high street and hospitality reopened June 11, 2021 Britain’s economy grew by 2.3 per cent in April as government restrictions affecting economic activity continued to ease. It was the fastest monthly growth of gross domestic product (GDP) since July last year and exceeded economists’ forecast of a 2.2 per cent jump. In comparison with April 2020, monthly GDP in April 2021 is estimated [...]
Airlines bid for furlough to be extended until next May June 10, 2021 The UK airlines industry has called on the Treasury to extend furlough for sector workers until the end of April next year as the wait for the lifting of travel restrictions goes on. After weeks of speculation, the industry’s hopes were dashed in May when the government revealed that just 12 countries and dependencies would [...]
DEBATE: Will a global minimum corporate tax lead to real change for multinational giants? June 9, 2021 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has agreed to back a deal with G7 nations to create a global minimum corporate tax rate of at least 15 per cent. The agreement has been hailed a world-first to crack down on multinationals shifting profits to low-tax countries in order to skirt tax rules. The proposal, however, has also been [...]
Haldane: Rishi ‘played a blinder’ but inflation fears are very real June 9, 2021 The threat of inflation is very real for chief economist at the Bank of England Andy Haldane, who this morning said the UK could “overshoot” its inflation target for longer than planned. Speaking on LBC this morning Haldane said there are “punchy pressures on prices” across the UK economy. A combination of high prices on [...]
Sunak pushes for City of London exemption from G7 tax plan June 9, 2021 Chancellor Rishi Sunak is pushing for an exemption for the City of London from the G7’s recently agreed global tax plan. Sunak is looking for a deal for financial services, the Financial Times first reported, in wake of fears that global banks with head offices in London could be affected. Major banks are headquartered in [...]
Bank of England launches climate stress test for banks and insurers June 8, 2021 The Bank of England has set out its first climate stress test for the UK’s top banks and insurers but have said the results will not currently be used to determine capital requirements. The test will scrutinise the resilience of Britain’s financial system to stresses from a shift to a net zero-carbon economy as well [...]
Rishi Sunak promises to protect the City from Brussels’ financial services bid June 8, 2021 Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, promised that the City will remain “competitive and dynamic” even in the face of Brussels’ bid to unseat it from its crown, in a private call with banks. Sunak described the financial services industry as a “crown jewel” and, according to reports, said the country will fight to protect it. The [...]
The race is on to put climate change centre stage June 8, 2021 With the countdown to COP 26 well underway, this article looks at how the race is on to put climate change at centre stage. Sustainability is the key theme for ICAS for the month of June. Throughout June, we will be focussing on the three strands of sustainability: environmental, social and governance (ESG), in our [...]