As the Financial Services and Markets Act becomes law – here are the 5 things you need to know June 30, 2023 The Financial Services and Markets Bill received royal assent yesterday, securing the passage into law of the government’s landmark overhaul of financial services regulation. The government claims the reforms enable the UK to capitalise on ‘Brexit freedoms’, unlocking billions of pounds which could be directed to investment in the UK. In short, the act empowers [...]
Nigel Farage claims he may have to leave UK after bank accounts closed June 29, 2023 Nigel Farage has claimed he may have to leave the UK after his bank accounts were closed. The former UKIP leader and Brexiteer today posted a six-minute long video on Twitter, stating his accounts had been closed and he was unable to secure banking services elsewhere. He wrote: “The establishment is trying to force me [...]
HSBC lifts savings rates after government pressure June 29, 2023 HSBC UK and First Direct have unveiled plans to boost savings rates. Customers with HSBC UK accounts will see some savings interest rates increase from Friday 30 June, alongside a change to increase the higher-paying tier on the bank’s online bonus saver account. Those with an online bonus saver will be able to earn four [...]
Lack of available finance hampering SMEs – and things aren’t getting better anytime soon June 29, 2023 Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are struggling to access funding as rising rates force banks to put up the costs of lending. According to YouGov data collected for AIM-listed Manx Financial Group, 40 per cent of SMEs had to stop or pause an area of their business due to a lack of funding over the [...]
Streamline tax rules to stop Paris ‘biting’ the City’s heels, Deutsche Bank’s UK head warns June 29, 2023 The UK should reconsider the high rate of tax it charges on banks and financial services firms to boost London’s standing, Deutsche Bank’s UK head said. Speaking at The City UK’s annual conference, Tiina Lee, who has been in the role for nearly five years, said “the one area to highlight” in regards to the [...]
Big US banks pass Fed stress tests months after SVB collapse in sign they’d ‘weather a severe recession’ June 29, 2023 The largest banks in the US sailed through the Federal Reserve’s annual stress tests, suggesting they would survive a sharp economic downturn. The Fed said the results demonstrate that large banks are “well positioned to weather a severe recession and continue to lend to households and businesses even during a severe recession.” Despite projected losses [...]
Bank of England’s PRA sets out new post Brexit Solvency UK details in bid to unlock investment June 29, 2023 Britain’s main financial watchdog has set out a raft of changes to the EU’s Solvency II regime to improve the competitiveness of the UK insurance market and unlock investment in the economy. In an announcement this morning, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) provided more detail on how it will make adapt the EU’s Solvency II [...]
CAB Payments chief: Why we’re listing in London June 29, 2023 Bhairav Trivedi, the chief of Sutton-based money transfer firm CAB Payments, tells Charlie Conchie why he's listing in London
UK urged to take post Brexit payments lead after EU publishes bold plan June 28, 2023 The UK payments industry urged regulators and legislators to take a bold approach to new rules following the publication of the EU’s latest proposals. In a landmark set of regulations, the European Union (EU) will deepen and extend open banking, put in place greater fraud protections and give regulators more firepower to enforce the rules. [...]
London jobs at stake as UBS considers cutting over half of Credit Suisse’s workforce June 28, 2023 UBS is reportedly planning to cut over half of Credit Suisse’s workforce as it completes its takeover of the Swiss bank. The newly merged banking behemoth is planning on reducing its headcount by as much as 35,000 people in an attempt to cut costs, Bloomberg reported. Credit Suisse currently employs around 45,000 people. UBS is [...]