Why the Bank of England isn’t topping up the punch bowl October 9, 2019 | City Talk Many economists will remember 2019 as the year of the monetary policy U-turn by central bankers around the world. At the end of 2018, the US Federal Reserve, which tends to lead the herd, signaled multiple rate hikes in the year ahead. Just three months on, its forecasts were cut sharply to zero and by [...]
Rising Risk (Part II): Tech bubble take two October 9, 2019 | City Talk In this second instalment of a two-part article, Sebastien Canderle says many tech start-ups are deploying a bagful of tricks to massage their numbers I have already laid out my thoughts here on CFA Institute Talk on the topic of the innovative financial engineering for which many buyout experts have become associated – for example, [...]
Goldman Sachs looks to keep bank on track in disaster with ‘extra Wework space’ October 9, 2019 Goldman Sachs is said to have set up a trading floor in a Wework office in London so the bank can keep operating in case of a disaster. The space comes on top of the US bank’s brand new £1bn, 10-storey HQ in Farringdon, toured by Morning Wire Read more: Airbnb hires Morgan Stanley and [...]
Trio of ex-Barclays bankers accused of lying in Old Bailey fraud trial October 8, 2019 Three senior former Barclays executives were today accused of lying about disguised payments to Qatar to facilitate a massive investment in the bank at the height of the financial crisis. The three senior former executives – Roger Jenkins, Thomas Kalaris and Richard Boath – are standing trial at the Old Bailey on fraud charges. The [...]
Mark Carney says Bank of England to stress test banks with ‘catastrophic’ climate scenario October 8, 2019 Bank of England governor Mark Carney has reiterated Threadneedle Street’s intention to stress test banks against a number of “climate pathways,” including a “catastrophic business as usual scenario”. Read more: Bank of England’s Mark Carney says UK now better prepared for no-deal Brexit Speaking at a summit about climate change and banking in Japan, Carney [...]
Tide secures £44.1m in ‘one of the largest ever’ fintech series B funding rounds October 7, 2019 Fintech company Tide has raised £44.1m in its first round of Series B equity funding in a bid to increase its business banking market share. Read more: Scottish fintech paysend closes £8.5m series B round Tide announced it had secured the funding yesterday in what it is calling “one of the largest ever” series B funding [...]
Trading places: A tour around the new £1bn Goldman Sachs London HQ October 7, 2019 For Goldman Sachs bankers used to living life in the fast lane, the slow lifts at their recently-opened London HQ are a new source of frustration. “Don’t get me wrong, the place is great, but it takes two minutes just to go up a few floors,” grumbles one employee. Read more: Why Transferwise denied a [...]
Weaker European market expected to be at centre of potential HSBC job cuts October 7, 2019 HSBC’s under-pressure European business is expected to bear the brunt of potential job cuts being made by the bank. The lender is understood to be looking at cutting between 5,000 and 10,000 jobs as part of a cost-cutting drive under interim boss Noel Quinn. Read more: The next BofE governor must be prepared for a [...]
Gloom thickens over Eurozone economy as German factory orders tumble October 7, 2019 German recession fears have been pushed up a notch after factory orders plunged by more than expected in August, continuing the economy’s dire 2019. Read more: Eurozone recession risk ‘very real’ with services close to stagnation New orders from German factories fell by 6.7 per cent in the year to August, Germany’s statistics body said [...]
Natwest launches UK’s first biometric fingerprint credit card October 7, 2019 Natwest has become the first UK bank to launch a biometric credit card that allows contactless payments using a fingerprint for verification. The cards have entered into circulation today as part of a three-month trial with 150 customers. It comes after a successful trial of biometric debit cards. Read more: Natwest customers wrestle with IT [...]