Blend secures £120m boost for lending extra ‘muscle’ to UK property developers April 11, 2022 Property capital firm Blend Network has secured a record £120m boost to its lending of that extra “muscle” for UK developers. Blend, backed by OakNorth Bank chairman and former Barclays vice chairman Cyrus Ardalan, snagged the sum from a consortium of six large family offices “Obtaining a record £120m committed funding line from such a [...]
Cabinet reshuffle: Kwasi Kwarteng named chancellor as Truss picks top team September 7, 2022 Liz Truss has made close ally Kwasi Kwarteng her new chancellor as the Prime Minister picks her top team. Therese Coffey has also been appointed health secretary and deputy Prime Minister, while James Cleverly is now foreign secretary and Suella Braverman is home secretary. Jacob Rees-Mogg has also been given a large promotion to business [...]
Freefall: Credit Suisse potentially ‘next shoe to fall’ as bank contagion fears spread across Europe March 15, 2023 Shares in Credit Suisse tanked today after one of its main shareholders ruled out providing new funding to the embattled lender prompting a major sell-off in the wider European banking sector. Credit Suisse shares traded as much as 30 per cent down earlier on Wednesday, and are now trading around 23 per cent lower. Banking [...]
City watchdog hires three senior officials as it ramps up recruitment drive April 5, 2022 The City watchdog has hired three new senior officials as it pushes to strengthen its authorisation process, it announced today. City veteran Craig Chapman is set to join the FCA as Finance Director, from his current role as CFO at London fintech firm RTX Routetrader. Prior to joining RTX Routetrader, Chapman worked in various senior [...]
Nationwide’s Virgin Money bid heralds new era for mutuals’ challenge to big banks March 18, 2024 Nationwide, the world's largest building society, is gearing up for the UK's biggest banking tie-up since the financial crisis as it looks to finalise a £2.9bn takeover deal for high street rival Virgin Money in the coming weeks.
Week ahead: City braces for more bumper banker bonuses February 20, 2022 Investors are preparing to comb through the details of British high lenders’ results this week for any clues that higher interest rates are goosing their bottom lines. UK banks’ earning season has been underlined by a jump in bonuses for top deal makers which are expected to continue this week. Barclays, the last remaining British [...]
How intelligent automation has become a mainstay of financial services, and what it means for private banking January 25, 2023 The increasing levels of automation in private banking reflects a need to move into the digital age, but it also brings with it challenges. City A.M. sat down with specialist Mark Bruce, chief executive of of Britannia Financial Group to find out how intelligent automation and artificial intelligence is impacting the sector. Mark, why don’t [...]
The voice of Celebrity Big Brother: ‘We can all be fake – I’m doing it now!’ March 5, 2024 Marcus Bentley has been the voice of Big Brother ever since the UK show began in 2000. Here he talks about the enduring appeal of the show, and having the most recognisable voice in the country
Rathbone Brothers buy Barclays Wealth personal injury business November 28, 2019 Rathbone Brothers has said it will buy the personal injury and court of protection business of Barclays Wealth. The wealth and investment manager will acquire the business, which comprises £500m funds under management on behalf of around 600 clients, for an undisclosed sum. Read more: Rathbone Brothers’ shares fall as it warns on tighter profit [...]
Banks and housebuilders bear brunt of market chaos September 29, 2022 Wild swings in UK debt markets and concern over borrowers’ capacity to pay costlier mortgages have whacked London-listed housebuilders and banks this week. Britain’s biggest property developers have been among the hardest hit listed companies during this week’s market sell-off. FTSE 100-listed construction firms Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Developments have shed more than 20 per [...]