Government hints at tax breaks in boost for news publishers January 27, 2020 The government has hinted that it will consider a range of potential tax breaks for news publishers, marking a much-needed boost for the industry amid tough competition from tech giants. A major review into the future of UK journalism funding last year set out a number of recommendations to help level the playing field and [...]
Audit regulator proposes challenger firms get larger share of the work January 25, 2020 The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has proposed a regime to the government that would see challenger firms outside the so-called big four auditors be given a substantial proportion of the audit work of major British companies. The accounting regulator has drawn up plans behind closed doors that would require all but the very biggest FTSE-350 [...]
Competition watchdog intervenes in Daily Mail’s takeover of i newspaper December 6, 2019 The competition watchdog today said it has served an initial enforcement order as it reviews the Daily Mail’s £50m takeover of the i newspaper. Read more: Daily Mail owner buys i newspaper for £50m The order, also known as a hold separate arrangement, means parent company Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) will be forced [...]
CMA considers enforcement action against developers over ‘troubling’ leasehold mis-selling claims February 28, 2020 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is set to launch enforcement action against developers after finding “troubling evidence of potential mis-selling and unfair contract terms”. The watchdog launched a probe into the industry last year and confirmed today that it had found evidence of “serious issues” within the housing sector. The issues revolve around the [...]
FCA slaps Lloyds Bank’s insurance division with £90m fine for misleading customers July 8, 2021 The Financial Conduct Authority fines the insurance division of Lloyds Bank £90.7m for sending misleading renewal quotes to nine million customers. The renewal quotes claimed the amounts were “competitive” when new customers could get a better price on the same products elsewhere, the FCA said. The FCA said the breach of rules caused “a risk [...]
Watchdog probes West Coast rail franchise award to First Group and Trenitalia September 20, 2019 Britain’s competition watchdog has said it is investigating the award of the West Coast partnership to First Group and Trenitalia. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is looking at whether the joint operation could lead to “a substantial lessening of competition within any market”. Read more: Saga profits slump The CMA is inviting comments on [...]
Watchdog gives green light for Ovo Energy’s £500m SSE deal December 10, 2019 The competition watchdog has given the green light to Ovo Energy’s £500m takeover of rival supplier SSE’s retail arm. In a statement this morning the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the deal, which will create the UK’s second-largest energy supplier, would not harm competition. Read more: SSE sells energy services business to Ovo in [...]
Crypto comes to the Commons September 8, 2022 "There is no inevitability that blockchain adoption would see us all roll away to hell in a crypto-crashed handcart," argues Lord Holmes.
Brexit: Forced relocation of derivatives clearing from City to Frankfurt would only hurt EU, LSE warns June 7, 2021 In case the European Union does press ahead with the forced relocation of Euro derivates clearing from London to European capitals, costs for customers will jump and would ultimately put EU firms at a competitive disadvantage compared to their international rivals, according to the London Stock Exchange. “Restricting access to the EU economy and the [...]
Empty planes with no one checking in: Staggering 15,000 ‘ghost flights’ took off from UK during pandemic April 11, 2022 The Civil Aviation Authority has recently revealed that almost 15,000 “ghost flights” departed from 32 UK airports between March 2020 and September 2021. With around 4,910 planes Heathrow made the top of the list, followed by Aberdeen, Manchester and Stansted, at an overall average of 720 per month. According to City A.M. estimates, that would [...]