CMA rejects bank break-ups – but this one chart suggests big lenders are ripping customers off October 22, 2015 The competition watchdog may have ruled out breaking up Britain's biggest banks this morning – but this one chart shows customers are paying more money for poorer services from the "Big Four". The Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) compared satisfaction ratings from the consumer group Which? with personal current account prices at different banks. They [...]
Bank stress test results: Britain’s seven biggest lenders including Standard Chartered, HSBC, Lloyds and Barclays, under pressure from regulators November 29, 2015 Britain's biggest banks are bracing for announcements from the Bank of England Tuesday which may force them to cut dividends in order to satisfy regulators’ capital requirements. Seven leading lenders – HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group, Standard Chartered, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander and Nationwide – were subject to the Bank of England’s latest round [...]
Punch Taverns more than halves yearly losses November 12, 2015 Pub group Punch Taverns, owner of around 3,500 pubs nationwide, has narrowed its yearly losses by over half to £105m, from £240 million a year earlier. Refinancing of debt with a charge of £166m and the falling value of its real estate was mostly to blame. Shares in the pub company have fallen today by [...]
Best places to work in the UK? You don’t need to be in London to work for the best companies December 9, 2015 London has long been home to many of the UK’s core business activities, encompassing not just international finance, but world-class retail and a hot startup scene. London is, of course, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world alongside New York and Paris. This is all great, but what about jobs? Evidence from [...]
Five growth stocks to super-charge your Isa February 19, 2016 Savers will have more generous tax-free allowances from April. Basic rate taxpayers will be able to receive £1,000 interest on savings, gilts and corporate bonds without paying any tax (for higher rate payers, it will be £500), and everyone will be able to receive £5,000 in dividends before paying tax. New Isas (Nisas) have traditionally [...]
UK businesses to face squeeze in rents over next 12 months November 3, 2015 UK business are predicted to come under increasing pressure from rising rents as the economy gathers pace and competition for space heats up, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has warned. In its latest commercial market survey, RICS forecasts that UK rental values will jump by four per cent over the next 12 months. Businesses [...]
Stop the War coalition organises march on Downing Street today November 28, 2015 With Prime Minister David Cameron's campaign to persuade the House of Commons of the need for air strikes in Syria gaining more support, the Stop the War coalition has called for a protest march in London today. Thousands of protesters are expected to turn up outside Downing Street to urge the Prime Minister to change [...]
At the close: FTSE 100 up on banks following the Bank of England stress tests December 1, 2015 The FTSE 100 closed up today, led higher by banks after five of seven banks that took part in the Bank of England's stress tests passed. The UK's top blue-chip index rose 0.62 per cent, to 6,395 points. Five participating banks – Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Santander UK and the Nationwide building society – all passed [...]
UK economic growth lost momentum in September – Lloyds Bank October 12, 2015 The UK saw a nationwide loss of momentum in its economic growth in September, according to survey figures from a major bank released this morning. Lloyds Bank’s purchasing managers’ index – a survey of firms – dropped to a score 53.8 in September from August’s 55.7. While it is above 50 and so implies business [...]
London house prices: Buy-to-let investors looking outside the capital for best value as Brewin Dolphin warns sector is a “disaster waiting to happen” November 24, 2015 A rising number of buy-to-let investors are trying to get their hands on cheaper properties outside of London and the South East, new figures reveal today. Meanwhile, one London investment manager has warned BTL is a "disaster waiting to happen" due to a lack of understanding on recent changes in the tax rules. Figures released by [...]