What’s driving capital market developments in South Africa and Namibia? December 9, 2019 CFA Institute has examined Africa’s 10 largest capital markets in a major report compiled by Heidi Raubenheimer, CFA, our senior director for journal publications. Here we highlight key developments in different countries, starting with neighbours South Africa and Namibia. South Africa: Johannesburg Stock Exchange facing competition South Africa – the second-largest economy in Africa after Nigeria [...]
The six big ideas that could fix auditing November 13, 2018 With nearly all the major expected responses to the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) probe into the audit sector released or leaked, consensus on how to fix the scandal-hit sector is scattered – and there’s no silver bullet. Here are six suggestions the CMA has been sent by auditors, industry bodies, stakeholder groups and academics [...]
US opens industry-scale tech giant antitrust probe July 23, 2019 The US Department of Justice is to open an investigation into whether the activities of major tech firms are anti-competitive. The review will explore “whether and how market-leading online platforms have achieved market power and are engaging in practices that have reduced competition, stifled innovation, or otherwise harmed consumers,” the department said tonight. The probe [...]
Activism: an escape hatch for active fund managers? December 19, 2019 Active fund managers are like deer caught in the headlights of oncoming traffic. The exchange-traded fund (ETF) industry is expanding its product range to all investment strategies and grabbing market share from the mutual fund sector. In an important milestone, in August 2019, passive US equity funds surpassed their active counterparts in assets under management [...]
Payday lender Quickquid lines up administrators October 24, 2019 Quickquid is on the brink of collapsing into administration following a crack down on pay day lenders. Cash Euro Net UK, which trades under the name Quickquid, has lined up Grant Thornton as administrator as it prepares for a potential insolvency process, which could be launched in the next few days, Sky News reported. Read [...]
The FCA is proposing a radical change to the UK’s regulation system November 7, 2019 With the recent headline-grabbing noise coming from Westminster, few paid much attention to the key announcements coming out of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Senior figures from the regulator have been giving some of the most significant speeches about the future of financial services in years. But are the right audiences listening to this talk [...]
Grave concerns: Dignity shares tumble after funeral war with Co-op livens up September 10, 2018 Shares in funeral provider Dignity dropped by more than six per cent this morning, after its biggest rival Co-operative Group slashed the cost of its cheapest funeral and introduced a price guarantee. The Co-op, which is the market leader, announced its price for a “simple” funeral – including collection, the preparation of the body and [...]
Aldi may drop prices to compete with Tesco’s new budget venture Jack’s October 1, 2018 Low-cost supermarket chain Aldi "will never be beaten on price", and could even drop them in response to Tesco's new low-cost venture Jack's, it said today. UK and Ireland chief executive Giles Hurley said Aldi welcomes competition from new players such as Jack's, adding: "If we need to reduce retail prices we will." Read more: Drastic Dave's no-frills move must [...]
Big Four accountant EY admits need for improved audit standards as UK revenues rise October 29, 2018 Accounting giant EY has said that standards must improve in the audit sector and welcomed an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority into the scrutinised sector, as it reported increased UK revenue today. The figures EY’s fee income, equivalent to revenue, grew 2.7 per cent to £2.41bn for the financial year ending June. EY’s partners will [...]
Chinese bid for Northern Aerospace falls through as regulator denies approval July 9, 2018 Chinese takeover attempts to buy a British defence company have fallen through, according to UK private equity firm Better Capital. Approval has not been given for aircraft parts maker Northern Aerospace to be purchased by Derby-based Gardner Aerospace, a subsidiary of Chinese aerospace and mining firm Shaanxi Ligeance Mineral Resources. Read more: Aerospace sector revises [...]