KPMG rubbishes ‘conspiracy theory’ it helped private equity business dump Silentnight pension liabilities November 17, 2020 KPMG has refuted claims it helped US private equity firm HIG Capital force the insolvency of Silentnight so it could acquire the business without the burden of Silentnight’s £100m pension scheme. Speaking at a tribunal today Mark Phillips QC, who was representing KPMG, said the idea that the big four auditor had jeopardised Silentnight’s ability [...]
PwC invests $1bn in AI tools – but insists jobs are safe April 27, 2023 PwC will invest $1bn to develop AI tools for its staff to use across its audit, tax and consulting services in its American business, but has insisted that it won’t lead to job losses. The Big Four accountant will work with the creator of ChatGPT, Microsoft-backed OpenAI, to develop generative tools, which it hopes will [...]
UK economy unlikely to recover until 2023, KPMG says September 1, 2020 The UK economy is unlikely to reach its pre-Covid level until early 2023, according to new forecasts. KPMG’s latest quarterly economic outlook forecasts UK GDP will plunge 10.3 per cent for the year, downgraded from the 7.2 per cent predicted in June. However, a second lockdown of even just four weeks could leave GDP dropping [...]
Consumer confidence hit highest level in three years July 19, 2024 Consumer confidence has risen to its highest level in three years in a tentative sign that the economy is leaving the cost-of-living crisis behind, new data from Deloitte shows. In its latest quarterly Consumer Tracker survey, Deloitte found that sentiment grew by 6.8 per cent year on year, boosted by a significant improvement in sentiment [...]
City accountancy firms KMPG, PwC, EY and Forvis Mazars react to audit watchdog overhaul July 17, 2024 All "welcomes" from the sector that it set to see its audit watchdog overhauled and reformed into a new regulator, which will have additional powers at its realm
Consumer confidence shows ‘renewed optimism’ against falling core inflation August 25, 2023 Consumer confidence is showing “renewed optimism” against a backdrop of falling core inflation, figures suggest. GfK’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index improved five points in August, with all measures reversing the drop seen in July, although it remains firmly in negative territory at minus 25. Confidence in the general economic situation for the next 12 months [...]
Businesses trim hiring ahead of possible UK recession but experts cheer swelling vacancies February 8, 2023 Businesses are reining in hiring ahead of an economic slowdown that could tip the UK into recession, a closely watched survey out today shows. Permanent hires fell for the fourth month in a row last month, with KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation’s (REC) permanent placement index coming in below the 50 point growth [...]
UK bosses much more optimistic about 2024 than last year, PwC survey suggests January 15, 2024 PwC's annual global CEO survey showed that 39 per cent of UK bosses expect the economy to improve in 2024, up from just nine per cent last year.
UK fintech investment tumbles as inflation rocks markets September 12, 2022 UK fintech investment plunged in the first half of 2022 as war in Ukraine and soaring inflation brought last year’s funding frenzy to a sharp close, new figures have revealed today.
BT taps Blackstone boss to lead communications team May 2, 2024 British telecoms firm BT has tapped top Blackstone executive Stephen Lewis to join its executive management team and lead all communications.