This is how City analysts reacted to Barclays’ results February 23, 2017 Another day, another big bank reports its numbers – this time, it's Barclays' turn. Shares in the the lender went up by more than three per cent after it reported pre-tax profits almost tripled last year, growing by a massive 182 per cent to hit £3.2bn – but the bank still missed expectations. Here's how [...]
Lloyds said to be frontrunner in bidding for Bank of America’s £7bn-valued MBNA November 21, 2016 Lloyds Banking Group is thought to be the frontrunner for Bank of America’s £7bn-valued UK credit card business. The UK lender is reported to have edged ahead of US private equity group Cerberus in the bidding for MBNA’s British credit card operation. For Lloyds, it would mark the first acquisition since it was bailed out by [...]
Surprise: Lloyds Banking Group share price leaps as it hikes dividend – but profits are hit by PPI charges February 25, 2016 Lloyds Banking Group shares leaped this morning as it hiked its dividend – but more PPI charges dented its pre-tax profits. Read more: Lloyds cuts bonuses for 2015 The figures Lloyds said underlying profits rose five per cent on last year to £8.1bn in 2015, while total income rose one per cent to £17.6bn. Operating costs fell to £8.3bn, while impairment charges fell 48 per cent to £568m. [...]
FCA investigates Barclays boss Jes Staley: Here’s how four City analysts reacted April 10, 2017 Confusion reigned in the City this morning, after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said it was investigating Barclays chief executive Jes Staley over his attempt to identify a whistleblower at the bank. It was reported that Staley may even lose a hefty chunk of his bonus as a result. Investors weren’t sure what to make [...]
At the close: FTSE 100 boosted by late Sky surge on 21st Century Fox takeover bid December 9, 2016 The FTSE ended the week looking very healthy indeed – its best week since July. It was up 22.66 points to 6,954.21 bolstered by a Sky surge. US media firm 21st Century Fox tabling a takeover bid for Sky of £10.75 per share in cash, prompted shares to rise sharply. Sky’s share price shot up [...]
Solid figures show US still on course for December rate hike October 14, 2016 The US Federal Reserve is still on course to hike rates by the end of the year after a reassuringly uneventful set of economic data out this afternoon. New numbers showed retail sales jumped by 0.6 per cent in September, bouncing back from a 0.2 per cent fall the month before. On an annual basis, consumer [...]
Lloyds Bank to cut 665 jobs and close further 49 branches November 11, 2016 Lloyds Banking Group said yesterday it will cut another 665 jobs and shut down 49 branches as part of a three-year restructure of the business aimed at cutting costs. The business will create 145 new roles across the business, but will lay off staff in retail, commercial banking, insurance and consumer finance, the bank said [...]
Actuaries set out guidelines to protect against risks like Libor manipulation and PPI mis-selling, urging firms to focus more on the quality of their risk data March 21, 2016 The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) has today published a document full of ideas of how financial services firms could better handle operational risk, lowering the likelihood of incidents such as Libor rigging and PPI mis-selling. In its paper aimed at banks, insurers and other financial services firms, the IFoA's Operational Risk Working Party examines how businesses [...]
Fraud squad to ask for Barclays tribunal to take place behind closed doors November 20, 2016 The fraud squad will tomorrow ask for an employment tribunal for an ex-Barclays exec to take place in private, on the grounds it could compromise its ongoing investigation into the bank. Since 2012, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is currently investigating Barclays' handling of an emergency funding exercise back in 2008. As part of that, the fraud [...]
OnePlus 3 review: This Chinese-made phone is one of the best non-exploding Android handset on the market October 12, 2016 If you can keep your head, wrote Mister Kipling, while all around you phones are literally catching fire and exploding, then you can pretty much claim the Android throne unimpeded, my son. The new OnePlus 3 is, for its price (and for prices a great deal higher too), one of the best non-exploding Android phones [...]