Barclays dismisses bank break-up threat September 8, 2010 BARCLAYS executives have privately dismissed the idea that UK banks will be forced to break up their retail and investment banking operations, even though the government’s independent banking commission still has a year left to deliberate its options. Those close to the bank said yesterday that Barclays would not have appointed its investment banking chief [...]
LISTED PRODUCT NEWS July 14, 2010 HSBC WELCOMES NEW BRAZIL ETF The global investment bank has decided to increase its suite of ETFs and now offers one that tracks the Brazilian stock index. This is the first BRIC ETF launched by HSBC. However, it plans to increase its range further to include the other emerging powerhouses in coming months. The fund [...]
LISTED PRODUCT NEWS July 14, 2010 HSBC WELCOMES NEW BRAZIL ETF The global investment bank has decided to increase its suite of ETFs and now offers one that tracks the Brazilian stock index. This is the first BRIC ETF launched by HSBC. However, it plans to increase its range further to include the other emerging powerhouses in coming months. The fund [...]
At last, the banks are reaching out to UK Plc October 13, 2010 THERE are two possible ways forward for the banking industry. The first is to do nothing and try and brave out the storm, chucking the occasional insult at detractors. The second is to show some humility, reach out, make sensible reforms – and invest some of its own cash – to improve matters and fight [...]
THE TIPSTER August 8, 2010 LAST week, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) released positive earnings, which followed upbeat performances from HSBC, Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group, indicating a recovery of the UK banking sector. An inverse head and shoulders bullish pattern is noted on daily charts of RBS and an important level of 49.7p has been broken, signalling further gains. [...]
Aviva investors tell RSA to up £5bn offer August 15, 2010 INVESTORS in Aviva have said rival RSA must increase its £5bn offer if it wants to walk away with the insurer’s property and casualty business. Aviva immediately rejected the surprise offer for its general insurance arms in the UK, Ireland and Canada, made in a letter from RSA chairman John Napier last month. There are no [...]
UK banks hit by over-regulation, says HSBC boss January 20, 2010 BRITAIN has penalised its banking sector by attempting to tighten regulations too quickly after the financial crisis, the head of Europe’s biggest bank said yesterday. HSBC chief executive Michael Geoghegan said he accepts that the industry needs new regulation but criticised the world’s failure to coordinate measures to try to prevent a repeat of the [...]
Pack a tax plan if you want a retirement on the beach September 2, 2010 IF YOU are tempted to spend your golden years in the sun and escape overcrowded, polluted London, you are not alone. Emigration from the UK reached a record high in 2008 and that was before the introduction of a 50 per cent higher tax rate and the impending austerity measures. But planning is essential if [...]
Banks and miners propel the FTSE after July’s record gain August 2, 2010 BANKS and commodity stocks powered a sharp rise in Britain’s top share index yesterday, as HSBC’s results beat forecasts and metal and energy prices rose. The FTSE 100 closed up 139.09 points, or 2.7 per cent, at 5,397.11. For the month of July the index rose 6.9 per cent, its biggest monthly increase for exactly [...]
Santander to snap up RBS outlets August 2, 2010 BANKING group Santander is poised to announce its purchase of over 300 branches from Royal Bank of Scotland today, allowing the Spanish giant to significantly boost its presence on the British high street. Santander is set to end months of speculation by confirming it will buy the 318 branches that RBS acquired under the Williams [...]