Competition watchdog launches review of audit sector October 9, 2018 The competition watchdog today confirmed it has launched a probe into the UK's audit sector, ending weeks of speculation. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it will review whether the sector is competitive and resilient enough to maintain high standards. Calls to review the sector and possibly break up the "Big Four" of PwC, KPMG, Deloitte and EY [...]
Oil bankers form advisory firm as price surge fuels deals October 8, 2018 A former adviser to BP has launched a new advisory firm as the oil industry becomes “comfortable with itself” again and companies prepare to make “brave decisions”. Martin Lovegrove, a former adviser to BP and Chevron Corporation, has teamed up with Niels Kirk, a former oil and gas banker at Citi to form an advisory [...]
Diageo, WPP and Standard Chartered top league table of leading UK brands for gender equality October 4, 2018 Drinks maker Diageo, WPP and Standard Chartered have been named as the top performing UK companies for gender equality. However, the study admitted that despite progress being made, there was still a "long way to go" before equality was achieved in companies worldwide. General Motors in the US was the top performing brand worldwide. Worldwide, [...]
Standard Chartered reportedly facing $1.5bn Iran sanctions fine October 1, 2018 Standard Chartered is reportedly facing a fine of as much as $1.5bn (£1.15bn) from the US Department of Justice (DoJ) for violating sanctions on Iran. The British bank could face the penalty by the end of the year, although final discussions have not yet begun, Bloomberg reported. The investigation into Standard Chartered’s activities is focused [...]
UK banks’ share of global equity capital and loans markets slip to record lows September 30, 2018 UK banking’s global market share in equity capital market (ECM) trading and loan fees have hit their lowest and second-lowest values on record respectively, amid continued Brexit fallout and global uncertainty. The UK’s lenders fell to a 4.8 per cent share of ECM fees, and 8.7 per cent of loan fees – the latter nearly [...]
The City has come a long way since the crash, but we can’t afford to be complacent September 10, 2018 This week marks the tenth anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers – a shock that reverberated around the global financial system, and which will be seared in the memories of many workers across the City. Substantial progress has been made to raise standards across the sector, eradicating the unacceptable practices that led to the [...]
Standard Chartered revamps top team with hire of new group chief operating officer September 6, 2018 Standard Chartered has hired David Whiteing as its new group chief operating officer as the bank revamps its top team to put more focus on technology. The newly expanded role will join together the chief operating officer team with the previously separate IT operations function. Michael Gorriz, group chief information officer, will continue to lead [...]
Theresa May pledges to bolster ties between the City and Nigeria August 29, 2018 The Prime Minister Theresa May pledged to bolster ties between the City and Nigeria as she looked to secure new trade relationships on a visit to Africa. May urged Nigeria to tap into the City’s financial expertise, which she hoped could play an even greater role in the continent after Brexit. UK-Nigeria trade was worth £4.2 billion [...]
Grant Thornton hit with £3m fine for Vimto audit failures August 29, 2018 Accountancy firm Grant Thornton has been fined £3m for misconduct in the auditing of the owner of soft drink Vimto and the University of Salford. Regulator the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) fined Grant Thornton and four of its senior auditors for what it said were “widespread and serious inadequacies”. The fines relate to the audits of [...]
Theresa May sets sights on Africa trade as Brexit disputes rage August 27, 2018 Prime Minister Theresa May will this week try to start the new parliamentary session on the front foot as she leads a delegation of business figures to Africa seeking to boost trade relations, despite intense criticism of her Brexit plans at home. May will use a speech tomorrow in South Africa’s Cape Town to focus on [...]