O2’s £31bn Virgin Media merger ‘will help UK pandemic recovery’, says CEO February 25, 2021 O2’s proposed £31bn tie-up with Virgin Media will accelerate investment in telecoms infrastructure and bolster the UK’s post-pandemic recovery, the mobile network’s boss has said. The mega-merger, agreed last year by O2 owner Telefonica and Virgin Media parent Liberty Global, is facing an in-depth probe by regulators amid concerns it could harm competition. But O2 [...]
Adam Smith 300: Rainer Zitelmann interviews Eamonn Butler June 16, 2023 We don’t know his exact birthday, but June 16 is the 300th day of Adam Smith’s baptism. What’s clear however is that he changed the science of economics, and the nature of society, forever with his publication of The Wealth of Nations. It is still cited today as the most powerful argument in favour of [...]
Dubai airport chief: Without a third runway, Heathrow will be left behind March 19, 2024 Heathrow Airport's third runway plans could be the key to keeping pace with rivals such as Qatar Airport and Istanbul.
People who get ‘poor’ bank rates should ‘shop around’, DWP sec Mel Stride says May 31, 2023 People who feel they are getting “very poor” interest on their savings should “shop around” and find a bank that will pay “a better rate”, the Work and Pensions Secretary has said. Mel Stride said some of the “stickiness” comes because there is “often inertia” and that it is “relatively easy to change and switch [...]
Meet the City’s new enforcers: FCA calls in regulatory veteran and NCA boss to lead clampdown March 23, 2023 The Financial Conduct Authority has appointed two new chief enforcers today as it prepares to clampdown on financial crime and usher in contentious new consumer rules this year.
Britain 2030: Can the tech success story continue? August 10, 2021 As the pandemic continues to wreak havoc across the UK economy, one plucky industry has continued its upward march unabashed. In an understated but significant milestone last month, the British tech sector welcomed its 100th unicorn — a private company valued at $1bn or more — becoming the first country in Europe to do so. [...]
FCA rebukes Paypal over ‘unfair’ BNPL terms as sector braces for clampdown October 31, 2023 The Financial Conduct Authority said it has forced a number of buy-now-pay-later firms to change “potentially unfair and unclear” terms in their contracts today as it tightens the screws on firms before formally bringing the sector within its remit.
‘Debanking’ driven more by cost and reputation than tackling financial crime, MPs find February 21, 2024 A group of MPs has accused banks of closing customers' accounts mainly due to cost and reputation, rather than clamping down on financial crime, amid a gulf between "debanking" and anti-fraud enforcement.
Political pressure builds on banks to close gap between savings and mortgage rates June 12, 2023 Banks have been shortchanging customers for nearly a year with the average mortgage rates exceeding savings rates by over three per cent since last July. According to data from Moneyfacts, at the end of last week the average rate on offer for a two year mortgage was 5.87. The average rate on a savings account [...]
Watchdog flags competition concerns for Microsoft and Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard’s £50bn deal September 1, 2022 Regulators have flagged competition concerns over Microsoft’s $68.7bn acquisition of Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard, giving the US giants until next week to provide evidence.