BoE’s Cunliffe: ‘Not our job’ to protect banks from digital currencies November 13, 2020 Bank of England deputy governor Jon Cunliffe has said it is not the bank’s job to protect other banks from the impact of future digital currencies. Speaking an on online seminar today, Cunliffe said: “Our job is not to protect bank business models. Banks will have to adjust. Our job is to ensure that if [...]
BoE warns insurers are being ‘optimistic’ in Covid-19 estimates November 13, 2020 Insurers risk being optimistic in estimating losses from Covid-19 related claims and should stress-test their underlying assumptions, the Bank of England has warned. In a letter to insurers today, the BoE set out its findings from a review across the general insurance sector on reserving, managing exposures and dealing with uncertainty over contracts in light [...]
EU watchdog seeks to quell worry over cross-border investment funds November 13, 2020 The EU’s securities watchdog has said there is no call for a fundamental change in how investment funds in the European Union can be run by asset managers based outside the bloc. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) alarmed the global funds industry in August when it said that safeguards introduced ahead of Brexit [...]
BEIS audit reform proposals expected to be made public in the new year November 13, 2020 Reforms to the audit sector outlined by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) are expected in the new year, with full implementation expected in 2023. Mazars head of audit Bob Neate told industry magazine Accountancy Age he expected BEIS to deliver around 110 recommendations drawn from three major reports into auditing. The [...]
Exclusive: Meet the 50 highest-growth startups in the UK November 12, 2020 A total 50 of the most promising high-growth tech firms in the UK have been named as the country’s top scaleup companies by tech group Silicon Valley Comes to the UK (SVC2UK). Global medical network Air Doctor, social enterprise Beam, which helps the homeless secure employment, and business and finance marketplace Funding Options were among [...]
Trump bans US investments in firms controlled by Chinese military November 12, 2020 Donald Trump has signed an executive order banning U.S. investments in Chinese firms that Washington says are owned or controlled by its military. The order could impact some of China’s biggest companies, including telecoms firms China Telecom Corp Ltd, China Mobile Ltd and surveillance equipment maker Hikvision. The move is designed to deter U.S. investment [...]
U.N chief to push G20 to further expand debt service suspension November 12, 2020 United Nations secretary-general António Guterres will push G20 leaders to expand debt service suspension to help developing and middle-income economies recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Addressing a virtual annual ministerial meeting attended by the Group of 77 – a collection of 134 developing countries – plus China, Guterres said: “Many developing countries are suffering from [...]
ECB turns to emergency bonds and ultra-cheap loans to control financial costs November 12, 2020 The ECB will use its emergency bond-buying and ultra-cheap loans to banks as the primary instruments to control financing costs, European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde told the ECB’s annual forum on central banking this evening. The EU heavyweight said financing costs for governments, households and businesses in the eurozone will stay “exceptionally favourable” until [...]
New FCA chief tells City: ‘We are committed to open markets’ post-Brexit November 12, 2020 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is committed to maintaining open financial markets following the end of the Brexit transition period, warning that not doing so will disrupt the city. Speaking today at Mansion House in an address to city regulators, new chief executive Nikhil Rathi said the watchdog had been keeping its focus on readiness [...]
Deloitte defends £38.8m test and trace reward November 12, 2020 Management consultancy Deloitte has defended earning £38.8m for services relating to the government’s coronavirus ‘test and trace’ system. The audit and consultancy giant has earned some £38.8m for services relating to the government’s test and trace programme, according to Open Democracy. The government’s test and trace programme is largely considered a failure. A Deloitte [...]