UK financial services News

UK Government to Pursue ‘Big Bang 2’ Reforms for City of London: New Chancellor

Kwasi Kwarteng, the UK’s new chancellor of the exchequer, said the government will pursue sweeping financial reforms to unleash growth and competitiveness at a meeting Wednesday with industry leaders. The aim is to unleash a “Big Bang 2,” Kwarteng said, …

Europe’s Banks, Insurers Prepare for Potential Winter Power Cuts, Energy Rationing

Some of Europe’s biggest banks are preparing back-up generators and to dim the lights as they brace for potential power cuts and energy rationing that threaten the money system underpinning the region’s economy. As Russia throttles gas supplies to the …

New UK Prime Minister Promises to ‘Unshackle’ City of London

Liz Truss becomes Britain’s prime minister on Tuesday after a campaign in which she promised to “really unshackle” the City of London by making the most of Brexit in the 164-billion-pound ($192 billion) financial sector. WHAT’S HER PLAN? A stronger …

London’s Financial Services Firms See Potential in Liz Truss’ ‘Radical’ Policies

After an international career in finance, a rapid political rise and high profile as chancellor of the exchequer during the pandemic, Rishi Sunak must have expected the full-throated backing of the financial sector when he made a bid to lead …

Front Runner to Be Next UK PM Wants to Review Financial Watchdogs’ Roles: Source

Liz Truss, the front-runner to become Britain’s next prime minister, wants to examine the roles of the country’s three financial regulators as part of a review, a source close to her leadership campaign said on Thursday. Provided she wins the …

Financial Services Companies Urged to Hire More Working-Class Managers

Financial services companies should set “stretching targets” for appointing people from working class backgrounds to senior positions, a UK government-sponsored report said on Thursday [Aug. 11]. The finance industry is already making efforts to appoint more women, Black and ethnic …

Weakening UK Regulators Would Undermine Financial Services, Bank of England Warns

Weakening the independence of regulators would undermine reforms to bolster Britain’s finance industry, the head of the Bank of England said on Thursday, in a rebuff to proposals from the leading candidate to be the country’s next prime minister. The …

Britain’s Proposed Post-Brexit Financial Reform Explained

Britain’s government proposed a far-reaching financial services law last month to exploit “freedoms” to write its own capital market rules since leaving the European Union. Approval of what is the biggest markets reform in two decades is expected by May …

UK Financial Services Firms Suffer From Record Skills Shortage

UK finance firms are struggling with its worst job vacancy rates on record, underlining the skills shortage caused by digitization in banking, investing and insurance. The industry had more than five vacancies unfilled for every 100 jobs between April and …

UK’s Solvency II Reforms Could Open Door to Share-Buyback Bonanza for Insurers

Insurers would potentially be able to use billions of pounds of expected gains from a relaxation of capital rules for share buybacks and to pay dividends, under plans by both candidates to succeed Boris Johnson as UK prime minister. Foreign …