Thanks, Bank of England: Households will pay £858m more in interest after yesterday’s rate rise May 6, 2022 With the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee confirming yesterday that its base rate will rise by 0.25 per cent to 1 per cent, UK households face an immediate increase in interest payments of around £858m. Analysis of Bank of England data shows UK households are currently paying £18.3bn annually in interest payments on floating rate [...]
Ex Bank of England governor Mark Carney says climate crisis will ‘dwarf’ economic problems May 5, 2022 Following the Bank of England’s decision to raise interest rates, its former government has said the climate crisis will “dwarf” current economic hardship. Mark Carney, who is now as special envoy for climate action with the United Nations, called on the government to move away from polluting fossil fuels. He said the move away from [...]
Co-operative Bank posts profitability for fifth quarter in a row May 5, 2022 The Co-operative Bank has achieved profitability for its fifth quarter in a row, after posting pre-tax profits of £30.5m. The Manchester headquartered bank said its profits had increased for the fourth consecutive quarter, as its earnings were bolstered by its mortgage business. The bank said its net income had increased 36 per cent year-on-year [...]
Virgin Money UK reports profit boost thanks to rising interest rates and unsecured lending May 5, 2022 Virgin Money UK posted a boom compared to 2021 figures, with underlying profit increasing 58 per cent to £388m, reflecting stronger income.
UK banks ‘ahead of the pack’ in climate risk exposure disclosures May 5, 2022 UK banks are the most transparent in the world at disclosing their exposure to climate change risks, reveals a fresh report released today. The creation of an accounting framework that incentivises British lenders to update markets on their green credentials has led to them being “ahead of the pack,” according to consultancy KPMG. The Prudential [...]
Inside Barclays chaotic shareholder meeting: AGM halted as security chase and drag out dozens of climate activists May 4, 2022 Barclays’ annual shareholder meeting was disrupted by a small army of climate change protesters who had to be forcibly removed by security. The banking giant’s AGM in Manchester got off to a chaotic start after a series of disruptions from green activists in the audience. Chairman Nigel Higgins was forced to pause the meeting while [...]
Exclusive: Financial services in ‘digital arms race’, with 71 per cent making new products due to customer suggestions May 4, 2022 More than 70 per cent of finance leaders say firms are creating new products due to customers’ changing demands as part of a “digital arms race”. Banks and financial services are adapting to a new demographic according to results of a new survey commissioned by Yobota, of 251 top decision makers, exclusively shared with City [...]
HSBC launches $1bn share buyback as break-up rumours swirl May 4, 2022 HSBC has launched a $1bn (£801m) share buyback programme today, as rumours of a break-up proposal swirl. The lender will buy shares for some $0.50 each, in a bid to shrink its outstanding ordinary shares, it said in a regulatory filing this morning. The agreement, where US bank Merrill Lynch will act as principal, will [...]
Investors’ warm response to break up rumours boosts HSBC shares May 3, 2022 Shares in Britain’s biggest bank climbed today in a sign investors backed a proposal by its largest shareholder to carve out its profit-machine Asia business. FTSE 100-listed HSBC’s shares gained 1.61 per cent today on the first day of trading in London since calls to break-up the lender strengthened. Ping An, a Chinese insurance giant [...]
Credit Suisse sued over links with Russian oligarchs May 3, 2022 New York law firm Pomerantz has filed a class action lawsuit against Credit Suisse, over claims the Swiss bank misled investors as to its dealings with Russian oligarchs. The lawsuit comes after shares in Credit Suisse dropped 2.58 per cent on 28 March, in response to reports claiming the investment bank has carried out extensive [...]