Sweden decides not to investigate Swedbank over Browder money laundering claims April 1, 2019 Sweden’s financial crime squad has decided not to investigate the crisis-hit Swedbank over money laundering claims made by UK hedge fund boss Bill Browder. The prominent Putin critic filed a criminal complaint alleging that Swedbank accounts were used to launder $176m (£134m) between 2006 and 2012 linked to Russian money laundering and tax fraud. Read [...]
City watchdog calls for review of its regulation of collapsed mini-bond firm London Capital & Finance April 1, 2019 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said today there should be an independent investigation into its regulation of mini-bond firm London Capital & Finance (LC&F). The company collapsed in January owing investors more than £230m. The watchdog also called for an investigation to look at whether the existing regulatory system adequately protects retail purchasers of mini-bonds from [...]
Top banks to field MEP candidates across the UK to protect the City’s interests April 1, 2019 Top banks to field MEP candidates across the UK to protect the City's interests The prospect of British voters being asked to participate in next month's European Parliament elections has triggered an audacious move by some of the UK's biggest banks to field candidates in a bid to protect the Square Mile's interests, City PM [...]
Barclays raise concerns over Bramson’s shareholding with Bank of England and US Fed March 31, 2019 Barclays has raised concerns with the Bank of England and the US Federal Reserve over activist investor Ed Bramson’s shareholding. The US-based investor has ensured his holding is hedged by time-limited derivatives, limiting his exposure to a fall in the company’s share price as he pushes for a seat on the board next month. Read more: [...]
Watch out high street banks – Apple has a credit card and is out to steal your supper March 29, 2019 Every day, new competitors are coming out of the woodwork and vying for a piece of the high street banks’ pie. This has forced the big banks – some kicking and screaming – to evolve, and at a pace that they’ve never before experienced. Change is not a new concept for consumers when it comes [...]
Deutsche Bank denies reports it could raise €10bn for Commerzbank merger March 28, 2019 Deutsche Bank shares have slid further after the German lender was forced to deny reports it has discussed raising up to €10bn (£8.6bn) for its proposed merger with Commerzbank. Exploratory talks between Germany’s two biggest banks have been ongoing since contact was initially made earlier this month. Read more: Entire Commerzbank board paid slightly more than just one [...]
Private bank Arbuthnot Latham boosts profits and remains optimistic on Brexit March 28, 2019 UK private and commercial bank Arbuthnot Latham increased profits by a third last year and remained optimistic that Brexit could deliver a “bright future” for the economy. The bank reported pre-tax profits of £14.6m in 2018, a 33 per cent rise on the previous year as it grew its customer loan book by 17 per [...]
JP Morgan plans to cut hundreds of asset and wealth management jobs March 28, 2019 JP Morgan Chase & Co is cutting hundreds of jobs across its asset and wealth management division. The investment bank plans to dismiss employees in support roles and some wealth management staff across the firm’s global business as part of an annual review. Read more: City banks back women's wealth scheme “It is normal course of [...]
Standard Chartered to build new virtual bank in Hong Kong in fintech drive March 28, 2019 Standard Chartered will head up a new virtual bank in Hong Kong after being granted a licence by the region’s regulator. The London-headquartered bank will lead a joint venture with IT firm PCCW, telecoms company HKT and online travel company Ctrip Finance to build a standalone digital retail bank. Shares in the bank, which will [...]
Goldman Sachs fined £34m by City watchdog for transaction reporting failures March 28, 2019 Goldman Sachs has been fined £34m after the City watchdog found “serious and prolonged failures” in its reporting of transactions. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) fined the investment bank £34.3m for failing to provide accurate and timely reporting of more than 220 million transactions. Read more: Goldman Sachs narrows gender pay gap slightly to 51 [...]
