Browsing Tag
Financial Conduct Authority
15 posts
FirstCash raises final Ramsdens offer to £232m after shareholder pushback
FirstCash has raised its final Ramsdens takeover offer by 12% after engaging with shareholders, but stronger profit guidance and competition scrutiny leave important questions ahead of the vote.
Britain puts Microsoft, Google, AWS and Oracle under direct financial cloud oversight
Britain will directly supervise four major cloud providers used by banks and insurers, turning technology concentration into a formal financial-stability issue.
FirstCash agrees £206m Ramsdens takeover as RFX exits London’s AIM market
FirstCash has agreed to acquire Ramsdens Holdings for up to £206 million, adding 174 UK stores shortly after buying H&T Group and accelerating consolidation across pawnbroking, jewellery and precious metals.
Rathbones shares hit 52-week low as FCA review threatens RAT turnaround strategy
Rathbones Group shares have fallen to a 52-week low after a regulatory review exposed weaknesses in Consumer Duty implementation, disrupted client inflows and challenged the wealth manager’s post-Investec growth strategy.
Drax cleared by FCA as DRX investors refocus on biomass subsidies and Bluefield deal
Drax avoids FCA action over biomass disclosures, but DRX investors still face subsidy, sustainability, leverage and Bluefield Solar acquisition risks.
INR depreciation, US visa delays, airfares: The 2026 study abroad cost crunch
Rupee past 95, US F-1 slots vanishing, airfares climbing: the 2026 study abroad funding maths has quietly broken for Indian students.
Beazley (LSE: BEZ) edges up 0.04% on Friday with Zurich scheme on glide path to court sanction and H2 completion
Beazley shareholders voted 99.9% in favour. Zurich keeps buying at 1,280p. The court hearing is next. The 2.3% arbitrage spread is the last word on this deal.
Hiscox (LSE: HSX) jumps 12% on Intact Financial takeover approach reports
Zurich just paid £8.1bn for Beazley. Now Intact Financial is circling Hiscox. The UK specialty insurance auction may have only just begun.
Lloyds Banking Group (LSE: LLOY) Q1 2026 profit jumps 33% to £2bn as NIM hits 3.17% and guidance raised
Lloyds beat Q1 by 14%, lifted 2026 guidance, then watched its shares drop. The structural hedge is masking a UK macro reset that could test asset quality.
WH Smith PLC (SMWH) suspends dividend as Middle East conflict clouds summer outlook and profit slumps to £3m in H1 2026
WH Smith PLC (SMWH) H1 2026: Revenue rises 5% to £748m but profit slumps to £3m, dividend suspended. Full-year outlook cautious. Read our analysis.