Category: Financial Services

Bank of Japan
March 18, 2024 BY Simon Mugo

Japanese Bank Starts Training Staff on Positive Interest Rates

About 3,300 employees of the Bank of Kyoto are being educated on the significance of interest rates, the process of determining lending rates, and the implications of rising interest rates for both the bank and its clientele through this program. The curriculum includes insights from veteran executives familiar with handling business in a positive interest…

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Doo Financial
March 15, 2024 BY Simon Mugo

Doo Financial Acquires Hong Kong SFC License To Trade Securities

The acquisition of the Type 1 license came after a thorough review of Doo Financial's operational framework, financial health, corporate governance practices, and the qualifications of its team, highlighting the firm's dedication to maintaining stringent compliance with regulatory standards. Armed with this new license, Doo Financial HK Limited is now equipped to carry out a…

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Hong Kong SFC
March 14, 2024 BY Simon Mugo

Hong Kong’s SFC Warns Investors Against ByBit, a Crypto Broker

The regulatory body specifically pointed out various offerings from Bybit, such as futures contracts, options, leveraged tokens, and other cryptocurrency-related services. These offerings have been promoted to Hong Kong's investors without the necessary regulatory approval, which could subject them to considerable financial jeopardy. In Hong Kong, transactions involving crypto-related products are classified as regulated activities…

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UniCredit1
March 13, 2024 BY Simon Mugo

UniCredit Is Looking for Ways To Deploy Its Excess Capital via M&A

Orcel emphasised the importance of business expansion and asserted that acquiring at the right price is preferable to merely distributing excess capital to shareholders. UniCredit stands out in the European banking landscape for its robust capital distribution strategy, incorporating share buybacks and cash dividends. This approach places the bank among the continent's most generous regarding…

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March 13, 2024 BY Simon Mugo

Metro Bank’s Loss Narrows As It Plans More Cost-Cutting Measures

Following a period of unstable trading conditions, the bank secured a financial lifeline through a £925 million ($1.18 billion) bailout in October. In response to these challenges, Metro Bank embarked on a series of austerity measures, including workforce reductions and eliminating several customer benefits, such as its seven-day-a-week banking service. The bank's efforts appear to…

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FCA
March 11, 2024 BY Simon Mugo

UK’s FCA Issues an Update About Its Stand on Crypto Asset Notes

RIEs are expected to maintain rigorous controls to ensure that trading remains orderly and that professional investors are adequately protected. cETNs must adhere to the comprehensive requirements set by the UK Listing Regime, including those related to prospectuses and continuous disclosure obligations. The FCA notes that with the accumulation of more data and a longer…

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Kazuo Ueda
March 06, 2024 BY Simon Mugo

Rapid Digitalisation Poses Financial Risks in Asia – Says BoJ’s Ueda

The adoption of digital financial services has experienced a remarkable upswing in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in emerging economies where a significant portion of the population previously lacked access to traditional banking services. Smartphones' widespread availability and convenience have revolutionised daily financial transactions, enabling greater financial inclusion for many. Despite these advancements, Ueda highlighted the…

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Capital One bank
March 05, 2024 BY Simon Mugo

Capital One Wins FX Charges Lawsuit Brought by Cardholders

The lawsuit, brought forward by four individuals, claimed that Capital One inflated its profits by applying "fictional" rates for converting transactions made in foreign currencies into U.S. dollars. According to the plaintiffs, the bank, headquartered in McLean, Virginia, did not adhere to the guidelines established by card networks Visa and Mastercard, which require the use…

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Alecta logo
March 04, 2024 BY Simon Mugo

Sweden’s Alecta Pension Fund Chairperson Resigns After a Week

Kenneth Bengtsson, the chair of the nomination committee, expressed regret over Akerstrom's decision to leave, noting her reassessment of her capability to serve effectively as Alecta's Board Chair. While the specific reasons for Akerstrom's resignation were not disclosed by Alecta, the pension fund clarified that there were no unmanageable conflicts of interest involved. Akerstrom herself…

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Santander bank
March 04, 2024 BY Simon Mugo

Santander Fires 320 Employees in the US on Digital Strategy

The reduction accounts for about 2.4% of its overall U.S. workforce, totalling 13,489 employees across the bank's group operations in the country. The decision to streamline its workforce comes as part of Santander's broader initiative to adapt and innovate in response to the dynamic demands of the banking industry, particularly the shift towards digital banking…

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