Category: Financial Services

April 24, 2024 BY Elizabeth Anderson

Indian Regulator Looks at Adani Stock Manipulation

According to a Bloomberg report, SEBI acted against a pair of foreign portfolio investment firms. The first allegedly engaged in shorting shares of Gautam Adani’s companies after it became aware of the publication of a short-seller report from Hindenburg Research, based in the US. When this report came to light in January 2023, it decreased…

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Cyprus flag
April 22, 2024 BY Elizabeth Anderson

CySEC Slaps CIF MCA Intelifunds With €360,000 Fine

According to a press release on Friday, 19 April 2024, the financial watchdog’s board claims that CIF transgressed numerous regulations in the Investment Services and Activities and Regulated Markets Law of 2017. The decision follows an investigation conducted in September 2022. A breakdown of this fine includes €80,000 for not having adequate policies and procedures…

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April 17, 2024 BY Elizabeth Anderson

René Benko Under Investigation For Fraud

According to an Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) radio report, Benko allegedly deceived a local bank about the financial standing of Signa in renewing a €25m loan. Reuters reported that the property tycoon’s lawyer, Norbert Wess, confirmed this investigation and said that Benko was notified “some time ago”, but maintains that the accusations are “unfounded”. The…

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March 27, 2024 BY Simon Mugo

Bank of England Probes Bank Valuations and the Private Equity Industry

In its March quarterly meeting notes, the Committee acknowledged the vital role of private equity in facilitating finance to the UK's real economy. However, it pointed out the challenges in evaluating asset values and leverage within this sector, which complicates the assessment of potential risks to financial stability, investment, and employment. It was also noted…

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March 27, 2024 BY Simon Mugo

JPMorgan Seeks To Attract Investments Via New Wealth-Planning Tool

This user engagement has created around a million financial plans, doubling those previously established in direct consultations with financial advisors. Kristin Lemkau, CEO of JPMorgan Wealth Management, emphasised the importance of planning in achieving personal financial goals, stating, "Planning helps people think about what they truly want in life. It's not just about wanting to…

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Visa and Mastercard
March 26, 2024 BY Simon Mugo

Visa and Mastercard Reached a Settlement With Retailers To Save $30Bn

Pending judicial approval, this agreement aims to settle allegations from legal action initiated in 2005. For years, retailers have voiced grievances against Visa and Mastercard, alleging that the credit card giants imposed excessive charges on interchange fees, also known as swipe fees, whenever consumers made purchases using credit or debit cards. Furthermore, the retailers contended…

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NatWest branch1
March 25, 2024 BY Simon Mugo

The UK Government Is No Longer the Leading NatWest Shareholder

For years, the fate of NatWest has been closely intertwined with governmental strategies aimed at stabilising the UK's financial system during tumultuous times. The recent announcement by the finance ministry highlights a deliberate and ongoing effort to transition the bank back into full private ownership. This process has been meticulously managed by gradually selling the…

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China's Country Garden developments
March 25, 2024 BY Simon Mugo

Chinese Government Is Pushing Banks To Lend to Private Developers

Despite Beijing's efforts to rejuvenate the industry through a "whitelist" approach designed to alleviate the sector's liquidity challenges, major domestic banks have remained cautious, limiting their credit extension to the beleaguered industry, vital for the nation's economic health. Since 2021, the real estate market in China, the world's second-largest economy, has faced successive challenges triggered…

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March 25, 2024 BY Elizabeth Anderson

China to Stop Using Intel and AMD Chips in Government Devices

The country also wants to sidestep Windows, Microsoft Corporation’s (MSFT) widely used operating system, and other internationally produced database software. The guidelines reportedly stipulated that all government bodies above the “township level” must adapt their procurement criteria to ensure that they acquire only “safe and reliable” microchips and software. In December 2023, China’s Ministry of…

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