The Standard runs a cogently argued opinion on the policy vacuum after the change of leadership at the UK’s leading regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority. The column highlights the need for continued enlightened regulation in the FinTech and P2P spaces – and a lighter touch in the equity sector. “In the financial technology space, [the […]
This week end a Daily Mail article examined the situation of a category of consumer defined in its headline as “fed-up savers”. The wording of the piece is self-explanatory. “Increasing numbers of savers are tempted to cut out the banks and direct their money into Peer-to-Peer (P2P) loans – and no wonder, with returns of […]
Just how much do consumers understand about the things they commit their money to? A behavioural economics research paper recently published by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) investigates this and other important issues. “Consumers were asked to anticipate how the FTSE 100 would grow over time and then asked for their expectations for structured deposits […]
Today a fast-growing sector demonstrates its teething troubles. Equity crowdfunding – a sub-sector of the industry that finds investment for young companies, often start-ups, and offers an equity stake (ie, direct investment in the company) – has taken a kicking from various media outlets. A prescient Investors’ Chronicle blog from the always engaging Stephen Wilmot […]
The Financial Times reports that regulators are set to clamp down on the marketing of peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms amid concerns that some are mis-selling their products as “risk-free” savings accounts. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is now scrutinising the clarity of advertising in an attempt to protect consumers, as the alternative finance sector rapidly […]
Yesterday, we carried grim news for savers with money in bank deposit accounts. Today, a bad situation for income-dependent savers and investors just got worse. The BBC carries a report that the European Central Bank “is expected to announce it will inject up to 1 trillion euros into the ailing eurozone economy. “The ECB could […]
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) says in a report on the cash savings market, published today, that the cash savings market is “not working well”. At Money&Co., we consider that a massive understatement. And we are not alone: “Millions of savers are getting a raw deal, particularly from the big High Street banks, the Financial […]
P2PFA says FCA must find the right regulatory track “Crowdfunding is a way businesses, organisations and individuals can raise money. Generally, it involves a number of people pooling money through a website, often called a platform.” The words we quote here on Money&Co.’s crowdfunding platform are those of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). As we […]
Martin Wheatley of the Financial Conduct Authority These are exciting times. Crowdfunding continues to grow at a fast and increasingly rapid rate – and loan-based crowdfunding, of the kind we provide at Money&Co. – is geared to promote growth in the UK’s small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector. That is also good news for savers […]
The UK government is currently consulting on regulation, NISAs and security for crowdfunded investments Every day yields new information about the fast-growing crowdfunding market. Witness this recent article in Forbes. “Crowdfunding is a powerful tool for innovation and we shouldn’t be satisfied with a government that wants to hold it back.” We couldn’t agree more. […]