Tag Archives: competition
FSB asks if BigTech will shake up FinTech
FSB has published a report looking at FinTech market developments in the financial system and what that might mean for financial stability. It is generally excited by the possibilities that FinTech offers and says that: so far, incumbent financial institutions and FinTech firms have a relationship that is largely co-operative and complementary; but there is […]
CMA Consults on Annual Plan 2019/2020
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is consulting on its proposed Annual Plan, which sets out its plans and priorities for 2019 to 2020. Subject to the outcome of the Brexit negotiations, the CMA plans to give greater priority to potential market studies and investigations as it considers future work. The themes which it proposes should carry […]
CMA unhappy with ComparetheMarket home insurance deals
The CMA has made a provisional finding that ComparetheMarket includes clauses in many of its contracts with home insurers that breach competition law and could lead to higher premiums for consumers. It says the clauses stop insurers quoting lower prices elsewhere and therefore prevent rival comparison sites and other channels from offering cheaper prices than […]
CMA calls for evidence in response to ‘loyalty penalty’ super-complaint
Following a super-complaint by the Citizens Advice bureau, the CMA has announced that it is seeking views on concerns about long term customers paying more for goods and services. The CMA has identified four key issues to which it invites responses by 14 October 2018: the existence, impact and root causes of a ‘loyalty penalty’ […]
FCA appoints new competition director
FCA has appointed Sheldon Mills, currently senior director of mergers and state aid at the CMA, as its new director of competition. He will take up the role in November.
FCA personal and business current account comparison rules come into force
New FCA rules requiring banks to publish information about personal and business current accounts came into force on 15 August 2018. The new rules cover standing data relating to account opening and service availability and major incident metrics. Further rules will require firms to publish information about account opening and debit card replacement from 15 […]
Treasury Committee asks PRA to work with insurance industry in relation to areas covered by Solvency II
In a letter to the Chief Executive of the PRA regarding Solvency II, the House of Commons Treasury Committee has asked the PRA to consider challenges raised by industry in a number of areas, including to the current risk model change process and reporting requirements. Furthermore, in the light of Brexit and while acknowledging it […]
FCA discusses mortgage enforcement and competition issues in Building Societies speech
The FCA’s Director of Supervision, Jonathan Davidson, has delivered a talk on Building Societies and the Future of Retail Banking at the Building Societies annual conference. In his speech, Jonathan raised the issue of whether the historically low repossession rates was actually a concerning indication: whether forbearance should be offered in cases where the borrower […]
FCA publishes mortgage market interim report
FCA has published its interim report into the mortgage market. Although it is pleased with how competition is working to the benefit of many people, it has made some suggestions for improvement. It found that there are generally high levels of choice for consumers and that consumers engage with their options, with evidence of switching […]
CMA to continue insurance price comparison website investigation
The CMA has confirmed that it has decided to continue the investigation into a price comparison website’s (PCW) use of certain ‘most favoured nation’ clauses in its contracts with home insurance providers. In the context of PCWs, ‘most favoured nation’ clauses require the provider of a product that wishes to offer their product on the […]
PRA responds to Treasury Committee’s inquiry into Solvency 2
PRA has published a report in response to the Treasury Committee’s inquiry into Solvency 2. The response is split into four parts: Part 1: Overview of the UK insurance industry and the rationale for the prudential regulation of insurers. Part 2: Solvency 2 and the UK insurance sector, including the development of Solvency 2. Part 3: […]
BoE speech on looking out for the policyholder
Sam Woods, Deputy Governor, Prudential Regulation and Chief Executive Officer of PRA delivered a speech entitled ‘Looking out for the policyholder’ at the ABI’s annual conference. The speech focused on the policyholder, competition and competitiveness and Solvency 2 reform. With regard to PRA’s secondary objective to facilitate effective competition, Mr Woods provided practical examples of steps […]
Increase in limit on Building Societies’ maximum currency transaction size
Treasury has published the Building Societies (Restricted Transactions) (Amendment to the Limit on the Trade in Currencies) Order 2017. This Order increases the limit set out in section 9A of the Building Societies Act 1997 at which building societies can convert currency from £100,000 to £3 million, in order to better reflect the nature and […]
Digital comparison tools: government responds to CMA market study
Earlier this year, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published the results of a market study into the use of digital comparison tools in a number of sectors, including car insurance, home insurance and credit cards. The findings of the market study included strong concern about the use of ‘most favoured nation’ clauses, which can […]
Payment Services Regulator requires change to Direct Debit rules regarding switching Facilities Management providers
The Payment Services Regulator (PSR) has published its decision to require the operator of the Bacs payment system, of which the Direct Debit scheme is a part, to change its rules to help clients switch Facilities Management (FM) service providers. Direct Debit FM service providers enable organisations which aren’t specifically approved or sponsored as Bacs […]
FCA sets out future approach to authorisation and competition
FCA has outlined its approach to authorisation and to competition. It notes it is one of the few financial regulators in the world with an objective that includes promoting competition. It wants to understand, in relation to authorisations: whether applicants clearly understand how to meet the Threshold Conditions – and, if not, how FCA could […]
FCA issues first statement of objection to asset managers
FCA has issued a statement of objections to 4 asset managers who it believes may have acted in breach of competition law. The statement (which has not been published) is the first time FCA has brought a case using its competition enforcement powers. It says that Artemis Investment Management LLP, Hargreave Hale Ltd, Newton Investment […]
CMA investigation in the investment consultancy services market
Following the referral of the investment consultancy services market by the FCA to the CMA earlier this year, the CMA is now entering the phase of further information gathering and has updated its investigations page with the responses to issues statement received from the industry. The referral by the FCA followed its Asset Management Market […]
CMA publishes decision on payment systems merger
CMA has published the full text of its decision on whether the anticipated merger of Bacs Limited, FPS Limited, and C&CC Limited would result in a substantial lessening of competition and would therefore be referred under section 33(1) of the Enterprise Act 2002. CMA has concluded that the Merger does not raise competition concerns as there […]
BoE publishes revised Settlement Account Policy
BoE has published a revised Settlement Account Policy to include non-bank PSPs in its real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system. It wants these changes to allow non-bank PSPs to compete on a more level playing field with banks as it will reduce the dependence on them for access to payment systems. This policy change is designed to […]
FCA announces RTGS extension
FCA has announced that BoE is extending access to settlement accounts in its real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system to non-bank payment service providers (NBPSPs). This will enable NBPSPs to have direct access to the UK’s sterling payment systems. In the first instance an NBPSP applying for RTGS access will have their application reviewed by the […]
FCA looks at competition and investment consultancy
FCA had made a provisional decision to make a market investigation reference of investment consultancy services. In February, three major providers of these services offered undertakings in lieu (UIL) for FCA to consider, saying they would amend their practices without the need for FCA to make new rules. FCA has decided to reject it, but […]
Retail banking market investigation: CMA publishes responses to draft order
The CMA has published responses to the publication of its draft order following the retail market investigation. The responding institutions include: Dansk Bank HSBC Information Commissioner’s Office Santander Tesco Which Some of the concerns raised in the responses address the proposal to introduce a monthly maximum charge in respect of unauthorised overdraft charges, the definition of […]
FCA launches market study on competition in the mortgage sector
FCA has launched a market study on whether competition in the mortgage sector is working in the interests of borrowers. The purpose of the study is to help the FCA understand whether consumers have enough information to choose products and services, and if they are in a position to understand whether these represent good value […]
CMA publishes draft Order following retail banking market investigation
In August 2016 the CMA published the report on its market investigation into the supply of retail banking services. Following the proposals of that Report, the CMA has published a draft Retail Banking Market Investigation Order 2017 which includes measures that seek to drive the market towards ‘Open Banking’: using technology to provide customers with more control over their […]
FCA publishes interim asset management market study
The FCA has today published interim report MS15.2.2 in connection with their Asset Management Market Study. The FCA’s chief objective for the market study was to ensure that the market works well and that the investment products consumers use offer value for money. The market study was launched in November 2015 in response to a number of concerns […]
FCA and Treasury respond to CMA retail banking market report
In August 2016, the CMA published its final report following its investigation into the competitiveness of retail banking market (Report), which focused on personal current account and SME customers. The Report found that there were elements of the market that were having an adverse effect on the promotion of competition, and proposed a package of […]