Tuesday newspaper round-up: Big tech, mortgages, Glencore
The UK’s City watchdog is to examine how to regulate “big tech” companies such as Apple, Google and Amazon over fears they could harm competition in Britain’s financial services sector. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said that big tech companies could provide innovations in financial services and drive down costs, but also expressed concerns that they could build dominant positions leading to the “potential exploitation of market power”, according to analysis published on Tuesday. – Guardian
The number of low-deposit 95% mortgages on sale has fallen by more than half since last month’s scrapped mini-budget, stoking fears that financial uncertainty could lead some banks to scrap the deals that are often the only way first-time buyers with small deposits can own a home. Data from Moneyfacts shows that the number of new 95% mortgages stood at 137 on Monday. – Guardian
Lawyers are to be hit with a £200 penalty if they fly to meetings as part of efforts by one of the country’s largest legal firms to cut down on its carbon footprint. Shoosmiths will dock the sum from its communal travel budget if its lawyers choose to hop on a flight, as part of its ambitious plans to reach net zero emissions. – Telegraph
Executives involved in a major bribery scandal at Glencore are to have their identities kept secret as British fraud prosecutors decide whether to charge them. A total of 17 individuals are under investigation and could face criminal charges, according to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) after the mining titan pleaded guilty to paying more than $28m (£22m) in bribes to gain access to oil cargoes. – Telegraph
City law firms are gearing up for a potential wave of legal disputes after pension funds were forced to sell assets quickly in the wake of the mini-budget. Professional advisers are assessing a range of legal risks arising out of the crisis that engulfed defined-benefit pension schemes, legal sources said. – The Times