FSA

ARRIVAL OF A DEAD swan was enough to raise fears of bird flu ripping through Britain, so the financial City is going to run a programme to find out how it would cope with a real pandemic, says the Guardian .

It was surprising to read the FSA's warning about over-regulation in financial markets hindering growth, given its recent comments it will goldplate the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (Mifid) where necessary.

Generic advice will not be enough to stop people making "incorrect choices" on personal accounts, says the Financial Services Authority.

Many regulations have failed to achieve their goals, have negative ‘unintended consequences' and have the opposite effect to what was intended, says the Conservative party.

The European Parliament has released details of its green paper consultation into cross-border mortgage lending across the European Union and suggests additional regulations may be unnecesary.

A financial adviser who stole £1.75m from his vulnerable, largely elderly clients squandered the fortune on an online gambling habit, reports the Times.

The Financial Services Authority hopes simplified guidance on money laundering ID checks will streamline the checking process for IFAs and make it easier for ‘honest' people to deal with advisers.

The Financial Services Authority has fined Braemar Financial Planning £182,000 for systemic failings in its sales process for pensions unlocking.

Some of Britain's biggest life insurers should be freed from "crude" solvency rules which force them to maintain huge reserves, according to a report by the Financial Services Authority out this week, says the Guardian .

We are approaching the 20th anniversary of the Financial Services Act and I find myself reflecting on the achievements and failures of legislation and regulatory bodies to which it has delegated its powers.