FSA

Small firms must analyse their vulnerability to fraud attack and consider the threats to their business in a structured way, according to the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

The Financial Services Authority is considering the use of "creative penalties" in the financial services sector as an alternative to imposing blanket fines on firms.

The Treasury has said there is no conflict between the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) and commission rebates, in contrast to concerns raised by the Association of Independent Financial Advisers (Aifa).

The Financial Services Authority has barred Jonathan Townrow from performing regulated activities because of his failure to treat his customers fairly when handling the Pensions Review in the late 1990s.

The Financial Services Authority is supporting a "Money Doctors" generic financial advice scheme to help higher education students cope with money problems and debt.

The Treasury has approved money laundering guidance for the financial services sector which firms must implement within six months.

The Financial Services Authority could introduce "corrective measures" unless trade bodies introduce measures to improve the payment protection insurance (PPI) industry by 17 March.

Consumers must take some responsibility when they make financial decisions to prevent the retail financial market's effectiveness being destroyed, according to Callum McCarthy, chairman of the Financial Services Authority.

LISTED PROPERTY companies have "hijacked" the debate over government plans to introduce real estate investment trusts, according to William Hill, head of property at Schoders, reports this morning's Financial Times .

Removing the RU64 rule and introducing a National Pension Savings Scheme (NPSS) type model into the pensions market could lead to "mis-selling on a significant scale" , according to the Financial Services Consumer Panel.