Employment in the financial services industry fell at its fastest rate in 17 years in the three months to December,

 "Employment in the financial services industry fell at its fastest rate in 17 years in the three months to December, according to the latest survey from the Confederation of British Industry.

The finance firms surveyed by the employers’ organisation also expect growth to slow in the next three months. The balance between those expecting a rise in volumes to those expecting a fall dropped to plus 15 from an actual figure of plus 27 in the quarter just ended.

Business volumes grew for all sub-sectors of financial services in the past quarter, but profitability was weaker than expected and grew at the slowest pace for 18 months."