BUSINESS LIVE: CMA to probe Amazon and Microsoft; Imperial boasts smoking alts growth; Grainger enjoys record year
LIVE
BUSINESS LIVE: CMA to probe Amazon and Microsoft; Imperial boasts smoking alts growth; Grainger enjoys record year
By Live Commentary
Updated:
The FTSE 100 will open at 8am. Among the companies with reports and trading updates today are Imperial Brands, Grainger, Motorpoint and National Grid. Read the Thursday 5 October Business Live blog below.
> If you are using our app or a third-party site click here to read Business Live
CMA to probe Amazon and Microsoft cloud businesses
Britain’s competition regulator will investigate US tech giants Amazon and Microsoft’s dominance of the UK cloud market, following an Ofcom probe that identified difficulties for UK businesses accessing or switching to multiple providers.
‘The CMA will now conduct an independent investigation to decide whether there is an adverse effect on competition, and if so, whether it should take action or recommend others to take action,’ Ofcom said in a statement.
Ofcom, which started looking into cloud services last year, had said in April it was particularly worried about the practices of Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft because of their market positions, and planned to ask the competition regulator to investigate.
UK businesses have told Ofcom they were concerned about it being too difficult to switch or mix and match cloud provider, Fergal Farragher, Ofcom’s Director responsible for the Market Study.
‘So, we are referring the market to the CMA for further scrutiny, to make sure business customers continue to benefit from cloud services,’ Farragher added.
