The Financial Conduct Authority has started a review of the claims management sector following reports that some companies and law firms are delivering poor outcomes for consumers. The regulator will investigate the causes of these issues, focusing on aggressive marketing and misleading advertising, alongside the use of unfair exit fees. The review stems from observations across different […]
April Economic Background: Ceasefire hopes give way to renewed tensions S&P 500 and emerging markets hit record highs Central banks hold firm as bond yields stay elevated Click here to read more
Introduction April followed a similar pattern to March, with the conflict in Iran dominating the headlines and influencing global markets. Oil prices and stockmarkets have been responding on an almost daily basis to every scrap of news, both positive and negative. The medium-term economic prognosis seems to the unwelcome return of inflation. What April showed us […]
The UK economy grew by a surprise 0.5% in the three months to February 2026, ahead of the onset of the crisis in the Middle East. The Office for National Statistics reports that gross domestic product (GDP) growth was led by the services sector, up 0.5%, while manufacturing rose 1.2%. Conversely, construction output fell 2%. Commenting on […]
The Bank of England’s (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) held its base rate at 3.75% on 30 April, against a backdrop of renewed economic volatility. The committee voted eight to one in favour of another hold as it continues to ‘wait and see’ on inflation data. The dissenting member, Huw Pill, voted for a 0.25% hike. The […]
The Pension Schemes Bill received Royal Assent on 29 April and became the Pension Schemes Act, marking the most significant overhaul of pensions in a decade. The Act will bring about significant reforms to the UK pensions system, benefitting workers by up to £29,000 by the time of retirement according to the Government. The Government’s statistics claim that […]
March Economic Background: War in the Middle East dominates global markets Rising energy prices force a sharp rethink on interest rates Click here to read more
Inheritance tax (IHT) receipts are continuing to climb in the UK, with The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecasting that IHT will raise a total of £8.7bn in the 2025-26 tax year. This means more families are considering passing wealth between generations earlier, reflecting a broader shift in how families are thinking about their finances. As property […]
The Bank of England (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has unusually voted unanimously to hold its base rate at 3.75% on the back of major geopolitical issues in the Middle East. All members of the MPC voted to hold the base rate in the meeting on 18 March 2026. The committee said its primary cause for caution […]
At the end of February we were talking about the FTSE 100 edging towards 11,000 with rumblings of a possible energy crisis clouding the horizon as news of the bombing of Iran broke. The 45th and 47th President of the United States gave us plenty more to talk about by the end of March. Markets […]