FTSE opens down this morning. Bank of England keeps interest rates flat in a close vote. US stock futures move lower as big tech continues to struggle. Gold sees prices fall as traders take profits. Oil prices on track to post first weekly decline in six weeks. Posted on Friday Feb 6
Standard Life, Wealth Club and Schroders comment as the Bank of England holds interest rates at 3.75% in its first meeting of the year. Decision underlines policy makers’ cautious approach to further easing, following December’s Christmas-fuelled rebound in inflation. New ‘neutral rate’ could be higher than 2008- 2022 historic lows Posted on Thursday Feb 5
FTSE drifts ahead of BoE and ECB rate decisions. Another $3.5bn buyback from Shell despite Q4 earnings miss. US stock futures down after bruising session for tech shares. Alphabet drops 2% after-hours despite cloud blowout. Brent Crude down 2% ahead of US-Iranian talks Posted on Thursday Feb 5
New research from Canada Life reveals a widespread lack of awareness about where important family documents and financial policies are kept, leaving millions at risk of unnecessary stress, delays and even penalties during periods of bereavement. Posted on Tuesday Feb 3
FTSE 100 nudges up in early trade. Gold has rebounded to start the week, as speculators look to take advantage of last week’s slump. Elon Musk has announced intention to combine SpaceX and xAI to create a $1.25 trillion company. Donald Trump has announced plans to cut India trade tariffs from 50% to 18%, buoying stock markets. The oil price has fallen on news that the US is in talks with Iran in a bid to ease tensions in the Middle East Posted on Tuesday Feb 3
Just Group has completed a £16 million buy-in for the Pension Scheme of The Royal Star & Garter Home for Disabled Ex-Service Men and Women. Posted on Monday Feb 2
Shock unravelling of gold and silver prices has continued. Fed chair pick sparked the sell-off but easing geopolitical tensions exacerbate falls. FTSE 100 opens in the red and Wall Street is set for a slide. Mining, energy and tech set to be under pressure as risk appetite is dampened Posted on Monday Feb 2
Only one in three UK pension schemes using fiduciary management currently has formal, independent oversight in place, despite clear expectations from regulators, according to data compiled by XPS Posted on Monday Feb 2
Footsie set to end the week flat, after stocks slip back Stateside. Gold retreats from record highs as investors take profits after its glittering run up. Brent Crude edges back lower but is still set to sharpest weekly gain in two years. Wall Street set to trade lower as speculation swirls about the next chair of the Federal Reserve. Worries rise about huge AI spend not delivering on expectations. Apple’s softly-softly approach to AI appears to be reaping rewards. Posted on Friday Jan 30
Next rate cut not expected until June and President clearly anxious over state of the economy ahead of Congressional elections. Ghost of Arthur Burns, who trigged a wave of inflation in the 1970s, still haunts the Fed, says Rathbones’ Head of Market Analysis. Weak dollar represents portfolio headwinds for sterling-based investors Posted on Thursday Jan 29
ONS data on the ownership of UK quoted shares demonstrates the radical fall in the proportion of shares held by UK insurers and pension companies over the past two decades. Posted on Thursday Jan 29
Proposed changes to the Lifetime ISA (LISA) may simplify support for first-time buyers - but risk abandoning thousands of savers who have used the LISA to save or supplement their retirement, PensionBee warns. Posted on Thursday Jan 29
Crude prices surge as an attack on Iran appears imminent given US military build up. Gold and silver head even higher amid intense safe haven demand. Meta shares take off as results exceed expectations, as it intensifies its artificial intelligence push. Microsoft’s mismatch between soaring AI spend and slower cloud growth unnerves investors. S&P 500 set for another move into record-breaking territory. Posted on Thursday Jan 29
S&P 500 hits 7,000 for the first time. Forecast beating tech results put fire under chip stocks. Fed expected to keep rates on hold later, but bets are on for cuts this year. Posted on Wednesday Jan 28
The dollar fell to 2022 levels as US President, Donald Trump, commented that the recent weakness was “great” Gold continued its climb, hitting yet another record. Big day for Big Tech as the market awaits earnings from Meta, Microsoft and Tesla today, Apple tomorrow – with ASML starting strong. Fed decision day, widely expected that the bank will hold rates at 3.75%, but Chair Powell’s statement may trigger volatility. Derren Nathan, head of equity research, unpacks the impact of the Defra consultation on CVS Group Posted on Wednesday Jan 28
The Standard Life Annuity Rates Tracker rose 5.48% in 2025. Rise worth an extra £7,000 – £9,000 in lifetime income for a healthy 65-year-old man/woman. £100,000 pension pot now delivers up to £7,510 a year Posted on Wednesday Jan 28
The OBR’s Economic and Fiscal Estimates publication shows that Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is now estimated to raise an additional £6.1 billion between 2025-26 and the end of the decade. Of that increase, around £2.7 billion is attributed to the reduced CGT relief on disposals to employee ownership trusts from 2026-27 onwards, while around a further £3.4 billion is forecast to be hauled in by The Treasury due to rising equity prices. Posted on Tuesday Jan 27
The FCA has launched a review into the implications of advanced AI on consumers, retail financial markets and regulators. The Review will be led by Sheldon Mills and builds on the FCA’s existing work on AI. This includes its AI Discussion Paper, AI Sprint, and AI Lab including AI Live Testing and its groundbreaking Supercharged Sandbox supported by NVIDIA. Posted on Tuesday Jan 27
PIC has concluded a £6.6 million buy-in for the Primula Limited Pension Scheme (‘the Scheme’), securing the benefits for all 74 Scheme members. Posted on Tuesday Jan 27
FTSE up at the open. Strong start for Sage but no upgrade. Asian bourses rally despite fresh tariffs on South Korea. Gold and Silver rallies resume ahead of the first Fed decision for 2026US Stock Futures mixed. American forces gather in Persian Gulf but oil price dips Posted on Tuesday Jan 27
The Finnair Oyj Retirement Benefit Scheme (“the Scheme”) has secured a £4 million full scheme buy-in with Aviva. The Scheme is sponsored by Finnair Oyj (“the Sponsor”), the flag carrier and largest airline of Finland. The buy-in was completed in October 2025, with support provided by the Sponsor to secure the full benefits of the 20 remaining uninsured members. Posted on Monday Jan 26
US investors risk ‘money illusion’, where rising portfolios mask declining international purchasing power as dollar falls. Eyes turn next to Fed chair race, but appointment ‘unlikely to overshadow deeper drivers shaping asset allocation’ Posted on Monday Jan 26
Savers lost almost £7bn to inflation as they slept last year, as the real value of their nest eggs was quietly eroded. Inflation has risen more than expected to 3.4%, underlining that price pressures remain above target. Analysis highlights the hidden cost of holding too much cash for too long Posted on Monday Jan 26
Royal London has secured a £213 million bulk purchase annuity (BPA) transaction with the Oxford Instruments Pension Scheme. The Scheme is sponsored by Oxford Instruments plc, a leading provider of scientific technology tools and expertise to academic and commercial partners. Posted on Thursday Jan 22
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