FTSE 100 opens lower following falls for indices in Asia. Trump’s prime-time speech dashed hopes for a faster resolution of the Iran conflict. Energy prices march back higher amid worries about supplies from the Gulf. Cleaning products manufacturer McBride warns of shortages due to the conflict.UK government borrowing costs head higher, making significant government help for energy bills unlikely. Drivers set for more expensive journeys for the great Easter getaway given hikes in diesel and petrol prices.
Broadstone and Lumera comment on new data from the ONS’ Financial Survey of Pension Schemes highlights how the UK Defined Contribution (DC) pensions system is becoming increasingly fragmented as job mobility leads to more deferred pension pots, even as overall contribution levels continue to rise. The figures show membership of deferred private sector DC pensions has now reached 23.04 million as of Q3 2025, up by over 2 million compared to the same period in 2024. Over the same period, membership of active pots saw has only risen by 0.15 million, increasing from 11.45 million to 11.60 million.
DB pension schemes could risk poorer member outcomes and engagement if they fail to offer a high-quality member experience as they approach endgame, warns Hymans Robertson.
The Hong Kong (China SAR) property insurance industry is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5%, increasing from HKD7.0 billion ($894.3 million) in 2026 to HKD9.3 billion ($1.2 billion) by 2030, in terms of direct written premium (DWP), according to GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.
New research shows one in seven (14%) people just below State Pension age have gone without food, clothing or heating in the last year, compared to one in twenty (5%) above State Pension age, aged 66 to 69. With the start of the rise in the State Pension age less than a week away, many will struggle financially with the change. Standard Life Centre for the Future of Retirement says extra support is needed for over 60s least able to weather these changes, including lower earners, those with health conditions or disabilities, and carers
Life insurance is approaching a major transformation cycle. For decades, the sector has operated on highly stable, transaction-intensive platforms. Many of those systems are now reaching end of life. The engineers who built them have retired. The languages they were written in are increasingly rare. Maintenance costs are rising. Regulatory risk is growing and replacement is no longer optional. The question is not whether to modernise. It is how.
The Hymans Robertson Foundation has appointed Paul Waters as its new Chair. Paul is Head of DC Markets at Hymans Robertson having joined the firm in 2005 and is driven by a passion for delivering better financial outcomes for individuals both at retirement and throughout their lives. As the new Chair, Paul will act as a key bridge between the Foundation and the firm, helping its work to deliver lasting impact for disadvantaged young people and communities throughout the UK.
They say that March comes in like a lion, goes out like a lamb, well in terms of the weather Storm Amy at the beginning of the month seems to make that true but with conflict in the Middle East I am sure the people in that region do not think the old saying holds sway. Our cover story this month comes from Mark Brown from WTW examining the role of AI in Financial reporting asking if it is hype or reality. We also have Laura Hobern from LCP with the second part of her series on pricing in a softening market and the role of judgement in deciding when to follow the market.
The frequency and intensity of severe convective storm (SCS) events have increased significantly, leading to insured losses in billions of US dollars globally. Damage to aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, and renewable power generation, including solar panels, are among the most expensive drivers of hail claims, Allianz Commercial analysis shows. SCS events are unpredictable, but risks can be mitigated with a combination of traditional resilience measures and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions.
A relief wave hits equity markets amid Trump’s claims the war with Iran will end in weeks. Brent crude falls to below $100 a barrel, but worries remain about supplies going forward. OpenAI’s mega valuation following a funding round highlights private markets opportunities.
Global M&A shrugs off high volatility and geopolitical noise, as the value of completed deals soars to five-year high of $438 billion – an increase of over 155% in 12 months
Howden has agreed to acquire the Insurance and Financial Services Consulting Team (“IFS team”) of Hymans Robertson LLP, strengthening its specialist insurance actuarial and longevity consulting capabilities.
With the new tax year starting on 6 April, this is a good moment to revisit how your pension scheme gives tax relief. The method you use – net pay, relief at source (RAS) or salary sacrifice – shapes employees’ take-home pay, their experience of saving and the accuracy of your payroll processes. RAS deducts contributions after tax and the provider claims 20% basic-rate relief for the member, with higher-rate taxpayers claiming any extra separately.
Conflict involving Iran is beginning to have a tangible impact on the cost and practicalities of travel, with higher fuel prices, disrupted flight routes and more limited travel insurance options for some destinations all creating pressure for holidaymakers, according to Defaqto.
Reports that President Trump is inclined to end the war, even without controlling the Strait of Hormuz, have pushed down oil prices. Markets remain skittish, with futures indicating a rise for the FTSE 100 and Wall Street, while Asian markets remain in the red. Conflicting signals from Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and retaliatory strikes by Iran are set to keep markets volatile. Data from the British Retail Consortium confirms UK prices were already rising as the conflict in Iran broke out.
Decumulation, often described as the “nastiest, hardest problem in finance”, sits at the heart of how members turn their pension pots into a sustainable income for life. In this episode, and the first in a two part series, host Sophie Tennison speaks with pensions lawyer Wendy Hunter and WTW adviser Andrew Doyle to unpack why decumulation is so complex, what’s changing under the Government’s new Guided Retirement framework, and how schemes can better support members at retirement. They explore the trade offs between drawdown, flex and fix solutions and lifelong income options like Retirement CDC, and the legal and governance considerations trustees must navigate.
The Bank of England’s Money and Credit data publication today finds that net mortgage borrowing increased to £4.8 billion in February, from £4.2 billion in January, above the previous six-month average of £4.5 billion.
We don’t yet have the final requirements and nor do we know exactly when they will come into force, but there’s no doubt big change is coming and administering authorities should already be planning for them. In this article we set out where the proposals have got to and what funds should be doing to prepare. It’s been five years since the publication of the final Good Governance report for the Scheme Advisory Board, and most of the recommendations are close to becoming reality.
Three in five (61%) parents of adult children provide financial support. This includes everyday living costs (26%), property help (13%), children’s savings (11%), and covering university fees to avoid student loans (11%). Parents cite a strong sense of responsibility (46%) and a desire to protect their children from debt or financial hardship (47%) as key motivations. Yet three quarters (74%) providing this support say it has affected them financially: 27% have dipped into savings and 15% expect to retire later or have a more modest retirement as a result
Volatile week ahead as Vix reaches tariff tantrum levels. UK markets battle with rate hike expectations. US markets brace for a string of economic data points. Oil ticks higher as de-escalation doubts mount.
Barnett Waddingham and ARC Pensions Law comment on the The Pensions Regulator publishing its guidance on Section 37 issues arising from Virgin Media Ltd vs NTL Pension Trustee II Ltd.
Comprehensive car insurance premiums have fallen by 9% (£66) during the last 12 months1 with UK motorists now paying £711 on average, according to the latest Confused.com Car Insurance Price Index in association with WTW.
Schroders, examines how concern is growing that an energy shock triggered by the Iran war will lead to a period of stagflation - something that may make investors wary. But history suggests stocks in an environment of low growth and high inflation may not perform as poorly as investors fear. On the back of soaring energy prices, fears are once again rising that the global economy could be heading in a stagflationary direction – one where economic growth is weak and inflation high.