FTSE 100 climbs back above 9,000. BP to sell US wind assets. Reckitt agrees to sell Essential home for $4.8bn. US stocks reach record highs again. Strength in corporate earnings and consumer spending lift the mood. Congress opens the door to mainstream crypto payments by passing Genius Act. Bitcoin rises 1.7%. Brent crude at $69.7 adding to yesterday’s gain. Posted on Friday Jul 18
Aon has said that market volatility and wider macro-economic uncertainty is driving a surge in hedge fund investment from UK defined benefit (DB) pension schemes. Posted on Friday Jul 18
The insurance and long-term savings industry is making positive progress towards its pledge to invest £100 billion into assets which contribute to economic growth and the net zero transition over the next decade, with £10.9 billion invested across a variety of sectors including real estate, utilities and transport in 2024. Posted on Friday Jul 18
Summer edition focuses on the theme of alternative assets and private markets, including an interview on complex assets with Utmost Wealth Solutions’ Domenico Iacono (Head of Complex Assets and Investment Data). Other features focus on areas such as introduction of CGT on financial assets in Belgium, Spain’s proposed 100% tax on real estate acquisitions by non-EU residents and France’s Supreme Court reversing its stance on beneficiary nomination changes. Posted on Thursday Jul 17
Pensions offer an attractive alternative to ISAs because of tax relief and flexibility. Tax relief can boost returns by up to 41% for higher rate taxpayers 3.9 million 55-64-year-olds have ISAs worth an average value of £40,000. Millions of people in their 50s and 60s could be missing out on thousands of pounds by continuing to prioritise ISAs over investing in pensions. Posted on Wednesday Jul 16
Standard Life and XPS Group comments as inflation rises in June. Inflation edges up, with CPI reaching 3.6%. Bank of England faces challenge of balancing inflation target with the UK’s need for economic growth Posted on Wednesday Jul 16
Marsh has welcomed the UK government’s announcement that it will facilitate the creation of a UK regime for captive insurance companies, enhancing the UK’s stature as a leading insurance marketplace. Posted on Tuesday Jul 15
In the first phase of reforms to the Senior Manager Certification Regime (SM&CR), the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) are proposing to streamline the regime to make it more effective and efficient and to drive growth in financial services. Posted on Tuesday Jul 15
Buying spree began last week as investors loaded up ahead of important US lawmaker debates on digital assets. Three acts will be debated this week. What are the other reasons for bitcoin’s latest surge? Risks of putting money into crypto assets Posted on Monday Jul 14
Legal & General Assurance Society Limited (“L&G”) has completed a c.£800 million buy-in with the Honda Group – UK Pension Scheme (“the Scheme”), securing the retirement benefits of over 1,700 retirees and over 3,000 deferred members. Posted on Monday Jul 14
Wealth taxes are back in the spotlight, as a potential solution to the gap in the government’s finances. Over the weekend, the Transport Secretary qualified that the ‘working people’ who should be protected from tax rises are those ‘on modest incomes’. In 2014, Labour advocated a mansion tax on properties worth £2 million or more. George Osborne, when he was Chancellor, considered extra council tax bands, taxing pricier properties more heavily. Posted on Monday Jul 14
The US President has ratcheted up his threats against Canada promising duties of 35% on imports. The UK economy contracted in May by 0.1%, with a drop in production the main culprit. Brent Crude has been trading higher, around $69 a barrel, as geopolitical concerns continue to swirl. BP warns its results will be hit by lower energy prices sparked by tariffs turmoil. Posted on Friday Jul 11
The FCA’s annual report sets out how it has used data and technology to crack down on harm in financial services. Over 1,600 websites suspected of promoting financial services without permission were suspended, removed or blocked in 2024 because of FCA action, as part of its fight against financial crime. The regulator also collaborated with big tech platforms, resulting in over 50 apps being removed from Google Play and the App Store. This has helped the regulator in its work to block fraud at source. Posted on Friday Jul 11
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is planning to review its client categorisation rules to unlock more opportunities for wealthy investors and support capital markets, driving economic growth. Posted on Thursday Jul 10
The FTSE 100 tip-toed higher again with another nudge towards the record it set last month says AJ Bell Head of Financial Analysis Danni Hewson. Posted on Thursday Jul 10
US tariffs affect global economic growth, which is forecast to slow to 2.3% in 2025, down from 2.8% in 2024. Amid unstable policy environment and competitive pressures, both life and non-life insurers see decelerating premium growth. Tariffs impact to hit US motor physical damage hardest, but pockets of underwriting opportunity may emerge. Posted on Wednesday Jul 9
Insurance Europe welcomes the ambition of the EU’s Savings and Investment Union (SIU) to boost retail participation in capital markets. Insurance Europe, however, cautions that the European Commission’s latest plan to develop savings and investments ‘‘accounts’’ will fall short unless it includes insurers as product providers and insurance within its scope. This would help increase consumer choice, increase market competition and drive innovation. Posted on Wednesday Jul 9
The Lloyd’s Market Association (LMA) has announced the formation of its new Treasury & Investments Group (TIG), a strategic initiative reporting to the LMA Finance Committee and ultimately accountable to the LMA Board. With representation from 17 managing agents, TIG will serve as a dedicated forum for managing agents to collaborate with Lloyd’s on key developments shaping treasury and investment functions across the market. Membership of TIG is open to all managing agents. Posted on Wednesday Jul 9
A quarter of Gen Z (24%) say they’re not prioritising saving for retirement, expecting an inheritance to fund their later life. With inheritance pots under pressure from rising care costs, longer life spans, and planned upcoming tax changes, Standard Life shares ways to boost your financial future Posted on Tuesday Jul 8
European markets largely brush off fresh tariff fears. US stocks slide as tariff threats ramp up. Volatility index moves higher, but remains in check. Oil slips as OPEC+ hikes output. Posted on Tuesday Jul 8
Barnett Waddingham (BW) have announced the acquisition of specialist risk advisory firm Risk Evolves, strengthening its Risk and Resilience offering and accelerating business growth. Posted on Tuesday Jul 8
European dealmakers led the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) sector with a strong performance during the first half of 2025, according to latest research from WTW. Based on share price performance, European buyers outclassed companies not involved in M&A activities by an impressive +9.4pp (percentage points) for deals valued over $100 million during the last six months, reveals new data from WTW’s Quarterly Deal Performance Monitor (QDPM) (1). Posted on Monday Jul 7
The FTSE 100 falls in early trade as worries simmer over trade deadlines. Lower blanket tariffs are expected to be imposed as Trump runs out of time to do individual deals. US Congress passes the big, beautiful tax bill, but there are fears it could have ugly consequences for long-term government finances. UK government borrowing costs retreat further after a show of cabinet unity following Rachel Reeves’ appearance in parliament. Expectations of looming UK taxes rises see bets pile on for an interest rate cut in August. Posted on Friday Jul 4
Pension Insurance Corporation Group Limited ('PICG'), ultimate parent company of Pension Insurance Corporation plc ('PIC'), the specialist insurer of UK defined benefit pension schemes, today announces that Athora Holding Limited (“Athora”) has agreed to acquire PICG for approximately £5.7 billion. Athora is a leading pan-European savings and retirement services group with €76 billion of assets under management and administration, on behalf of 2.8 million policyholders. Posted on Friday Jul 4
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