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Utmost comments as HMRC’s latest Capital Gains Tax (CGT) data shows receipts of £168m for May 2026, the second month of the new 2026 / 2027 tax year, compared to the £232 million recorded in May 2025. This follows receipts of £162 million in April 2026. Inheritance Tax (IHT) receipts in May 2026, the second month of the new 2026 / 2027 tax year, totalled £730 million, compared to the £701 million recorded in May 2025. This follows receipts of £715 million in April 2026 - the first month of the new 2026 / 2027 tax year.
Lloyd’s welcomes the launch of a new Lloyd’s market consortium designed to provide additional marine war risk insurance capacity for vessels and cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Chubb will serve as lead underwriter, supported by participating Lloyd’s syndicates and specialist market partners. The consortium brings together leading underwriting expertise with additional Lloyd’s market capacity to support brokers and clients operating in a complex and fast-moving environment.
In 2026, two influential industry groups, the Investment Consultants Sustainability Working Group (ICSWG) and the Trustee Sustainability Working Group (TSWG), have committed to closer collaboration to accelerate progress on sustainability across the UK pensions and investment ecosystem.
According to this morning’s HMRC data, Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) receipts stood at £2.12 billion in May 2026 in the second month of the financial year, falling very slightly from last year’s figure of £2.13 billion by just £9 million.
Andy Burnham's victory sparks fresh leadership speculation but fails to trigger a major market reaction. Sterling slips slightly and gilt yields edge higher as markets digest the political implications of the Makerfield by-election. FTSE 100 flat despite stronger-than-expected retail sales figures. Investors continue to assess the implications of the US-Iran agreement and its impact on energy markets. Wall Street gains led by technology stocks provide some support to sentiment.
Standard Life, Schroders and Quilter comment as the Bank of England holds rates at 3.75%, after inflation came in lower than expected for May. Latest inflation data and recent US-Iran de-escalation reduce the case for immediate tightening, but policymakers are still likely to take a cautious approach from here.
The Second Pensions Commission has published its interim report. At 190 pages, it is detailed and wide-ranging. But for many employers, much of it will feel familiar. The same questions run throughout. Are people saving enough? Is the system fair? And are we genuinely set up to deliver good member outcomes over time? In that sense, the report does not introduce a new agenda. Instead, it strengthens an existing one. It brings together a robust evidence base behind issues that employers have been grappling with for years.
The SPP AI Survey 2026 revealed that 100% of pension firms are now using Artificial Intelligence (AI). Against this backdrop, the SPP this week held an event to examine how AI is transforming the world of pensions.
Interest rate concerns sparked a wobble on Wall Street but a rebound is expected. The FTSE 100 has opened lower as investors await the Bank of England's interest rate decision. Oil prices have eased further amid hopes of increased supply and weaker demand expectations. Big tech stocks have come under pressure as investors reassess the prospects for further interest rate rises. Markets remain caught between enthusiasm for AI-driven growth and concerns about stretched valuations.
Increased innovation from insurers is expected to lead to the faster wind up of DB pensions schemes following risk transfer transactions, claims Hymans Robertson in its latest paper.
One in four (28%) homeowners have fallen into financial difficulty due to illness or injury. One in five (20%) borrowers have no savings safety net at all. Nearly one in 10 (9%) regret not having protection, while others admit they assumed they were covered
Daniel Nilsson, Senior Portfolio Manager at Isio Investment Management, comments on the long-term decline in UK investors’ home bias following Brexit, and the structural forces that have reshaped allocations to UK equities over the past decade:
A year ago, PensionBee launched its Invisible Workers campaign, shining a light on the millions of self-employed workers, gig economy workers and unpaid carers excluded from the pension saving architecture that has been integral in supporting retirement outcomes for employees. Twelve months on, the Pensions Commission has now confirmed what the campaign has been saying all along.
28% of Brits believe cash savings hold their value over time while 18% think interest rates stay above inflation 66% of Brits are unaware that long-term investing beats returns on interest-earning cash accounts A quarter (24%) of non-investors cite risk as the factor stopping them from investing
New DWP modelling included in the interim report from the Pensions Commission[1] reveals that the UK pensions system is rapidly approaching an inflection point with DC assets set to surpass DB by the end of this decade.
UK CPI holds steady at 2.8% in May, lower than many had expected, offering some reassurance that inflationary pressures have not intensified further. While the Bank of England is widely expected to hold rates at 3.75% tomorrow, the path from here is less clear. Standard Life warns that inflation can continue to make pension saving feel harder, but staying engaged with retirement plans remains important
Falls in oil prices continue to weigh on energy giants, keeping the FTSE 100 flat in early trade. Pressure cooker of prices comes off the boil with no change to headline inflation. Headline CPI held steady at 2.8% in May, below expectations for a rise to 3%.The pound has fallen back against the dollar to trade at $1.341, as bets on interest rate hikes ease off. Brent crude is hovering at $78 a barrel, as traders expect flows to resume from the Middle East.
The Prudential Regulation Authority’s speech today to AIRMIC on the forthcoming UK captive insurance regime provides greater clarity on how the framework will operate in practice, reinforcing confidence among potential market participants ahead of formal consultation.
Next Tuesday (23 June) marks 10 years since the UK voted to leave the European Union (EU). The pound fell in the aftermath of the vote – pushing up the cost of travel. The falling pound fed into higher inflation, exacerbated by trade frictions. Sluggish economic growth and a slowdown in spending prompted lower interest rates – hitting savers. However, more recently, the pandemic effect has eclipsed the impact of Brexit
Member mortality is one of the key considerations of LGPS funding. Pension benefits are paid for life, so how long members are expected to live has a direct and material impact on the value of benefits promised by LGPS funds. Longevity risk – the risk that members live longer than assumed – is therefore one of the most significant risks LGPS funds must manage. Getting these assumptions right matters not only for long-term funding strategy, but also for the contributions paid by employers and for the liabilities disclosed in employer accounting.
Nearly a quarter (23%) of Gen Z adults say they’re not focused on saving for retirement because they expect to inherit money or property. This comes as one in seven parents (15%) plan to prioritise enjoying their money today over passing on wealth to children down the line. With upcoming policy changes bringing pensions into the scope of inheritance tax from 2027, three in 10 parents (29%) say this will impact how they plan to use their pension in retirement. Standard Life shares tips to help people build their own retirement savings, rather than relying on inheritance
With the Pensions Dashboard connection for all in-scope UK pension schemes and providers due by the final statutory deadline of 31 October this year, the pensions experts at Everywhen today reveal that 80% of employers still know little or nothing about it.
Accenture has released new global consumer research suggesting AI is starting to reshape how people research, compare and manage home and motor insurance, with implications for insurers, brokers and price comparison websites.
G7 summit gets underway, with details of the Iran deal set to be in focus. Brent crude remains hovering around $82 a barrel as nations mull conditions for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Japan raises interest rates to a 31-year high amid inflationary pressures. Nikkei rallies higher as the move was widely expected and there is relief that a larger hike was not imposed. Defence sector in focus as Europe’s military policy amid the Ukraine conflict is set to be in focus at the G7 summit.