Month: February 2026
Don’t Miss the ISA Deadline: Are You Making the Most of Your £20,000 Allowance?
An Individual Savings Account (ISA) remains one of the most effective ways to save or invest tax-efficiently in the UK. Yet every year, many people fail to use their full allowance and once the tax year ends, that opportunity is gone.
Market Update: Volatility falls but it’s still cloudy
The US Supreme Court just announced that cannot use the Emergency Powers Act to impose reciprocal tariffs. Stocks rose, US government bond prices fell somewhat, and the dollar weakened slightly. The moves are positive but not yet meaningful. Much will now depend on Trump’s likely attempts to reimpose tariffs by other means, the potential trade disruptions, and who might be eligible for tariff refunds.
Market Update: Anxiety under the surface
Stock markets were flat in aggregate last week. That is an improvement over the frantic action we have seen recently and, towards the end of the week, there was even some relief for beleaguered tech stocks. Below the surface, however, things look less calm. Price volatility for individual stocks has stayed extremely high – even though volatility at the overall market level has dropped.
Tracing and Consolidating Your Pensions: How to Find Lost Savings and Strengthen Your Retirement Plan
Changing jobs is part of modern working life. But every move can leave a pension behind - and over time, those forgotten pots can add up to a surprising amount of money. Research shows that millions of people in the UK have pension savings they’ve lost touch with, often without realising it. With the average lost pension pot worth around £9,470, failing to keep track could mean missing out on valuable retirement income.
Market Update: AI trade starting to eat itself
US tech stocks dragged down overall global equity returns last week – the Nasdaq Composite index down nearly 3% in sterling terms. The AI theme that propelled the sector for years is now causing a crisis of confidence, over a potential growth shock. Other markets fared better. Japanese equities soared (and not merely due to currency impact), showing markets’ approval of Prime Minister Takaichi (not a fan of a strong yen) ahead of a weekend election she’s expected to win.
Market Update: Changing horses in the market race
Equity markets hit all-time highs on Tuesday and Wednesday, including a 1.5% gain for US stocks. But Microsoft’s earnings pushed the US back to where it started the week. The US tech giant’s spending and revenue figures reignited fears about an AI bubble, pulling down tech stocks slightly.