Every story from every desk, newest first.
Cash & savings · Analysis
Savers put £95.6bn into cash ISAs in 2024 to 2025, more than two and a half times the £37.2bn that went into stocks and shares ISAs. From 6 April 2027 under-65s can put only £12,000 a year into cash.
Rates & inflation · News
3.75%: Bank Rate is unchanged after a 6-3 vote in which three members of the Monetary Policy Committee wanted a rise to 4%. The next decision, with a new Monetary Policy Report, is due on 5 November 2026.
Gilts · Analysis
5.76%: the 20-year gilt yield on 7 October 2026, the highest in Bank of England data going back to 2000. The 10-year yield, at 5.39%, is the highest since July 2007.
Gold · News
US$4.4bn: what UK-listed gold ETFs took in during August 2026, their second-largest month on record. September added US$2.2bn, making July to September the UK's strongest quarter on record.
Index funds & ETFs · News
£894m: net retail inflows into UK funds in August 2026, the tenth positive month in a row and £13.8bn for the year so far. Global equity funds took £568m while UK equity funds lost £615m.
Rates & inflation · News · India
5.50%: the Reserve Bank of India's repo rate after a unanimous 25 basis point rise on 7 October 2026, with the stance moved to calibrated tightening. For NRIs it bears on rupee deposit rates and on the price of Indian bonds.
Digital assets · News
28 February 2027: the deadline for crypto firms to apply for FCA authorisation, in a window that opened on 30 September 2026. The full regime starts on 25 October 2027, bringing Financial Ombudsman access but no FSCS cover.
PROLTAFs · News
90 days: the minimum notice the FCA wants investors to give before selling out of property and other illiquid retail funds, which could pay out no more than monthly. The proposals in CP26/35 would affect 17 funds holding about £7.22bn.
Tax and wrappers · Analysis
28 October 2026 is Budget day, and 11 tax changes for investors are already law before the Chancellor speaks. They run from higher dividend tax since April 2026 to a £12,000 cash ISA limit for under-65s from April 2027.
VCT, EIS & SEIS · Analysis
£276m was raised under SEIS in 2024 to 2025, up 14% on the year before, according to HMRC statistics published on 21 May 2026. Growth has slowed since the April 2023 expansion, and the latest two years of figures are provisional.
VCT, EIS & SEIS · Explainer
The three venture capital schemes trade relief for risk: SEIS gives 50% income tax relief on the youngest companies, EIS 30% on larger unlisted ones and VCTs 20% on a listed fund. The April 2026 changes cut VCT relief and doubled the EIS and VCT company investment limits; SEIS was left alone.
VCT, EIS & SEIS · Explainer
If an SEIS company fails, you can set the loss, after deducting the 50% income tax relief you kept, against your income for that tax year or the one before. On £10,000, that leaves a net loss of £3,000 for a higher-rate taxpayer and £2,750 for an additional-rate taxpayer.
VCT, EIS & SEIS · Guide
SEIS relief only works if the company qualifies and keeps qualifying for three years, and it does nothing to rescue a weak business. These are the questions to put to a founder before you subscribe, and the documents that should back up the answers.
VCT, EIS & SEIS · Explainer
Advance assurance is HMRC's non-statutory, discretionary opinion that a company's planned share issue looks likely to qualify for SEIS or EIS. It does not guarantee any investor's relief, it does not vouch for the business, and it says nothing about whether the company will keep to the rules for the next three years.
VCT, EIS & SEIS · Guide
Under the 2026 to 2027 rules, a young UK company can raise up to £250,000 under SEIS, and its investors can claim 50% income tax relief on up to £200,000 each a year. The company must pass tests on its trade, gross assets, staff and independence, issue SEIS shares before any EIS shares, and file a compliance statement before investors can claim.
