Zopa first UK bank to be green lit to roll out targeted support Banking Zopa Bank has received regulatory approval to roll out targeted support for its investment customers, marking it as the first UK bank to get the green light. The bank joins a range of financial firms, including Royal London, Quilter and Vanguard, which has secured targeted support permissions since the scheme went live on 6 April. [...]
What poker can teach investors about risk Opinion Poker is a game of statistics, not certainty. Good players do not wait until they know the outcome. They make decisions based on probabilities, position, momentum and the behaviour of others, says Jo Living Investment still loves the language of risk. Who is bold, who is cautious, who is “risk averse” enough to protect capital [...]
Herald trust saved after Saba and Aberdeen ink deal Investing Aberdeen and US activist hedge fund Saba have reached agreement for the Scottish investment juggernaut to manage Herald Investment Trust, ending a years-long arm wrestle over the trust’s future. In an eleventh-hour deal that will save Herald from being wound down, Aberdeen will recruit eight of the fund’s staff – including fund manager Katie Potts [...]
Mandation was never the way to get pensions investing in venture capital May 1, 2026 The VC industry should welcome the watering down of the Pension Schemes Bill – self-regulation, not the blunt instrument of mandation, is the answer, says Duncan Johnson After four back-and-forths between the two parliamentary houses, the Pension Schemes Bill is set to gain Royal Assent after the Lords accepted a final draft on Tuesday. The [...]
How does a Pokemon card fetch £12m? Inside the lucrative world of rare trading cards April 30, 2026 The Pokemon and Matchattax cards you had when you were a kid could fetch big bucks now. From multi-million price tags to Premier League brand deals, Matt Kenyon digs into this unlikely new asset class. At a glance, it looked a bit like Comic Con. But in reality, Fort Knox would have been a better [...]
It’ll take more than a squirrel to revive share ownership: cut stamp duty April 28, 2026 The government can’t promote investing in stocks and shares with one hand while taxing it with the other, says Steven Fine There is something faintly surreal about the government launching Savvy the Squirrel to encourage people to invest in shares while taking a record haul in tax from those who already do. The latest public [...]
Stashing cash is nuts – just ask Savvy the squirrel April 23, 2026 A new campaign fronted by Savvy the squirrel will spread a nationwide message encouraging people to invest in stocks and shares rather than just stashing cash, says James Ashton ROLL up, roll up: this is the week when efforts to get Britain investing again start in earnest. An industry-funded marketing campaign, expected to be fronted [...]
Aberdeen leans on Interactive Investor as assets under management plunge April 22, 2026 Asset manager Aberdeen reported a drop in assets under management and advice in the first financial quarter, after the performance of Interactive Investor failed to combat outflows and market volatility. Assets under management and advice (AUMA) slipped from £556bn to £547.7bn, amid weaker markets, the disposal of its financial planning business and net outflows of [...]
Investment risk misunderstandings fuel cash hoarding April 21, 2026 Brits’ confusion over investment risk warnings has kept people clinging to cash and damaged economic growth, according to recent findings. Nearly 35 per cent of savers admitted the fear of losing money was holding them back from stepping into the stock market, according to the latest research from Barclays, with only 12 per cent expecting [...]
Standard Life snaps up Aegon UK for £2bn to create savings giant April 15, 2026 Standard Life has snapped up the UK’s largest investment platform Aegon UK in a £2bn deal. The FTSE 100 giant – previously known as Phoenix Group – said the deal would create the UK’s top retirement savings and income business with near 16m customers and £480bn in assets under administration. Standard Life expects an annual [...]