Tracker funds are turning 50 – will they make it to 100? Markets Vanguard launched its first ever tracker fund 50 years ago this month. Since then, they have had an enormous impact on the way our capital markets function – and now make up more than half all fund-held assets. Ali Lyon asks: will they be as popular when they turn 100? The 1976 launch of the [...]
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. [...]
Hargreaves Lansdown overhauls fees in face of rising competition Business The UK’s largest DIY investment platform is reducing fees for roughly half of its 2m-plus customers as it continues to face escalating competition within the industry. Hargreaves Lansdown said it will cut its annual account and share dealing fees, but add a charge for fund trading in its first overhaul of pricing in more than [...]
Fund giant slashes UK exposure as investors sour on Britain January 23, 2026 One of the world’s largest money managers is shedding its investments in the UK, after investors said they wanted more of their cash to be allocated overseas despite a government push to encourage investment in domestic equities. Vanguard, the world’s second largest asset manager, said it would reduce its £52bn Life Strategy fund’s UK equity [...]
Hargreaves Lansdown swipes new chief executive from Vanguard January 12, 2026 Britain’s biggest investment platform has poached a senior member of tracker funds giant Vanguard to be its new chief executive. Hargreaves Lansdown has appointed Matt Benchener as chief executive officer from July 2026, subject to regulatory approval. Benchener runs Vanguard’s personal investment business in the US, which has several million clients, and will join the [...]
National Grid profit jumps by a fifth despite record investment May 15, 2025 National Grid’s annual profits rose by a fifth as it lauded stable growth against a backdrop of “international economic uncertainty.” On an underlying basis, pre-tax profit increased 20 per cent to £3.7bn over the 12 months ended 31 March. Earnings per share rose two per cent to 73.3p, ahead of previous guidance. National Grid announced [...]
FCA boss: Watchdog’s mindset ‘is changing’ on financial advice September 24, 2024 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has said its “mindset is changing” as it attempts to make financial advice more accessible to consumers. The watchdog is aiming to shift the way it regulates to take a “more outcomes-based approach”, said Sarah Pritchard, executive director of markets and international at the FCA, in a speech today. With [...]
Vanguard: Asset manager soars to second most popular UK retail investor pick August 20, 2024 Vanguard has jumped to become the second most popular asset manager among UK retail investors for the first time. While American passive manager Blackrock has long dominated the number one spot for net sales among UK retail investors, this is rival Vanguard’s first time in the quarterly Pridham Report. Vanguard brought in £1.6bn in net [...]
Vanguard chief economist: UK economy primed for success regardless of election winner June 24, 2024 The UK is primed to surge to success into next year regardless of who wins the election, Vanguard's top economist has said.
Vanguard names new boss to lead European investment arm April 10, 2024 Investment giant Vanguard has announced the new boss of its European division.