Smartstream’s Final ISO 20022 Paper Reveals 67% of Errors Are Due to Data Quality and Calls for a Holistic Operating Model March 3, 2026 Smartstream, the trusted data solutions provider for leading global financial institutions and enterprises, today announces a new paper which marks the conclusion of a four-part series in partnership with The ValueExchange – it examines the structural pressures reshaping the asset servicing industry. Titled ‘The Case for Transformation’, the report argues that incremental fixes are no [...]
K2 International Launches New Division: K2 Professional Indemnity Limited March 3, 2026 K2 Group Holdings Limited (K2 International), a division of K2 Insurance Services and a leading specialty insurance and (re)insurance underwriting platform based in London, is pleased to announce the launch of K2 Professional Indemnity Limited (K2 PI). This new division, founded by Richard Smart, will write international (non-US) professional liability business on behalf of a [...]
Spring Statement Live: UK growth cut for 2026 but Reeves touts future forecasts March 3, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Rachel Reeves delivered her Spring Statement today, as the Office for Budget Responsibility published its updated forecasts for the years ahead. The Chancellor was handed quite a hefty blow with the UK’s growth estimate for 2026 slashed to 1.1 per cent from 1.4 per cent the year prior. [...]
Starmer is in denial over defence spending March 3, 2026 Keir Starmer’s dither and delay on defence spending is leaving Britain vulnerable in uncertain times, says Eliot Wilson Trades unions have no monopoly on wisdom. They are advocates for the interests of their members, and they have been wrong just as often as government or big business over the years. But on this occasion, Sharon [...]
Reeves to deliver ‘stability’ Spring Statement amid turmoil in Iran March 3, 2026 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to deliver a Spring Statement trumpeting the UK’s economic stability against the backdrop of a war in the Middle East, with official forecasts expected to touch on lower growth, falling inflation and higher unemployment over the coming months. In an address to the House of Commons around 12.30pm today, Reeves [...]
Psst… This is how to ski Les 3 Vallées without the crowds March 2, 2026 Les 3 Vallées is the world’s biggest ski area with 600km of runs plus oodles of off piste areas. With over 4.5m visitors per year, amongst them a huge number of Brits, this trip was about staying away from the crowds both on and off the slopes. British skiers will likely be familiar with Val [...]
Zurich to leverage Beazley’s Lloyd’s platform for global expansion March 2, 2026 Zurich Insurance Group has reached a formal agreement to acquire FTSE 100 giant Beazley, aiming to create a global leader in speciality insurance. Under the terms of the deal, Beazley shareholders will be entitled to receive a total of 1,335p per Beazley share, which puts the cost of the deal at around $10.9bn (£8.14bn). The [...]
MS Reinsurance announces retirement of Charles Goldie and appointment of Jörg Bruniecki as Chief Underwriting Officer March 2, 2026 Global reinsurer MS Reinsurance (MS Re) today announced that Group Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO) Charles Goldie will retire from the company, effective April 1, 2026, after five years in the role. He will continue to support the organization as Senior Advisor to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Robert Wiest. Jörg Bruniecki, currently CUO, Global Specialty Lines, [...]
Ex Goldman chief: I smell another financial crisis March 2, 2026 Goldman Sachs’ top boss throughout the 2008 financial crisis has sounded the alarm that the global economy was drawing closer to another crash. Billionaire investment banker Lloyd Blankfein, who served at the helm of Goldman from 2006 until 2018, said: “I don’t feel the storm, but the horses are starting to whinny in the corral.” [...]
‘Attention, please’: Rachel Reeves hails rail fare freeze over Liverpool Street tannoy March 2, 2026 Commuters arriving into Liverpool Street station have been serenaded by the Chancellor’s voice today. Rachel Reeves has taken over the key City transport artery to share the news of a freeze to rail fares – the first in 30 years. In a message read out over the tannoy periodically throughout Monday, Reeves opens with: “Testing, [...]