The Times

Influencers could escape fraud rules because of a loophole in the Online Safety Act, the financial regulator has warned. The act, which was introduced in 2023 to protect users, requires tech platforms to remove fraudulent advertising

The $16trn private market boom is facing a "systemic credit event" warning as high interest rates and the Iran war trigger a wave of debt defaults and withdrawal limits. While the UK government pushes to include these risky assets in your Isa and pension, major funds like Apollo and Blackstone are already capping redemptions or reporting negative returns. Here's why experts fear a financial meltdown and what the "liquidity trap" means for your savings in 2026 👇 https://lnkd.in/enFVv5ew

The Bank of England has just revealed that the war in Iran is hitting the UK mortgage market harder than previously estimated, with an additional 1.3m households now facing higher monthly repayments. In a "substantial" shock to the global economy, the conflict has already caused 1.5k mortgage products to vanish from the market as lenders reprice deals. While the Bank’s latest Financial Stability Report confirms the UK banking system is resilient enough to withstand the turmoil, the personal cost is mounting. Read more 👇

Berkeley Group’s market value fell by almost a fifth on Wednesday after the developer warned it was scaling back its business in response to an “unprecedented increase in cost and regulation”.

With fuel prices soaring amid the Iran war, David Smith argues that Rachel Reeves must resist mounting pressure to scrap the planned duty increases starting this September. He suggests that while critics demand a U-turn, cancelling these small rises would be a "drop in the ocean" compared to the massive market price swings hitting the pumps. The real question is whether Keir Starmer will stick to his fiscal strategy or "chicken out" yet again as local elections approach. Read more 👇 https://lnkd.in/eMmJZ8vJ

‘It can’t go on like this,” was the headline in the Watford Observer three years ago. The local hospital, Watford General, was crumbling. Rats were seen scurrying under the Portakabins. I n 2022, 160 patients waited for more than a day in A&E before they were even offered a trolley on a corridor. Hygiene in the kitchens was rated one out of five. Staff endured thousands of assaults and were regularly accosted on the high street with tales of neglect. Cancer targets were routinely missed

Police have arrested several teenagers after chaotic scenes in which large groups of young people stormed through the streets of Clapham, south London, just days into the Easter holidays.

National Savings and Investments is under fire following a "missing millions" scandal that left 37.5k bereaved families deprived of £476m. While critics brand the Treasury-backed bank a "failing institution" and a drain on the high-tech savings market, supporters argue its 100% state guarantee remains a vital anchor for public trust. As the debate intensifies over whether to repeal the National Savings Act or reform the service, is it time to abolish NS&I? Vote in the poll 👇 https://lnkd.in/ehUUyENA

Global stock markets are rallying on hopes of a Middle East de-escalation after President Trump suggested US attacks on Iran could end within weeks, sparking a 5.2% jump in the Nikkei and a 9% surge for South Korea's Kospi. Despite the diplomatic optimism, Brent crude remains volatile above $100 a barrel as continued drone strikes and uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz keep supply risks "skewed to the upside." With the White House set to provide an "important update" tonight, investors are reassessing the economic landscape, sending the FTSE 100 higher as the probability of a July interest rate cut begins to climb. Read more 👇

Decades of succession planning are being "wrecked overnight" as family firms scramble to navigate a new £2.5m cap on inheritance tax relief effective April 6. Despite a government threshold increase, 57% of owners say they remain "materially affected," with many now fearing they will be unable to stay family-owned within a decade. From hiring freezes to forced sell-offs, leaders warn these reforms are "madness" for the UK's domestic growth. Read more 👇