Momodou Musa Touray

After months of resilient markets, investors could face another test in the second half of the year as expectations grow that the US Federal Reserve may need to keep interest rates higher for longer.

For much of the past decade, backing the US has been one of the easiest investment decisions for multi-asset managers.

Private markets have delivered strong returns for investors over the past decade, fuelled by abundant liquidity, low borrowing costs and rising valuations.

For much of the past two years, investors have looked to inflation, interest rates and monthly economic data for clues about the direction of financial markets.

Calls to diversify beyond US equities have grown louder in recent months as stretched valuations, market concentration and geopolitical uncertainty prompt investors to look more closely at opportunities elsewhere.

The Investing and Saving Alliance (TISA) has urged the Pensions Commission to set out a timetable for increasing minimum auto-enrolment pension contributions to 12%.

Good morning and welcome to your Morning Briefing for Tuesday 14 July 2026. To get this in your inbox every morning click here. TISA calls for

The UK platform market remains fiercely competitive, but the gap between the leaders and the chasing pack is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Aviva, Transact and Quilter are attracting the lion's share of adviser business, strengthening their positions through consistent net inflows, growing assets under administration.

Women's average financial assets fell by more than £34,000 over the past year while men's wealth continued to grow, widening the UK's gender wealth gap to its highest level on record.

The number of higher-rate taxpayers is projected to reach 7.7 million by 2026/27 as frozen income tax thresholds continue to pull more people into higher tax bands, according to the latest HMRC Income Tax statistics.