News & Views

In this Weekly Market Review, U.S. markets saw a steady rebound, led by the Dow Jones, while the FTSE 100 dipped following the Bank of England’s decision to hold rates. Inflation expectations in the UK rose, adding pressure on policymakers. Meanwhile, global events—from copper price surges to Amazon’s new ESG initiative—continue to shape investor sentiment. Read on for insights into the week’s key developments across markets, central banks, and geopolitics.

Understanding self-attribution bias is key to improving financial decision-making. This bias leads us to credit success to our own skills while blaming failure on external factors. While it can protect self-esteem, it may also prevent learning from mistakes. In finance, this can result in overconfidence and missed opportunities. Becoming aware of this bias helps investors and advisers make more objective, data-driven decisions.

This week’s review highlights a mixed performance across major markets, a surprise GDP dip in the UK, moderating U.S. inflation, and central bank caution. We also explore key ESG developments, including big tech's nuclear energy pledge, and rising geopolitical tensions as Trump prepares peace talks with Putin. Plus, what to watch ahead of key Fed and Bank of England decisions.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the financial services industry. From automating time-consuming tasks to enhancing investment decisions and personalising client experiences, AI’s role is expanding fast. But alongside the opportunities come risks, including ethical concerns and regulatory uncertainty. Discover how finance professionals are adapting to this new era of innovation.

ESG in focus: Markets dip, but sustainability advances with LEGO’s recycled tyres, United’s carbon removal, LFC offsets & Mars’ green jars.

Markets trended sideways in February amid rising inflation and geopolitical uncertainty. The Balanced portfolio returned -0.37% as UK and EU rate cuts contrasted with the US Fed’s cautious stance. Inflation rose across regions, with UK CPI hitting 3.00% and the ECB reassuring that disinflation remains on track. While developed and emerging markets showed mixed performance, China led gains. Volatility persists, but history suggests potential progress as the year unfolds.