WD Wealth Management Ltd

With the support of 90% of Labour MPs (349 in total), Andy Burnham has replaced Sir Keir Starmer as the UK’s prime minister for the remainder of this parliament, ending in August 2029 (at the latest). While pledging to do things differently, there are many challenges ahead. We take a closer look at some of the domestic issues the new prime minister may consider priorities.

Read more: https://www.wdwealth.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/burhams-britain-economic-priorities-to-consider

The UK economy delivered a small but welcome surprise in May, growing 0.1% after contracting in April. Services drove the improvement, supported by medical science research and stronger retail activity during warmer weather.

If June’s data does not disappoint, UK growth for Q2 could come in at around 0.3% to 0.4%, ahead of consensus expectations. However, longer-term challenges remain. UK 10-year gilt yields are still elevated at just under 5%, while the Bank of England has highlighted that the UK has been a low-growth economy for many years.

Political uncertainty, pressure on public finances and renewed energy concerns linked to the breakdown of the US-Iran ceasefire are also weighing on sentiment. Higher energy prices could add to inflationary pressure and affect both businesses and consumers. Market expectations for a Bank of England rate cut this year have shifted towards expectations of at least one 0.25% increase in the coming months.

Technology stocks also faced renewed volatility after Chinese start-up Moonshot released a new open-source AI model, Kimi K3. The development has raised further questions about competition, pricing and valuations across the AI sector.

Meanwhile, HMRC data shows more workers and pensioners are being drawn into income tax due to frozen thresholds. The Office for Budget Responsibility has also confirmed that the government intends to bring forward the rise in the State Pension age to 68, between 2037 and 2039.

The value of investments can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. This content is for information only and does not constitute financial advice. Taxation rules can change and depend on individual circumstances.

Read more: https://www.wdwealth.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/weekwatch-20-07-2026

This summer has given us the biggest World Cup in history, with 48 teams and three host countries. As an avid football fan, I have watched as much as I can reasonably get away with, although the late nights have been particularly painful.

One of the things I love about tournaments is how quickly the story can change. A team can look unbeatable in the group stage, only to run out of ideas when the pressure rises. Another can start quietly, grow into the competition and suddenly look like the side nobody wants to face.

Markets are no different. Leadership shifts and yesterday’s winners do not stay on top indefinitely. While markets are currently rewarding ‘momentum’ – that is, stocks that have been outperforming recently – the portfolios that endure are unlikely to be those that simply chase what has worked most recently.

The challenge is to build for the whole tournament. That means having enough exposure to capture opportunity, but enough diversification, valuation discipline and resilience to cope when leadership changes.

Tournaments are a reminder that form can change very quickly. The side everyone is talking about after the first few games is not always the side lifting the trophy at the end. There is always a team that is a front runner and has the momentum in the early stages – think the Netherlands in 1974, Brazil in 1982, even England’s “golden generation” in 2002 and 2006.

The uncomfortable truth, in football and in investing, is that past performance can tell you how a team got here, but not necessarily how far it can go from here. Past performance is no guarantee of continued success.

Read more: https://www.wdwealth.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/cio-investment-insights-momentum-wins-matches-resilience-wins-tournaments

After losing someone close to you even simple tasks can feel overwhelming – and dealing with finances can be hardest.

But you don’t have to tackle everything at once. When you feel ready ask a family member or friend to help you.

There are some practical and legal steps to go through. While these can feel daunting, taking it one step at a time can make things more manageable.

Read more: https://www.wdwealth.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/managing-finances-in-bereavement

The famous Peking Duck found itself at the centre of an international row last week, as the EU launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of the bird from China.

The move has been seen as the latest incident in an ongoing tit-for-tat argument between the two blocs, as they begin formal trade negotiations.

One elephant in the room of any conversations between China and the EU will be automobiles. Until recently, China was a key market for German car manufacturers, shipping mainly combustion-engine cars east. However, the rise of Chinese competitors, particularly in electric vehicles (EVs), has rapidly reversed the flow. Squeezed between US tariffs and rapidly improving Chinese models, the German industry has found itself under significant pressure.

Industry giant Volkswagen’s (VW) share price has been on a downward trend since 2021. It was down over 30% year-to-date as of Friday. Profits have also been under pressure for much of this time last week, VW announced a series of drastic measures to make the business more competitive. These could include the loss of 100,000 workers and up to four plant closures in Germany. Such moves would likely have to overcome powerful labour unions, though.

Recently the German government announced a series of significant reforms, including linking pension age to average lifespan, and tighter requirements for sick leave. These were announced in the hope of making Europe’s historic manufacturing powerhouse more competitive.

Whether these interventions will be enough to improve German automobile market share within and outside of the EU is yet to be seen.

Read more: https://www.wdwealth.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/weekwatch-13-07-2026

Women own more wealth than at any time in history. Money is being earned, created through entrepreneurship, and inherited by women through wealth transfer at a rapidly growing rate.

But for many women there are still significant barriers to growing their wealth and gaining financial security. This is because they must navigate a financial and economic system designed predominantly by men, which often doesn’t reflect their lives.

However, a quiet revolution is happening. With women holding more wealth in their own right, they are beginning to demand a different approach from financial services providers – and from financial advice. While the pace of change is likely to be slow, a shift is on the horizon.

Read more: https://www.wdwealth.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/women-and-wealth-a-growing-frontier

Mid-month, the US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the aim of reaching a comprehensive settlement within two months. The oil price eased to pre-war levels and inflationary concerns faded, reducing expectations of further rate hikes

Read more https://www.wdwealth.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/weekwatch-06-07-2026

A place in a nursing home can cost £1,267 a week or even more1, and anyone with significant assets won’t qualify for state support. As we are all living longer, it is something more of us will need to consider and plan for in later life.

Our guide explores who qualifies for help towards social care and care home costs. It also looks at the complex rules around gifting assets and how this is viewed under the means test for care fees.

Read more: https://www.wdwealth.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/can-i-gift-assets-to-avoid-paying-care-home-fees

Global events can have a noticeable impact on markets, but they can also create opportunities to step back and focus on the bigger picture.

Recent weeks have seen headlines dominated by falling oil prices, changing expectations around interest rates and continued market volatility. While these developments can influence investor sentiment in the short term, they also highlight how quickly conditions can change.

Periods of uncertainty are a reminder of the importance of taking a long-term view. Market movements are a natural part of investing, and reacting to short-term news can often distract from longer-term objectives.

The latest updates also reinforce that economic changes rarely affect every sector or region in the same way. Different industries, businesses and countries can respond very differently to the same global events, which is one reason why maintaining a well-balanced approach is often important.

Rather than focusing on daily headlines, it can be worthwhile reviewing your wider financial goals and considering whether your plans still reflect your current circumstances and future ambitions.

Keeping a long-term perspective can help provide confidence, even when markets are experiencing periods of change.

Read more: https://www.wdwealth.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/weekwatch-29-06-2026