Howard Financial Planning Ltd

05/10/2026

WeekWatch - The end of the triple lock – into a new era?

28/09/2026

WeekWatch - Why a further bond market sell-off?

Investors saw a perfect storm this week across financial markets. This culminated in US 10-year Treasury yields reaching 5.1%, a level last seen during the global financial crisis in 2007. The 30-year Treasury yield rose even further, exceeding its level in 2004.

21/09/2026

WeekWatch - Fed hikes as midterms draw closer

It was a busy week for central bank watchers. First up was the US Federal Reserve’s rate-setting committee, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which on Wednesday voted unanimously to raise US interest rates by 0.25%. This was the first Fed hike in three years. Following this move, shares an...

14/09/2026

WeekWatch - Could rising bond yields keep interest rates higher for longer?

Bombastic statements from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and an increase in the level of Treasury buybacks wasn’t enough to reverse swelling yields on government bonds last week.

07/09/2026

WeekWatch - Healey eyes 'turning corner' as bonds heat up

In his first major speech since becoming chancellor, and ahead of his first Budget, Healey sought to create a sense of optimism. However, rumours about thousands of job losses at Jaguar Land Rover (later confirmed) swirled before his speech, highlighting the challenges still faced.

03/08/2026

WeekWatch - Feeling the heat

https://www.howardfinancialplanning.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/weekwatch-03-08-2026.html

20/07/2026

WeekWatch - AI volatility and higher energy fears dominate sentiment

The UK’s incremental 0.1% economic growth in May was unexpected but welcome. A rebound from the contraction in April, it was also ahead of consensus expectations. The key driver was the services sector, which accounts for the bulk of the domestic economy. The performance here was driven by researc...

13/07/2026

WeekWatch - Germany auto industry at a crossroads

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.

06/07/2026

WeekWatch - June’s US jobs report shock

June’s US jobs report, released just before markets closed for the 4th July holiday, raised quite a few eyebrows. 57,000 new jobs were created in the month, well short of the 113,000 estimate. The hospitality and leisure sectors lost jobs, at odds with expectations the FIFA World Cup would provide...

15/06/2026

WeekWatch - Markets jump in US-Iran framework

The US and Iran have agreed on a framework peace agreement, announced late on Sunday and due to be signed later this week. The memorandum of understanding, which sent markets soaring on Monday morning, should see the immediate toll-free opening of the Strait of Hormuz.