Financial services leaders are less confident about profitability in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter, as they expect geopolitical events to increasingly weigh on revenues over the next five years, according to KPMG’s latest UK Financial Services Sentiment survey. The quarterly poll, which tracks sentiment among over 150 leaders working across…
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Banks are accelerating their investment in trade finance technology to unlock growth, according to research by FIS. The research found that over the next 12 months, 55% of global banks surveyed plan to increase spending on their trade finance platforms. For all survey respondents, key priorities include improving operational efficiency (28%), enhancing customer experience (28%),…
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New data from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) reveals that small firms’ confidence levels are in a rut amid a rising tide of costs and taxes. FSB’s latest Small Business Index (SBI) for Q1 2025 shows a modest improvement in small business confidence, now at -40.7 points, compared to -64.5 in Q4 2024, though…
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A snap poll of 562 Institute of Directors members following President Trump’s tariffs announcement has found that over a third (37%) of business leaders expect to be impacted by the tariffs and of those, over two-thirds (70%) expect their profits to decrease as a result. In response to the tariffs, 35% of members will be…
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Asset Based Lending (ABL) and commercial lending specialist IGF has announced that it’s Executive Director, John Onslow has announced his steps into retirement after nine years of leadership. Since founding IGF in its current guise, Onslow has been instrumental in driving the business forward. Under his leadership, IGF has grown its lending portfolio from approximately…
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President Donald Trump has set out plans for new import taxes on all goods entering the US, with a baseline tariff on all imports of at least 10% and higher rates for countries that the White House described as the ‘worst offenders.’ While goods from the UK are set to face a new 10% tariff,…
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Redwood Bank has announced it has appointed Sergio Cruz as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Cruz joined Redwood in 2018 as Head of Risk, before moving to Director of Risk, Director of Treasury, Chief Treasury and Strategy Officer and ALM, before becoming Deputy CFO. He had previously worked at PWC, One Savings Bank and Amicus Finance.…
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The Institute of Directors’ (IoD) Economic Confidence Index, which measures business leader optimism in prospects for the UK economy, rose slightly to -58 in March 2025 from -64 in February. Business leader’ confidence in their own organisations also rose slightly to +5, from +2 in February. In terms of underlying indicators, cost expectations remained at…
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British business confidence remained stable at 49% in March, matching February’s six-month high, according to the Lloyds Bank Business Barometer. The data showed that retailers showed particularly strong confidence, aligning with recent data indicating a surprising rise in retail sales volumes in February. Retail confidence rose seven points to 58 per cent, a post-pandemic high,…
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New research by Shawbrook has found that only four in ten (40%) feel that SMEs are a high priority to the current Government. The data also showed that 42% of SMEs in the UK feel the incoming NIC hikes are going to negatively impact them. A third (33%) said that the Autumn budget last year…
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The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has delivered her Spring Statement outlining the Government’s economic plans. Responding to the announcement, Policy Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Tina McKenzie, said “Today’s growth figures are a stark reminder of the urgent need to get the economy moving. The whole of Government must now step up and…
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One in five small businesses are turning to credit cards to manage cash flow, highlighting a growing trend among entrepreneurs facing unpredictable income and rising expenses. While credit cards can offer flexibility and short-term relief, relying on them without a strategy can quickly spiral into high-interest debt and financial strain. The British Business Bank found…
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Latest data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has shown that inflation fell slightly to 2.8% in February down from 3% in January. Core Inflation came in at 3.5% in the 12 months to February, down from the 3.7% in January and lower than forecast. ONS Chief Economist Grant Fitzner said “Inflation eased in…
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