Regulation

UK GDP rose by 0.7% in Q4, according to an initial estimate from the Office for National Statistics, with growth for the year as a whole rising at its fastest rate since 2007.

The Association of Professional Financial Advisers (APFA) has said it hopes a new approach to funding the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) will mean lower overall contributions from advisers in the long term.

The Bank of England has again moved to temper expectations of an early rate rise, despite the UK unemployment rate dropping to close to the crucial 7% mark this morning.

The Association of Professional Financial Advisers (APFA) is preparing to challenge the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) this week over what it considers inconsistent case verdicts on advisers.

The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) should hold off on raising interest rates even though its stated threshold for doing so - a fall in the unemployment rate to 7% - is in sight, according to a report.

Provisional recommendations by the Competition Commission are ‘clearly wrong' private hospital groups have said, adding that they will take steps to contest the recommendations if they appear in the final report.

Advisers and providers share the burden of responsibility for managing potential conflicts of interest, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has said in a guidance paper out today.

Trade body targets 'disproportionate' regulation costs.

Advisers have generally benefited from the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) as their revenues have increased and they are more professional and better qualified, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) chief executive Martin Wheatley has said.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is still concerned about transparency in the advice space, especially in relation to charging and independence, chief executive Martin Wheatley has said.