Harris Associates Wealth Management Ltd

12/10/2026

Rising mortgage rates are continuing to put downward pressure on housing demand, slowing market activity and price growth.

Several lenders have reported softer levels of activity in recent months, blaming higher borrowing costs and ongoing economic uncertainty.

President Trump last week announced that his administration had reached an agreement on the release of about 13.5 million barrels of Russian diesel. However, October’s shipment of 2.3 million barrels against daily global demand of about 30 million barrels means that in the short term, this is unli...

05/10/2026

Pensioners will lose the triple lock guarantee on their state pension from 2030 if Labour wins a second term in government.

The prime minister Andy Burnham has said he will scrap the triple lock in the next parliament if Labour wins the next general election, which must happen by the summer of 2029. He said the money saved would go towards funding a national care system in England.

Last week’s Labour party conference gave the new prime minister a platform to set out his vision for the country, including some ambitious changes to housing and social care. However, the details of how this will be paid for won’t be revealed until the Budget at the end of the month, at the earl...

02/10/2026

With less than four weeks before the chancellor John Healey stands up to give his first Budget, leaks about what might be announced have been few and far between.

28/09/2026

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.

17/09/2026

The most recent government figures put the gender pay gap at 6.9% for full-time workers. While this headline figure has fallen by a quarter over the past decade (the gap was 9.4% in 2016), it is an average rate. That means it masks some bigger pay inequalities among specific groups of women, including those over 40, and higher paid women.

The gender pay gap is stubbornly high, with women receiving an average of 7% less than men for full-time work. Women are also more likely than men to take career breaks to care for family members. Both factors play a big part in causing further financial inequality during women’s lives.

07/09/2026

*Worries about the global environment and rising levels of government debt have helped drive up government bond yields.
**Higher yields mean borrowing becomes more expensive, putting governments in a delicate situation.
***For investors, government bonds still play an important role in managing risk. But it’s more important than ever to choose the right bonds for your profile.

Government bonds are meant to be boring. Yet recent swings in yields have made headlines across the globe. So, what's changed, and what does it mean for their role in your portfolio?

01/09/2026

With the Autumn Budget now less than two months away, prime minister Andy Burnham has moved to reassure firms about what lies ahead. In an interview with the Financial Times, Burnham said he would look to ‘take pressure off’ businesses.

Federal Reserve chairman Kevin Warsh voiced concerns over stubborn inflation in the US economy during his keynote speech at last week’s Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium.

28/08/2026

Anxiety can make financial challenges feel much worse. Whether you become worried about the sustainability of your financial future, dealing with debt or struggling with cash flow problems, emotions around money can lead to inaction or avoidance.

24/08/2026

Unitree Robotics, a Chinese maker of humanoid robots, staged a successful listing in Shanghai last week, with its share price rising 460% on its first day of trading. The company recently unveiled “Superman”, able to jump two metres and run at over twelve metres per second.

https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/harrisassociates/article/detail/sjpp/weekwatch-24-08-2026.html

22/08/2026

- Prepare. Plan business succession as early as possible. This can help ensure the process is smooth when the time comes, maximising value and tax efficiency.
- Understand the value. Succession planning starts with accurately calculating the value of your business.
- Communicate. Take time to have regular, open and honest conversations with all family members about your plans and intentions.

Achieving a successful handover of your business to a family member typically comes down to three aspects: early planning (ideally five to 10 years in advance), having a full understanding of the value of the business, plus open communication with all involved parties to ensure fairness.