As shown in the accompanying table, it was a broadly negative week for global financial markets. US markets struggled this week, with major indices closing lower as investors reacted to a combination of persistent inflation data and ongoing trade policy concerns.

On Tuesday, the FTSE 100 and European stocks saw positive gains, while US stocks fluctuated before closing marginally higher. As we expected, reports this week suggest that the tariffs announced will be the highest amount set, giving countries the opportunity to take steps to bring the tariff amount down.

This Debt Awareness Week (24th – 30th March), WEALTH at work – a leading financial wellbeing, retirement and workplace savings specialist, are encouraging employers to support employees to tackle money issues and build a saving safety net.

There is just over a month left to check and fill any gaps in National Insurance (NI) records going back to 2006 to boost State Pension entitlement. As a minimum of 35 years of NI is needed to receive the full State Pension payment, anyone who thinks that they may have any gaps in their records should check their entitlement now so they can consider filling these before 5 April.