As you can see, markets broadly closed the week higher, with interest rate decisions taking centre stage. Investors got a boost Wednesday as the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at 4.25%-4.5% and signalled confidence in short-term stability. In response, US stocks rallied, closing higher as the Fed met expectations.

China’s economy showed promising signs in early 2025, with retail sales rising 4%, driven by the government’s strong efforts to boost domestic consumption and mitigate trade tensions with the US. Industrial production also grew by 5.9%, and fixed asset investment exceeded expectations with a 4.1% increase, adding a positive momentum to the outlook.

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.