UK

Small and medium enterprises are the hardworking families of the business world — politically untouchable, the foundations of growth, dynamism and entrepreneurship. This is why funding them has been so politically controversial in the UK. There’s still huge state involvement in the market, but it has become less important — SMEs now have more funding options than ever. Owen Sanderson reports.

Recent reports of the imminent death of the Gilts auction may have been premature but even debt management officials admit the system is showing signs of stress. Could changes to the process restore lost liquidity? Lucy Fitzgeorge-Parker reports.

The dollar and euro markets may dwarf it in size but that doesn’t mean sterling can’t offer advantages to corporate issuers — domestic or foreign. Ross Lancaster reports.

Investors are hungry for UK public sector paper that offers a pick-up over Gilts, but deals have been in short supply. Can a new agency for local authorities fill the gap? Lucy Fitzgeorge-Parker reports.

UK marketplace lenders have grown rapidly in recent years, but as they look to originate more and more new loans, platforms may want to lean on more established financial institutions for further funding. Cue the first securitization of UK marketplace loans. Tyler Davies reports

The gaggle of technology firms around Cambridge is leading the UK’s fintech efforts — and could transform the way that its much bigger brother, the City of London, operates. Peter McGill reports

The UK government has ambitious infrastructure plans and the country’s pension funds are looking for better returns than those available on Gilts. Is there a match to be made, asks Peter McGill?

The City of London has faced up to — and seen off — European challenges before, most notably the launch of the single European currency. But as Philip Moore reports, it’s not just Brexit that the Square Mile should be afraid of.

The UK’s largest lenders may be operating in one of the developed world’s only growing economies, but an exit from the European Union could be about to turn their world upside down. Tom Porter reports.

Britain’s north-south divide has continued to widen since the turn of the century. Philip Moore looks at the initiatives attempting to reverse this damaging trend.

George Osborne MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer and First Secretary of State

The head of equity-linked bonds at Bank of America Merrill Lynch has resigned from the firm.