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Reports suggest the former prince shared a Treasury document when he was serving as trade envoy.

Prices rose by 2.4% in the year to January, the latest official figures show, the slowest pace since May.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem’s exit comes after files showed he appears to have exchanged hundreds of emails with Epstein.

We have signed an Exchange of Letters with the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA). IFSCA is the unified regulator for financial institutions operating in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), India’s first international financial services centre.This agreement affirms both authorities’ commitment to develop our regulatory relationship.Download our letter (PDF)The letters set out the intention to share regulatory knowledge and best practice to support the development of financial services in both jurisdictions and to promote greater links between GIFT City and UK financial markets.In addition to the Exchange of Letters, to help develop our relationship with India’s financial regulators we will be posting an FCA Financial Services Attaché to the British Deputy High Commission in Mumbai later in 2026.

Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) borrowers will benefit from stronger protections from 15 July 2026, following the Government's decision to bring the sector under the FCA's regulation. BNPL will be subject to the Consumer Duty and consumers will benefit from:Clear information: Consumers will get clear, upfront details about their agreement, including when payments will be due, amounts, and what happens if they miss a payment.Affordability checks: Lenders must carry out proportionate checks to make sure customers can afford to repay what they borrow before offering BNPL.Support when needed: Lenders will need to offer support to customers in financial difficulty, and, where appropriate, direct them to free debt advice.Complaints and compensation: If something goes wrong, consumers will be able to complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service.BNPL provides an important source of credit for many, but there are no protections in place currently for those who use it repeatedly and may not be able to afford it. The aim of the new regulation is to help consumers navigate their financial lives, with appropriate support for consumers.Sarah Pritchard, deputy chief executive at the FCA, said:'We want the Buy Now Pay Later sector to thrive – it provides an important source of credit to many – and we will continue to support firms who want to develop innovative new products. But crucially, no one should be lent to if they're unable to repay, because that could worsen their financial situation. Now Parliament has given us the powers, we’re putting in place proportionate protections for the 11 million people who use it.'Lenders will need to be authorised by the FCA to provide BNPL. The FCA will provide pre-application support to these firms to help them get ready.Notes to editorsBNPL is a broad term which can include credit agreements that are already regulated. The final rules relate to unregulated BNPL agreements, which are defined as deferred payment credit (DPC) in the legislation and Policy Statement.Firms will be able to register for the temporary permissions regime between 15 May 2026 and 1 July 2026. Firms will have 6 months (from the date the regime comes into force) to apply for full authorisation. Find out more about what firms need to do.The BNPL market has grown significantly in recent years, from £0.06bn in 2017 to over £13bn in 2024. According to the FCA’s 2024 Financial Lives Survey, 20% of UK consumers (10.9 million adults) used it in the 12 months leading up to May 2024.Where consumers can afford to use BNPL, and it can work for them in the ways it’s meant to – for example, managing cash flow – they should be able to access it. While firms have a responsibility to check that consumers can afford to repay before offering BNPL, consumers should remember that BNPL is borrowing and make sure they can afford the repayments. If you’re struggling with money, you can get guidance on dealing with debt from MoneyHelper. You can also use the Debt Advice Locator tool to find free services in your area. Find out more about BNPL.Suppliers that provide their own credit will remain exempt from regulation. The exemption of 'merchant own credit' was a decision the Government made in 2024.

The FCA has begun legal proceedings against global crypto exchange HTX (formerly Huobi) for illegally promoting cryptoasset services to UK consumers. Access documents on this claim on the FCA websiteFirms providing crypto products to UK consumers need to comply with rules which protect consumers from unfair and misleading marketing. Advertising cryptoassets on social media or websites without complying with these rules is a criminal offence.Since the rules came into force in October 2023, the FCA has engaged extensively with firms, and the majority have reacted positively in complying with the new regime.The FCA previously warned about HTX’s illegal promotion of crypto services to UK consumers. However, it has continued to publish financial promotions in breach of these rules on its website and on social media platforms, including TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.HTX operates an opaque organisational structure, hiding the identities of its owners and the operators of its website. Repeated attempts by the FCA to engage with HTX have been ignored. Since issue of the proceedings, HTX has taken steps to restrict new UK customers from registering an account. However, existing UK users can still log in and access unlawful financial promotions, and HTX has given no assurance that the changes will be permanent. The FCA therefore remains concerned that the risk of ongoing breaches continues.Steve Smart, joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said: 'Our rules are designed to support a sustainable and competitive crypto market in the UK, ensuring that consumers have what they need to make informed decisions.'HTX’s conduct stands in stark contrast to the majority of firms working to comply with the FCA’s regime. This is the first time we’ve taken enforcement action against a crypto firm illegally marketing their products to UK consumers. We’ll continue to act against firms who ignore our rules.'To protect consumers, the FCA requested social media companies block HTX’s social media accounts to UK-based consumers and requested the removal of HTX applications from the Google Play and Apple stores in the UK.HTX is currently on the FCA’s Warning List. Consumers dealing with this firm will not have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service if they have a complaint.Consumers are unlikely to get their money back if it goes out of business and should avoid dealing with this, or similar unauthorised firms.Individuals can check the FCA’s Warning List to see if a firm is operating illegally and visit the FCA’s cryptoasset promotions page for more information on how to protect themselves.Notes to editorsThe FCA enables a fair and thriving financial services market for the good of consumers and the economy.Our strategy 2025-2030 prioritises fighting financial crime. Over the last 2 years, the FCA has charged more people with criminal offences and is concluding enforcement investigations faster.Following legislation passed by Parliament, cryptoassets were brought within scope of the FCA’s financial promotions regime.From October 2023, all cryptoasset firms marketing to UK consumers, including firms based overseas, must comply with the regime.The FCA has been clear that those who fail to play by the rules risk being placed on the FCA warning list, being subject to website take down requests or facing criminal or civil enforcement action.

FCA v Huobi Global S.A. and Others. On 21 October 2025, the FCA commenced proceedings in the Chancery Division of the High Court against the following parties:HUOBI GLOBAL S.A.(a company incorporated in Panama)PERSONS UNKNOWN (who are the owner of, controller and/or the persons currently in control of all or part of www.htx.com and/or its associated mobile applications (“the HTX Exchange”))PERSONS UNKNOWN (who are the legal and/or natural persons defined as the HTX Operators in the HTX Platform User Agreement (version dated 13 July 2023))PERSONS UNKNOWN (who are the persons currently in control of promotions on behalf of the HTX Exchange on any of the following social media platforms and/or messenger services: X, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, Tik Tok, You Tube, Discord, Medium and/or LinkedIn)PERSONS UNKNOWN (who are such additional persons who on or before 31 October 2028 become owner or controller of the HTX Exchange and/or become legal and/or natural person within the meaning of HTX Operators in the HTX Platform User Agreement (version dated 13 July 2023) and/or become controllers on behalf of the HTX Exchange of accounts on any of the following social media platforms and/or messenger services (X, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, Tik Tok, You Tube, Discord, Medium and/or LinkedIn)On 4 February 2026, the High Court granted the FCA permission to serve the proceedings out of the jurisdiction and by alternative means. In accordance with paragraph 7(b) of the Order of Deputy Master Dovar dated 4 February 2026, we set out the key documents in these proceedings.Key documentsClaim Form dated 21 October 2025Particulars of Claim dated 21 October 2025Application Notice dated 22 October 2025Order of Deputy Master Dovar dated 4 February 2026Any person who believes they are one of the Persons Unknown named above and therefore a party to these proceedings should contact the FCA via Enquiries-HTX@fca.org.uk to request any additional documents relating to these proceedings.

The FCA has fined Dipesh Kerai and Bhavesh Hirani for insider dealing in shares of Bidstack Group Plc. Mr Kerai has been fined £52,731, and Mr Hirani has been fined £56,000.In December 2021, Mr Hirani was the interim Chief Financial Officer at Bidstack, a company that placed advertising inside video games. This meant he had access to inside information about a major upcoming deal between Bidstack and a large video game publisher.Before it was announced to the public, Mr Hirani passed this confidential information to Mr Kerai. Mr Hirani then opened a trading account in Mr Kerai’s name and, with his help, bought 1.3 million Bidstack shares in advance of the announcement while in possession of inside information.When the deal was made public, Bidstack’s share price rose by more than 125%. Mr Kerai made more than £9,000 in profit, which the FCA has now required him to return as part of his penalty.The FCA was initially notified of the trading through Suspicious Transaction and Order Reports submitted by a firm, showing the vital role of industry in uncovering market abuse.Steve Smart, executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said:‘Dipesh Kerai and Bhavesh Hirani exploited inside information for their own gain, trading on details other investors couldn’t have known. Big thanks to the firm that reported its suspicions, enabling us to identify the perpetrators and hold them to account. Working with industry we will continue to take action against anyone who misuses inside information and undermines trust in UK markets.’Notes to editorsFinal Notice 2026: Dipesh Kerai (PDF).Final Notice 2026: Bhavesh Hirani (PDF).Mr Kerai’s total financial penalty of £52,731 includes £9,260.74 in disgorgement (plus interest on that amount) and a penalty of £42,000, reduced by 30% through settlement. Mr Hirani’s £56,000 penalty reflects a 30% settlement discount applied to the assessed penalty of £80,000.Both individuals’ conduct breached Article 14 of the UK Market Abuse Regulation relating to insider dealing and unlawful disclosure of inside information.Bidstack Group Plc was an advertising technology company, admitted to trading on AIM until 23 April 2024.Tackling financial crime is a priority under the FCA's 5-year strategy.The FCA enables a fair and thriving financial services market for the good of consumers and the economy. Find out more about the FCA.