As UK inflation stays stubbornly high, and the government’s pledge to halve the current rate by the end of the year looks increasingly futile, the Bank of England has responded by raising interest rates at pace that has created alarm among consumers, mortgage holders and businesses. It has also led the Bank itself to fire off warnings to insurers.

Threat or tool? Friend or foe? Across the world, in every sector of business and walk of life the seemingly sudden emergence of generative artificial intelligence into the mainstream is prompting discussion that can be framed in those simplistic terms, writes Contributing Editor David Worsfold.

Across Europe insurers are still nervously watching macro-economic trends and market volatility, fearful of more unexpected adverse movements, according to the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA).

We haven't talked about ESG or net zero in a while. This is not to say it's not important, but other matters have crowded in ahead, as markets and sentiment prevaricate over each day's new data points.

A recent survey of chief financial officers at 22 leading European insurers by ratings agency Moody’s put persistent inflation at the top of their list of concerns for the next 12 months.

The view that the UK is the sick man of the G7 economies when it comes to growth is misplaced, with key data on growth and trade showing the UK firmly in the middle of the major economies, according to Simon French, chief economist at Panmure Gordon.