BoE in focus: The Bank of England is set to hold interest rates and review its bond-selling plan today, as politics and markets brace for the decision amid sticky inflation and weak labour signals. Budget pressure: Tories are pushing PM Andy Burnham to rule out tax rises in the 28 October Budget, arguing fears of higher taxes are driving wealthy taxpayers offshore, while Next warns further hikes could “stifle growth” even as it upgrades profit guidance. SME credit squeeze: New data shows UK banks have pulled £27bn from small business lending since 2022, with SME credit at its lowest in more than a decade—an issue for funding and cashflow. Fintech funding & products: Exeter-based Joiin secured €1.5m non-dilutive growth financing to scale multi-entity consolidation; crypto wealth firm Bitcoin Life (Perpetual21) won a full Guernsey life licence to launch a regulated Bitcoin-linked bond; and FCA crypto rule updates continue to shape how firms prepare for authorisation. Security & governance: Keeper Security and SailPoint partnered to automate privileged access governance, while Latinia outlined a decision-and-governance layer for real-time banking events. Personal finance policy: HMRC will send savings tax letters (PA302/P800) to millions this autumn, and April 2027 inheritance tax rules will expand what counts as estate value for unused pensions.