Our Scans · (FS.6.06) Personal Finance · Weekly Summary

• [New] Funds will need to deepen retirement engagement, improve guidance and communication, and continue evolving product and servicing models to support members' transition from accumulation to income, while meeting higher expectations for transparency, support and value. KPMG
• [New] Mortgage rates will see a slight decrease in 2026. Rate
• [New] 2026 will see a drop in mortgage rates and an increase in median home prices. Rate
• [New] Annual price growth has slowed sharply, with economists warning that higher mortgage rates are likely to place further downward pressure on prices throughout the year. CPA | The Credit Protection Association
• [New] Mortgage rates have ticked up recently amid dwindling hopes that the Federal Reserve will lower the federal-funds rate in 2026. Buy Side from Wall Street Journal
• [New] Stronger-than-expected U.S. inflation could push bond yields higher, which would likely place renewed upward pressure on Canadian fixed mortgage rates. Mortgage Rates & Mortgage Broker News in Canada
• [New] The following day, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation will release April housing starts data, which could help gauge whether builders are becoming more cautious amid affordability challenges and economic uncertainty. Mortgage Rates & Mortgage Broker News in Canada
• [New] If we see mortgage rates make a major move in May, it will likely be because of a development in the Iran war. NerdWallet
• [New] With the Fed signalling potential rate cuts in the second half of 2026, mortgage affordability could improve, stimulating additional demand from financed buyers. / UAE AiGentsRealty
• [New] Currently, approximately 35% of Dubai property transactions involve a mortgage - a figure that could rise to 40% if rates decline. AiGentsRealty
• [New] Mortgage brokers are now more likely to anticipate further increases in Bank of England (BoE) base rate in 2026. Mortgage Professional
• [New] Even if we could wave a magic wand and completely resolve the war in Iran, it's unlikely that mortgage rates would snap right back to normal. fox21online
• [New] While the Fed held rates steady at in March 2026's meeting, mortgage rates in April will have less to do with the Fed's decisions and more to do with broader economic data and circumstances. Mortgage Rates, Home Loan Guides & Expert Insights | Th
• Ofcom will finalise the regulatory framework for copper retirement during 2026/27, retaining a three-stage approach that shifts regulatory protections from copper to fiber on an exchange-by-exchange basis. Bratby Law | Specialist UK Telecoms, Data and Payments
• Many other nations, including the US, China, Germany and Japan, have launched targeted training subsidies and wage supplements to support workers while they train, to deal with the risk of AI-induced joblessness. ST
• The best retirement financial literacy and education program in the world will not be effective if employees do not take advantage of opportunities provided. U.S. Office of Personnel Management
• Barring another global catastrophe, experts do not think mortgage rates will go that low again in the foreseeable future. Fortune
• By 2026, exchange-traded funds will dominate custody for everyday savers and retirement pools. Bitcoin Foundation
• Cumulative American retirement wealth could rise by as much as 77%, adding $1.35 trillion in projected retirement wealth over 10 years. CNBC
• Workers with 10 or more years of sustained participation in retirement plans could see 67% to 125% higher retirement wealth under auto-enrollment scenarios. CNBC
• While the UK unemployment rate held steady at 5.2%, wage growth slowed sharply in the three months to January, offering some relief on domestic inflation pressures even as headline risks intensified. US Investor
• Goldman Sachs has advised against expecting a rate hike, pointing to factors such as a limited impact from oil price fluctuations, slowing wage increases, and the Federal Reserve's historical tendency not to react strongly to changes in energy prices. Bitget Exchange
• The MPC closely monitors wage growth expectations due to fears that higher inflation could push employees to bargain for higher pay packets, leading to a spiralling effect on both data points. City AM

Last updated: 25 May 2026