Bank of England’s Phil Evans gave a speech on 17 March 2026 outlining PRA’s Consultation Paper CP5/26. The paper proposes changes so banks can turn their existing liquidity assets into cash fast enough to deal with a digital bank run, using BoE facilities as part of normal liquidity planning rather than treating them as off limits. This is an acknowledgement that the old framework was built for a slower world. The PRA pointed out that digital banking and payments can accelerate liquidity...

Equity markets managed another modest grind higher overnight, S&P 500 up 0.3%, Nasdaq +0.5% , and Dow +0.1%. energy stayed well supported, healthcare lagged, and AI-linked names continued to attract flows. Micron rallied ahead of earnings, while Nvidia eased slightly after the GTC sugar rush. Brent was back above USD103, driven by reports of further strikes on energy infrastructure in Iraq and the UAE. Asia is facing the risk of oil price hikes and availability. Higher fuel costs hit pump...

A moment of calm overnight as a pullback in crude helped steady nerves across global markets. US equities bounced and volatility eased, S&P was up 1%. Brent had pushed as high as $106 before sliding back below 100. while WTI settled below $94. Technology led the rally. Nvidia gained after Jensen Huang opened a conference with a characteristically bullish tone, saying expected Blackwell and Rubin orders could reach $1tn through 2027. Micron jumped on expansion plans in Taiwan, while broader AI...