The collapse of Market Financial Solutions and its related entities is behind a sudden surge in insolvency rates across England and Wales, according to data released by the Department for Business and Trade, the Financial Times reported. The department’s Insolvency Service said on Friday that it had seen an 82 per cent increase in administrations in March year on year, “driven by more than 100 connected companies in the real estate sector entering administration”.

The Bank of England is testing the risks to the financial system caused by AI by conducting scenario analysis and simulations, the central bank said in a letter ​published by lawmakers on Thursday, Reuters reported. The BoE said that it disagreed with an assessment ‌by parliament's Treasury Committee that it was taking a "wait-and-see" approach to the risks presented by AI, and that it was analysing how AI investment and adoption were changing the financial system.

The UK's automotive industry group SMMT said on Thursday that carmakers need clarity now on whether Britain will count as 'Made in ​EU' in the European Commission's Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) policy as the ‌ambiguity risks delaying investments, Reuters reported. The trade uncertainty comes at a time when both Britain and the EU face stiff competition from cheap Chinese electric vehicles. "The objective was to bolster the ​competitiveness of European industry vis-a-vis the increasing challenge coming from further ​afield, low-cost countries. We are not a low-cost country.

The board of UK watchdog Ofwat is split over whether to approve a rescue deal offered by the creditors of Thames Water, increasing the risk the utility could collapse into special administration, Bloomberg News reported. Ofwat’s board — eight men and women charged with deciding the future of the UK’s largest water and sewerage company — have so far failed to reach a consensus on the deal floated last month by senior creditors, according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified talking about confidential negotiations.

The costs of managing the insolvency of the main trading arm of Greensill are expected to reach more than £90 million this year, The Times reported. Administrators of Greensill Capital (UK), or GCUK, which collapsed more than five years ago, said they are still dealing with the complicated fallout from its failure, including a series of regulatory and legal issues and the fact that more than $587 million “remains outstanding” from Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG Alliance.

Britain's financial regulator said ‌on Wednesday ‌it was consulting on ​how firms might be affected by the regulation of the ‌crypto ⁠industry which is due to come ⁠into effect by October 2027, Reuters reported.

U.K. residential battery supplier GivEnergy Ltd has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators with the Insolvency and Companies list, the UK court handling cases relating to the insolvency of companies in England and Wales, ESS-News.com reported. The filing is a preliminary step under UK insolvency law that triggers a short moratorium, typically up to 10 business days. It protects the company from creditor enforcement while administrators are formally lined up or other action occurs.

A celebrity-backed investment scheme could be wound up over £1.3 million of unpaid debts from Kevin Maxwell, The Times reported. Insolvency practitioners have raised concerns about the viability of a deal with creditors which Fortress Capital Partners reached in July. Edwin Kirker, of Kirker & Co, who was appointed to supervise the company voluntary arrangement (CVA), has warned of a series of alleged breaches, including the threatened removal of an independent director of Fortress.

Britain said on Tuesday it would cap interest rates on millions of student loans at 6% from September 2026, saying conflict ​in the Middle East risked pushing up inflation and sharply increasing borrowing costs ‌for graduates, Reuters reported. The student loan system in England and Wales has drawn criticism and Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in February he would look at ways to make it fairer. The government ​has been accused by some lawmakers, including in his own Labour Party, ​of ripping off graduates with inflated interest charges and unfavourable repayment ⁠conditions.