Overview

• The Treasury plans a nationwide advertising campaign to highlight the benefits of equity investing over cash savings.
• From April, FCA-backed “targeted support” will enable banks to alert ISA customers to specific stock market opportunities.
• Risk warnings on investment products will be tempered and mortgage underwriting rules eased to encourage greater borrowing and market participation.
• Currently, two thirds of ISA balances are held in cash and 55% of savers are reluctant to invest in stocks and shares.
• Industry experts warn that softer safeguards could expose savers to market losses and raise the risk of mis-selling scandals.