The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published its 2024/25 Q3 authorisations operating service metrics for October 2024 to December 2024. The report shows that 16 metrics are green, one is amber, and none are red, with 99.3% of applications determined within the statutory deadline. The report includes data for solo-regulated firms, while metrics for dual-regulated firms are available on the Prudential Regulation Authority’s website. The FCA notes that most applications are processed ahead of the statutory deadline, although complex cases may require more time. The FCA highlights issues with incomplete and poor-quality applications, particularly in the cryptoasset sector, and offers guidance on its Authorisation pages.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published its 2024/25 Q4 authorisations operating service metrics for the period January–March 2025. The report indicates that 13 metrics are green, three are amber, and one is red. The red metric, which relates to a low-volume area, was due to a single application being determined after the statutory deadline. Overall, 99.1% of applications across all metric areas were determined within the statutory timeframe. The report covers solo-regulated firms. Metrics for dual-regulated firms are available on the Prudential Regulation Authority’s website. The FCA states that most applications are determined ahead of the statutory deadline, although some complex cases may require additional time. The FCA also notes a continued trend of incomplete and poor-quality applications, particularly in the cryptoasset sector. It refers firms to its Authorisation pages for guidance, including a sample business plan, examples of good applications, and common pitfalls to avoid.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published its fourth annual market share report for UK-registered credit rating agencies (CRAs) covering the 2024 calendar year. Issued under the UK CRA Regulation, the report lists registered CRAs, their market shares, and sector coverage. It reminds issuers and related third parties that when appointing two or more CRAs, they should consider including at least one CRA with no more than 10% of total market share. If they choose not to do so, they must record their decision. The publication facilitates that evaluation by issuers.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published its annual report for 2024/25 under the Prescribed Persons (Reports on Disclosures of Information) Regulations 2017. The report covers whistleblowing disclosures received by the FCA between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. During this period, the FCA received 1,131 whistleblowing reports, which generated 2,684 separate allegations. The most common allegations related to compliance, fitness and propriety, consumer detriment and organisational culture. The report outlines how these disclosures informed regulatory action and provides anonymised examples of the outcomes.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published its 2024/25 final rates and fees for its annual funding requirement (AFR). The webpage also sets out what the FCA considers when calculating annual fees, and information about fee blocks, extra fees and thresholds.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Practitioner Panel have published findings from their 2024/25 joint survey of FCA regulated firms, conducted between 3 February and 31 March 2025. The survey shows firms rated FCA performance at 7 out of 10 for satisfaction, with 81% reporting trust levels remained unchanged from the previous year. Firms identified areas for improvement including supporting growth and competitiveness, reducing unnecessary data requests, and streamlining supervision correspondence. The FCA has responded by launching a new 5-year strategy and implementing measures including overhauling UK listings rules, reforming UK retail disclosure rules, improving workplace pension value, establishing an AI lab, and reducing data reporting requirements for over 36,000 firms.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published its 2025/26 Q2 authorisations operating service metrics for July to September 2025. The report shows that 13 metrics are green, one is amber and none are red, with 99.5% of applications determined within the statutory deadline. According to the FCA, the amber rating relates to some cancellation applications determined after the statutory deadline, as some firms had not completed the steps required to meet its cancellation conditions, such as resolving outstanding complaints with the Financial Ombudsman Service. The report covers solo-regulated firms, while metrics for dual-regulated firms are available on the Prudential Regulation Authority’s website. The FCA notes that most applications are processed ahead of the statutory deadline, although complex cases may take longer where additional scrutiny is required.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published its 2025–2030 strategy, outlining a five-year plan in which it aims to deepen trust, rebalance its approach to risk, support economic growth and improve lives. The strategy is structured around four priorities: becoming a smarter regulator, supporting growth, helping consumers navigate their financial lives and fighting financial crime. The strategy aims to improve operational efficiency through reforms to supervision, digitisation of processes and reductions in data collection requirements. It also includes commitments to enhance market integrity, protect consumers and promote a competitive financial services environment. A speech by the FCA’s chief operating officer Emily Shepperd, addressing the Association of British Insurers (ABI), accompanies the strategy.

The FCA has set out the next steps in its work on closing the advice gap, following feedback on its discussion paper (DP23/5). The FCA wants to support a healthy investment culture, where people have confidence to invest as well as save which it believes will not only benefit consumers but will also provide capital to drive the economy and boost growth.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published consultation paper ‘CP24/2: Our Enforcement Guide and publicising enforcement investigations - a new approach’; alongside a speech by its joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight, Therese Chambers. The FCA proposes, among other things, to publicise investigations, including the names of subject/s, publish updates on those investigations and announce where cases are closed with no enforcement outcome, where it is in the public interest to do so and having regard to all relevant facts and circumstances.  The FCA does not propose to generally announce investigations into individuals. At the same time the FCA proposes to amend its Enforcement Guide (EG) by deleting it in its entirety and replacing it with a simplified guide.  The deadline for responses is 16 April 2024, an anticipated date for publication of a resulting policy statement is not provided, however when the policy comes into force it will apply to both new and ongoing investigations.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published consultation paper CP24/3: Quarterly Consultation Paper No. 43. Responses are sought by 11 March 2024 for chapter 2 and 8 April 2024 for chapters 3 and 4.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published consultation paper CP25/20 on the systematic internaliser (SI) regime for bonds and derivatives, alongside a discussion paper on equity markets. The consultation follows the removal of pre-trade transparency from SIs’ obligations in bonds and derivatives and seeks views on the future of that regime. The FCA aims to give effect to new SI rules in Q4 2025 and ensure continued alignment between the transparency and SI regimes. Responses are sought by 10 September 2025, with final rules expected in Q4 2025.