This episode also examines changes to French pension rules, the approaching European Central Bank decision, Portugal’s BUPi land-registration deadline and the latest UK policy signals ahead of the October Budget.

If any of these developments could affect your pensions, investments, property, estate planning or plans to move abroad, you can book a complimentary, no-obligation meeting with a qualified Chase Buchanan adviser at: chasebuchanan.com/book

We also cover the Bank of Canada's upcoming rate decision and escalating US–Canada trade tensions, Belgium's newly passed capital gains tax deadline, and renewed disruption around the Strait of Hormuz.

For those with financial connections to southern Europe, we explain the upcoming Modelo 210 reporting changes for non-resident property owners in Spain and the transition to Malta's new Individual Tax Programme from January 2027.

Finally, HMRC has published further technical detail on the major change coming from 6 April 2027, when most unused UK pension funds and certain pension death benefits will be brought within the value of an estate for UK Inheritance Tax purposes.

If any of these developments could affect your pensions, investments, property, estate planning or plans to move abroad, you can book a complimentary, no-obligation meeting with a qualified Chase Buchanan adviser at: chasebuchanan.com/book

Meanwhile, US economic growth remained at 1.5% during the second quarter, but inflation stayed above the Federal Reserve’s target. UK inflation also moved higher, keeping interest-rate expectations—and their potential effects on sterling, investments and borrowing costs—in focus.

This episode considers what these developments could mean for internationally mobile families. We also cover Belgium’s approaching capital gains tax deadline, Spain’s Modelo 210 reporting changes and the inclusion of most unused pensions within UK Inheritance Tax calculations from April 2027.

If these developments could affect your plans, book a complimentary, no-obligation meeting with a qualified Chase Buchanan adviser at:
chasebuchanan.com/book

We also look at continued shipping disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and revisit three important cross-border planning deadlines: Belgium’s capital gains tax opt-out, Malta’s transitional application rules and the Canary Islands Special Zone registration deadline.

Every situation is different. Residence, nationality, assets, pensions, business interests and future plans can all affect which rules apply.

Book a complimentary initial conversation with one of our cross-border advisers at chasebuchanan.com/book

We also revisit the UK Inheritance Tax changes affecting most unused pension funds and pension death benefits from April 2027, before considering Belgium’s new capital gains tax and its implications for people moving into or out of the country.

Information was checked on 11 August 2026. This podcast is intended for general information only and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. Individual circumstances differ, and professional advice should be sought where appropriate.

In the UK, Chancellor John Healey has confirmed that the government’s first Budget will take place on 28 October, giving expatriates with UK pensions, investments or property a clearer timetable to watch.

We also look at the latest Big Tech earnings, including Microsoft, Amazon and Meta, and what they reveal about whether heavy investment in artificial intelligence is beginning to produce sufficient commercial returns.

Elsewhere, US economic growth has slowed, although underlying private demand remains relatively resilient, while inflation is still running above the Federal Reserve’s target.

Finally, we revisit the Middle East, where oil prices and shipping risks remain volatile as markets react to conflicting signals around diplomacy and the Strait of Hormuz.

This episode is based on our Weekly Market Update email, originally researched on Monday 3 August and updated on Tuesday 4 August 2026 at approximately 10:00 a.m. UK time. Market conditions, political announcements and geopolitical developments may have changed since that point.

We explore why the SpaceX listing raises broader questions about concentration risk in passive investment portfolios, particularly for expatriates whose retirement savings may be heavily exposed to a small number of US technology names.

The episode also looks at the growing divergence between major central banks, with the European Central Bank tightening, the Federal Reserve expected to hold, and the Bank of England facing weak UK growth alongside persistent inflation pressures.

For cross-border families, this creates important questions around currency exposure, pension income, euro cash returns and sterling-based retirement planning.

We also examine the latest tax developments across Europe, including changes affecting QROPS transfers, Portugal’s post-NHR landscape, Malta’s pension tax incentives, Cyprus tax reforms, France’s treaty advantages for US-connected clients, and Belgium’s expanded inbound regime.

The key message is clear: in a world shaped by security concerns, inflation control and tax reform, cross-border wealth planning can no longer rely on legacy structures or set-and-forget portfolios. Coordination between residence, taxation and investment strategy matters more than ever.

Despite ongoing tensions and weaker expectations for a near-term reopening of Hormuz, global equity markets remain remarkably resilient. We explore the key factors supporting markets, including the strength of the US economy, the continued expansion of AI-driven investment, and another exceptionally strong US earnings season.

We also discuss the latest US payroll data, the Federal Reserve outlook, growing concentration within equity markets, UK political developments following the local elections, and the upcoming inflation data that could shape future central bank decisions.

Finally, we look ahead to Jerome Powell’s departure as Federal Reserve Chair and the wider implications for investors navigating an increasingly uncertain global environment.

We also explore the recent AI-driven software selloff, which appears to be stabilizing following reassurances from Anthropic and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. All eyes are now on Nvidia's quarterly earnings report tonight, where strong revenue expectations and forward guidance on chip demand could set the tone for the entire technology sector.

For our UK and expat listeners, we discuss Reform UK's controversial proposal to redirect £500 billion from the Local Government Pension Scheme into domestic investments. Finally, we cover essential financial planning updates, including the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" tax on cash transfers and how higher earners can avoid the "AMT Trap" , wrapping up with a look at upcoming interest rate expectations from the Bank of England and the Federal Reserve.