[LINKS]: Links of the week

See all the links and our weekly headline roundup here.

1. Visa and Mastercard Agree to Lower Fees in Canada: Visa and Mastercard have reached an agreement with the Canadian government to reduce interchange fees for small businesses. Read more
2. Disparity in UK’s Wealth Distribution Increases: The Centre for Social Justice’s report indicates a growing gap between the wealthy and the poor in the UK. Read more
3. FCA Proposes New Financial Advice Guidelines: The Financial Conduct Authority is seeking to clarify when firms can offer consumer support without giving regulated financial advice. Read more
4. Cash Transactions Rise for First Time in a Decade: In the UK, there has been an increase in cash usage for transactions, reversing a decade-long trend. Read more
5. Predicted Decline in UK Mortgage Lending for 2024: UK Finance forecasts a reduction in lending for house purchases due to economic pressures. Read more
6. FCA Announces Credit Information Market Reforms: The Financial Conduct Authority plans to enhance the credit information market through new governance and transparency measures. Read more
7. Economic Pressures Impact UK Household Finances: UK Finance reports a decrease in overdraft debt despite persistent cost-of-living and interest rate pressures. Read more
8. Microsoft and OpenAI’s Partnership Under UK Review: The UK competition watchdog is examining Microsoft’s multi-billion-dollar partnership with OpenAI. Read more
9. EU Reaches Landmark Agreement on AI Regulation: The European Union has agreed on legislation to regulate artificial intelligence, focusing on safety and rights. Read more
10. Al Jazeera Reports on EU’s AI Legislation Agreement: The European Union’s agreement on AI regulation sets a global precedent for technology control. Read more
11. Higher Rates’ Full Impact on Businesses and Households Pending: Despite current pressures, the full effect of higher interest rates is yet to be felt fully by businesses and households. Read more
12. Increase in Credit Invisible Consumers: A significant portion of adults now lack a credit history, hindering their access to mainstream financial services. Read more
13. Generative AI’s Role in Transforming Virtual Meetings: Advanced AI systems are set to revolutionize the effectiveness of online meetings. Read more
14. Enhancing Employee Learning with Generative AI: New AI tools are poised to dynamically address skill gaps and personalize learning development. Read more
15. UK Watchdog to Scrutinize Microsoft-OpenAI Partnership: The Competition and Markets Authority in the UK is gathering information on the partnership for a potential investigation. Read more
16. Nationwide Announces Potential Redundancies: The UK building society Nationwide is considering reducing its workforce as part of a streamlining process. Read more
17. Canadian Small Businesses Receive Interchange Fee Relief: The deal between Canada, Visa, and Mastercard aims to reduce financial pressures on small businesses. Read more
18. UK’s Social Inequality Exacerbated by Lockdown: The Centre for Social Justice highlights the worsening social divide in the UK, exacerbated by the COVID-19 lockdown. Read more
19. Cash Payments Make a Comeback in UK Retail: The British Retail Consortium notes a shift back to cash payments amid economic uncertainty. Read more
20. UK Households Struggle Amid Economic Challenges: UK Finance’s report sheds light on the financial difficulties faced by lower-income households in the current economic climate. Read more

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