Hi Ladies,

Time is moving fast, but the markets move faster. Last week’s global dip across market indices is already old news as European stocks have climbed to new all-time highs. This week’s climb is fueled by heavyweight corporate earnings which continue to impress investors. Meanwhile oil prices have spiked following fresh US sanctions on major Russian oil companies, signalling the complex dance between markets, politics, and real-world consequences that’s playing out right now.

Markets are holding up, but it’s not all smooth sailing. Beneath the surface there’s real tension building around global trade, with major geopolitical developments reshaping how companies do business across borders – with impacts hitting our wallets and investment accounts. We’re breaking it all down this week, with examples of how these moves might affect you.

Plus Ayesha shares her thoughts on managing the expenses of family life during half term.

A word from Ayesha

Before we look at how the markets have been performing this week, Propelle Founder & CEO, Ayesha Ofori, reflects on navigating the financial challenges of being a working parent during school holidays.

Investing in the Ones You Love

Half-term season is here. Whether you’re a parent navigating the annual challenge of 13 weeks of school holidays that don’t align with work schedules, an aunt managing a godchild’s school fees, someone supporting younger siblings, or simply navigating the invisible labour of modern life – there’s an invisible tax on our time and money that we rarely talk about.

Last week I wrote about the motherhood penalty – this week I’ve been feeling it. Mothers’ earnings drop by 42% five years after having their first child. But while you’re earning less, you’re also spending thousands more just to be able to work. I spent this week doing the maths on childcare costs over half term. The numbers are brutal. £475 per week per child. With the 5% discount for having two kids, that’s still over £900 per week.

But they got me thinking about something bigger: how many of us are pouring money into immediate obligations – whether that’s children, family, caregiving – while our long-term financial futures and those of the people we love take a backseat?

Here’s what I’ve realised: there’s a pattern. We spend thousands managing today’s demands, then tell ourselves we can’t afford to think about tomorrow. We’re so busy funding everyone’s present that we don’t invest in anyone’s future.

But here’s the thing – we don’t have to choose.

You can manage the expensive reality of today and build something for tomorrow. The system penalises those raising or supporting families financially. But we can choose to break that cycle for the next generation.

I get it. When you’re spending £900 a week on holiday camps, it’s hard to think about anything beyond getting through the month. But here’s what I keep coming back to: if we can find £6,000 a year for childcare so we can work, what if we could also find even small amounts to invest for their future? That’s not just money – that’s options. A fund to see them through university. Seed money to start a business. The deposit on their first home. A financial foundation many of us didn’t have.

And here’s the beautiful part: it doesn’t have to be your own children. If you care about the young people in your life – whether that’s nieces, nephews, godchildren, or younger siblings – you can invest in their futures too. Tax-free growth, real options, a foundation they can build on.

You’re already spending on the people you care about. Maybe it’s time to think about what you’re building for them beyond this half-term.

Because protecting their financial future? That’s one of the most powerful things you can do. And it might just take the financial pressure off of you in the long run, too.

Top 5 Market Headlines of the Week

Here are some of the biggest headlines we’ve seen this past week. 

• US Sanctions Russia’s Largest Oil Companies, Pushing Oil Prices Higher
  The US imposed sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, causing oil prices to rise sharply as traders worried about supply squeezes. The move adds pressure to inflation and energy prices worldwide.
• UK Government Borrowing Hits Five-Year High for September
  UK borrowing reached £20.2 billion in September, the highest for the month since the pandemic. The first six months of the fiscal year overshot forecasts by £7.2 billion, driven by sharp increases in debt-interest costs.
• UK Housing Market Misses Autumn Bounce Amid Budget Uncertainty
  House prices edged up just 0.3% in October to £371,422, down 0.1% year-on-year. The rise is well short of the 1.1% ten-year October average Rightmove. Budget speculation about property tax increases has caused buyers to pause, particularly in southern England.
• European Stocks Advance as UK Retail Sales Rise for Fourth Consecutive Month
  The FTSE 100 and European stocks were higher on Friday as UK retail sales volumes have risen for the fourth month in a row. New data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) this morning revealed a 0.5% increase in September, and a 1.5% rise compared to the previous year.
• Bank of England Governor Warns US Company Collapses Ring “Alarm Bells”
  Andrew Bailey told MPs that the collapse of car parts supplier First Brands and subprime car lender Tricolor could signal wider problems in the financial system. He drew parallels with the 2008 financial crisis, questioning whether these failures are isolated incidents or “the canary in the coal mine” for the private credit market.

Sources: US Treasury, Bloomberg, Rightmove, Yahoo Finance, BBC

Little learn of the week

Little Learn of the Week: Beyond the Motherhood Penalty – Your Action Plan

Last week, Ayesha shared the stark reality of the motherhood penalty – monthly earnings drop by an average of 42%, that’s £65,000 in lost earnings over five years after a first child.

This week, let’s focus on what you can actually do about it. Whether you’re planning children next year or in a decade, understanding the motherhood penalty is crucial for financial resilience.

Strategic Moves Before Children:

Build a “buffer fund” separate from emergency savings. Aim for 12-18 months of essential expenses. This gives you negotiating power during career transitions and the flexibility to refuse roles that don’t suit your family circumstances. If motherhood is at least 5 years away, investing could be a great way to build your buffer.

Maximise your pension contributions now. While you have full earning power, increase contributions beyond the minimum. The earlier you contribute, the longer compound growth works in your favour. Even a few years of higher contributions before having children can significantly impact your retirement pot.

Invest outside your pension. Stocks and Shares ISAs and General Investment Accounts remain accessible during career breaks. Starting early means your investments have more time to grow through the years when your earnings may be reduced..

During the Penalty Years:

Keep investing, even small amounts. Maintaining regular contributions during your 30s and 40s, even if reduced, keeps you invested through crucial growth years. Stopping completely means missing out on potential market gains during this period.

Negotiate shared parental leave seriously. Research shows more equal childcare distribution can help reduce long-term earnings gaps by maintaining your career continuity and development.

Review salary sacrifice options. Childcare vouchers or workplace nursery schemes offered through salary sacrifice can provide tax and National Insurance savings, potentially freeing up money to maintain some level of investment.

Protect your future self. The penalty is real, but it’s not destiny. Start planning now.

Source: ONS

Major Indices

Last Week’s Major Indicies

Before we dive in…

Indices are lists of major sections of a market. Basically, they give a gauge of the health of a certain financial market. You’ll see below the value of some major global indices, as well as how much it changed from opening, with a percentage.

FTSE 100 (UK): 9,576.20 -0.02%

S&P 500 (US): 6,738.44 +0.58%

Euro Stoxx 50 (Europe): 5,667.07 -0.02%

Nasdaq (US): 22,941.80 +0.89%

Dow Jones (US): 46,734.61 +0.31%

Accurate as of Friday 24th October 10.15AM

Source: Yahoo Fianance

Mini Market Deep Dive

 Mini Market Deep Dive: Dutch Chip Seizure Could Drive Up Car Prices

The Dutch government seized control of Nexperia, a Netherlands-based chipmaker owned by Chinese firm Wingtech Technology. China retaliated by blocking exports from Nexperia’s factories, which test and package around 80% of its chips.

You might not know them, but you probably use them
Nexperia controls roughly 40% of the global market for basic automotive semiconductors – the chips that power everything from headlights to braking systems. Major carmakers including Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes, and Toyota now face critical parts shortages, with US trade groups warning production lines could halt within weeks.

Pimp my ride’s…price?
While the US recently eased tariffs on imported car parts (which should have made production cheaper), Nexperia’s supply halt could wipe out those savings. Alternative suppliers exist but need time to scale production. In the short term, carmakers will pay more for access to limited supply – costs likely passed to consumers, potentially reigniting inflation.

What to Watch
Auto-related stocks remain volatile during geopolitical tensions. Carmakers rely on chips, rare-earth metals, and complex global supply chains – all current flashpoints in US-China trade relations. Investors should monitor:

• European automotive sector performance
• Inflation data in coming months
• Alternative chipmaker capacity announcements

Bottom Line: This seizure highlights how concentrated supply chains create systemic risks. For portfolios with automotive exposure, diversification across the supply chain – from chipmakers to finished vehicles – may help manage volatility.

Source: Finimize

Fear & Greed

The Fear & Greed Index is a way to gauge stock market movements and investor attitudes. The theory is based on the idea that excessive fear tends to drive down share prices, and greed tends to see share prices rise.

Whilst it’s based on the US, it matters to us in the UK because it helps us understand where general sentiment of the US market sits, which often has very close ties to other global markets and investment portfolios.

The index has risen slightly from 22 to 28, bringing the signal of sentiment up into Fear this week.

The Fear & Greed Index is used to gauge the mood of the market. Many investors are emotional and reactionary, and fear and greed sentiment indicators can alert investors to their own emotions and biases that can influence their decisions. When combined with fundamentals and other analytical tools, the Index can be a helpful way to assess market sentiment.

As always, we see this as a useful pulse check, not a forecast.

Keep your eyes open for next week’s index and how these market movements affect your finances and investments.

Source: CNN

Have a great weekend!

Love, The Propelle team 

PS: Full list of Sources available below.

CNN, Yahoo
Finance, ONS, 
US Treasury, Bloomberg, Rightmove, Yahoo Finance, BBC, Finimize