A who's Who of Northern Irish business and civic leaders wrote to Westminster MPs and the government over the weekend demanding that they avoid a no deal Brexit, and implicitly damning the Democratic Unionist Party's Brexit position.

Financial services firms need to ensure they do not breach data rules in the event of a no deal Brexit or risk a fine of up to 4% of turnover, says EY. The warning comes as EY launches a guide for financial services firms around last minute preparation for no deal. EY's own polling last month found almost a quarter (24%) of FS firms see the issue of data transfers as one of their top three worries around Brexit.

Private sector growth stagnated in the quarter to February, according to new data from The CBI, as firms "brace" for Brexit. Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Chief Economist, said: "Economic momentum is ebbing away as consumer confidence weakens and businesses brace themselves for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit. More and more companies are hitting the brakes on investment and day-to-day business decisions are becoming increasingly problematic."

Credit agency Fitch Ratings has issued an emergency notice on the UK's status, placing the UK's 'AA' Long Term Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) on Rating Watch Negative). The RWN reflects the heightened uncertainty over the outcome of the Brexit process, Fitch says, and an increased risk of a disruptive no deal Brexit. It believes that no deal would lead to substantial disruption to UK economic and trade prospects, at least in the near term.

EY is to shift its European legal entity from London to Brussels, to keep itself in line with EU audit regulations and licensing arrangements after Brexit. A new legal umbrella group — EY Europe SCRL — will have legal control of some 40 operations across the continent, including its UK member firm.