Investment - Articles

Search Results Page 1 of 138.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Next Last

Premium Bonds prizes increase as odds shorten for holders

NS&I has announced that the Premium Bonds prize fund rate will increase to 3.80% from the July 2026 draw. Holders will have even more chances to win, with the odds shortening to 22,000 to 1 from 23,000 to 1. The Premium Bonds prize fund rate was reduced in April 2026 along with the odds lengthening.
Posted on Thursday May 14

FTSE follows global stocks upwards as UK GDP beats forecasts

FTSE 100 extends gains. UK GDP up 0.6% in Q1, strongest in G7. Gilt yields ease slightly, Wes Streeting mulls leadership challenge. US futures rise after tech rally propels fresh highs. Brent Crude inches up to around $106 per barrel
Posted on Thursday May 14

HMRC plot extension of the Uncertain Tax Treatment regime

HMRC is consulting on the extension to the Uncertain Tax Treatment (UTT) regime it introduced in 2022 for large businesses to private individuals and trusts if they receive a tax advantage of £5m or more. HMRC now intends to extend UTT to cover stamp duty, National Insurance, inheritance tax and capital gains tax.
Posted on Wednesday May 13

Investors remain cautious as Trump heads to China

Equity markets in search of catalysts. Oil prices are starting to show up in earnings. UK 10-year gilts reach financial crisis levels. Copper surges to fresh all-time highs. Oil prices cool a touch, but no Middle East resolution in sight
Posted on Wednesday May 13

43% uncertain in 6 month deadline to pay pensions IHT bill

43% of adults aren’t confident the proposed six-month deadline to pay IHT on pensions is long enough. Only a third of over-55s think personal representatives will be able to manage pension IHT payments
Posted on Tuesday May 12

Stocks slip with borrowing costs and inflation back in focus

FTSE 100 expected to reverse Monday’s gains. Gilt yields at over 5%. Barclaycard and BRC April data: Consumers feel the pinch. Imperial Brands’ price hikes keep sales moving up. Brent crude nudges $105. S&P 500 & NASDAQ set to pull back from record highs. US CPI expected to accelerate
Posted on Tuesday May 12

Broadstone advises Safe Computing Pension on full buyin

Deal with Just Group secures the benefits of all Scheme members of the Safe Computing Pension FundTransaction concluded swiftly in busy market using Broadstone’s SM&RT Insure process in tandem with Just’s Beacon streamlined service
Posted on Monday May 11

High stakes Monday for the Prime Minister

FTSE on track to open flat, all eyes on the gilt market today. Starmer under pressure: his speech this morning is pivotal. Labour market cracks with the ITEM Club and REC both point to a softening jobs backdrop. Trump meets Xi in Beijing, hopes for a trade truce extension, discussions on semiconductors, rare earths and agricultural trade expected. National Grid, Vodafone, Burberry and Greggs all set to report this week
Posted on Monday May 11

Shaky start for FTSE, local and global politics in focus

FTSE 100 opens down 0.7%. Gilt yields in the spotlight after tough night for PM Kier Starmer. Oil price up again as tensions rise in the Strait of Hormuz. ARM Holdings hit by capacity constraints. US non-farm payrolls in focus (consensus: +62k)
Posted on Friday May 8

2026 survey on DB investment governance launched

The industry is being asked to have its say on Defined Benefit investment governance as part of a new survey from The Pensions Management Institute (PMI), in partnership with Schroders.
Posted on Thursday May 7

Focus on fundamentals is key as bulk annuity market evolves

Commenting, Yona Chesner Head of Pensions Investment at Cartwright Pension Trusts said: “The recent acquisition of Just Group by Brookfield Wealth Solutions is a good example of the continued flow of international capital into the UK retirement market, with well-established insurers increasingly sitting within larger global balance sheets and investment platforms.
Posted on Thursday May 7

Strong earnings and Middle East optimism drive record highs

Global markets lean into Middle East optimism. Broad earnings strength drives US records. AI opportunity still looks far from over. Oil steadies as peace hopes build
Posted on Thursday May 7

The hidden cost of solo living is revealed

More than half (58%) of adults who are single or live alone say they could not cope with an unexpected bill of £850. More than a third (37%) of adults who live alone say they do not save anything on a regular basis. Of those who do save and live alone, four in ten (42%) contribute to a Cash ISA
Posted on Wednesday May 6

Relief floods in as US eases hostilities in Iran conflict

London’s FTSE 100 sets off on a streak higher, up 1.3% in early trade. The US administration has ceased Operation Epic Fury lifting hopes for a resolution. Brent crude falls back but still trades around $107 a barrel, given energy shipments remain blocked. Next posts a surprise uplift in sales early in the first quarter and shows resilience amid the conflict. Cheers for Diageo as some fizz returns to sales and shares lift 5% in early trade. Wetherspoon’s warns on profits due to painful price increases.
Posted on Wednesday May 6

Markets mixed amidst strong earnings and high oil prices

FTSE 100 futures flat. Oil prices hover at four-year highs. Shell pins its hopes on a strong trading result. Novo Nordisk looks to get volumes going againUS stock futures edge up. ARM and Disney amongst this week’s Wall Street reporters. Macro data: Unemployment (Friday) and consumer credit (Thursday)
Posted on Tuesday May 5

Earnings boom overshadows Middle East gloom

Global markets trade higher on earnings optimism. Apple beats on strong iPhone sales. NatWest raises guidance as economic risks rise. Gold caught between two opposing forces
Posted on Friday May 1

Comments as Bank of England hold rates to 3.75%

Hymans Robertson, Standard Life and Schroders comment as Bank of England holds rates at 3.75%, as policymakers pause to assess the impact of conflict in the Middle East. Rates staying higher for longer may offer support for savers, but mean borrowing costs are likely to remain elevated for households and businesses

Posted on Thursday Apr 30

Volatile oil prices ahead of key central bank meetings

Brent crude hits a wartime high of $126 a barrel before retreating. The volatile prices set the scene ahead of the Bank of England and ECB decisions. FTSE 100 fluctuates in early trade as investors stay cautious. Unilever posts better-than-expected results but outlook keeps shares flat. Volkswagen posts a 14% decline in profits as US tariffs and Chinese competition hit.
Posted on Thursday Apr 30

Scorching energy prices set to push up borrowing costs

UK government borrowing costs hit levels not seen since the global financial crisis.10-year gilt yields soar above 5%, which could prompt difficult decisions from the Treasury. Cheaper mortgage deals could be wiped away again as inflation risks bed in. Brent crude hovers above $111 a barrel as the Iran standoff continues. Jet 2 flags holidaymaker uncertainty amid the conflict. Investors wait for a raft of big tech results which will determine sentiment on Wall Street.
Posted on Wednesday Apr 29

Markets edge out of the fog of war

Markets are edging out of the fog of war, but the path forward remains uneven. James Bilson, Global Unconstrained Fixed Income Strategist at Schroders, explores how Schroders is preparing for a post-resolution investment landscape.
Posted on Tuesday Apr 28

Oil prices jump again and BPs profits double

Energy prices rise again amid a void of hope on Iran talks. Brent crude trades above $110 a barrel amid the uncertainty. BP’s profits double in first quarter, sending shares even higher. The energy giants highlight that profits in second quarter may be softer due to disruption. The Bank of Japan keeps interest rates on hold, in tune with the cautious mood expected from central banks this week.
Posted on Tuesday Apr 28

Acting in haste may mean thousands worse off in retirement

When buying an annuity, it is vital to search the market for the best rate. Once bought, an annuity cannot be unwound so it’s important to get the right one for you. A search of annuity quotes shows there is a £647 difference in the top and bottom quotes for a 65-year-old with £100,000 pension looking for a single life, level annuity with a five-year guarantee. Over the course of a 20-year retirement the difference adds up to almost £13,000. Include as much information on your application as possible about your health, as you may qualify for an enhanced annuity which could further increase your income.
Posted on Monday Apr 27

Caution reigns as peace talks hopes dashed again

See-saw diplomacy over Iran keeps investors cautious at the start of the week. Fears of a severe energy shock intensify as the Strait of Hormuz stays firmly shut and oil prices shoot higher. Brent crude climbs back above $107 a barrel and the FTSE 100 is flat in early trade. Monetary policy in focus with key central bank meetings looming but interest rates set to be held, given inflationary pressures mounting. Tech in the spotlight this week with Amazon, Meta, Microsoft. Apple and Alphabet all set to report.
Posted on Monday Apr 27

Oil prices shoot up and retail sales show panic at the pumps

Brent crude rises to above $105 a barrel as the Middle East crisis is prolonged. President Trump says he’s in no rush to end the war after issuing shoot-to-kill orders in the Strait of Hormuz. UK retail sales figures show there was panic at the pumps in March as motorists raced to fill up to avoid price hikes. Intel provides cheer for Wall Street as it benefits from a surge in AI infrastructure spending.
Posted on Friday Apr 24

Inheritance Tax registers a fifth consecutive annual record

Inheritance Tax (IHT) receipts for the 2025-2026 tax year have reached £8.5 billion, exceeding last year’s total of £8.2 billion and marking a fifth consecutive annual record. IHT receipts in March totalled £755 million, an increase of £141 million compared to the £614 million recorded in February 2025.
Posted on Thursday Apr 23