Following speculation that Andy Burnham could lower the proposed threshold for Labour's planned council tax surcharge on higher-value homes from £2 million to £1.5 million if he were to become Prime Minister, Alex Pugh, chartered financial planner and Partner at Saltus, warns the move could bring significantly more homeowners into scope. Posted on Wednesday Jul 8
Analysis by Rathbones, suggests families could be hit by a double tax blow on inherited wealth. Aligning CGT rates with income tax rates could add nearly £10,000 to the tax bill on a £50,000 gain for additional-rate taxpayers. Posted on Wednesday Jul 8
Oil jumps as renewed Middle East tensions rattle global markets. FTSE 100 and European stocks fall as investors weigh fresh inflation risks and await Fed minutes. Jet2 bucks the market, with shares soaring more than 12% on strong summer bookings and a £250 million share buyback. Posted on Wednesday Jul 8
Global M&A performance experienced a sharp downturn during the second quarter of 2026, according to research on completed deals from WTW’s Quarterly Deal Performance Monitor (QDPM). Based on share price performance, dealmakers struggled against companies not involved in M&A activities by a significant -11.9pp (percentage points) for deals valued over $100 million and completed during the last three months, reveals WTW’s Quarterly Deal Performance Monitor (QDPM)1. Posted on Wednesday Jul 8
The Office for Budget Responsibility's latest Fiscal Risks and Sustainability Report, published today, highlights how the changes in the UK’s demographics will influence rising Inheritance Tax (IHT) and Capital Gains Tax (CGT) receipts with the proportion of the population aged over 80 likely to rise from 5% in 2025 to 12% in 2075. Posted on Wednesday Jul 8
The majority of participants reported an increase in assets by year end 2025Median Gross Written Premiums rise to £39m, set against a significant rise in median gross claims which grow to £37mMomentum accelerating as the Government aims to double the size of the mutual and co-operative sector Posted on Tuesday Jul 7
The review sets out how AI could reshape retail financial services for consumers, firms, markets and regulators by 2030 and beyond. Posted on Monday Jul 6
Footsie drifts as investors await Fed minutes. England's stunning World Cup run delivers a spending boost for pubs and retailers. easyJet edges towards £5.5bn takeover as UK takeover trend gathers pace. As another British company looks set for a private equity future, investors are increasingly looking at private markets to find opportunities for growth. Posted on Monday Jul 6
The Society of Pension Professionals (SPP) held a webinar on the “Key Developments in LGPS Funding and Governance” that involved a wide-ranging discussion on the future direction of the LGPS, bringing together more than 100 professionals from across the pensions industry to debate the practical implications of the Government's proposals. Posted on Thursday Jul 2
FTSE 100 edges lower ahead of the crucial US jobs report as investors fret about higher interest rates for longer. Warsh's inflation warning sparks another bout of profit-taking in technology stocks, with weakness spreading from Wall Street into Asia. Currys shows resilience as profits jump 18%, dividends double and recurring revenues provide a cushion against economic uncertainty. Consumers finally get some relief as diesel prices tumble and a stronger pound stretches holiday budgets further in Europe. Posted on Thursday Jul 2
Pension Insurance Corporation plc has announced it has concluded a £35 million full buy-in with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Pension Scheme (“the Scheme”), securing the pensions of all 253 members. The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (“ABRSM”) offers face-to-face and digital exams, sheet music, recordings, apps and courses for students and teachers across the world. Posted on Wednesday Jul 1
FTSE 100 slips before recovering a little as a sell-off in metals drags heavyweight miners lower. Gold falls to its lowest level in almost eight months as higher-for-longer US rate expectations strengthen the dollar. JD Sports drops after Nike signals its recovery will take time, while ABF falls as losses at its sugar business deepen. Housebuilders remain under pressure despite tentative signs of improvement in the housing market. Wall Street looks set to catch its breath ahead of Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's appearance at the ECB Forum in Sintra and Thursday's US jobs report. Posted on Wednesday Jul 1
Daniel Nilsson, Senior Portfolio Manager at Isio, reflects on 250 years of American independence, market concentration and the investment case for US small caps: “At Isio, we believe the investment case for the United States remains fundamentally strong, underpinned by structural innovation, world-leading corporate profitability and exceptionally deep capital markets. Posted on Tuesday Jun 30
Redirecting just £45 a month - equivalent to everyday spending on things like meals out or takeaways - could make a significant long-term difference. Small mid-year financial tweaks can help build momentum ahead of year-end. Standard Life shares a simple six-point mid-year money MOT checklist Posted on Tuesday Jun 30
.GDP figures show UK economy is slowly growing, but it’s a lacklustre performance – raising challenges for Andy Burnham ahead. Sainsbury’s results mirror UK economic performance, but stores are getting a boost from the heatwave and the World Cup. Big tech rallies after Amazon is admitted to the Dow Jones. Some caution set to return as monthly jobs report looms. Posted on Tuesday Jun 30
FTSE 100 is on the back foot in early trade following fresh attacks in the Middle East. Brent crude rises to $72 a barrel, as Strait of Hormuz remains tricky to navigate. Central bankers’ forum in Sintra, Portugal, in focus as investors look for clues about interest rates. Wall Street set for a rebound with investors turning opportunistic after recent falls. Posted on Monday Jun 29
See-saw moves keep coming as investors stay jittery. FTSE 100 set to trade lower amid rise in geopolitical tensions and a fresh tech sell-off. A vessel was struck while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, adding to fears about the fragility of the peace deal. Asian markets fall sharply, as investors digest price hikes from Apple and Microsoft. Gold suffers in a sell-off, as interest-rate hike expectations firm up, trading around $4,000 an ounce. Bitcoin remains stuck in a frozen crypto winter, falling further to $59,685. The cryptocurrency is down 44% year on year. Posted on Friday Jun 26
Pension Insurance Corporation plc (“PIC”), a specialist insurer of defined benefit pension funds, has concluded a £35 million buy-in with the Royal Institute of British Architects 1974 Staff Pension Scheme (“the Scheme”), securing the benefits of 168 Scheme members. Posted on Thursday Jun 25
Brent crude sinks to $72 a barrel as supplies surge through the Strait of Hormuz. One energy shock replaces another for Europe as extreme heat sees wholesale peak electricity prices spike. Tech surges in Asia and on Wall Street after Micron results spark a fresh rally. South Korean memory chip maker SK Hynix plans to list in New York to capitalise on its heady $1 trillion valuation. Posted on Thursday Jun 25
Mark Campbell, Head of Wealth Planning at Isio Wealth Management, comments on HMRC's publication of the detailed rules underpinning the new ISA regime from April 2027. Posted on Wednesday Jun 24
Global tech rout takes a pause, but investors remain skittish. SpaceX comes down to Earth with a bump, burning off much of its post-launch steam. Investors remain wary about chipmaker valuations. Brent crude falls towards pre-war levels, as tanker traffic rises in Strait of Hormuz. Nasdaq set to open slightly higher, but nervousness remains, especially with the hike in interest rates from the Fed increasingly priced in. Pound dips as dollar strengthens but is also being kept lower due to speculation about UK economic policy. Wes Streeting is the front-runner to replace Rachel Reeves, but any new Chancellor is likely to initially focus on stability to try and reassure bond investors. Posted on Wednesday Jun 24
It is being reported today that an announcement from the Treasury, confirming that interest from cash held in Stocks & Shares ISAs will face a 22% tax rate, is imminent. Posted on Tuesday Jun 23
Nearly a third of UK adults (29%) aren't confident their family would cope if something happened to them unexpectedly, up from 23% last year. 45 to 54-year-olds in the ‘sandwich generation’ are the least assured of any age group, and are among those saving the least per month Posted on Monday Jun 22
Commenting, Charlotte Kennedy, Chartered Financial Planner at Rathbones, says: “A departing prime minister rarely changes your finances overnight, but political upheaval can create uncertainty that affects markets, confidence and expectations. Posted on Monday Jun 22
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