News in Review

UK house prices fell by 0.6% in April following a rush in March to beat Stamp Duty changes. Despite the drop, prices remain 3.4% higher than a year ago  US GDP shrank by 0.3% in Q1 2025—its first contraction in three years—due to reduced government spending and a surge in imports ahead of tariffs  Ukraine […]

Positioning portfolios in a protectionist world

US Vice President JD Vance spelled it out in Munich – “there is a new sheriff in town” – and that sheriff’s policies are already having far-reaching consequences. While dealing with geopolitical uncertainties is clearly nothing new for long-term investors, Trump’s re-election has once again vividly highlighted the need for a sound investment approach based […]

Money – In the news

Child Trust Funds still unclaimed  Some 728,000 people who have recently turned 18 have not claimed their Child Trust Fund, figures1 show, with the total value of unclaimed money amounting to £1.4bn. Many eligible young people do not know that their account exists, campaigners say. MPs are urging more action from HMRC to inform potential […]

Economic Review April 2025

The UK economy grew 0.5% in February, driven by strong service and manufacturing sectors despite looming headwinds  Inflation dipped to 2.6% in March, but April’s household bill hikes are expected to reverse the trend  The labour market weakened as vacancies fell, though wage growth remained robust amid cost pressures and job cuts  UK economy returns […]

News in Review

The IMF has downgraded global growth forecasts, warning of heightened risks from US tariffs and policy uncertainty  Manufacturing output figures show stagnation, with firms citing declining demand, rising costs, and global uncertainty  UK consumer confidence has hit its lowest since November 2023 due to cost-of-living pressures and tariff fears  “Uncertainty is bad for business”  As […]

Investment megatrends for 2025 and beyond

Megatrends are powerful, long-term shifts, which are already changing the way we live and work  Today, trends such as AI, defence spending, changing energy supplies and demographics, are evident  While markets fluctuate daily, megatrends are shaping the future, creating exciting opportunities  Investing megatrends are powerful, long-term shifts expected to reshape industries, economies and investment markets […]

Commercial Property Market Review – April 2025

In central London, twice as many businesses upsized than downsized last year, with one-third of London lettings coming from new entrants  Premium pricing, limited development supply and consistent performance makes Edinburgh one of the UK’s most attractive hotel markets  According to research, US investors have acquired close to £50bn of UK commercial assets since 2021  […]

Your pension and IHT

By Q3, the government is expected to provide implementation guidance on how pensions and death benefits will be treated  Any changes are likely to have the greatest impact on people with established estate plans  As proposals are not finalised, it’s wise to consider potential implications but await the final guidance before overhauling plans  Chancellor Rachel […]