Autumn Statement 2022

“We will face into the storm” On 17 November, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt delivered his fiscal plan to “tackle the cost-of-living crisis and rebuild our economy” stating that the government’s three priorities are “stability, growth and public services.” The Chancellor struck a defiant tone during the key fiscal event, saying he was “taking […]

Mortgage market update

It’s been a busy couple of months in the mortgage market, with rising interest rates and new product ideas dominating the discussion. Rate rises Following the Bank of England’s decision to raise interest rates, two million mortgage holders with standard variable rates or tracker mortgages are already facing higher repayments. Bank Rate increases will also […]

IHT share loss relief – tune in

In challenging market conditions, it’s likely that some bereft individuals will inherit investments that have fallen in value.   Through IHT share loss relief, people inheriting can be entitled to claim a tax rebate when they sell certain qualifying investments at a loss. Strict rules, criteria and exemptions apply however. For example, to be eligible for […]

News in Review

Last week’s release by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) of its quarterly gross domestic product (GDP) estimate for July to September painted a picture of a shrinking UK economy. GDP fell by 0.2% in the third quarter, slightly less than predicted by some City economists, but enough to push the UK a step closer […]

Trending – ‘living legacies’

Over-55s are increasingly looking to help their families out financially while they are still alive, rather than leaving everything in the form of an inheritance. Research1 has revealed a trend towards ‘living legacies’, due to increased life expectancy pushing up the average age at which younger generations inherit from their parents. People born in the […]

News in Review

“The road ahead will be a tough one… but the economy will recover, and inflation will fall” At the latest meeting of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) concluding on 3 November, Bank Rate rose by 0.75 percentage points, an eighth consecutive increase and the biggest for 33 years. Members of the MPC […]

Climate change for investors

As the world continues to emerge from the pandemic, although other headwinds exist, governments, businesses and the financial world are refocusing on what the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) describe as ‘the greatest threat to the wellbeing of humanity and to the ecosystems on which we depend’ – climate change.  According to the PRI, a […]