News

Market Review – December 2024

UK Power plays: politics – including the US election and the ongoing fallout from October’s Budget – absorbed much of the limelight in the UK during November. The Bank of England (BoE) warned of mounting risks to the UK’s financial system, including geopolitical instability, pressure on government debt levels, and the prospect of trade wars. Nevertheless,... Read More »

Pensions and Inheritance Tax

Pensions and Inheritance Tax You may have read about the budget on 30th October and one of the biggest announcements which was undoubtedly the proposal to include pensions in estates for Inheritance Tax (IHT) from April 2027. We are writing to you now to urge that you take no action in respect of this for... Read More »

Market Review – November 2024

UK Autumn Budget: in Labour’s first Budget since 2010, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves unveiled what the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) described as “a large, sustained increase in spending, taxation, and borrowing”, including £40 billion-worth of higher taxes alongside increased investment1 in health, education, defence, housing, and infrastructure. The rate of employers’ national insurance... Read More »

Autumn Budget Statement October 2024

Before Rachel Reeves, the first woman Chancellor stood up on 30 October 2024 to deliver the first Labour Budget for 14 years, we were all warned that there was a “black hole” in the public finances and difficult decisions would need to be made. There were many rumours swirling around and so many leaks that... Read More »

Market Review – October 2024

UK Politics hit sentiment: concerns over the possible measures contained in the new Labour Government’s Autumn Budget – which is scheduled to take place on 30 October – undermined sentiment in the UK during September, with investors, consumers and businesses all showing signs of unease. In particular, the British Retail Consortium warned that UK consumer sentiment... Read More »

Market Review – September 2024

UK UK share prices fall during August: although many global equity markets successfully rebounded from sharp declines early in August, UK share prices posted a somewhat lacklustre performance amid fading hopes of further near-term cuts in interest rates. Investor sentiment was also dampened by mounting speculation over the possibility of higher taxes and spending cuts in... Read More »