07
May
UK economy dodges ‘triple-dip’ recession
Despite widespread concerns to the contrary, the UK managed to avoid slipping into its third recession in five years. The economy grew at a relatively subdued rate of 0.3% during the first three months of 2013, underpinned by improving activity in the services sector. Gilt prices fell and yields – particularly yields on short-dated gilts[.....]
02
May
Geopolitical concerns spook investors but Japan soars
Share prices generally advanced during April, although the month was marred by geopolitical concerns. Investor sentiment was undermined by increasingly confrontational rhetoric directed from North Korea to South Korea and the US. Ongoing tensions also escalated between Japan and China over the disputed ownership of islands in the East China Sea while stockmarkets wobbled mid-month[.....]
15
Apr
Changes to Child Benefit
More than a million UK families found themselves a little bit worse off in 2013, following changes to the payment of Child Benefit. Until recently, Child Benefit was paid to more than 7.8 million families with some 13.7 million children. However, from 7 January 2013, families in which one parent earns above £50,000 a year[.....]
11
Apr
Investing in stocks & shares ISAs
The entire 2013/14 tax year Isa allowance of £11,520 can be invested into a stocks and shares Isa. There is a vast and ever increasing range of different investment options from which to choose, offering not only huge flexibility in how you invest but also access to the whole range of global stock and bond[.....]
03
Apr
FTSE 100 surges to five-year high in March
In common with many other major equity markets around the world, UK share indices forged ahead during March. Indeed, investors managed to shrug off some anaemic economic data and a downbeat annual Budget statement – not to mention renewed turmoil in the eurozone as Cyprus narrowly avoided default – to propel the FTSE 100 index[.....]
03
Apr
The benefits of regular savings
In the world of investment, timing is everything. However, no matter how much hype we hear to the contrary, it is a fact that no one can predict what the market will do or when. This makes it difficult, not only deciding when to invest but also when to pull your valuable investments out of[.....]
22
Mar
Give and take
The Budget held few surprises on taxation, with many of the changes well-flagged – not least by the Evening Standard. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne finally fulfilled the coalition promise of a £10,000 personal tax allowance – for individuals born after 5 April 1948 the allowance will increase from £8,105 to £9,440 in 2013/14[.....]
21
Mar
Keep taking the medicine
The 2013 Annual Budget Statement painted a somewhat bleak economic picture, alleviated by a few crowd-pleasing bright spots. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne cut the predicted level of growth in the UK during 2013 from 1.2% to 0.6%. The UK’s borrowing is expected to increase to £114bn in 2013, then forecast to start falling[.....]
28
Feb
UK loses AA credit rating
The UK has finally lost its precarious foothold among the rapidly dwindling band of triple-A-rated countries. At the end of February, credit rating agency Moody’s downgraded the UK’s sovereign debt rating by one notch – from AAA to AA1 – relegating the UK to the second tier for the first time since 1978. In its[.....]
13
Feb
