Global update
Most equity markets ended May in negative territory, with the global MSCI World index falling 2.5% in US dollar terms. Continued worries over Europe’s sovereign debt crisis and, in particular, mounting fears Greece might default on its debt pulled down share prices around the world. Elsewhere in the eurozone, Portugal reached an agreement on a[.....]
Inflation update
The annual rate of inflation increased to 4.5% during April, compared with 4% in March. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) reached its highest level since October 2008. Inflation registered a month-on-month rise of 1% during April – only the second time that prices have risen by as much as this in a single month. However,[.....]
GDP figures
Having contracted by 0.5% during the final three months of 2010, the UK economy showed some more encouraging signs during the first quarter of 2011, expanding by 0.5%. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), activity in the manufacturing and services sectors picked up. The services sector returned to growth, rising by 0.9% over[.....]
Junior ISAs
The Coalition Government has now confirmed details of the long awaited savings plan analysts had been expecting since the withdrawal of Child Trust Funds (CTF) last year. The Junior ISA will be launched in November and will extend to under 18s the same tax benefits which parents (and all adults) already enjoy. Their exact structure[.....]
Global update
Equity markets in March were dominated by the earthquake in Japan and its repercussions although other events also served to drag them lower. After a short-lived rise at the start of the month, the markets had already started to drop as a result of the Middle East crisis before the earthquake hit on 11 March.[.....]
Japanese aftershocks
There has been only one story in Japan since the end of February – the earthquake and its aftershocks, both human and economic. Whilst news analysts have contemplated the human devastation, markets have focused their attention on the costs of the disaster, ie: the rebuilding, its effects on economy and the extent to which companies[.....]
The latest GDP figures
The UK economy contracted unexpectedly during the fourth quarter of 2010 after activity was hampered by unusually wintry weather. According to final revised figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the economy shrank by 0.5% over the quarter. This contraction came after the economy had unexpectedly grown by 0.7% during the third quarter and[.....]
Budget 2011 update – investments
Having enjoyed a significant hike in last year’s Budget and their increase for 2011/12 already confirmed, ISA allowances were unlikely to see any secific changes in this Budget. However, their future will be impacted by the decision to increase allowances with reference to the Consumer Prices Index rather than the Retail Price Index. As the[.....]
Budget Update for Employers – March 2011
Some of the budget changes mean we may be able to help you increase your employee’s take home pay, and reduce your costs at the same time. Read on to see how. This week’s budget didn’t have the usual fanfare – these days most of the main announcements for the forthcoming tax year seem to[.....]
Save early for a greater reward
Advances in medicine and in living standards mean we are now living longer than ever before. Indeed, according to New Scientist magazine, half the people who have ever reached the age of 65 – in the entire history of mankind – are alive today and estimates of life expectancy suggest that the average female born[.....]
