Chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered her Spring Statement, outlining the UK’s latest economic and spending priorities against a backdrop of tightening fiscal constraints. Reeves didn’t downplay the difficulties ahead. She pointed directly to external forces, including Donald Trump’s reintroduction of trade tariffs, as factors compounding the strain on the public purse. These global pressures have …
Savers are missing out on millions of pounds in interest after leaving £54 billion in low-interest savings accounts. Analysis from savings provider Paragon Bank has found £52.4 billion is languishing in instant access accounts that pay less than 2% interest, while £1.7 billion is held in fixed-rate ISAs earning 2% or less. Further to that, …
Introduction Geopolitics continues to dominate the financial news as markets continue to react to Trump’s unpredictable tariff war. In 2024 the US was not just the world biggest economy, it was firing on all cylinders, as Trump returned for a second turn. At the end of the first quarter of 2025 the question on many …
Financial scams are a rising problem in the UK, with more than £1.17 billion in financial losses in 2023, according to banking body UK Finance. UK Finance’s most recent figures suggest over £570 million was stolen in the first half of 2024. Almost everyone knows a friend or family member who has been a victim …
One in every 42 homes – more than 700,000 – in the UK is now worth more than £1 million, according to new research from estate agency Savills. The vast majority of these – just under 350,000 – are in London while another 160,000 are in South East England. This means one in every 11 …
Introduction The FTSE 100 hit another record high in February, and both the UK and the Eurozone fared surprisingly well in the face of Trump’s tariff threats. How long European equity markets will continue to outpace US markets remains to be seen but for now it is with some irony that Trump’s aggressive economic policy …
There’s just over two months left till the end of the tax year on 5 April. Here are key changes to have in mind, and things you can do to ensure you don’t miss out. The end of the tax year is a predictable annual reset for many financial and taxation-related allowances. Although these are …
Inheritance tax (IHT) is one of the most important considerations for anyone with a significant estate they wish to pass on. But far from a rich person’s tax, every year more families are dragged into paying so-called ‘death duties’ thanks to rising asset prices, inflation and the harmful effect of fiscal drag. Fiscal drag is …
Introduction The FTSE 100 hit record highs in January, as Donald Trump took office for the second time. The announcement of US trade tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China have caused some turbulence and whilst the EU seems to be in Trump’s line of sight next, there are strong hints that the UK may have …
UK Government borrowing costs have soared in the wake of its Autumn Budget, with some gilt yields reaching levels not seen since 1998. Yields on the 30-year UK Gilt have reached above 5.22% – higher than at any point since 1998, as the Government looks to sell fresh bonds in order to fund its spending …
