Child Trust Funds still unclaimed Some 728,000 people who have recently turned 18 have not claimed their Child Trust Fund, figures1 show, with the total value of unclaimed money amounting to £1.4bn. Many eligible young people do not know that their account exists, campaigners say. MPs are urging more action from HMRC to inform potential […]
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Economic Review April 2025
The UK economy grew 0.5% in February, driven by strong service and manufacturing sectors despite looming headwinds Inflation dipped to 2.6% in March, but April’s household bill hikes are expected to reverse the trend The labour market weakened as vacancies fell, though wage growth remained robust amid cost pressures and job cuts UK economy returns […]
News in Review
The IMF has downgraded global growth forecasts, warning of heightened risks from US tariffs and policy uncertainty Manufacturing output figures show stagnation, with firms citing declining demand, rising costs, and global uncertainty UK consumer confidence has hit its lowest since November 2023 due to cost-of-living pressures and tariff fears “Uncertainty is bad for business” As […]
Investment megatrends for 2025 and beyond
Megatrends are powerful, long-term shifts, which are already changing the way we live and work Today, trends such as AI, defence spending, changing energy supplies and demographics, are evident While markets fluctuate daily, megatrends are shaping the future, creating exciting opportunities Investing megatrends are powerful, long-term shifts expected to reshape industries, economies and investment markets […]
Residential Property Review – April 2025
Data shows 64% of homeowners underestimate how much their property is worth In Q1 demand across prime London neighbourhoods fell nearly 4% compared to Q4 2024 Net mortgage lending fell to £3.3bn in February, down £0.9bn from January Most homeowners underestimate property value by tens of thousands Zoopla research says most homeowners are in the […]
Commercial Property Market Review – April 2025
In central London, twice as many businesses upsized than downsized last year, with one-third of London lettings coming from new entrants Premium pricing, limited development supply and consistent performance makes Edinburgh one of the UK’s most attractive hotel markets According to research, US investors have acquired close to £50bn of UK commercial assets since 2021 […]
Your pension and IHT
By Q3, the government is expected to provide implementation guidance on how pensions and death benefits will be treated Any changes are likely to have the greatest impact on people with established estate plans As proposals are not finalised, it’s wise to consider potential implications but await the final guidance before overhauling plans Chancellor Rachel […]
Stamp Duty changes – tune in
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) rates reverted on 1 April 2025 to pre-September 2022 levels First-time buyers will have to start paying the tax on any home valued above £300,000 Non-first-time buyers will pay SDLT on properties valued above £125,000. From 1 April 2025, Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) rates revert to the thresholds prevailing […]
News in Review
Rachel Reeves described two months of falling inflation, along with growth in real wages and GDP, as “encouraging signs” Keir Starmer has reiterated his commitment to securing “free and open trade” in order to protect the national interest The UN trade body UNCTAD predicted global economic growth would slow to 2.3% this year, falling below […]
News in Review
President Trump paused most tariffs for 90 days, briefly boosting global market confidence amid uncertainty The UK economy unexpectedly grew 0.5% in February, driven by services, production and construction The UK economy unexpectedly grew 0.5% in February, driven by services, production and construction “We want to secure the best deal possible for British jobs and […]
