Category Archives: Financial News

Market Update – June 2025

Share prices declined sharply in early April following “Liberation Day” – US President Donald Trump’s plan to “liberate” the US from the perceived unfairness of trading arrangements with the rest of the world. The US subsequently rolled back on tariffs ranging from 10% to 50%, announcing a 90-day pause for Read the full article…

Posted in Financial News |

Child Trust Funds

Child Trust Funds (CTFs) were long-term tax-free savings accounts for children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, with most children receiving a voucher for £250 shortly after their birth. Up to £9,000 per year (running from the child’s birthday) can be added to an existing Child Trust Read the full article…

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Fixed term annuities

A fixed term annuity is a type of annuity that provides a guaranteed income for a set period of time, typically 3 years to 20 years. They can be very useful for bridging a gap in income, for example for someone wanting to retire a few years before state pension Read the full article…

Posted in Financial News |

Spring Statement 2025

The first Spring Statement delivered by the current Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, on 26 March, made for fairly gloomy headlines. The OBR (Office for Budget Responsibility) has downgraded its estimate of growth for the UK economy from 2% to 1% for the current year, although it has upgraded Read the full article…

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Market Update – March 2025

Stock market performance for the year to date has been dominated by the potential impact of US trade tariffs. US markets had initially risen following Donald Trump’s inauguration, buoyed by his “America First” policy programme. These gains were short-lived, as US markets then declined sharply during February. Investors remain worried Read the full article…

Posted in Financial News |