News & Insight

Market Commentary

New UK growth statistics released from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last week showed that monthly real gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have increased by 0.2% in January, following a 0.1% contraction in December. Main contributors to growth in the month were services output and construction, which grew by 0.2% and 1.1% […]

Market Commentary

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered his Spring Budget last week, during which he provided an economic update from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The latest projections showed the rate of inflation is expected to fall below the Bank of England’s 2% target level in “a few months’ time.”  The OBR expects economic growth of 0.8% […]

Budget Updates

On 6 March, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt delivered his Spring Budget to the House of Commons declaring it was “a Budget for long-term growth.” The fiscal update included a number of new policy measures, such as a widely-anticipated reduction in National Insurance, abolition of the non-dom tax status and new savings products designed […]

Market Commentary

House price data released last week from Zoopla highlighted that the number of homes on the market has increased by 21% year-on-year, as pent-up demand provides a boost. Buyer demand has also picked up, with an 11% increase on the year, while sales agreed are 15% higher than this time last year. The average house […]

Market Commentary

Last week, Bank of England (BoE) Governor, Andrew Bailey, indicated that the UK recession may already be over, citing “distinct signs of an upturn.” Comparing current conditions to historical downturns, Mr Bailey commented, “If you look at recessions going back to the 1970s, this is the weakest by a long way.”  He added his opinion […]

Market Commentary

Data released last week from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that UK gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by 0.3% in Q4 2023. Following a 0.1% contraction in Q3, the data shows that the UK slipped into a technical recession in the second half of 2023, measured by two consecutive quarters of GDP contraction. […]

Market Commentary

Last week the latest data from the Halifax House Price Index for January showed that the average house price increased by 1.3% in the month, the fourth consecutive monthly rise. The average home in the UK now costs £291,029. The pace of annual growth is up 2.5%, representing the highest rate since January 2023. From […]

Market Commentary

Last week, during their first meeting of 2024, the Bank of England’s (BoE’s) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to retain Bank Rate at 5.25% by a majority of six to three. Two members of the committee preferred to increase the rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 5.5%, with one member voting to reduce the rate […]

Market Commentary

On Friday, the latest UK consumer confidence data from GfK showed that households are more optimistic about their personal finances. The index recorded a three point increase in January, to a reading of -19, the highest level in two years.  This is despite a small untick in the annual rate of consumer price inflation (CPI) […]

Newsletters

Some of the topic covered in this edition are: Preparing portfolios for resilience in 2024 The key to investing in challenging times is sticking to a sound strategic plan and focussing on long-term objectives The sophisticated scammers targeting YOU Stay vigilant and keep your guard up to protecting yourself from scams Powering up your pension […]

Market Commentary

Last week, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the UK’s annual inflation rate, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) increased by 4% in the year to December. An unexpected uptick from the 3.9% reading in November, it contrasts with expectations of a modest decline to 3.8% in a Reuters poll […]

Advice

Today is ‘Blue Monday’, a day commonly considered to be the most depressing of the year. With the Christmas festivities over (leaving higher than usual credit card statements in their wake) and winter still in full swing, it’s no wonder the 3rd Monday in January has a negative reputation. It doesn’t have to be a […]