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As COVID–19 continues its grim march across the globe, the statistics make sober reading. Last week, confirmed virus cases exceeded one million worldwide as the pandemic took hold in the United States and the global death toll continued to rise, sadly including a number of frontline workers. With the Prime Minister remaining in isolation, Health […]

If the former Leeds Permanent Building Society had ‘done what it says on the tin’ like that wood-stain in the old TV ad, the mortgage lender would surely still have branches on Britain’s high streets. Savers might even be able to invest in its Liquid Gold account, the ‘nice little earner’ promoted in another old […]

The week everything changed We saw a different face on the Downing Street podium on Friday afternoon, as Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove took centre stage, while the Prime Minister self-isolated after testing positive for COVID-19. Gove announced plans to begin a large-scale testing programme of health workers and the construction of two […]

SPRING BUDGET: WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE HOUSING MARKET? While it is true that this year’s highly anticipated Spring Budget speech, delivered by new Chancellor Rishi Sunak, was understandably dominated by the government’s emergency measures to protect the British economy and population from the impact of COVID-19, there were other positives to be gleaned […]

< 2020 Budget prioritises relief for struggling businesses As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage, many businesses are struggling to cope financially – but small businesses (those with a rateable value of less than £51,000 per year) are deemed to have been the worst hit. In his Budget speech, the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, […]

  Baptism of fire (for Sunak and Bailey) When Andrew Bailey accepted the job of Governor of the Bank of England last year, he probably didn’t expect the first week or so in his new job would play out as it did. He certainly had no option but to hit the ground running. Following the […]

EMPTY NESTERS SITTING ON NEARLY £60,000 OF WASTED SPACE On average, over-50s in Britain have £56,574 worth of unused space standing empty in their properties (usually bedrooms belonging to children who have since flown the nest)3. Many are reluctant to downsize due to the nostalgia and memories linked to their family homes. LOWEST RISE IN […]

Acronyms Take Over Many Investment Concepts From ASOS to Zoopla, acronyms, abbreviations and made-up names are everywhere in the digital age. It may seem like a phenomenon largely confined to online marketing and, though there has been an eruption of new monikers in that arena, the process of shortening or updating ordinary corporate names, regulators’ […]

“WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER“ Newly appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, delivered his first Budget on 11 March, against a backdrop of uncertainty following the COVID–19 outbreak and subsequent financial losses. It was the first of two Budgets to be delivered in 2020, with the second to follow in the autumn. COVID–19 […]

The latest population statistics released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the number of people in their nineties continues to grow. And this trend is raising serious concerns over whether traditional views of retirement are still fit for purpose. Population trends Figures from ONS show that the total number of people aged […]