The Government has announced that the Autumn Budget will take place on 26 November. The statement will set out the Chancellor’s latest plans for the economy, taxation and public spending at a time when households and businesses are grappling with ongoing uncertainty. In recent weeks, there has been a flurry of speculation in the media […]
Latest News from Radcliffe Cooper
This section is regularly updated to bring you news of important developments in financial planning matters.
The Bank of England (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided at its meeting on 18 September 2025 to hold the bank rate at 4%, while slowing its programme of ‘quantitative tightening’ (QT). The decision was widely expected by markets and analysts, given the mixed recent economic data from the UK economy on inflation and […]
The State Pension is due to increase by 4.7% next April after the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures were published on Tuesday, 16th of September. The ONS data confirmed the latest annual wage growth of 4.7% would be the deciding figure under the State Pension Triple Lock. This uplift, while lower than some […]
August Economic Background: Latest Trump tariffs keep markets in a cautious tone Bank of England cut rates by 0.25% to 4% Emerging market stocks appear attractive for investors Click here to read more
Introduction The FTSE100 recorded multiple record highs in August as equity markets continued to rise, before a little wobble hit all equity markets at the very end of the month. Trump’s ongoing row with the Fed caused some market turbulence as August drew to a close. The dismissal of Governor Lisa Cook, if upheld, would […]
The UK Government bond or ‘gilt’ market is once again under pressure. In recent weeks, yields on long-dated gilts have risen sharply, with the 30-year gilt yield reaching above 5.61% (at the time of writing). That level has not been seen since 1998 and represents a significant increase in borrowing costs for the Government. The […]
The Government is weighing up potential reforms to the way capital gains tax (CGT) is applied to property. Reports suggest one option under discussion is whether to alter the generous tax treatment of primary residences, particularly those at the higher end of the housing market. At present, private residence relief means homeowners do not pay […]
UK inflation climbed to 3.8% in July 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).This is up from 3.6% in June and was driven by food price increases in items such as beef, orange juice, and coffee, alongside a sharp 30% monthly spike in airfares and higher […]
July Economic Background: Easing trade fears boost market sentiment Higher debt costs strain UK finances Interest rates hold steady as central banks eye trade talks Click here to read more
Introduction UK equity markets hit new heights in July as the FTSE100 cruised through 9000 despite sluggish GDP growth. President Trump continued to show his more conciliatory side as he delayed tariff deadlines and achieved a relatively soft landing once a deal with the EU was reached. Whilst we will inevitably see some ups and […]