Uncertainty as US attacks Iran
So, early Saturday we awoke to news that bombings had taken place in Iran and the inevitable retaliation as a consequence. The weekend oil price jumped significantly and the world waits to digest the consequences.
It is too early to predict outcomes but the hope will be for a short, sharp shock and a return...
Dollar doldrums and silver surfing
Quietly and gently and perhaps almost unnoticed, the US Dollar had been seeing a drift downhill before strengthening again over last week. Against Sterling it has now been the lowest since September 2021, having fallen by over 26% since the Pound’s trough in July 2022.
We are not so unhappy as we have currency in...
Silver prices surge
Happy New Year for farmers
A Happy New Year. I hope that your celebrations of all Christmas really means was good and joyful and that you have seen-in the New Year with relish! Already the days are opening-out and spring, albeit very cold, is daring to peek through the wintry gloom.
What a nice Christmas present for ‘farmers’ with the...
Happy Christmas one and all
A very Happy Christmas to one and all! Hopefully you and your families had a lovely day yesterday? Let’s also trust for a settled, positive 2026 with resolution to long-outstanding issues like the Russian aggression against Ukraine and some dynamic and long-term solutions for Israel and the Palestinians.
We have had some good economic news...
Toothless Budget lacked real drive
For readers here, the biggest pieces of good news were what she didn’t do, such as attacking pension tax-free lump sums or tax relief on contributions, no lifetime Inheritance Tax on gifts or changes to present allowances and no changes to CGT. We did our best to discourage people from taking their cash from...
Budget ‘black hole’ is filling with rumour if nothing else…
This Wednesday, (November 26) the Chancellor will unveil her much-anticipated Autumn Budget and reveal her latest plans for filling the alleged ‘£20 billion black hole’ in the public finances. Or is it £30bn?
So what will be in Rachel Reeve’s Budget and how might it affect you? That is certainly the £20billion question because, as...
Stamp duty shenanigans dent confidence
Interesting times with politics and Stamp Duty shenanigans. They all affect investor sentiment too and confidence and upsets are not helpful. I do feel slightly sorry for Angela Rayner on this one in that one relies upon those completing the process to know what Stamp Duty to pay but of course if they were...
Savings, tax and stocks to hold?
Last week we were greeted with even higher inflation figures, apparently fuelled by higher aviation costs though primarily the problem remains reaction to the Government’s increases in Minimum Wage, National Insurance and other business costs and taxes. Curiously, at the same time the cost of oil and gas has been very weak but not...