News and Events - Page 3

We often take steps to fund for future retirement, manage our Inheritance Tax position or make Wills, but planning for care needs is seldom at the top of our lists.

In simple terms when we talk about business succession we mean the long-term plan for the business. In practice, it is difficult to cover all of the taxation and accounting issues surrounding succession in business across the generations in one short article, but here goes . . .

Last month we said ‘the key economic indicators could prove not too hot, nor too cold, but just about right for investors to feel comfortable’. There can certainly be no doubt about the stock market’s favourite fairy tale after November’s gains: Goldilocks wins, hands down. With inflation cooling rapidly and GDP and employment figures remaining stable on both sides of the Atlantic, the stock market has shaken off the bears and moved markedly higher.

Yesterday, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered his Autumn Statement. We have sifted through the details and hope the following highlights, which we feel will be the most significant to our clients, will be helpful.

Last Wednesday night (1 November) we held the first of two autumn Rural Seminars. Our first seminar hosted by our…

October was another difficult month for investors - the culmination of three consecutive months where stocks and bonds have declined together. However, the US and UK central banks provided “dovish” statements on November 1st and 2nd, stating policy is adequately restrictive in light of slowing inflation. Markets are now forecasting that further interest rate hikes are highly unlikely and have entered the new month on a positive note.

21 November 2023

Watch out for scams…  Protect yourself and your money HMRC is reminding customers to be wary of approaches made by fraudsters…

1 November 2023

The first half of 2023 produced good returns from overseas stock markets, as most economies proved more resilient than expected, despite forecasts of a recession at the beginning of the year. As the second half of 2023 progresses, those gains are being given back as higher interest rates and rising oil prices are taking their toll once again.

Most of August felt like a return to 2022, with the US Dollar Index strengthening considerably (+4%) and signaling a risk-off move which has seen stocks and bonds decline together. However, the final few trading days saw material gains as inflation, employment and savings data suggested the overheating US economy may be cooling down. Investors are keen to see the end of interest rate hikes and a return to stable financial conditions.

We are delighted to introduce GWA Asset Management Ltd (GWAAM), a wholly owned subsidiary of Greaves West & Ayre. GWAAM is the appointed investment manager of the MGTS Qualis fund range, which has been created in conjunction with the Authorised Corporate Director Margetts.