News and comment

Welcome to your on-line financial newsletter. This service is regularly updated to bring you news of important developments in financial matters.

The news stories on this page have been written and produced by a third party and neither nor its representatives can be held responsible for the accuracy of the content/information contained within these stories.

FT.com - Financial Markets News

• Stocks rise but risk appetite remains muted
  Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:58:39 GMT
  Global market overview: Stocks rebound in Europe and Asia as eurozone worries recede and investors take relief from US Beige Book, while yen continues to hover near record highs.
  

• Sterling falls after UK trade deficit hits record
  Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:34:34 GMT
  Hopes of an export-led recovery are dealt a blow by news of a record high goods trade deficit, while the total trade gap also widens more than forecast, pressuring the pound
  

• Retailers fall as London shares drift lower
  Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:53:47 GMT
  The FTSE 100 continued to drift lower with retail stocks unsettled by news of falling profits and a forecast of further low margin growth in the sector from two of its constituents
  

• Asian shares recover as outlook improves
  Thu, 09 Sep 2010 06:51:40 GMT
  The region?s indices make progress for the first time in three sessions, with the pressure Japanese exporters eased by waning haven demand for the yen
  

FT.com - Your Investments

• Be heartened by the resilience of the market
  Fri, 3 Sep 2010 19:12:55 +0100
  Given the steady flow of weak economic news throughout the month, the market's resilience is worth thinking about
  

• Concerns on high fees
  Fri, 3 Sep 2010 18:54:00 +0100
  Fund groups are coming under pressure to cut the fees they charge investors, amid concerns that high fees can impact performance over the long term
  

• Equity venture aims to combat volatility
  Fri, 3 Sep 2010 18:52:37 +0100
  Fund investors concerned about market volatility will soon be able to reduce their risk of losses without relying on derivatives or third-party guarantees
  

• 'Hidden' funds distort performance
  Fri, 3 Sep 2010 18:51:50 +0100
  Investors are being warned that the under performance of funds is being "hidden" when they are merged with other investments
  

FT.com - Your Pension

• Payments pared into final salary schemes
  Fri, 3 Sep 2010 18:42:46 +0100
  European and US companies are 'drastically' paring back their contributions to defined-benefit pension schemes in an attempt to reduce their costs, a study from Mercer, the management consultancy
  

• Savers hold on to pension pots
  Fri, 3 Sep 2010 18:09:15 +0100
  Investors are increasingly leaving their pension pots invested in the stock market, as the retirement income offered by insurance companies fell to an all-time low this week
  

• One million over 65s to continue working
  Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:30:22 +0100
  One in three workers over 65 is still in work and plan to continue longer than originally anticipated due to money worries.
  

• A third of Britons using savings to supplement income
  Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:33:30 +0100
  Research by Schroders reveals that 31 per cent of UK adults relied on their savings and investments to cover living expenses in the past year
  

FT.com - Your Tax

• Inflation-beating Isa closes
  Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:10:02 +0100
  Huge demand from savers has prompted the withdrawal of the only account that guaranteed a return over inflation
  

• IHT ruling spells relief?for?landowners
  Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:51:10 +0100
  Traditional estate landowners were given good news last week after a tax tribunal in Scotland rejected an appeal from HM Revenue Customs (HMRC) that could have landed many rural estates with huge inheritance tax (IHT) bills
  

• Windfall Isa investors forced to sell bank shares
  Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:47:51 +0100
  Tens of thousands of investors with Fidelity, one of the biggest Isa managers, are being forced to sell their shares in a number of widely held banks after the fund manager announced the closure of its Windfall Isa
  

• Wealth Questions - How to save for son's school fees
  Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:30:53 +0100
  We looked at investing via a "bare trust" to make use of our son's tax allowances, but were told this would not allow us as trustees to withdraw the funds. Are there other tax-efficient ways to save?
  

Citywire News

• Top global firms booted out of sustainability index
  Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:35:20 +0100
  Latest indices from sustainable investment specialist SAM and Dow Jones have excluded market leading firms UniCredit bank, Toyota Motors and Royal Dutch Shell, following an annual review of companies' SRI performances.
  

• Anglo Irish Bank split in two
  Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:56:18 +0100
  Irish Finance Minister, Brian Lenihan, says bank split 'essential to the promotion of confidence and stability in our financial system'.
  

• QA Tax chaos: What happened and what you need to do next
  Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:42:31 +0100
  Nearly six million people have paid the wrong amount of tax over the past two years. We explain what exactly happened and how HMRC's mistakes affect you.
  

• FSA slaps £17.5 million fine on Goldmans
  Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:06:13 +0100
  (Update) The FSA has fined Goldman Sachs £17.5 million for breach of FSA principles.