National Insurance Set to Rise in April 2022
Posted by siteadmin on Thursday 3rd of February 2022
National Insurance contributions are set to increase by 1.25% in April this year, as part of the government’s plans to fund the health and social care sector in the UK.
The rise comes after the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the health and social care sector which has resulted in a substantial backlog. Therefore, to tackle this, the government has introduced the increase to be able to fund a catch-up programme to get the NHS back on track.
When will the increase in contributions occur?
From 6th April 2022 to 6th April 2023, national...
2022 Investment Outlook
Posted by siteadmin on Thursday 27th of January 2022
Seven reasons to use a mortgage adviser
Posted by siteadmin on Tuesday 18th of January 2022
Looking for a mortgage? Here are 7 benefits of using a mortgage adviser:
1. With over 80 years combined experience and access to hundreds of mortgage lenders and thousands of mortgage deals, our team are much more likely to be able to find you the best available mortgage deals.
2. It’s important to understand that even though you may bank with a particular lender, it is highly unlikely you will get any preferential treatment when applying for a mortgage.
3. Working with us, you will have access to mortgage deals that mean you are able t...
Investment Update - Inflation and Omicron set the scene for investors
Posted by siteadmin on Thursday 13th of January 2022
Markets signed off the year amid high inflation rates and renewed concerns over the coronavirus.
The Omicron variant of the coronavirus unsettled markets at the beginning of December, with investors unsure about how renewed restrictions on socialising and travel will affect the global economy. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) urged national leaders to accelerate the vaccination rollout in order to slow the spread of the virus and reduce the impact of new strains.
Stock markets in the US and Europe had reco...
Investment Update - Energy shortages and supply disruptions continue
Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 3rd of November 2021
Stock markets bounced back in October despite an unsettled month due to global supply disruptions and energy shortages.
Financial markets were unsettled in October for a number of reasons. They include soaring energy prices due to the global shortage of natural gas supplies and high demand in Asia. Markets became calmer after Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated that his country could supply additional gas to Europe. The increase in energy prices and shipping costs prompted the The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Developm...
How to make ISAs work for you
Posted by centro on Friday 15th of October 2021
Make the most of your tax allowances by using the different types of ISAs that are available.
Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) were first introduced in 1999 and are a tax-free way to save into a cash savings or investment account. There lots of different types of ISA available, but the right one for you will depend on your financial goals. We explain how they work so you can choose the one that is best for you.
Cash ISA
A cash ISA works in the same way as traditional savings account but you won’t have to pay tax on any of the interest y...
Be wary of the crypto-craze
Posted by centro on Thursday 30th of September 2021
You might be thinking about whether to invest in crypto currencies. We explain why it may not be the right choice, and how to better approach your portfolio.
This year has been eventful for bitcoin, with the cryptocurrency reaching a record high and then almost halving in value all in the space of six weeks. The walk-back in May from Tesla’s Elon Musk in his support of bitcoin underlined concerns around the idea of cryptocurrencies as a stable investment. Musk – previously an outspoken supporter – announced his company would not be accept...
Investment Update - Markets reflect uncertainty over Delta variant
Posted by centro on Wednesday 1st of September 2021
The pandemic continued to unsettle global financial markets during August.
August turned into a month of highs and lows for markets, especially in Europe. There was positive news that the euro area’s economy grew by 2% in the second quarter, which was then countered by a heavy fall in share prices, with the FTSE 100 in London, Frankfurt’s Dax and the Europe Stoxx 600 all dropping more than 2%.1 Causes for concern in Europe centred on fears of a new wave of Covid-19 as well as a reduction in economic stimulus measures.
US Federal R...
Investment Update - Dicing with the delta variant
Posted by centro on Wednesday 4th of August 2021
With the UK leading the way in lifting its pandemic restrictions, the coronavirus Delta variant has put many countries on edge.
Nations experiencing a surge in the Delta variant of the coronavirus are in a race between vaccinating a majority of the public and getting ahead of the new strain in order to lift restrictions with confidence. The US, UK and EU are experiencing spikes in the rates of infections and there is some worry from economists about Europe’s previous positive outlook experiencing a setback due to the rapid spread of the...
Should we be concerned about rising inflation?
Posted by centro on Wednesday 7th of July 2021
Most economists expect inflation to pick up over the next few months as lockdown restrictions ease and shops and restaurants reopen. But is this a cause for concern?
As lockdown measures begin to lift, financial markets are making their adjustments in anticipation of a rise in inflation, with bond yields picking up (meaning prices have fallen) and stock markets rotating from defensive sectors into cyclicals.
What is inflation?
Put simply, inflation measures the change in the prices of goods and services. If it rises then it takes more of ou...
