It was generally a positive week for stock markets globally, despite a weaker start. Inflation prospects seemed to weigh heavily on investor sentiment during the week as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen commented on rising interest rates. Economic data highlights the strong global rebound in economic activity.

Download our Weekly Market Update PDF - 10 May 2021

It was a very mixed week for stock markets globally, with lots of ups and downs during the week. The UK and the US are beginning to show signs of economic expansion, whilst data suggests Europe has entered a recession.

Download our Weekly Market Update PDF - 4 May 2021

It was largely a poor week for stock markets globally, with surges in Covid-19 cases overshadowing positive economic news during the week. China was one of the few markets to post positive returns following several weeks of more challenging performance.

Download our Weekly Market Update PDF - 26 April 2021 .

Another generally positive week for stock markets globally, once again driven by positive investor sentiment. Asia lagged once more with mixed economic data and lacklustre investor sentiment. In the UK, positive economic data for February was released as England continues on its lockdown exit strategy.

Download our Weekly Market Update PDF - 19 April 2021

Rishi Sunak has had to make some tough decisions in this year's Budget as he balances tackling the health crisis with securing an economic recovery.

Key commercial headlines include:

• No changes to rates of income tax, national insurance or VAT
• Personal income tax allowance to be frozen at £12,570 from April 2022 to 2026
• Higher rate income tax threshold to be frozen at £50,270 from 2022 to 2026
• Corporation tax on company profits to rise from 19% to 25% in April 2023 - the rate to be kept at 19%for about 1.5 million smaller companies wi...

Following the Office for Tax Simplification report of Inheritance Tax in 2019 and the All-Party Parliamentary Group report into Inheritance Tax Reform, there has been much speculation that changes to what happens to your estate on death may be forthcoming.

Regardless of whether there are changes announced in the March 2021 Budget or even the anticipated November 2021 Budget and also whether your estate will be subject to Inheritance Tax, it is really important that you plan for your legacy (however big or small) and that you make sure all o...

LAST WEEK - KEY TAKEAWAYS

Markets: Shares welcome Democrat’s victory in Senate

• Global shares rose as they focussed on the prospect of further support measures for the US economy rather than the events in Washington DC on Wednesday and the impact of lockdown on the US job market.

• The Democrat party won the two remaining seats in the Senate (the upper house in US politics), giving Joe Biden greater control over the agenda he pursues after he is inaugurated as the next US president on 20^th January.

• Omnis view: The markets welcom...

LAST WEEK - KEY TAKEAWAYS

Brexit: Competition and fishing remain sticking points

• The pound strengthened against the US dollar amid optimism that the UK and the EU would agree a free trade deal before the Brexit transition period ends on 31^st December.

• EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier claimed on Thursday that talks were in their ‘final stretch, but they continued over the weekend as the two sides tried to break the deadlock on competition rules and fishing rights.

• Omnis view: UK shares ended the week flat as a stronger pound...

LAST WEEK - KEY TAKEAWAYS

UK: Brexit talks continue as deadline looms

• UK shares fell and the pound weakened against the US dollar as the UK and EU struggled to agree a free trade deal with the end of the Brexit transition just over two weeks away.
• Despite direct talks between the Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, the two sides remained ‘apart on fundamental issues’, particularly regulations governing competition;
• Meanwhile, the UK economy grew by 0.4% in October compared with...