VCT capacity fills up in advance of tax year end March 21, 2025 Venture capital trusts (VCTs) have been reaching capacity as the end of the tax year approaches, with Northern VCTs closing their £36m fundraise this week. The decision by a few large VCTs not to raise money this tax year, and smaller offers from some other players, means capacity is six per cent lower than last [...]
Inheritance tax receipts reach record high March 21, 2025 Inheritance tax receipts totalled £7.6bn in the last 11 months, a record high and surpassing last year’s full-year total of £7.5bn. Data from HMRC revealed today that the amount paid in tax was an 11.8 per cent increase from the same period last year. “It may only affect a small percentage of estates, but that [...]
Wetherspoons: Pub group hikes dividend despite cost warning March 21, 2025 Pub giant J D Wetherspoon has reported a dip in profits in its half-year results despite an uplift in sales, while chairman Tim Martin warned that rising labour costs and tax disparities are set to hit the pub industry hard. Its share price fell more than seven per cent in early trades. Like-for-like sales rose [...]
Fintech boss outlines industry’s Spring Statement needs March 20, 2025 With the Chancellor’s Spring Statement under a week away, a fintech boss has laid out how the government must support the industry. Laurent Descout, co-founder and chief executive of payments platform NEO, said Rachel Reeves must prioritise support for the fintech sector through two key areas: university funding and helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). [...]
Asda’s confident new boss is a boon for shoppers, and a threat to rivals March 19, 2025 Asda's bold new boss may have spooked rivals, but shoppers will come out on top, writes Susannah Streeter in today's Notebook.
The UK could build a new investment culture by emulating Sweden March 18, 2025 Risk-averse Brits have long struggled to get into investing. Luckily, the similarly cautious Swedes can teach us a few things.
Sabre Insurance hikes dividend as turnaround gathers speed March 18, 2025 Sabre Insurance has reported a 105.9 per cent surge in pre-tax profit for 2024, driven by record-high premium income and strict underwriting discipline. The UK motor insurer, which has struggled to keep up with the market in recent years, reported gross written premium growth of per cent year-on-year to £236.4m. IFRS profit before tax jumped [...]
Four tax reliefs to make the most of before 5 April March 14, 2025 Savers and investors have just a few weeks left to take advantage of their tax reliefs before the financial year ends on 5 April. Using these tax reliefs helps make the most of an uncertain political environment around wealth, with some tax allowances slashed in the 2024/25 year. These are four of the top tax [...]
Farmers aren’t the only ones affected by inheritance tax changes March 14, 2025 Most of the coverage of inheritance tax has focused on farmers but they make up a tiny proportion of the businesses that will be hit by this unfair levy, it’s time for family businesses to speak up, says Lucy Williams While I have every sympathy for the farming community, many would be forgiven for thinking [...]
IG Group: Revenue jumps as volatility returns to markets March 13, 2025 Trading and investment firm IG Group has reported a 12 per cent jump in total revenue to £268m for the third quarter of its financial year (three months to 28 February 2025), as stronger market conditions and increased client activity drove growth. Trading revenue rose 15 per cent year-on-year to £235.3m. Trading in over-the-counter (OTC) [...]