Current Schemes

1. Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

 The Chancellor announced support for small businesses in the budget on 11 March. Details are subject to clarification but the scheme has been extended and brought forward to 23 March.

It will be provided through participating provider banks and will offer more attractive terms for both businesses applying for new facilities and lenders, with the aim of supporting the continued provision of finance to UK businesses during the Covid-19 outbreak.

The scheme provides the lende...

LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS

Markets: Shares fluctuate despite government and central bank measures

• Global shares fell sharply at the start of the week after governments introduced stricter rules to contain the spread of the coronavirus;
• Further support from governments and central banks helped stock markets recover slightly on Tuesday, but they dropped again on Wednesday as concerns about the impact of the virus on the global economy returned;
• Those concerns also weighed on government bonds- usually considered a safe have asset in times ...

Coming to terms with market turbulence

As a direct consequence of the COVID-19 outbreak, global stock markets are suffering a period of turbulence. When markets move significantly it can prove very challenging to hear through the noise and focus on the bigger picture.

Lessons from history

Over recent years many investors have become used to a variety of political, financial and economic factors impacting markets, from the Brexit Referendum and subsequent prolonged uncertainty, to the global financial crisis and even further back to the do...

You may be aware that on March 17, Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed that anyone struggling financially as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak will be able to take a three-month mortgage repayment holiday.

A number of lenders had already announced repayment holidays for those affected by Covid-19, but the Government's announcement means ALL lenders will now have to honour the three-month time frame.

A mortgage payment holiday is an agreement you will need make with your lender allowing you to temporarily stop or reduce your monthly mortgag...

LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS

Coronavirus: Toughest week for markets in over 30 years

• Global shares fell at the start of the week after a disagreement between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other producers about cutting output led to a drop in oil prices;
• On Wednesday, concerns about the market for Treasuries- US government bonds which are considered among the least risky asset class as the likelihood of default is so low- further weighed on shares;
• Later that day, US President Donald Trump banned travel f...

Global shares fell again this morning after US President Donald Trump banned travel from most European countries to the US in an effort to contain the coronavirus. The ban only applies to people, not goods, from countries within the Schengen common visa area (so it does not include the UK) and lasts for 30 days.

The FTSE 100 and the Stoxx 600 index of European shares both fell 6% when the stock markets opened, with the travel and leisure sectors coming under the most pressure. Oil prices, which weighed on the markets at the start of the wee...

State pensions

The new single-tier State Pension will increase from £168.60 a week to £175.20 in April 2020. For pensioners receiving the older basic State Pension, this will increase from £129.20 to £134.25 per week (3.9% increase). For spouses/civil partners this will increase to £80.45 per week.

The rise is the result of the triple-lock system, which means that the State Pension rises in line with inflation, earnings or 2.5%, whichever is the highest.

Private pensions

To support the delivery of public services, particularly in the NHS...