Image source: Getty Images The Autumn Budget has finally been released. This was perhaps the most hotly anticipated change to government accounts in decades. The impact on the UK shares threatened to be immense. And whether it’s breaking manifesto pledges, where billions in taxes is coming from, the impact on British businesses, or how much of a squeeze there will be to the average person on the street, there were plenty of questions being asked. And now, we have the answers. So what happened? Did Rachel Reeves pull off a masterclass in Chancellor of the Exchequer-ing? Or is the Budget…
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Thankfully, the self-invested personal pension (SIPP) came out of the Autumn Budget largely untouched today (26 November). Beforehand, there were rumours that the 25% tax-free lump sum might be in danger. But the major announcements related to inheritance tax on unspent pension pots. So for investors wanting to build a chunky pot for later in life, the path is still open. Here, I’ll take a look at how someone starting with £5k in a SIPP today could end up with an attractive sum. Snowball effect For simplicity’s sake, let’s assume that this investor is a basic-rate taxpayer. Their £5,000 contribution…
Image source: Getty Images The Autumn Budget was released today (26 November) after months of fevered speculation. On the whole, markets liked what they saw. The FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 indexes both rose about 1%. As with any Budget, there are bound to be winners and losers from policy decisions. In my opinion these three top UK shares stand to benefit substantially from the Chancellor’s latest plan: Greggs (LSE:GRG), Barratt Redrow (LSE:BTRW) and M&G (LSE:MNG). But why? Warming up Greggs shares is one of the FTSE 250‘s biggest winners following the Budget. Its shares sprang roughly 5% higher, helped…
Like many investors, I appreciate the long-term passive income prospects of a high-yield share. Take insurer Aviva (LSE: AV) as an example. The current Aviva dividend yield of 5.7% is already significantly higher than the FTSE 100 average. Not only that, but the company aims to grow its payout per share each year. While delivering such a goal can never be guaranteed, the company has managed to do so in recent years. Then again, it has also cut its dividend before now, including as recently as five years ago. No business is without risk after all. Taken on balance, though,…
Image source: Getty Images Have you ever wondered whether the dividends from shares could be a realistic way to build a second income? That is exactly how some people supplement their earnings. By investing in blue-chip dividend shares, they aim to earn some extra money without having to work for it. Dividends can add up Such an approach can be lucrative. Currently the flagship FTSE 100 index of leading British shares has a yield of 3.2%. That means that, for every £100 invested, an investor would hopefully earn £3.20 per year in dividends. That might not sound like a lot.…
Image source: Getty Images The Autumn Budget, a fiscal policy update from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, was delivered earlier today (26 November). The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) actually published key details early in an unexpected twist. But the full speech highlighted changes to taxation and spending that will impact stocks. In my initial take, here’s one stock that could do well, with one that could struggle from the changes. More careful spending A stock that could do well is Unilever (LSE:ULVR). The consumer staples giant owns many household brands we all shop for weekly. Over the past year,…
Image source: Getty Images At 644p, Aviva‘s (LSE:AV.) share price has been one of the FTSE 100 star performers in 2025. It’s lost some ground in recent sessions, but remains roughly 36% higher than it was on 1 January. The financial services company faces significant challenges, like persistently weak market conditions in the UK and intense competition. Yet City analysts are confident Aviva shares will rebound. Today 13 analysts have ratings on the financial services provider, providing a healthy range of opinions. Encouragingly, the average 12-month share price target among this grouping is 678.4p per share. One particular fan of…
Image source: Getty Images The Stocks and Shares ISA is the best financial product in the world for growing long-term wealth. And after Wednesday’s Autumn Budget, they’ve become even more essential, in my view. With an ISA, individuals don’t pay a penny in capital gains or dividend taxes to HMRC. What’s more, unlike other tax-efficient products like Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), Brits don’t face income tax when making withdrawals. In an era of alarming tax rises, protecting oneself with an ISA is becoming essential in my view. The latest Autumn Budget has made the huge cost of not using one…
Image source: Getty Images Ahead of today’s (26 November) Autumn Budget, I was reminded of a Ronald Reagan quote. In 1986, the former US President said the nine scariest words in the English language were: “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.” And in my opinion, all the leaks and speculation in the run up to the Chancellor’s speech were far from helpful. Indeed, Andy Haldane, the former chief economist at the Bank of England recently said that the government’s approach to the Budget has been “sucking all life” out of the economy. Not good. But now that…
Image source: Getty Images When the market opened today (26 November), Pets at Home (LSE:PETS) was the biggest advancer in the FTSE 250. At one point, it jumped over 6%, before falling back to a more modest 3.3% gain. Still, at 214p, it remains a long way back for investors who bought shares at 425p five years ago. What are the chances this FTSE 250 stock can reclaim its former glories? Let’s take a closer look. Tale of two businesses Pets at Home has two parts to its business: retail (pet food, accessories, toys, grooming services, etc) and vets. The…