Market numbers: Friday 29th January 2010
The FTSE 100 index of leading UK company shares finished the week at 5,188.52, up 42.78 points or +0.83% on the day and down 114.47 points (-2.16%) over the week.
Shifting the balance of pension contributions
New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have shown that employers paid £40.6bn into company pension schemes in 2008. This represents a £4bn (9%) drop year-on-year.
Moneywise: Build a tax-efficient portfolio
Informed Choice chartered financial planner was quoted in Moneywise magazine today, in an article about building a tax-efficient investment portfolio.
Recession ends (just)
The UK economy officially entered recovery today, with growth of 0.1% in the final quarter of 2009. It means GDP fell by a record -4.8% during 2009.
Bonuses on hold at Standard Life
The annual bonus rate for 1.5 million Standard Life With Profits policyholders has been frozen this year, following their bonus announcements this morning.
Weekend personal finance press roundup
The weekend papers are always an excellent source of personal finance stories. With so many papers to read and so many stories to digest, here is our pick of the five most important personal finance stories this weekend.
Protect yourself from the inflation spike
Informed Choice chartered financial planner Martin Bamford was quoted in the Independent on Sunday today, in an article looking at ways investors can protect their portfolios from an inflation spike.
Market numbers: Friday 22nd January 2010
The FTSE 100 index of leading UK company shares finished the week at 5,302.99, down 32.11 points or -0.60% on the day and down 152.38 points (-2.79%) over the week.
Test your financial adviser
In his latest Best Advice column for Money Marketing, Informed Choice Chief Executive Nick Bamford describes how you can know if your financial adviser meets the new standards being introduced by the Financial Services Authority.
Getting risk wrong
Standard Life was on the receiving end of a substantial regulatory fine today, for publishing misleading literature about its Pension Sterling fund. Getting your understanding of investment risk wrong can have serious consequences if you are an investor.