Journalists are known for being hard to shock. But there was genuine surprise in the office on Monday this week...

Britain will sign up for fiscal discipline in the eurozone, but not at the expense of its industries or independence, Prime Minister David Cameron has declared.

UK Asset Resolution (UKAR), a company set up a year ago to manage the closed mortgage books of Bradford & Bingley and the asset management arm of Northern Rock, is to shut an office in Newcastle where about 700 people work.

The Treasury has extended its proposal to introduce a lower rate of inheritance tax (IHT) where people leave a charitable legacy of 10% or more on death.

The Treasury is expected to close a loophole that allows wealthy individuals to avoid paying stamp duty on expensive property transactions in draft legislation for the Finance Bill today.

Ratings agency Standard and Poor's (S&P) said France and Germany are among 15 nations that have been put on "credit watch" due to fears over the impact of the debt crisis.

An oft-cited reason for selecting a distributor influenced fund (DIF) over an independent vehicle - that it can mitigate clients' capital gains tax (CGT) liabilities - is not a strong enough standalone reason for recommending it, the FSA has said.

Final entries for the Professional Adviser/Baillie Gifford Financial Education Award 2012 are now being accepted.

The government's decision to switch from RPI to CPI to calculate annual public sector pension upgrades has been ruled lawful in the High Court.

Aegon-owned advisory business Origen is to cut 17 roles following a review of its client service delivery and cost base.