Tory plans to raise the inheritance tax (IHT) threshold to £2m are unlikely to happen should the party come to power at the next General Election, an adviser says.

Kensington Mortgages has launched a new range of home loans through All Types of Mortgages (AToM).

A sharp $8 drop in oil prices has revived London markets this morning, with the FTSE100 currently 28.60 points (0.51%) higher to 5631.40.

Aegon Asset Management is offering a discounted initial charge on six of its leading UK equity and bond funds for the remainder of 2008.

Barclays Wealth has launched the fourth issue of its Emerging Markets Optimiser, as investors seek alternative ways to access high growth but volatile investment areas.

The Government's temporary stamp duty relief is not nearly radical enough to revive the ailing housing market, according to critics.

Alliance Trust Savings has launched a new fund supermarket with a unique commission rebate model.

Sterling tumbled to a record low against the euro yesterday and to its weakest level against the dollar for over two years after Alistair Darling's weekend comments about the economy facing its biggest challenge for 60 years, The Guardian reports.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has issued new guidance on valuing new-build properties, to take full account of incentive schemes.

In London, markets fell over further bad news regarding the economy, including the Chancellor making dire predictions of a tough recession, and the FTSE 100 dropped 33.8 points (0.6%) to 5,602.8.