Guy Stephens: Delicate balancing act for Hammond

Limited wiggle room

clock • 3 min read

With the Autumn Budget finally upon us, Guy Stephens assesses the possible aftermath before going on to touch on German politics and the connection between financial markets and alternative investments

Philip Hammond will announce his long-awaited Budget today - the first annual budget since it was agreed that they would no longer be a twice-yearly affair. As usual, much has been dripped to the media beforehand to see how the public reacts. This leaves a little wriggle room should they need to change a few details or try to apply the necessary spin on something that might prove unpopular. Of course, the devil will be in the detail and, while we are no longer in the era of George Osborne pulling rabbits out of hats, we can expect some announcements surrounding housing, the NHS and VAT. ...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Investment

What advisers need to know as SpaceX fuels space investing interest

What advisers need to know as SpaceX fuels space investing interest

WisdomTree’s Mobeen Tahir unpacks the space economy theme

Sophia Panayi
clock 14 August 2026 • 1 min read
How markets have developed in 2026 so far

How markets have developed in 2026 so far

'Active allocation does not mean constant trading or short-term market calls'

James Flintoft
clock 12 August 2026 • 3 min read
How sustainable funds have beaten the index this year

How sustainable funds have beaten the index this year

'ESG funds benefit from access to some of the livelier parts of the market'

Ian Aylward
clock 10 August 2026 • 3 min read