investment

Interest rates have been maintained at 5.25% following the monthly meeting by the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee.

Over the past 15 years adult children have drained their parents of around £55bn in savings, claims Scottish Widows.

Increases in interest rates over the past month have reduced people's confidence in property as an investment, claims Standard Life.

The adviser market is being targeted by Zopa in a new campaign designed to promote awareness among IFAs of ‘social lending'.

Intermediaries accounted for more than 80% of gross retail business in the investment sector, as total funds under management rose to £411bn in January, while net ISA sales fell by more than 70%.

Final year figures for Scottish Widows' protection arm dropped almost 10%, despite an overall increase in IFA sales and in its life and pensions business.

Over 90% of advisers believe they are going to spend more time advising on Inheritance Tax planning in the future.

One in four IFAs say clients now choose to put up to half of their assets into ethical funds, according to an IFAonline straw poll.

PROPERTY investors fed up with an "overstretched" UK market could do worse than look to Germany, say analysts.

The Way Group has launched a campaign encouraging advisers to recommend IHT plans over Isas for older people in exchange for increased commission.