News

The government has claimed people on an average income reaching the state retirement age this year will gain £10,000 through their state pensions as a result of recent changes.

Skandia UK's gross sales broke the £6bn mark during 2010 as its platform helped drive its overall share of the market to a record high.

IFA support services provider True Potential has secured FSA authorisation to launch a wrap platform in the first quarter of the year.

Advisers looking to find out more about their RDR gap fill options have been invited to a free Institute of Financial Planning (IFP) meeting.

The German economy made a strong bounce-back in 2010, growing by 3.6%, according to provisional figures from the national statistics office.

UK banks will not increase mortgage lending this year as extra regulatory pressures and a lack of funds continue to restrict the availability of finance to borrowers, Hometrack says.

Physically-backed industrial metal ETFs "have the ability to significantly tighten market fundamentals" according to a report by Deutsche Bank.

UPDATE 12pm: The FTSE is 20 points higher while other key European markets have jumped 1.3% on news Portugal has succeeded in raising £1bn in a bonds auction, easing concerns over the country's need for an EU bailout.

The government could receive a £9bn boost to its tax receipts over the next four years, thanks to better-than-expected returns from a clampdown on offshore tax evasion.

The financial services group Scottish Friendly has reported sales rose by nearly half in 2010.