Stock market losses are threatening my pension nest egg - should I cash in or switch up my investments?

Stock market losses are threatening my pension - should I cash in?

I had £44,000 in shares, but in the last few months I have seen the amount go down by nearly £4,000.What advice would you give, as only my Neil Woodford shares are holding up. My Hargreaves Lansdown multi-manager portfolio, Royal Mail and Polar Capital Biotechnology shares are losing interest. Should I cash in, transfer to a building society or move the shares to somewhere else?

Will the Budget be good for you? Listen to the This is Money podcast 

Tax cuts and the Lifetime Isa were the giveways in George Osborne's Budget, but will they help you? Simon Lambert and Lee Boyce join Georgie Frost to take the Chancellor's plans apart.

I love the Evoque's looks but should I be worried about unreliability and a small boot? We put the baby Range Rover to the test

I want to get a Range Rover Evoque is the new version a good buy?

With the Range Rover Evoque overdue a refresh after almost five years on the market, Land Rover has opted to steer away from wholesale changes to a package that's already much-loved. We test one and respond to a reader's questions about reliability and practicality.

Sainsbury's win battle for Argos: Supermarket giant sees off South African predator with £1.4bn bid

A general view of Sainsbury's store and an Argos store in London, England. 
Supermarket Sainsbury's has confirmed it made an approach for Argos owner Home Retail Group, which has been rejected. 
Sainsbury's said it is considering its position, adding that there can be no certainty that it will make a formal offer for the business, which also owns DIY chain Homebase. 

PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday January 5, 2016. 
See PA story CITY Sainsbury. Photo credit should read: PA/PA Wire

Sainsbury's and Steinhoff International, which owns Bensons for Beds and Harveys in the UK, have been battling to gain control of Argos owner Home Retail Group for weeks.

Worried about getting ripped off when selling your car to a dealer? Former salesman reveals his tips to get the best price

Negotiating on the price of a new car can be stressful, but trying to sell your car back to a dealership can be equally, if not more, frustrating. Here are eight moves you should make to get a good deal.

Cheltenham bookies take a £60m bruising in 'the worst Festival ever' as punters back winners in unprecedented numbers all week

Don Cossack ridden by Bryan Cooper (centre) celebrates winning the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase with trainer Gordon Elliott (far right) and owner Michael O'Leary (second right) during Gold Cup Day of the 2016 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday March 18, 2016. See PA story RACING Gold. Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial Use only, commercial use is subject to prior permission from The Jockey Club/Cheltenham Racecourse. Call +44 (0)1158 447447 for further information.

There was no respite yesterday with three race favourites winning including Don Cossack in the Gold Cup. Ciaran O'Brien at William Hill said the industry was 'bloodied, battered and bruised'.

An Englishman's ideal home ISN'T a castle! What Britons actually crave is three-bed with two bathrooms and a small garden

Our ideal homes are more modest than many would imagine, having three bedrooms, two bathrooms and parking space for two cars. They are also within a mile from the nearest town.

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MARKET REPORT: Mike Ashley's Sports Direct relegated from the Footsie after controversy over firm's use of zero-hours contracts and profit warning

MARKET REPORT: Mike Ashley's Sports Direct relegated from the Footsie after controversy

Ashley was gearing up for Newcastle's north-east derby with Sunderland on Sunday as Sports Direct International was relegated from the FTSE 100 Index into the financial world's second division. Investors boosted the sports retailer by 23.6p to 425.1p on its final day, a last minute flourish which traders partly attributed to "forced short-covering" - investors buying back shares after borrowing and selling them in the hope of re-purchasing the stock more cheaply later.

Next's slip could open way for M&S; revival: City experts warn clothing retailer's phenomenal growth could begin to stutter

next v M and S

City experts have warned that Next's phenomenal growth could begin to stutter as its lucrative catalogue and online business Next Directory weakens.

Americans set to gatecrash Germany's £21bn bid for the London Stock Exchange

LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE.jpg

Last night it emerged that the owner of the New York Stock Exchange has begun poring over the details of the proposed merger between the LSE Group and Frankfurt's Deutsche Boerse.

We'll sue Stelios over claims of insolvency and 'wholly inappropriate' meddling, warns Fastjet

Stelios Haji-Ioannou inside a mock-up of his newest venture - the EasyFoodStore (name yet to be confirmed). Croydon, London. By David Levene 10/10/14 For CITY

The Greek entrepreneur, who has a 12.6 per cent stake in the budget airline, this week published a letter warning that the company could go bust.

ALEX BRUMMER: It's a home run for Alex Coupe and his team at Sainsbury's but now can they get the logistics right?

Daily Mail City Editor Alex Brummer.
byline

Early experiments with Argos in ten Sainsbury's stores up and down the country suggests customers like the idea, as also demonstrated by the popularity of John Lewis pick-ups at Waitrose.

Sir Richard Branson blasts indecision over third runway at Heathrow

Sir Richard Branson conducts a television interview at Perth Airport in Perth, Australia. 
Virgin Australia purchased Perth-based regional airline, Skywest adding another 32 planes to it's fleet to expand the airlines regional operations in Australia.  

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MAY 07:  
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

In what will be seen as a thinly veiled attack on London mayor Boris Johnson, the founder of Virgin Atlantic accused MPs of putting their own ambitions ahead of the country.

The tale of the tiny car that sold for big bucks: This dinky Peel P50 might only be 1.3m long but someone in the US just paid $176,000 for it

Investor buys 1.3m long dinky Peel P50 car for $176,000

Other than the sale price, there's nothing big about the P50. It's not only the smallest mass production car of all time, it's also one of the slowest - the 4.5hp 49cc engine means a top speed of 38mph. It also weighs the same as a household washing machine and starred in a memorable episode of Top Gear.

Bank fraud leaps by a quarter to £755m in just one year - and scammers are targeting bigger amounts with ever-craftier tricks

A growing army of criminals, often working in gangs, are targeting personal and business banking customers remotely to drain current accounts, evidence suggests.

Why do people invest in ETFs and should I swap my tracker funds for them?

I have invested in tracker funds in the past but now find that I am increasingly reading about ETFs. What is the difference between the two?

Bad news on the horizon for investors in Highgrove Osprey 8.25% bond as company is served with a winding up petition

Investors in a bond with firm Highgrove Osprey promising returns of 8.25% could be set for a fight to get their money back as the company has been served with a winding up order.

The best UK work perks revealed: From a free stay at a villa in Italy to a £5k 'hello bonus' and unlimited holidays

A four-bedroom restored stone villa with four acres of land including two barns that could be turned into further accommodation. ?1,350,000 (£1,000,000) in Italy.
 
Casa & Country Italian Property 020 7993 2967 www.casaandcountry.com

Beyond the most obvious benefits such as pensions, healthcare and company cars, many companies seem to offer holiday-related perks.

Rejection of the rise of the robot: Wealthy investors shun 'robo-advice' - just a third would trust online platforms with their cash

Rejecting the rise of the robots? Wealthy investors shun robo-advice

Robo-advice is the latest investing craze, with a growing number of online offerings in the UK. As customers increasingly use other digital financial services such as mobile banking online, it could be that face-to-face financial advice comes to look out of place. But lots of investors say they just can't trust a robot.

FUND MANAGER: Brexit may be bad for shares and growth but invest in companies earning overseas and you could do well

Brexit and the ensuing uncertainty may have its drawbacks but there could be opportunities for savvy investors, says fund manager and European equity expert Leigh Harrison

Upmarket builder Berkeley Group says UK property tax hikes has led to slowdown in transactions, but stays upbeat for full year

berkley-banner.jpg

The housebuilder, which predominately focuses on London and the South-east, recorded a 4 per cent decline in forward reservations in the three months to the end of February.

Lifetime Isa versus the Help to Buy Isa: Which is best for first-time buyers trying to save a deposit?  

Lifetime Isa versus the Help to Buy Isa: Which is best for first-time buyers?  

The Government maybe falling short on its delivery on new housing stock but financial incentives aimed at helping first-time buyers are in plentiful supply. But the newly announced Lifetime Isa is very similar to the Help to Buy Isa. So how do the two compare?

Forget being able to afford a house: Car parking space goes on the market for an eye-watering £350K 

The parking spot is being sold for hundreds of thousands of pounds and yet measures just 19.5 ft by 8 ft, enough space to squeeze in a single car.

SIMON LAMBERT: The Lifetime Isa is a clever idea, especially if you're one of the real Budget winners

Lifetime Isa is a clever idea, especially if you're one of the real Budget winners

The Lifetime Isa is a cross between even more help to buy and the aborted pension Isa plan and it's a clever idea for both savers and the Chancellor. The former no longer have to prioritise a home or retirement and the latter will hope to save money. But there's one select group who are the real Budget winners.

REBECCA RUTT: 80% of us don't claim when our train is delayed - but I've got a simple solution

If I had a pound for every time I've been delayed on a train across the UK I would be a very rich woman. The same can't be said for the times I've actually claimed for said delayed trains.

Compensation for late and cancelled trains must be simpler says watchdog as 80% of passengers entitled to claim fail to do so

A passenger sits underneath an electronic information board showing cancelled and delayed trains, at Kings Cross train station in London, on December 21, 2010.  

Thousands of angry travellers forced to sleep in airports and train stations across Europe faced more misery on Tuesday as fresh snowfalls paralysed transport systems just days before Christmas.  London Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, was only operating about a third of its normal schedule during a fourth day of disruption, while Frankfurt halted all flights after a new blanketing of snow.             


AFP PHOTO/BEN STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)

A survey of almost 7,000 passengers has showed that of those passengers who could claim, 50 per cent didn't even consider it, while 34 per cent did not think they would be entitled to a refund.

As National Declutter Day nears, here is how to clear your clutter to gain freedom - and make some cash! 

As National Declutter Day nears, clear your clutter to gain freedom - and cash! 

Saturday 19 March is National Clear Your Clutter Day, when people all over the UK will be helped to de-clutter and make a useful pile of cash in the process. Here's how you can make quick cash now by selling your junk - from books and CDs, to clothes, toys and furniture.

Pensions versus Lifetime Isas: How does new savings offer stack up and does it portend the beginning of the end for pension tax relief?

Young savers torn between saving for a home or pension were offered help in the Budget. So how does the Lifetime Isa measure up - and is it a forerunner of Pension Isas?

This is economic madness, writes ALEX BRUMMER in response to the sale of the London Stock Exchange to the Germans for a record £21 billion

The proposed £21 billion merger with Frankfurt-based rival Deutsche Borse has been widely condemned amid fears that influence will drain from the City of London to Germany.

Could you live in a house with no corners? Cylindrical Grade II listed home goes on sale - and even the kitchen is circular

Could you live in a house with no corners? Cylindrical Grade II listed home goes on sale

The Grade II listed property has been transformed into a stunning - if unusual - home with barely a corner in sight, hence its name the Round House.

Manchester named the UK's car-keying capital as insurer reveals spate of vehicle vandalism claims this year

Malicious car damage claims have risen this year with a growing number of policy holders reporting scratches keyed into bodywork, snapped-off wing mirrors and broken windows.

The accidental entrepreneurs: How these social media stars turned their hobby into a business

How to make money from your lifestyle - and even give up your job

Social media is a big part of many people's lives - but rather than letting it drain their time, these entrepreneurs have launched a career off their online obsession. Zanna van Dijk launched a modelling career off her Instagram which focuses on fitness and healthy living (left) while Bee Berrie (inset) built her baking business of the popularity of her pictures. Marc Hayden spent a decade working in technology for Apple before launching a photography career, again using Instagram as a tool to get exposure. He now has 80,000 followers. One of his images is pictured, right.

Mortgage lending dips in February as experts say the rush among homeowners to remortgage has cooled

House keyring and mortgage leaflets.





Image shot 2012. Exact date unknown.
CMWP4W

CMl revealed that lending reached £17.6billion in February - 5 per cent lower than January's £18.5billion - but up 29 per cent on the £13.6billion recorded a year ago.

OBR predicts interest rates will FALL below record low of 0.5% for some of the next two years (as Bank sticks again)

File photo dated 15/02/09 of a general view of the Bank of England in London as three years of rock-bottom interest rates will pass today with little sign that the Bank of England is set to ease up on its emergency support. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday March 8, 2012. Experts think rates will remain at 0.5% until the end of next year and possibly for as long as three more years, adding to the pain for savers. See PA story ECONOMY Rates. Photo credit should read: Carl Court/PA Wire

The Government has based its economic forecasts on a cut in interest rates Budget documents showed - the day before the Bank kept rates on hold for seven years in a row.

The tax break for bedroom entrepreneurs: Airbnb-ers, eBay sellers and Etsy makers to benefit from new £1,000 allowance

2016 Budget tax breaks for Airbnb-ers, eBay and Etsy sellers in Budget

Millions of people who rent our their homes on holiday rental sites like Airbnb or sell items or services on websites such as eBay and Etsy could see lower tax bills from 2017. These 'digital tax breaks' aim to recognise the rise in the sharing economy and so called 'micro-entrepreneurs'. Letitia Valentine, pictured, lets her drive to commuters.

Another blow for buy-to-let? Chancellor confirms extra 3% stamp duty - and even 'significant property investors' can't escape

The Chancellor abandoned plans to exempt 'significant investors' from the extra 3% stamp duty charges on buy-to-let and snubbed landlords in a capital gains tax cut.

Are changes afoot to prevent the heartache of a failed property purchase? Government wants to make buying process better

A whopping £270m is lost each year by potential home buyers on failed property transactions, according to new research from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Lifetime Isa to help the under-40s buy a home: Government will offer £1 bonus for every £4 saved under new scheme

Lifetime Isa to help the under-40s buy a home

The new scheme is designed to help people like Mia Fisher (pictured) who, at 20, is already saving for her first home. The accounting firm apprentice, who earns between £19,000 and £22,000 a year, said: 'It wasn't something I was expecting - it seems really interesting.'

BUDGET 2016 BLOG: Analysis, reaction and the verdict on the Chancellor's speech - and what it means for you

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne outside 11 Downing Street, London, before heading to the House of Commons to deliver his annual Budget statement. 

PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday March 18, 2015. See PA story BUDGET Main. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire.

NOTE ALTERNATE CROP

We blog the analysis, reaction and charts from the experts and our own journalists through the day - as well as what you the readers are saying in reader comments and on social media.

BUDGET 2016 IN BRIEF: The key points of George Osborne's speech at a glance

Despite being squeezed by a high government deficit and slowing growth, Chancellor George Osborne still managed to pull out some surprises from his Budget red box today.

Osborne's fuel duty Ice Age continues: Chancellor freezes tax on petrol and diesel for the sixth year running

But industry experts suggested drivers shouldn't celebrate too soon: some warned fuel costs could still increase in the near future if oil prices continue to climb above the $40 mark.

The property market battle lines are drawn: Buy-to-let landlords denied tax break by the Chancellor as homebuyers get a savings boost

George Osborne announced in the Budget that he is significantly cutting the rate of tax paid on capital gains - but not for those selling property.

Good news for long-term investors as Osborne slashes capital gains tax to give them a helping hand

The Treasury has dramatically cut capital gains tax, which will help individuals hold on to more of their profits when they sell.

The biggest single tax cut from the Budget goes too... small businesses! Osborne promises tax reforms by raising rate relief threshold to £15K

The government has permanently extended its business rate relief scheme and cut the overall level of corporation tax to 17 per cent. It says 250,000 businesses will see their rates cut.

Boeing's Brexit boost: World's largest aircraft maker picks Britain as home for its new European headquarters

World's largest aircraft maker picks Britain as home for its new European headquarters

The Britain Stronger in Europe campaign has claimed voting to leave the EU would spark an exodus of firms pulling down the shutters on UK operations. Boeing says Britain is crucial to its business. Sir Michael Arthur, the former British Ambassador to Germany who is currently president of Boeing United Kingdom and Ireland, has been appointed head of the European operation.

BT hires former oil man Simon Lowth to replace the popular Tony Chanmugam as finance director

BT MAN.JPG

Lowth will join BT on July 4 after stepping down from his position as chief finance officer at BG Group in the wake of its £35billion takeover. by Royal Dutch Shell.

HSBC fires gun on search for new top management, starting with chairman Douglas Flint

Replacing Flint, who is 60, would then allow the lender to start the quest to find for a successor to chief executive Stuart Gulliver, the bank said, without giving a precise timeline for that change.

SMALL CAP MOVERS: Gulf Keystone falls on debt repayment worries; GW soars on successful cannabis drug trial

Marijuana   ..  Cannabis
 30 Dec 2012, Seattle, Washington State, USA --- A marijuana starter plant is for sale at Canna Pi medical marijuana dispensary in Seattle, Washington in this November 20, 2012 file photograph. The passage of the ballot measures in Colorado and Washington state in November 2012 allowed personal possession of the drug for people 21 and older. That same age group will be allowed to buy the drug at special marijuana stores under rules set to be finalized next year in 2013. REUTERS/Anthony Bolante/Files (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS DRUGS SOCIETY HEALTH) --- Image by   ANTHONY BOLANTE/Reuters/Corbis

A 40 per cent slump in recent days is a worrying marker in the demise of Gulf Keystone Petroleum. But GW Pharmaceuticals was the junior exchange's highlight as it soared around 140 per cent,

German firm Arriva wins £1.5bn contract to run the London Overground

OVERGROUND.JPG

Arriva has been awarded the contract for the next seven-and-half-years, with an option to extend it for the next two years.

Glaxo confronts break-up threat: Boss Sir Andrew Witty quits as Investors urge firm to focus on selling and developing drugs

Glaxo confronts break-up threat: Boss Sir Andrew Witty quits as Investors urge firm to

The 51-year-old was paid a total of £6.7million last year, up from £3.9million in 2014, and is in line for a pension of up to £735,000 a year. He owns Glaxo shares worth £14.7million. Witty's future has been in doubt for some time amid flagging sales and profits and questions over his focus on consumer health products such as headache pills and toothpaste.

Oil crisis that rocked the Granite City: North Sea has got a £1bn tax boost - but will this save Aberdeen? 

Aberdeen Graphic (Read-Only).jpg

Just four years ago the Government reaped tax revenues from the North Sea oil industry of £11.3bn but this has collapsed to £2.2bn last year and will be zero this year.

Pound soars as dollar hit by tempering of Fed rate hike expectations even though BoE keeps record low rates for 7 years

The pound jumped over 2 cents to hit a peak at $1.45, rebounding sharply after hitting a two-week low of $1.4053 yesterday when the 2016 Budget statement saw a trimming of UK growth forecasts.

'Ground Control to Major Tom': Fundsmith boss sues Barclays for £220k after it took nearly three years to move money

Terry Smith the Chief executive at stockbroker Collins Stewart
supplied by redleafpr, 23 AUG 2002

Terry Smith, who runs the £5.3 bn Fundsmith Equity fund, has accused the bank of failing to transfer hundreds of thousands of pounds into his fund so he missed out on more than doubling his money.

Supermarket giant Sainsbury's agrees to buy Argos owner Home Retail Group in deal worth £1.4billion

An exterior view of the Argos store in London, England.
Argos owner Home Retail Group posted a 2.2% fall in sales at the high street chain for the 18 weeks to January 2 and said full-year profits were now expected to be at the lower end of expectations.

PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday January 14, 2016. See PA story CITY HomeRetail. Photo credit should read: John Stillwell/PA Wire

Under British takeover rules Sainsbury's had until 5pm to make a firm offer for Home Retail. Earlier this afternoon rival South African bidder Steinhoff International pulled out.

ASK TONY: Can I gift a £115,000 house to my daughter and avoid a big tax bill? 

ASK TONY: Can I gift a £115,000 house to my daughter and avoid a big tax bill? 

In January 2001, my wife and I bought a property for our children to live in. Our daughter and grand-daughter live there now. Would there be any tax implications if we gave it to our daughter? The property is in joint names (myself and my wife). The purchase price was £46,000. The latest valuation is £115,000.

Could you be trespassing on your own land? How a ransom strip could hit your property and your pocket

An Englishman's castle may be his home, but a siege mentality can seep in if someone else owns the drawbridge. This situation is referred to as a 'ransom strip.'

Is government's Help to Save scheme a 'mis-selling' scandal waiting to happen? Former pensions minister thinks so...

A number of critics have come out to slam the new Help to Save scheme for lower income earners the details of which have been announced by the Prime Minister.

Shameless HMRC grabbing thousands in charity cash: Writing 'love mum and dad' on donations lets taxman pocket a fat slice

Shameless HMRC grabbing thousands in charity cash

The tax office routinely refuses to pay the Gift Aid 20% tax refund if somebody says their donation is from more than one person meaning hundreds of good causes are losing out. The losses could hit anyone who clubs together to back a good cause, such as supporting friends who are running the London Marathon next month.

Millions of drivers and homeowners face price hikes as the Government raises insurance tax twice in a year 

Millions of households will see their insurance bills rise as the Chancellor George Osborne today confirmed in the budget a rise from 9.5 per cent to 10 per cent in insurance premium tax (IPT).

DAN HYDE: Use the Budget to scrap all tax on our savings... now that really would be revolutionary

Dan Hyde, Daily Mail reporter for Money Mail

2016/01/18 Picture by Georgie Gillard

The Chancellor's well-intended shake-up is showing all the hallmarks of a major shambles. His changes mean that savers will no longer have 20 per cent tax deducted before they are paid interest.

Will you be allowed to retire early on a lower state pension? Potential deal for women hit by changes could end up on offer to all

Will everyone be allowed to retire early on lower state pension?

Pension experts say the Government should seize the current opportunity to offer a flexible state pension age to both men and women, regardless of whether they are being affected by rises in the official age. Currently, retirees are only allowed to defer taking their state pension for a higher payout, not claim it earlier at a lower rate.

Half of start-ups are funded by credit card, it is revealed as Legal & General chief claims UK is failing to back small firms

British businessman Nigel Wilson, Chief Executive of Legal & General Group plc.

Nigel Wilson, the boss of Legal & General, yesterday said the startling borrowing figure underlines why Britain is so bad at turning start-up firms into thriving 'grown up' businesses.

Would you buy a ski home in France or Austria - and how much extra property tax could you end up paying if there's a Brexit?

What you need to know about buying a ski home in France or Austria

If you're a keen skier, snowboarder or mountain bike rider, you may have dreamed of a holiday home of your own in the Alps. We examine some of questions buyers have about buying a property in two of the most popular destinations for winter sports fanatics - France and Austria.

Osborne faces oil tax setback as revenues from the North Sea all but evaporate

NORTH SEA OIL PLATFORM, SHELL NORTH CORMORANT
CP4448 UNITED KINGDOM

When George Osborne delivered his first Budget in 2010 he expected revenues of £9.7bn this year. By the Autumn Statement in November last year that figure had fallen to just £100m.

Yorkshire BS launches top rate savings account that gives you access to your money one day a year

Piggy Bank on Floor, with coins. 
Image by   Lars Langemeier/A.B./zefa/Corbis
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The new Single Access Savings account, available in branches or by post from today, pays 1.04 per cent after tax (1.3 per cent before).

Lloyds is vulnerable to a house price crash and not worth investing in, says star fund manager Neil Woodford 

Lloyds is vulnerable to house price crash and not worth investing, says Neil Woodford 

Neil Woodford runs more than £14bn in funds and backs a string of blue-chip companies including BT and drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline. He has long shunned the banking sector. Speaking with investors he conceded that Lloyds 'was much improved and arguably more investable that at any stage since the financial crisis'.

End of the £150 bribe to get you to switch banks: Halifax, Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks and First Direct to ditch incentives

Pictures from Watford town centre. Halifax Bank on the High Street.
For Money Mail
Picture by Damien McFadden: 07968 308252

. REXMAILPIX.

Next Tuesday, Halifax is ditching the £125 reward it pays new customers. Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks will follow suit by removing its £150 payment on March 31.

Investors return to oil as crude price creeps back up to $37 a barrel 

Oil Well Pump Jack at Sunset
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The commodity has been out of favour with investors since its price collapsed, plummeting from more than $100 a barrel to lows of $26 in just 18 months.

Is Britain a nation of coffee-swigging, legging-clad, microwave rice-eaters who don't like to dance? Nightclubs ousted as inflation basket is updated

Coffee pods in and nightclubs out, as ONS inflation basket is updated

Coffee pods, women's leggings and cream liqueur have all been added to the list of goods official data-crunchers use to measure the cost of living - but nightclubs are out. To make it on the Office for National Statistics' 'basket' of goods used to measure inflation, consumers have to spend around £400million a year on the item or service.

Risk warning on new 6.5% Isas which allow savers to invest tax-free through peer-to-peer websites

Coins on scrabble board game.

AWGW7J

Peer-to-peer investing is when a saver lends cash directly to a person or business who needs a loan. The deals are organised by websites such as Zopa, Ratesetter and Funding Circle.

Boost on energy deals as watchdog says suppliers should offer more than the four tariffs currently allowed

CNABJ2 BRITISH DOMESTIC GAS BILL RE ENERGY COSTS BILLS HEATING FUEL FUELS RISING PRICES KEEPING YOUR HOUSE WARM HOMES INSULATION ETC UK. Image shot 2012. Exact date unknown.

Rules limiting suppliers to offering four tariffs for gas and four for electricity were introduced in 2014. Previously, the major suppliers had up to 500 between them.

Could you make money from renting out a classic car? How to turn beloved motors into money-spinners

Could you make money from renting out your classic car?

Classic cars may have proved great investments, but for many ownership also comes with plenty of frustration.They can end up cursing a classic, which doesn't start when they want to use it and suffers a steady drip of things that go wrong - more than eating up any rise in value. But what if you could make money out of your classic car and get it to pay its way?

London named most congested city in the world - with people wasting over 100 hours stuck in traffic a year

London tops the list of gridlock-plagued cities, with 101 hours of delays for the average commuter last year, followed by Los Angeles (81 hours) and Washington D.C.

New diesel buyers should be forced to pay £800 more in car tax as punishment for pollution

Exhaust fumes ascent from an exhaust pipe in Cologne, Germany, 21 January 2005. The city of Duesseldorf now wants to take action by limiting the heavy goods vehicle traffic on the city's streets in order to reduce air pollution caused by sooty particles. According to EU guidelines the maximum limit of daily particle emissions in cities is not to exceed 50 microgrammes

D3JK6K (dpa files)

A hike in VED for diesel buyers could raise £500m a year in additional taxes, according to campaigners - funds that could be used to support a new diesel-car scrappage scheme.

Britain's pay rise for low earners: What you need to know about national living wage and the improved minimum wage

What you need to know about national living wage and minimum wage

From 1 April 2016, all workers aged 25 or above will be entitled to earn a minimum of £7.20 - a 50p increase on the national minimum wage. Here's This is Money's guide to the national living wage for workers and employers.

Revealed: How you could boost your peer-to-peer Isa with old tax-free cash - and spread it across accounts

HMRC has confirmed that old Isa money can be spread across different innovative finance Isa products, while investors can also put new cash into another Isa.

Motorists could face 'dreaded double whammy' on fuel costs if the Chancellor ramps up fuel duty, RAC warns - and an insurance hike

The RAC said recovering oil prices and a weakening pound will mean pump prices will rise by around 3p a litre by the beginning of April before any duty increase.

How landlords are using companies to dodge the stamp duty crackdown on property purchases

Landlords using companies to dodge stamp duty crackdown on property purchases

Buy-to-let mortgage lending is booming ahead of the Chancellor's tax hike - with a soaring number of landlords reportedly using companies to flout the crackdown. Landlord loans rocketed by 22 per cent in January at the same time property firms are reporting a huge rise in the numbers buying through companies in a bid to flout the new rules.

Will my state pension top-ups benefit from the triple lock? Our retirement Agony Uncle, Steve Webb answers your questions

'Will my state pension top-ups be triple locked?' Steve Webb answers

Former Pensions Minister Steve Webb is This Is Money's Agony Uncle. Read Steve's answer to someone wondering whether their state pension top-ups will rise with inflation or whether the value in real-terms could decline over time.

He promised to balance the books, but he's still borrowing £80bn a year. Why can't Osborne drag us into the black?

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne speaks at St David's hotel, Cardiff Bay during his visit to Cardiff in Wales. 

PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday January 7, 2016. In the high-profile economic speech, the Chancellor warned against complacency about the strength of the recovery at a time when Britain faces a "dangerous cocktail" of instability and threats ranging from slowdown in China and unrest in the Middle East to volatility in oil prices. See PA story POLITICS Osborne. Photo credit should read: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

When he returns to the House of Commons for his eighth Budget tomorrow he will be forced to admit that government borrowing will still be somewhere close to £80bn this year.

Three launches £5 a month 'granny tariff' for pensioners in bid to get regulators to approve merger with O2

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Mobile operator Three is set to launch a special tariff for pensioners with 'all-you-can-eat' calls and texts in a bid to get regulators to approve a merger deal with O2.

Rolls-Royce claims the Dawn is its sexiest car ever, so what's it like to drive? We test the new £250,000 convertible

Rolls-Royce's new Dawn convertible put to the test

Rolls-Royce's new Dawn convertible can cruise the boulevards and hit 62mph in under 5 seconds. Designed to help owners celebrate 'the good life', it had its official global launch in South Africa's fabled winelands in the Cape - one of the luxury playground stops in the hedonistic lives of the world's jet-setters. Ray Massey put the luxury soft-top to the test.

Been slapped with an unfair parking fine? It's now easier to fight back thanks to a free online tool

If you've ever received a parking fine you'll know just how annoying it is but from today the system is getting easier to use with a new free online platform.

Classic cars are not as pricey as you might think... and, if properly looked after, can drive home a racy return 

JENNY SQUILLACI AND HUSBAND VITTORIO FROM OVERTON, HAMPSHIRE ENJOY DRIVING IN THEIR CLASSIC FIAT 500 AND OFTEN TAKE THEIR GRANDSON'S LUCA ( BLUE TOP ) AND LEO ( ORANGE/GREY TOP ) ON TRIPS.©RUSSELL SACH - 0771 882 6138

Spring is the time many people think about investing in a classic car. Here, TOBY WALNE explains how to buy one without breaking the bank - and make some money on the journey too.

Jewellery maker Katie Mullally started her business in her fifties and celebrities can't get enough of her designs

Jeweller Katie Mullally who started in her 50s is wooing celebrities  

Katie Mullally was inspired to start her own jewellery business aged 50, after working in her grandmother's antique shops. Her British-made, vintage-inspired charms have a celebrity following and come with an all-important hallmark so they can be treasured through the generations.

Sainsbury's opens its smallest ever store in Richmond - at just 753 square feet and stocking almost no groceries

Its new micro store, in Surrey is targeted at busy shoppers who can't face traipsing around a large supermarket and being stuck behind customers with trolley loads of food at the checkout.

Average credit card interest rates hit all-time high of 21.6% APR - but the worst offender charges almost three times more

While interest-free credit card deals are commonplace, average credit card interest rates have hit an all-time high. The average purchase rate is now 21.6 per cent APR

Investing Show: How to spot the dividend stars of the future

Investing show: How to spot the dividend stars of the future

Laura Foll, co-manager of Lowland investment trust, explains why she's buying some oil and commodities stocks and where she and fellow manager James Henderson look for future dividend stars.

50 ways to save money: Simple steps to cut what you spend that could clear your debts or seriously boost your savings

50 ways to save money....

To clear the average national household debt of ?13,000 at 6% interest with a monthly repayment of ?100 will take around 17 years. There are, however, plenty of simple ways to make significant savings on your regular spending that could clear your debt - or boost your savings - in less than a year. This is Money's top 50 - updated - money-saving tips may appear light-hearted but are deadly serious.

How to choose the best (and cheapest) DIY investing Isa - and our pick of the platforms

Pick the best (and cheapest) investment Isa platform

Choosing the right DIY platform is crucial but a wealth of choice and changes to charges have left many investors scratching their heads. We pick some of the best. We also highlight why investing in an Isa makes sense, as it should protect your hopefully growing investments from tax forever.

Revealed: The world's cheapest and most expensive stock markets - and where the UK stands

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We highlight the world's cheapest and most expensive stock markets, measured on three popular valuation tools and where the UK sits.

INVESTING TIPS: Fund and trust ideas for beginner and cautious investors

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If you are new to investing then the huge number of funds and investment trusts on offer can be confusing. Fortunately, This is Money's experts have some ideas to get you started.

INVESTING TIPS: Top fund and trust ideas for income investors

Income investing: Dividends can deliver both a healthy boost to long-term growth and a way to earn from your investments.

Income investing can let you draw on your portfolio or reinvest dividends to build solid growth over time. Our experts give their fund and investment trust recommendations.

INVESTING TIPS: Top fund and trust ideas for emerging markets

On the up: Emerging markets such as Brazil are where much of the world's growth is expected to be over future years.

If you're looking to add some flair to your investing Isa with emerging markets, This is Money's experts have some ideas to get you started

When will interest rates rise? Chancellor's austerity now (so we don't pay later) to keep rates on hold - as they stick for seventh year

When will UK interest rates rise?

George Osborne's continued austerity revealed in his 2016 Budget is likely to keep rates on hold for longer. Inflation expectations have been revised down for 2016 to 0.7 per cent, while Brexit uncertainty and slow global growth are also playing on rate-setters' minds.

Our savings picks: This is Money's five favourite best buy cash Isas for 2015

"No smoking" sign on a wall --- Image by © Christopher Stevenson/Corbis

We pick our five favourite cash Isas for savers. This is essential Isa reading and is kept up-to-date throughout the year

Fight back against the banks: Your guide to the rules of switching and where to find the best current accounts - some will even give you free money!

Banking customers typically stick with their current account provider for an average 15 and a half years. But signing up for a new account can get you a much better deal. Here's how to switch

Ten tips for buy-to-let: the essential advice for property investors

Ten tips for buy-to-let

For many buy-to-let looks an attractive income investment in a time of low rates and stock market volatility. Climbing house prices, rising rents and improving mortgage deals are tempting investors - although they will need a big deposit. Read This is Money's top ten buy-to-let tips

What next for house prices? House price rises ease but London market is picking up again

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After a slowdown earlier this year, the London market appears to be continuing to push ahead of the rest of the UK. We look at the latest figures.

What next for mortgage rates? Borrowers are in a sweet spot, so is it time to fix?

A stock photo of a miniature toy house .

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Borrowers could be in something of a sweet spot, with lenders keen to lend, house prices rising and a first rate rise still considered a way off. We look at the best mortgage rates.

TIPS, TOOLS AND HELP FOR LANDLORDS

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Best paid jobs 2015: Compare your salary to the national average in this league table of 350 professions - and see the year's winners and losers

Compare your pay to the UK average across 350 professions

Musicians have seen pay rises averaging nearly 20 per cent in 2015, while cleaners are getting 17.8 per cent more, and window cleaners 12.3 per cent. Artists in general are earning 14.6 per cent more in 2015 than 2014, according to the huge annual data dump of pay scales by the Office For National Statistics highlights.

Premium Bonds winners

March 2016
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