Money

Figures from retail investing company AJ Bell show Smith's Fundsmith Equity has edged out Woodford Equity Income to take top spot so far as investors' fondness for recognisable names shows no sign of abating. Following the two heavyweights in third was a less well known fund, Jupiter India, with another big name in fourth in the form of Nick Train's Lindsell Train Global Equity.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond delivered an unspectacular Budget Statement today, mixing tax grabs on the self-employed and dividends with new spending on social care and financial help for small businesses. He also announced upgrades to the Office for Budget Responsibility's forecasts for GDP growth and some changes to education policy.

Under plans announced in November by Philip Hammond, insurance premiums tax will rise from 10 per cent to 12 per cent in June. Insurers are preparing to add around £50 to the average policy. In some cases, it'll cost hundreds of pounds more to renew your deal. And if that wasn't enough, drivers last week found out the way accident payouts are calculated will change so that the seriously injured get more cash.

My husband and I went on a Thomson Cruise & Stay holiday to the Panama Canal, Costa Rica and Colombia via Jamaica. We checked in two suitcases at Gatwick airport, but when we boarded the cruise liner in Jamaica, only one was waiting for us. The missing case contained all my husband's clothes, shoes, his wash bag, phone, Kindle charger, camera batteries, sun lotion and insect repellent.

Over-40s believed they would need to have pension savings worth £244,000 to live a comfortable lifestyle in retirement, which includes going on inexpensive holidays and social activities. But this would mean an income of £13,300 per year - more than £5,000 short of the £18,600 per year actually needed to achieve a comfortable retirement.

There were some 590,000 deaths in 2016, higher than expected after an increase the previous year. The funeral services provider said a lower death rate and increasing competition could see business slow in 2017. The group has seen its market share slip from 12.3 per cent to 11.8 per cent, despite acquisitions and new site openings. Dignity conducted 70,700 funerals in the year and sold 49,000 pre-arranged funeral plans.

Bentley, the legendary British marque, known for its big-engined grand tourers, took the wraps off the stunning EXP 12 Speed 6e Concept at the Geneva Motor Show today. It's a luxury all-electric sports car that could handle a 310-mile long blast across Europe. The chopped down steering wheel has two buttons on the top of each stump - one is for extra electric boost while the other is a speed limiter (top right) - just don't get them mixed up. The interior is awash with fine leather, wood (bottom right) and carpets - it feels as opulent as a Bentley should.

The checks, on where both renters and their landlords get their cash and their identities, are being brought in under European legislation designed to clamp down on illegal money laundering through property.

On the same day PSA announced it was going ahead with the takeover of the Opel-Vauxhall business in Europe, the carmaker also managed to bag one of the most prestigious awards in motoring.

Today marks the end of 92 years under American ownership for Vauxhall. The PSA Group secured a £1.9 billion deal to take it out of the hands of General Motors. But why has the Vauxhall / Opel and PSA Group deal happened and what does it mean for the future of the car company, its employees and its customers?

The ability to use previous year's pension saving allowances is particularly useful for those nearing retirement. But the 2017 tax year will see the pension system once again get a little bit less generous. That's because the amount permitted using 'carry forward' will fall after April 5.

They might not all be household names, but the top two income investors would have netted you a compelling income of almost 50 per cent of your original investment, according to a new report. Neil Woodford came in at a respectable sixth place - three places below his Invesco Perpetual successor Mark Barnett.

Families planning to travel abroad on their Easter holidays are being warned to turn up early for flights or ensure they check in online in plenty of time. Failure to do so may result in them bumped off their flight due to overbooking. Days can be shaved off your cherished family holiday with only minimal compensation.

Inspired by author Roald Dahl and his novel Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, I was hoping to be greeted by an army of Oompa Loompa workers hammering out pots of coins, singing away beside a magical river of gold. Yet the secret world that creates cash rather than confectionery is just a noisy modern factory. There are 30 giant fruit machines coughing out a stream of coins just like a Las Vegas one-armed bandit having hit a never-ending jackpot.

Yes, owning a holiday home is a pricey option in hotspots such as Padstow in Cornwall and Salcombe in Devon, but there are plenty of tempting, cheaper alternatives. After all, the UK has 11,000 miles of coastline. Better-value areas are often less well served by road or rail and can be quiet in the winter, but have better value homes. Here are six great spots - with prices that won't make waves.

As of this week, the '17' plate is here. But dealers expect to be even busier than normal this March as Britons attempt to secure a new vehicle in time to beat VED changes arriving next month. Here are some of models you can get without having to pay interest. From top left to right: Lotus Elise 220 Sport, BMW 6 Series Coupe, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Jaguar F-Type, Renault Kadjar, Citroen C3.

If your property suffers from condensation and black mould, here is what you can do to help ensure your home is as healthy as it can be. A property expert from a chartered building surveyors gives tips on how to keep condensation to a minimum, what to do if you suffer from it and how to get rid of mould.

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.

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.

The amount you can save into a pension ultimately depends on what you can afford - but the longer you leave it the more you will need to save. We tend to put ambitious targets on our hoped-for income in retirement and then underestimate how much we will need to set aside to achieve that. So how much should you save?

Inflation pushed up to a higher than expected 1.6 per cent in December, but pressure remains within the range that the Bank of England is expected to disregard in its interest rate decisions. Rate setters did not meet in January due to the shift from monthly decisions, the next MPC meeting and announcement is due in early February, alongside the Inflation Report.

Despite endless media coverage of the political wrangling and financial speculation, the average Briton can be forgiven for remaining confused about what 'soft' and 'hard' Brexit really mean. But a clever table put together by HSBC cleaves some clarity from the murk.

Compare your pay to the national average and see whether your employer treated you to a pay rise in line with the the rest of your profession. Farmers, care and air travel assistants were big winners on the pay scales in 2016. Travel agents, careers advisers and probation officers lost out.