In cider trading

The budget is always an exciting day for those of us in the financial services industry.

With a couple of words the Chancellor of the day can improve savings rates, stifle innovation, tax the rich and attempt to soothe market fears about the general direction of the UK economy. He can, of course, also leave cider drinkers in tears and give first-time buyers a tiny shred of hope they may one day get on the housing market ladder after all (though not if they live in central London). As a subtext this year, there was also some speculation as to whether this was the start of Alistair Darling’s campaign to become the next Labour leader. He has fought off Ed Balls to remain at ...