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Many see Christmas as a time for festivities, others as the time to file tax returns ahead of the 31 January deadline. But while you and Santa are making your lists, and checking them twice, Anna Slater highlights some pointers to help you with UK self-assessment submissions.

US equities rallied on the last day of November after Federal Reserve chair Powell said the pace of monetary tightening could start to slow as soon as December 2022. While in the eurozone, inflation eased for the first time in 17 months.

Economic news was mixed but signs of a weaker US economy raised expectations of a slowing pace of interest rate hikes. While in the UK and Europe business activity contracted for another month fuelling recession fears.

The latest issue of Opportunity focuses on the benefits of wealth planning, the future for purposeful investing, and how to get the most out of foreign exchange, plus all our recent company news.

We’ve been named Best Boutique Private Bank for a FOURTH year running at the 2022 WealthBriefing MENA Awards for Excellence, and also picked up the award for Best Private Bank – Overall Client Service.

The week of 14 November saw markets cool slightly following the previous week’s rally, as investors searched for signs of a potential economic slowdown and that inflation may have peaked.

Equity markets saw their biggest rally in two years after the US consumer price index for October came in better than expected and raised investor hopes that inflation has peaked.

October proved to be a good month for markets, as risk assets rallied strongly on expectations of a pivot on interest rate policy from central banks. While a semblance of stability was also restored in UK government, with the appointment of a new prime minister and a greater emphasis on fiscal prudence.

The Federal Reserve and Bank of England raised base rates again in their attempts to contain persistent inflation. But the central banks took contrasting views on the outlook for further rate increases, dashing hopes of an early pivot in US monetary policy.

Symptoms of economic malaise lingered, but the markets anticipated a better prognosis in the week of 24 October 2022, rallying on the prospect of a pivot on interest rates.