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Nerves hit London stocks ahead of Budget

The 30 October fiscal event is likely to be painful one for business
Nerves hit London stocks ahead of BudgetPublished on October 24, 2024

As Chancellor Rachel Reeves continues to warn of "difficult decisions" ahead, many companies face uncertainty on what the Budget means for their futures.

The first question is just how much tax will be raised for Labour to keep to the self-imposed fiscal limits while also increasing spending – estimates have ranged from £26bn to £40bn. Peel Hunt chief economist forecasts a £30bn tax raise.

This will come largely from company balance sheets and the wealthy, as the government has ruled out taking more from individual pay packets. The outcome is likely to be rises in capital gains tax (CGT) and inheritance tax (IHT) through threshold changes, and higher national insurance contributions from companies.

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