Abrdn is calling for the immediate abolition of stamp duty on FTSE 250 shares.

It is also urging the government to bring in other urgent measures to protect and support listed smaller companies.

This call to action comes in response to the publication of ‘The Future of Smaller Company Capital Markets in the UK’ report.

The report, published by New Financial in partnership with Abrdn, Euroclear, Winterflood and the Quoted Companies Alliance (QCA). found a crisis facing this segment of the UK stock market.

It found that over the past 20 years, the number of smaller listed companies with a market capitalisation of less than £1bn has fallen by nearly a third (31%).

Also, in seven of the past 10 years, more listed smaller companies have left the UK stock market than have joined it.

Additionally, only one Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) has a specific allocation to UK smaller companies, compared with 18 back in 2013.

This is despite UK smaller companies delivering “stellar” returns over the long-term and adding “significant” value to the UK economy.

Over 25 years, UK smaller companies including the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) has generated an annualised total return of 7.4% in line with the S&P 500 (7.5%) and nearly 50% higher than the wider UK market (5.4%).

Despite recent volatility in AIM stocks, Abrdn said it recognises the “crucial social and economic value they bring to the UK as well as the valuable role they can play in diversified investment portfolios.”

It would also like to see the Mansion House Compact – in which major pension providers pledged to increase allocations to private markets, including private equity and venture capital – extended to include listed small caps in the UK.

Abrdn believes the stamp duty exemption that currently exists for AIM should be extended to all listed companies outside the FTSE 100.

However, it believes that stamp duty on UK shares should be scrapped entirely.

It also feels that measures to boost investment in the UK more generally is needed and would like to see:

• Minimum pension contributions via auto-enrolment go up significantly
• Simplification of the UK’s cumbersome Isa system to make it easier for people to engage and start investing
• A national campaign to get the UK investing
• A shake-up of financial education in schools so more people get access to it, creating the next generation of savers and investors

Abrdn chairperson Sir Douglas Flint said: “Smaller listed companies are an integral part of the UK economy.

They drive innovation and generate wealth and jobs across almost every corner of the country.

“Given that the government is serious about boosting UK growth, we must look carefully at the small cap sector and the findings and recommendations of this report.

“If policymakers consider what can be done to boost investment in the UK generally, we cannot afford to ignore UK small caps. This segment of the market is flourishing in many respects, and, with appropriate action, it could be even more successful.”

New Financial founder and managing director William Wright added: “Our report argues that UK smaller companies are facing an almost existential threat.

“There are many factors behind the decline but the collapse in demand from UK pension funds – which have increasingly switched to globalised portfolios – and the decline in demand from retail investors has been the main driver.

“Regulation, liquidity, and a low-risk investment culture have also played a role. The report calls for urgent action to support this vital segment of the UK market in the context of wider capital markets reform.”

A MAJOR price comparison firm is handing a £250 car insurance fee back to drivers and £11 million has already been claimed.

GoCompare is offering customers the free excess refund reward when they purchase car insurance.

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The price comparison site has revealed that its customers have been millions through its £250 Excess Refund Reward since the scheme began in July 2019.

The Excess Refund Reward allows any customer who purchases a car insurance policy through GoCompare to opt in and receive money back when the claim is settled.

For example, if your total excess is £300, you pay this to your insurer, and GoCompare refund £250 after your claim is settled.

The price comparison firm will refund you if you have damage to your car, if you’re at fault and have comprehensive insurance.

You can also get a refund for claims for fire or theft as well as uninsured driver claims.

However, GoCompare stress that you will not be able to use your free excess cover for windscreen repair and replacement, damage caused by a breakdown or misfuelling or claims from outside the UK.

Repairs to your own car, without comprehensive cover are also not included in the free excess cover.

GoCompare say that making a claim is a straightforward process and you should be able to fill out the online form in about ten minutes. 

Once you’ve submitted your claim, and it’s been approved, expect to get your refund within five working days.

An excess is included on most insurance policies and is the amount that the policyholder needs to pay upfront before they can make a claim.

Regarding car insurance, the excess is split into two parts: compulsory and voluntary.

The insurer sets the compulsory excess while the policyholder can choose the voluntary excess – then when you make a claim the two are added together and must be paid before a claim can be made.

Previous research from Go.Compare revealed that only 49 per cent of motorists fully understand the meaning of voluntary and compulsory excesses on their policy.

Meanwhile, only 7 per cent of drivers aged 18 to 24 said they understood compulsory excess.

Tom Banks, car insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: “Seeing that over £11 million has been refunded to our customers through this offer is amazing.

“The process of making a claim on an insurance policy can be a stressful one so we hope that this refund reward can help ease some of the stresses, both mentally and financially.

“Our aim is to help motorists make informed decisions when it comes to insurance, making sure they get the cover they need and help them save some money – the excess refund reward is a great example of this.

“It’s great to see that so many customers have been able to benefit from the scheme.”

It comes after Martin Lewis urged car drivers to beware of a simple car insurance payment mistake that can end up being more expensive.

The money saving expert shared the a new video to help motorists save cash while covering the essential bill.

What is car insurance?

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Consumer reporter Sam Walker talks you through what car insurance is and what it covers you for…

Car insurance pays out if your vehicle is stolen, damaged, catches on fire or is involved in an accident.

As a minimum, it protects you against any damage you case to other road users, the public or their property – these are called third parties.

You only need to claim on your car insurance when an accident is your fault.

If another motorist is to blame, their insurance should pay out instead.

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Car insurance, unlike home insurance, is a legal requirement and if you don’t have it you can be fined up to £1,000.

You can also have your vehicle seized and destroyed.

However, you don’t need to insure your car if it is classed as “off-road”, or holds a statutory off road notification (SORN).

The vehicle has to be kept on private land and not a public highway though.

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PETROL and diesel prices falling an average ten per cent have seen inflation dip to the lowest level in three years.

Official figures yesterday showed consumer price inflation fell to 1.7 per cent in September — down from 2.2 per cent in August.

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That is below the Bank of England’s two per cent target, lower than forecasts and way down on the 11 per cent rate in October 2022.

Myron Jobson, analyst at Interactive Investor, said: “The pace of price rises hasn’t been this low since the days of Covid lockdowns.”

The drop boosted money markets’ predictions of interest rate cuts next month — which would be a big help for businesses, borrowers and mortgage holders.

Markets have put a 91 per cent likelihood of the Bank lowering rates from five per cent to 4.75 per cent at its meeting in November.

Some economists highlighted Governor Andrew Bailey’s recent comments that the Bank could be more “aggressive” and suggested a cut to 4.5 per cent.

However the drop in inflation will deal a blow to millions of Brits on benefits.

Rises in universal credit, and disability living and carers allowance, are pegged to September’s figure.

It means the standard allowance of universal credit, for a single person under 25, is expected go up in April by just £5.30 a month to about £317.

For a couple over 25, the rise is likely to be £10.50 to £628 a month.

Danni Hewson, at investment platform AJ Bell, said: “Last year the standard allowance for a couple over the age of 25 jumped by almost £40 a month.”

The City is still nervous, with inflation set to rise above two per cent in October due to higher energy bills following the regulator raising its price cap.

And there are fears fuel duty will rise in the Budget, despite The Sun’s decade-long Keep It Down campaign.

SLAP OF LUXURY

THE fizz has gone flat at Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy after around £10billion was knocked off its value yesterday amid slowing demand for luxury goods.

LVMH, which has called on Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner to be the latest face of Louis Vuitton handbags, recorded a 5 per cent slip in fashion and leather goods, the first fall since the start of the pandemic.

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Shares in LVMH fell as much as 7 per cent, closing down 4.5 per cent, valuing the business at £250billion.

Champagne sales fell, knocking sales in its wine and spirits division by 8 per cent.

LVMH is counting on Beyonce’s new whisky brand, SirDavis, for an uplift.

LVMH said sales in Asia fell by 16 per cent in the past three months

FIRMS’ TAX FEAR

SHOPS, pubs and restaurants face a £2.63billion “double whammy” hit from business rates rises, unless the Chancellor makes good on reforms.

Business rate bills are based on September’s inflation figures.

Research by property firm Altus Group forecasts the 1.7 per cent inflation rate announced yesterday means business rates will jump by £488million in England.

Some £224million will be paid by retail, hospitality and leisure.

Small firms also face the loss of the last government’s 75 per cent rates discount.

JUST EAT’S SWELL

TAKEAWAY delivery firm Just Eat has posted a 6 per cent rise in sales to £1.5billion in the UK and Ireland.

The firm yesterday said a 1 per cent drop in food orders was offset by higher menu prices, bringing its best UK sales in three years.

The company recently launched a tie-up with adult retailer Lovehoney and is focusing on partnerships with retailers including Boots and Lush.

Just Eat’s US sales slumped by 12 per cent.

Boss Jitse Groen said the UK continued with “positive momentum”.

CALL FOR BRAKE ON CARS BAN

THE boss of Vertu Motors car dealership group has called on the government to delay its 2030 net zero deadline.

It comes amid manufacturers now rationing petrol and diesel motors to avoid fines if they sell too many this year.

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Vertu’s Robert Forrester said some drivers buying a car this winter may have to wait for new year when next quotas kick in.

Manufacturers have to ensure 22 per cent of all the vehicles sold this year are electric, or face a £15,000 fine for every car over the limit.

Vertu posted a 3 per cent rise in half year sales to £2.5billion.

Profits slumped by 27 per cent to £22million following minimum wage increases.

Mr Forrester also took aim at the Chancellor’s proposed tax changes amid warnings it could destroy London’s junior Aim stock market, where Vertu launched in 2006.

He said he would “urge the Government to carefully consider the impact”.

INN’S JOB VACUUM

PREMIER INN is turning to robot vacuum cleaners at its hotels to reduce human staff.

Boss of parent company Whitbread, Dominic Paul, did not rule out more redundancies as he ramps up cost cutting by £20million to £60million.

Whitbread has already axed 1,000 jobs in a year.

The group posted a 22 per cent tumble in half year pre-tax profits to £309million.

Savings are to be made by using tech.

SHOPPERS have been left fuming after MARKS & Spencer confirmed the exact date it will close a fan-favourite branch.

The popular fashion retailer is set to pull the shutters on the decades-old branch in just a few weeks.

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Marks and Spencer has confirmed it will close the doors of a popular branch in Queensway.

Bosses have revealed the Crawley store will shut up shop for good on Saturday, November 16.

Graham Bennett, M&S regional manager, said: “After consulting with our colleagues following our proposals earlier this year, our Queensway store will close on Saturday, November 16.

“Individual conversations are continuing with our colleagues and wherever possible, we will be offering them alternative roles with M&S.

“Thank you to all our customers who have shopped at the store – we will continue to work hard serving you at our nearby Acorn Park M&S Food.”

Shoppers will now have to rely on a sister branch that is located at Acorn Park.

Mr Bennett said the management is closing the branch due to “changing shopping patterns” – but added they are looking to invest in a new location within the city centre.

He said: “We remain open to investing in a new, accessible M&S store in Crawley in the future, subject to being able to find the right type of site.”

Fans of the iconic location that has been in business for decades have expressed their rage over the shocking closure.

Michael Jones, Crawley Borough’s Council leader, slammed the closure as “a real blow for the town centre”, Sussex world reports.

One raging shopper wrote on Facebook: “Very angry and upset about this.”

Another customer wrote: “I feel sorry for [shoppers] as they love shopping in there … such sad times.”

A third user said: “This is not going to be good for our town. [It was] the only decent shop we had.”

While a fourth shopper shared: “Awful decision to close M&S.”

OTHER M&S CLOSURES

The news comes after M&S confirmed its Murraygate Dundee will close on July 6, with staff moving to a new superstore at Gallagher Retail Park on July 16.

Earlier this month, the exact closing date of the M&S store in the Belfry Shopping Centre in Redhill, Surrey, was revealed – August 17.

The retailer which runs 405 stores across the country, shut down locations in Manchester, Swindon and Birmingham between August and November last year.

M&S also announced the closure of its Walworth store in South London, and its home store in Kingditch Trading Estate in Tewkesbury, Cheltenham.

The site at The Broadway Shopping Centre closed its doors for the last time on May 18.

If you want to know if your local might be next, we have the full list of M&S stores that are marked for closure in 2024.

Why are M&S stores closing?

In November 2016, the high street chain said that it had marked 110 low-performing stores for closure or change as part of a big 10-year restructuring plan.

Store closures began in April 2017 when the first six stores were announced would shut.

In May 2018, M&S then announced that it was accelerating its plans with over 110 clothes stores due to close by 2022.

By May 2019, M&S revised its plans to 120 clothing store closures by April 2024.

It also added 25 food stores to the firing line, saying they face being axed or relocated.

In 2021 the 30 store closures came after a year of high street retailers battling to survive as a result of the Covid crisis.

As non-essential shops were ordered to close during several national lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, many retailers’ sales, including M&S, took a big hit.

In 2022, the changes come as it faces a tough consumer backdrop, rising inflation and a £100million hit from soaring energy costs.

The retailer has said that it is accelerating its store overhaul to save around £309million in rent costs.

M&S has previously said that it was focused on moving out of tired stores on high streets with low footfall in favour of relocating to retail parks, which continue to prove popular with shoppers.

Not all is bad news

But it wasn’t just closures that the retailer announced – the chain also said it would open 104 new “bigger and fresher” food stores.

In the last 12 months, it has opened 22 sites including in Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester.

Cities like Leeds and Liverpool have already become home to new M&S stores.

Nine openings in November included six new stores plus three store renewals.

It also plans to open over 100 bigger Foodhall sites by 2028.

M&S plans to operate 180 full-line (which include clothing, home and food) and 400 food halls in the next five years.

The new openings will bring investment in new stores to £480million, M&S said in May last year.

Flagship M&S stores have popped up in several major UK cities this year, with more openings to come this year.

THE Chancellor received a pre-Budget boost as inflation fell to 1.7 per cent — its lowest level in more than three years.

It dropped from 2.2 per cent in August to below the Bank of England’s two per cent target.

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Experts reckon it “nails on” a 0.25 percentage point rate cut next month.

But it is a blow for millions on benefits which are pegged to September’s figure.

Rachel Reeves seeks to plug a £40billion shortfall with tax hikes and spending reductions in her October 30 Budget.

The cash will seek to protect key departments from real-terms cuts, create a buffer for economic shocks and fill what Labour have called a £22 billion black hole.

Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said: “It will be welcome news for millions of families that inflation is below 2%.

“However, there is still more to do to protect working people, which is why we are focused on bringing back growth and restoring economic stability to deliver on the promise of change.”

But it emerged last night Cabinet ministers are bypassing her to go straight to No 10 in a last-minute bid to soften brutal cuts — which some warn are unsustainable.

MCDONALD’S fans eager to get their hands on one of its most popular burgers which returns to menus today have voiced their frustration that it is not as tasty as the original.

The McRib burger is back in McDonald’s restaurants for a limited time only after disappearing from menus for nearly ten years.

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The beloved burger includes a pork-based patty, tangy BBQ sauce, pickles and onions in a homestyle bun.

Customers have been eagerly anticipating the item’s return, with some describing it as the “greatest burger of all time”.

But those who have been able to get their hands on it today have already taken to social media site Facebook to voice their disappointment that the burger is a flop.

One user said: “I am a big fan of the McRib but today, I got a McRib without the BBQ sauce. What a disappointment! Can I have my money back?”

Another added: “It’s not the same. Its dry little sauce on top nothing like the pic or what it used to be shame on McDonald’s.”

A third said: “The McRib is BACK, baby. Should have left it in the past to be fair. Poor all round. Flavourless. Not enough sauce. Shoddy.”

But one user disagreed and said: “McRib is back and was lush.”

The burger first appeared in the UK in 1981 but it was discontinued just four years later.

It featured boneless pork strips coated in generous helpings of thick BBQ sauce, with juicy pickles and onions.

The burger has since made several reappearances on McDonald’s menus but has not been seen since early 2015.

McDonald’s has not confirmed how long the burger will be available for but has said it will be for a “very limited time only”.

It is currently on sale for £4.49 as an individual item or £6.19 as part of a medium extra-value meal deal, which also includes fries and a medium drink.

Meanwhile, at 509 calories the burger is far more calorific than a Double Cheeseburger, McChicken and Bacon Double Cheeseburger.

What else is launching today at McDonald’s?

McDonald’s is launching three new menu items today and is making changes to one fan favourite.

What’s joining the McDonald’s menu?

The Halloween menu items are:

• Cheese Side – £2.49
• Cheese Side Sharebox – £6.79
• Toasted Marshmallow Latte – £2.59
• Toasted Marshmallow Hot Chocolate (Only available in Large) – £2.19
• McCrispy® Deluxe – £5.99
• McCrispy® Deluxe Medium Meal – £7.79
• Halloween M&M’s® McFlurry® – £2.19
• Halloween M&M’s® McFlurry® Mini – £1.59
• Galaxy® Caramel McFlurry® – £2.19
• Galaxy® Caramel McFlurry® Mini – £1.59
• Toffee Apple Pie – £1.99
• Mini Hash Browns Single Portion – £1.49
• Mini Hash Browns Sharebox – £2.99

Among the new items is the never-before-seen Toasted Marshmallow Latte.

The coffee-based drink has a toasted marshmallow-flavoured syrup and dusting, which is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.

It only comes in a large size and costs £2.19.

There’s also a hot chocolate version of this drink for those who don’t like coffee.

The Toasted Marshmallow Hot Chocolate has the same flavoured syrup and dusting and costs £2.19.

Meanwhile, fans of the Mozzarella Dippers will be eager to try the new mozzarella and emmental Cheese Bites.

The bite-size pieces have a smoky caramelised onion-flavoured breadcrumb coating.

They come in portions of five for £2.49 or a sharebox of fifteen for £6.79.

The Sun got to taste the new menu items before they were launched in restaurants.

McDonald’s is also upgrading one of its popular breakfast items this season.

Its iconic Hash Brown is being given a makeover and will be available in a new mini size with the same crunchy exterior and soft fluffy inside.

They cost £1.49 for five or £2.99 for a sharebox of 15.

The Sun got to try them before anyone else.

Several other favourites are returning to the menu today including the McCrispy Deluxe, Galaxy Caramel McFlurry and Toffee Apple Pie.

The McCrispy Deluxe features a crispy chicken fillet with shredded lettuce, Roma tomatoes and mayo.

It costs £5.99 on its own or £7.79 as part of a medium meal.

Other popular treats which are making a comeback are the Halloween M&M’s McFlurry and Galaxy Caramel McFlurry.

They cost £2.19 each or £1.59 for the mini version.

Returning for the second time is the Toffee Apple Pie.

The crispy pastry includes a spiced apple compote and toffee sauce and is complete with toffee pieces.

It costs £1.99.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

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