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Wall Street Pauses as Fed Meeting Looms: Futures Hold Steady

U.S. stock futures were little changed on Tuesday as investors awaited the start of the Federal Reserve’s final policy meeting of the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq futures all hovered near flat, reflecting a cautious mood across Wall Street. The Fed is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged, but traders are focused on Chair Jerome Powell’s comments and the central bank’s updated economic projections. Markets are looking for clues on when rate cuts might begin in 2024, with inflation cooling but still above the Fed’s long-term target. Recent gains in equities have been fueled by optimism that the Fed’s tightening cycle is over, yet uncertainty remains about how quickly monetary policy will shift toward easing. Until then, investors appear content to hold their positions, waiting for clearer signals from the Fed before making bold moves.

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Farmers Rally in London Against Inheritance Tax Changes

 

Thousands of farmers from across the UK gathered in London today to protest against the government’s recent changes to inheritance tax rules. The demonstration, one of the largest in recent memory, saw farmers marching through Westminster, voicing their concerns over the potential impact on their livelihoods and the future of British farming.

The new tax reforms, announced in the latest budget, will impose a 20% inheritance tax on farms valued over £1 million starting from April 2026. Farmers argue that this change will force many to sell parts of their land to cover the tax bill, threatening the continuity of family-run farms and impacting food security.

Max Sealy, a representative of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), expressed the widespread frustration: "This is a bad tax - it’s been badly implemented because it will affect growth productivity in the country". The protest drew support from various public figures, including TV presenter and farm owner Jeremy Clarkson, who urged the government to reconsider the policy.

Despite the government’s assurances that only the wealthiest estates will be affected, farmers remain unconvinced. They cite data suggesting that a significant portion of farms will fall under the new tax threshold, contrary to the government’s estimates.

As the protest continues, the NFU plans to lobby MPs, hoping to reverse the changes and secure a more favorable outcome for the farming community.


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