Small companies and stockbrokers welcomed the chance that shares quoted on the junior Alternative Investment Market may qualify for tax relief under the Individual Savings Account shelter.

The independent Office for Budget Responsibility admitted it expects a £400million shortfall in the Government's coffers, after predicting the bank levy would raise £2.2billion in March's Budget.

George Osborne hoisted an 'Open for Business' sign over Britain with a multi-billion pound package to help firms fight back against the slump at home and the troubles in the eurozone.

The Chancellor told the Cabinet they must reduce spending every year for the next three years, as he prepared to set out a highly-political statement to the Commons.

George Osborne did not address problems such as low levels of investment, lack of access to finance, and high energy costs.

The purchasing managers’ index of activity in the UK construction sector dipped from 61.4 in October to 59.4 in November, which is still well above the 50 mark that divides growth and decline.

The big omissions from a Budget or an Autumn Statement are always revealing. It used to be help for savers. This week the missing element was the squeezed middle. Not households, but firms.

As analysts digested the detail of the Chancellor’s ‘mini-Budget’ the ramifications of reforms to stamp duty, business rates and the North Sea tax regime became clearer…

Draconian rises signalled by the Chancellor will see the average bill for a Band D household rise up to £320 by 2020/21. George Osborne urged town halls to impose increase to fund social care shortfalls.

Ahead of the Autumn Statement a study has warned that planned welfare curbs and rising inflation are set to deal a major blow to the 'just about managing' group - or 'JAMs'.

Philip Hammond told MPs he would be compiling a major report into the impact that state spending on pensioners has on the health and social care of an ageing population.

Stoke City are finalising the transfer of Wigan Athletic's Nick Powell and are interested in Everton's versatile 24-year old defender Matthew Pennington.

Derby County captain Richard Keogh (left) has been pictured on crutches for the first time since being involved in a horror car crash that could have ended his career.

IAN WHITTELL AT EWOOD PARK: Wigan Athletic climbed off the foot of the Championship table on Monday night after playing out a goalless draw with Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers.

The 32-year-old has been training with Salford this season after being released by Wigan Athletic last year. The midfielder was once viewed as a long-term replacement for Paul Scholes at United.

Robinson was left distraught when his £10m deadline-day move to AC Milan collapsed at the last minute in January. However, he could be set for a big Premier League move this summer.

Wigan's Chey Dunkley has been given special dispensation to use the club's ghost training ground as he continues to make big strides in his recovery from a double leg break.

Mom-of-three Criscilla was first diagnosed with colon cancer in 2018. She was told in the last few weeks that the disease has now spread. She pictured with her husband main and kids inset.

Tania Morris (pictured) from Staffordshire fears this Christmas could be her last after she was struck down with Hodgkin Lymphoma a year ago and has been unable to find a donor.

Tennis star John Millman has made a cheeky request to Australian Open officials to 'throw a spanner in the works' for his opponent Roger Federer.

Three-time Wimbledon winner McEnroe is so impressed from what he has seen from Federer that he believes he could be playing better than in the early 2000s when he had a iron grip on tennis.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: A remarkable day at the Australian Open ended with Roger Federer dramatically avoiding the same fate as some of the women's top names.

Australian tennis star John Millman has been accused of using a dodgy 'trick'during his nail-biting five-set defeat to Roger Federer.

The Neighbours star admitted to lying to police to protect her drug-using ex-boyfriend Matt Arnautovic.

Having been pushed to the brink by John Millman in a classic on Friday, Federer again dropped the opening set to Hungary's Marton Fucsovics. But this time he did not need a deciding set, winning in four.

The Swiss maestro cast aside Marton Fucsovics at Melbourne Park on Sunday, before telling the crowd they still had time to celebrate the national day as the clock struck 11.30pm.

Roger Federer's opponent Tennys Sandgren needed medical attention when a ballkid collided with him during a crucial stage of their quarterfinal showdown at the Australian Open.

Roger Federer faced off with a lineswoman on Tuesday after he was penalised for swearing on the court during a heated five-set match at the Australian Open.  

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: Roger Federer rolled back the years to stage one of the most remarkable survival acts of his career to stay in the Australian Open.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: By now Roger Federer should have been back in Switzerland, embarking on the family skiing holiday he has planned.

Italian chef Andrea Tranchero has dished out the exact meal Roger Federer eats before every game at the Australian Open - as he shares the 'match winning' recipe.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: Despite facing a partisan crowd on the Rod Laver Arena the 32-year-old Serb showed again just how hard he is to beat at a venue where he has won seven times.

He's known to be one of the greatest cricketers in the world.  

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: Every time Roger Federer loses to Novak Djokovic at a Grand Slam, his mind will surely wander back to Wimbledon last summer and the one that got away.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: In the unlikely event of Dominic Thiem making it third time lucky in a Grand Slam final nobody could accuse him having it easy.

It has been a month of high drama, stunning goals and a fair share of controversy. And with the World Cup over, Sportsmail asked its experts how they will best remember Brazil 2014.

Mario Gotze may look like he is not long out of babygrow lederhosen but his status as Germany’s wunderkind has been established for some considerable time.

Ray Whelan, the English director of FIFA's official ticket and hospitality partners MATCH, is in police custody after handing himself in to a judge in Rio de Janeiro several days after being declared 'a fugitive' by police investigating a ticket touting ring.

My wife was told she was not getting enough state pension as she was only getting 39 per cent of my payment when she should be getting 60 per cent.

Despite putting their scouting and recruitment staff on furlough and discussions ongoing over a potential £350m takeover, club executives are pressing ahead in their attempt to sign Soumare.

OLIVER HOLT - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: Let us disregard the succession just for a moment and agree that if Mike Ashley departs Newcastle United, it will be a reason to celebrate. 

The Napoli centre-back has been heavily linked with long-term admirers Manchester United, but Newcastle are also reportedly preparing to make an offer to the Senegal international.

It is the news Newcastle fans have been dreaming about for years - a big-money takeover and the possible departure of Mike Ashley. But how does a deal actually happen? Our expert reveals all.

Joe Root became only the fifth England player to make a hundred in his first innings as Test captain. Root's runs were all the more necessary after another England top-order collapse.

The 33-year-old made his managerial bow for Anderlecht, but his tenure got off to a rocky start. Kompany was still afforded a rapturous response, although his team were jeered at full time.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle returned to Canada in the nick of time as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada will close its borders to non-citizens on Monday.

President Donald Trump announced a closing of the U.S. southern border with Mexico and a crackdown on illegal immigrants that would see them returned immediately to their country of origin.

Dancing On Ice star Carlotta Edwards has reportedly fled the country amid the reports surrounding her husband Alexander Demetriou and his skate partner Maura Higgins.

Trump retweeted the Navy boasting the USNS Mercy was 'under way' for Los Angeles after leaving port in San Diego Monday. In reality after 24 hours it was just nine miles from port.

William Dufris, the voice-actor behind Bob the Builder in the US and Canada, has died from cancer at the age of 62, it was confirmed Wednesday.