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 Treasury watchdog was forced on Wednesday to defend its reputation after it again downgraded its forecasts for the British economy and the public finances.

The age at which people can claim their state pension will rise to 68 in the mid-2030s, 69 in the late-2040s and future rises will be linked to life expectancy.

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…

Profits made from the sale of assets such as property or shares, which are called capital gains, rose to £32.1billion last year, up from £23.5billion in 2012-13, marking their highest level on record.

George Osborne showed himself a master of his political trade in yesterday's Autumn Statement - but seems to have abandoned his early enthusiasm for slimming down the size of the state.

Defying Brexit doomsayers, the deficit came in at £4.3billion in October - below the £6billion expected. The figures emerged on the eve of Philip Hammond's Autumn Statement.

Philip Hammond said Britain’s ‘productivity gap’ was ‘well known, but shocking nonetheless’. He told the House of Commons that the UK ‘lags behind’ the US and Germany by 30 per cent.

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.

The Ecuadorian outfit confirmed the 32-year-old's arrival on Friday afternoon by posting a video of Valencia getting used to his new surroundings.

Marco Silva wants new faces this summer with Zaha the top of his wishlist before the window closes. And after drawing a blank against Wigan Athletic, Silva is unlikely to renege on his desire for forwards.

Chelsea wing back Dujon Sterling has joined Championship side Wigan on a season-long loan, with Reece James in line to stay and work under new boss Frank Lampard.

Wigan unveiled their gigantic pie mascot on Friday with fans hoping that the savoury snack (contents unknown) can inspire the Latics to Premier League glory next season.

The 26-year-old is due to have a medical ahead of signing a three year contract with the Championship side.

RICHARD TANNER AT THE DW STADIUM: Jamal Lowe's first goal for Wigan ended Nottingham Forest's 10-game unbeaten run and left boss Sabri Lamouchi admitting he got his team wrong.

ROB STEWART AT ASHTON GATE: Pedro Pereira's first Bristol City goal earned the Robins a late draw with Wigan in their Championship clash at Ashton Gate.

IAN WHITTELL AT THE DW STADIUM: The striker hit his fourth goal in as many games, levelling after home keeper Jamie Jones had been penalised for unnecessarily picking up a back pass.

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.

While 2019 has proved to be one of the finest years of sporting achievement in living memory, it has also provided a few less stellar moments on and off the field.

TOM COLLOMOSSE AT THE KING POWER: Leicester City have cruised into the FA Cup fourth round with a win over Wigan thanks to Tom Pearce's OG and a Harvey Barnes deflected strike.

Cardiff City are expected to make an improved bid for Wigan Athletic striker Kieffer Moore. An offer of £2.3million was rejected last week but Moore was left out of Wigan's squad against Bristol City.

Everton are looking to sign Joe Gelhardt from Wigan Athletic according to The Sun, the 17-year-old who has been dubbed 'the next Wayne Rooney.' 

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.

THE SECRET SCOUT: Sportsmail's scout is a top football expert who attends matches each week searching for the next star. This week they bring the full low-down on Wigan's Joe Gelhardt.

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.

This week, the pound has taken a tumble, leaving it at a 28 month low against the dollar while it has also dipped significantly against the euro.

It may surprise some but Croatia, Malta and Lithuania are all holiday hotspots appearing on Britons' 2020 wish lists, new research has revealed.

Some 80% of the top 40 holiday currencies have fallen in value against the pound, stretching holidaymakers' cash further, according to research from Post Office travel money.

Hotel comparison sites claim to work with partners across the world to guarantee the best prices for your budget. But all too often travellers using the platforms are running into problems.

Bill Turnbull has revealed he is feeling 'remarkably well' after being diagnosed with an advanced form of prostate cancer in November 2017.

Rates of skin cancer were 8.1 - 8.4 per cent among gay and bisexual men compared to 6.7 for straight men in a group of more than 45,000 Americans.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: In nine singles matches, and at the tender age of 15, Gauff can claim the unusual distinction of never having been off one of the show courts at a Grand Slam.

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.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: Coco Gauff scored a sensational win over defending champion Osaka at the Australian Open on a day that felt like there was an abrupt changing of the guard.

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

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: One former tennis prodigy from Florida defeated a present one when fourteenth seed Sofia Kenin brought the run of Coco Gauff to an end.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic sent out a message to his rivals after cruising through to the quarter-finals, but 15-year-old sensation Coco Gauff saw her fairytale run end.

American tennis stars Coco Gauff and Sofia Kenin were battling it out in the fourth round of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Sunday when the crowd began to chant at them.

Australian legend Court - a devout Christian - has caused controversy for saying she doesn't believe gay people should be allowed to marry because the Bible does not condone it.

The Australian gave it his all in a spirited performance but went down 6-3 3-6 7-6 7-6 in four sets against the Spaniard in an emotion-charged showdown.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: Court's uncompromising opinions on LGBT matters have made her a polarising figure and McEnroe became the latest high profile figure to attack her.

Australian tennis great Margaret Court was honoured on the 50th Anniversary of her 1070- Grand Slam but she was met with some boos, rainbow flags and wasn't allowed to speak.

The 15-year-old played alongside Caty McNally, 18, in the third round of the Women's Doubles tournament today. Both decorated their sneakers in memory of Kobe

Australian Open organisers issued a stinging rebuke to John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova after they joined forces to protest about Margaret Court and her controversial views.

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.

John McEnroe has hung up on radio shock jock Neil Mitchell following a fiery interview about the tennis legend's protest of the naming of Margaret Court Arena. 

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: Given her story it is hardly surprising that Kenin, 21, exudes hunger. There are shades of her, on court, of Monica Seles and Maria Sharapova.

The 24-time tennis grand slam winner from WA is bitterly disappointed over her treatment at the Australian Open, where she was not allowed to give a speech at a presentation in her honour.

Upon spotting the children playing tennis in the streets without a net, the Serbian star decided to join them. saying afterwards: 'That's how we all started - I invoke these situations.'

Gauff, who reached the fourth round on her Australian Open debut, emulates Bulgarian Sesil Karatantcheva, who made the top 50 at the same age in August 2005.