Why is the GTC so surprised by all this? We could have told people this 10 years ago and saved a lot of time and money, not to mention heartache.

[The scheme] generated great headlines but in reality it has done little to help parents. Offering one child free if you can afford to take three others to Florida in August is fine, but it's hardly realistic.

With Easter ahead of us people are cashing in. The American market was off overnight along with weaker oil and gold prices.