Post-Budget consumer confidence rises in golden quarter boost Retail A leading confidence survey has found that consumer sentiment rose in November, which will come as a relief to businesses dependent on a good golden quarter to boost margins ahead of tax rises next year. All five measures of confidence rose, although major purchase intentions led the pack with a five-point jump. “There was evidence [...]
UK sanctions Dmitry Firtash and Isabel dos Santos as it ramps up crackdown on kleptocrats Politics The UK has issued fresh sanctions against a series of “unscrupulous kleptocrats”, including Ukrainian oligarch Dmitry Firtash and Angolan billionaire Isabel Dos Santos, as it cranks up its crack down on corruption and dirty money.
Spike in PwC partners taking early retirement amid Big Four slowdown Big Four A larger-than-usual number of partners at PwC are choosing to step down at the end of this year, as the Big Four accountant looks to boost its performance amid slowing growth. The financial services giant’s 1,030 partners learned earlier this week that several dozen of their colleagues would be taking early retirement, after new UK [...]
HMV suspends plans for new shops as Budget hikes costs November 21, 2024 HMV has suspended plans to open more new stores next year, blaming the decision on the government’s tax-raising Budget. The company planned to open multiple shops in the UK in 2025, but HMV’s owner Doug Putman told The Telegraph yesterday that this proposal was now on hold following the Budget. Confirming the decision, Putman told [...]
Family-run coach firms reeling from inheritance tax overhaul November 21, 2024 While there are a handful of national players, around eight in ten small and medium sized coach operators in Britain are family-owned.
TV firm founded by Jake Humphrey and David Coulthard back in the black November 21, 2024 Whisper Films, the TV production company co-founded by broadcaster Jake Humphrey and former F1 driver David Coulthard, returned to the black during its latest financial year as its turnover jumped. The business, which was also set up by BAFTA-winning CEO Sunil Patel, has posted a pre-tax profit of £4.3m for the 12 months to 31 March, [...]
Homeowners face massive inheritance tax hike after Budget hit November 21, 2024 London homeowners are going to be hit with an eye-watering 1,840 per cent increase in inheritance tax (IHT) liability, as a direct result of Rachel Reeves’ Budget changes, it has been calculated. A single homeowner in the capital with an averaged priced home of £525,586, with the same amount in their pension, will have a [...]
Frasers tells Boohoo Mahmud Kamani must go: ‘His title might have changed but his grip has not’ November 21, 2024 Frasers has been quick to respond to Boohoo’s announcement that executive chair Mahmud Kamani will step back to vice chair, claiming it is not enough and he “must go”. This morning, Boohoo’s top investor called for a shareholder’s meeting to remove Kamani as a director and to replace him with Mike Ashley and Mike Lennon. At [...]
Surge in government borrowing raises threat of more Reeves tax hikes, economists warn November 21, 2024 A sharp rise in government borrowing costs fuelled by pay rises for public sector workers and rising debt payments has raised the threat of future tax hikes, according to economists. Borrowing rose to £17.4bn last month, marking the second highest October figure since monthly records began, according to official figures. The Office for National Statistics [...]
Inheritance tax receipts rise as Brits warned to ‘make plans to pass on wealth’ November 21, 2024 Inheritance tax receipts have risen again as experts are warning Brits to better plan for the passing on of wealth, after the Autumn Budget changes. Fresh figures released this morning show inheritance tax receipts for between April and October of this year are £5bn, which is £500m higher than the same period last year. This [...]