A parting thought: Britain needs to learn to love capitalism June 19, 2014 THERE is one change, more than any other, that Britain needs to undergo if we want to fulfil our true potential. We must learn to embrace capitalism, individual liberty and the awe-inspiring wealth and job creating potential of business, and ditch our ambivalent attitude towards free markets. It is time for a cultural revolution in [...]
Upbeat reserve report boosts shale gas stock June 2, 2014 SHALE gas explorers made gains on the London Stock Exchange yesterday, on the back of an encouraging reserve assessment and hopes that the next licensing round may be imminent after the government entered into talks with interested companies. Aim-listed Union Jack Oil’s shares soared over 30 per cent in early trading and closed 19 per [...]
City Matters: The EU financial transaction tax will hurt the prudent – not the reckless May 12, 2014 THE IMPORTANT debate between the City and 11 EU governments on whether or not to introduce a tax on derivatives and shares continued last week. Both sides have scored victories, but now a more conciliatory tone is emerging, and this should be welcomed. With the European Court of Justice rejecting a pre-emptive challenge to this [...]
City Matters: The EU financial transaction tax will hurt the prudent – not the reckless May 11, 2014 THE IMPORTANT debate between the City and 11 EU governments on whether or not to introduce a tax on derivatives and shares continued last week. Both sides have scored victories, but now a more conciliatory tone is emerging, and this should be welcomed. With the European Court of Justice rejecting a pre-emptive challenge to this [...]
Analysts look to Osborne speech for giveaways November 28, 2013 UK ECONOMISTS laid out the possibilities for chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn statement yesterday, with less than a week to go until his speech. Capital Economics, PwC, BDO and IHS Global Insight issued their own expectations for the announcement, which will set the course for the government’s economic policies in the months ahead. Most expect the coalition [...]
Timid new policies do little to address the risks behind Osborne’s good news December 5, 2013 FOR THE first time since before the financial crisis, the chancellor of the Exchequer was able to stand up and announce some good news at the Autumn Statement yesterday: the deficit, the labour market, and growth are all better than expected. Alistair Darling started by predicting a “trampoline” recovery when the recession first hit, with [...]
Letters to the Editor – 23/05 – Debating Europe, Best of Twitter May 22, 2014 Debating Europe [Re: European Parliament election: Could a victory for Ukip help it secure a domestic foothold?, yesterday] It was interesting to hear Charles Lewington OBE’s views that Nigel Farage’s party is one of “eccentrics”. It might be also interesting to note that one such “eccentric” worked as a non-executive director for Charles’s business for [...]
Letters to the Editor – 23/05 – Debating Europe, Best of Twitter May 22, 2014 Debating Europe [Re: European Parliament election: Could a victory for Ukip help it secure a domestic foothold?, yesterday] It was interesting to hear Charles Lewington OBE’s views that Nigel Farage’s party is one of “eccentrics”. It might be also interesting to note that one such “eccentric” worked as a non-executive director for Charles’s business for [...]
Avoid these costly end of tax year mistakes April 1, 2014 THE LAST-MINUTE Isa frenzy is underway. But as you scramble to fill up the £11,520 allowance before 5 April, be wary of some of the most common mistakes made by hasty investors. Buying funds and stocks in a hurry is dangerous, says Jason Witcombe of Evolve Financial Planners. And as most stocks and shares Isas [...]
Osborne warns the deficit remains a major threat October 22, 2013 THE UK’S budget deficit shrank again in September, official figures showed yesterday, but the chancellor warned it will take a sustained policy drive to remove the underlying problems in the government’s finances. In September the deficit came in at £11.1bn, or £1bn smaller than the same month a year earlier. Tax receipts increased seven per [...]