Scottish independence: Why the referendum matters July 14, 2014 Even a “No” vote will mean radical shifts in political power. Warnings of market complacency have come thick and fast recently. Just yesterday, Bank for International Settlements chief Jaime Caruana said investors are ignoring the prospects of coming rate rises amid a giddy hunt for yield, while the geopolitical crises tearing through the [...]
Conviviality Retail in talks to buy Bibby’s Rhythm & Booze stores April 24, 2014 BARGAIN Booze owner Conviviality Retail confirmed yesterday it is in talks with rival off-licensing group Bibby Retail Services to buy a portfolio of stores as it seeks to gain a greater foothold in Yorkshire. The company, which floated on Aim last year, is understood to be interested in buying around 20 of the 50 shops, [...]
How executive pay regulations can increase inequality – not reduce it May 7, 2014 IN JUST two months, Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the Twenty-First Century has taken the world by storm. In it, he argues that substantial increases in inequality can only be reversed through government intervention. Piketty’s own suggestion is a 2 per cent annual wealth tax, and income tax rates of up to 80 per cent. In [...]
How executive pay regulations can increase inequality – not reduce it May 7, 2014 IN JUST two months, Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the Twenty-First Century has taken the world by storm. In it, he argues that substantial increases in inequality can only be reversed through government intervention. Piketty’s own suggestion is a 2 per cent annual wealth tax, and income tax rates of up to 80 per cent. In [...]
Soak the rich: Lib Dem plans to hit those earning over £50,000 with higher tax bills September 16, 2013 In notes first published by City A.M., it has been revealed that the Liberal Democrats are looking for those earning over £50,000 to pay more in tax. The Liberal Democrat press team calls this "looking at how the richest … could make a further contribution". In these difficult times, it is important that everyone makes [...]
Why MPs need to vote against the expensive folly that is HS2 April 28, 2014 TRAIN and tube lines are vital for London. Most people commute by rail, and projects like Crossrail or the Northern Line extension will do a huge amount of good. We need even more of them – Crossrail II sounds sensible – and to make sure that they are financed privately to minimise the burden on [...]
Stock market correction: How to protect yourself from losses June 17, 2014 Income can help you weather any volatility, but be wary of bonds AFTER a stellar few years for global stock markets, concerns are growing over a looming correction. The S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, FTSE 100 and MSCI All-World share index have all been at or near record highs in recent weeks, and valuations [...]
Asian markets flat after US manufacturing slowdown March 25, 2014 Asian markets are holding steady as investors wait to see how events in Ukraine unfold and whether the slowdown in US manufacturing continues. Markets will be watching not only the West's response to the annexation of Crimea but whether Russia will slip into recession. Japan's Shoko Chukin survey revealed that a last minute spending rush [...]
Gold fund provider strikes deal with Royal Mint for bullion coins August 22, 2013 ONE OF the world’s top gold exchange traded fund providers yesterday struck a deal with the Royal Mint to help punters exchange their investment for physical gold bullion. ETF Securities, which looks after $12.2bn of gold-backed exchange traded products (ETP), has joined forces with the 1,000 year-old British institution to allow its Gold Bullion Securities [...]
London is booming. We must allow it to fulfil its true potential May 15, 2014 WE all know that London emerged from the crisis remarkably unscathed. But few realise just how well our great city has performed over the past 15 years, and how we have grown faster than almost all comparable metropolises since the recession. In 1997, London boasted 1.59m employee jobs in office-based sectors. Today, the number is [...]