HMV’s demise shows why even giant firms have feet of clay January 14, 2013 SO that’s it, then: HMV has finally gone into administration, the latest, most tragic victim of the revolution that is sweeping away erstwhile giants. This comes just days after Jessops, the camera firm, was liquidated, and after the demise of Comet, the electrical retailer. So who’s responsible? Quite simply, all of us. Consumers are all-powerful, [...]
National debt goes up as income tax takings drop June 26, 2012 THE UK’S public finances took a hammering last month, according to data released yesterday by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). A budget deficit of £17.9bn for May pushed the net national debt to £1.013 trillion, hitting 65 per cent of GDP. Just one year ago, net debt stood at the comparatively low figure of [...]
JOBS of the WEEK June 20, 2012 HR MANAGER LONDON £55k-£75k pa, plus bonus and benefits An asset management firm requires an HR manager to take control of its UK region. Applicants to this new position must have a strong generalist skill set and experience of financial services. http://www.cityamcareers.com/job/16538 PRODUCT LITIGATION LAWYER LONDON £90k-£130k pa A niche litigation and insurance practice requires [...]
Isa changes may not affect your investment decisions December 9, 2012 IN LAST week’s Autumn Statement, George Osborne announced that the total amount an individual can invest in a tax-free Individual Savings Account (Isa) will increase to £11,520 per year from April 2013. This change won’t have much of an impact on the public’s interest in Isas, however. The small rise (£240) is in line with [...]
Hollande is at risk of slaying France’s golden tax geese July 8, 2012 PRESIDENT François Hollande is only just settling into the Elysée, but ripples of unrest towards his tax policies are already being felt, both in France and further afield. The headline figure is the proposed 75 per cent rate of income tax, which will apply to income of over €1m (£793,000) a year. This will be [...]
FTSE mettle is tested by slump in commodities January 7, 2013 AS THE markets settled into the first full week of trading of the year, the FTSE had its 2013 bull run checked, dropping 17 points yesterday. The commodity and miner-heavy benchmark index had been pushed to multi-year highs by the effects of a global risk-off sentiment, with the FTSE breaking the psychologically significant 6,000 level [...]
Wall St up on housing and high earnings November 19, 2012 US stocks bounced higher for a second consecutive session yesterday as investors were encouraged by the early atmosphere surrounding talks to tackle the nation’s fiscal crunch. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 207.65 points, or 1.65 per cent, at 12,795.96. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index was up 27.01 points, or 1.99 per cent, at [...]
Fiscal cliff deal is no grand bargain to save the US from growing debts January 2, 2013 WHILE revellers in New York greeted 2013 with renditions of Auld Lang Syne, Washington reflected on a year of fierce partisanship and brutal campaigning. But as the country welcomed in the New Year, so too came hopes of a new era of bipartisan co-operation, after a cross-party agreement passed the House of Representatives and the [...]
Doddering fiscal cliff talks prevent FTSE from jumping towards 6,000 December 20, 2012 BRITAIN’S top share index steadied around nine-month highs yesterday, pausing within reach of the 6,000 points mark. Investors were discouraged from pushing the market too much higher by the lack of progress by US politicians on a deal to avoid a “fiscal cliff” of planned tax hikes and spending cuts that threatens the health of [...]
Tax reform can drive recovery, say think tanks May 20, 2012 CUTTING and simplifying taxes would significantly boost the UK economy, according to a report released this morning that urges the government to adopt a comprehensive plan for growth. Taxes should be reduced to no more than one third of national income by the end of the decade, according to the 2020 Tax Commission, a group [...]