SVG chairman Ferguson leaves after 28 years March 12, 2012 SVG Capital chairman Nicholas Ferguson is leaving the private equity group at the end of the year, after 28 years with the firm. Ferguson became a director at the company’s previous incarnation, Schroder Ventures, in 1984 and was chairman when it was spun out into SVG in 1996. A prominent figure in the private equity [...]
The Tipster | Chequered outlook for Burberry October 8, 2012 CONCERNS over a slowing global economy have affected Burberry’s performance in Asia, a key growth market for the luxury retailer. The stock, down 36 per cent from its all-time highs in April, has come under further pressure after the World Bank reduced growth forecasts in Asia. Capital Spreads quotes a price of 1,011.4p-1,013.6p for Burberry. [...]
What does the chancellor’s budget mean for you? December 5, 2012 Catherine Gannon, 50 Managing director of law firm Gannon Having started her own business 10 years ago, she earns around £100,000, though says this is getting more difficult to achieve, and while she has a share portfolio, she doesn’t have much in the way of a pension plan. Lives with her two children aged 10 [...]
Advice for budding businesses April 1, 2012 ACCOUNTING ACCOUNTING is an unloved but essential discipline for entrepreneurs. Businesses that fail to keep the financial score are flying blind. Record and track your results to monitor your financial status. Measure sales, costs and working capital. Identify the key performance indicators (KPIs) that will keep your business on track, including orders, sales and gross [...]
Vodafone shares dip on fears of Indian government tax charge September 17, 2012 SHARES in Vodafone were hit yesterday on renewed speculation that the group will have to set aside $2.2bn (£1.4bn) to cover a tax bill in India over the telecoms firm’s 2007 purchase of China’s Hutchison Whampoa. Vodafone is considering making a provision for the charge in its next round of company accounts in November, chief [...]
It’s austerity all right – but not of the kind we actually need May 14, 2012 IT has long been a theme of this column that the government and its critics alike have exaggerated the extent of the government’s belt-tightening. The coalition is doing this to try and reassure the bond markets while seeking to minimise the hit to the public sector; the opposition because it wants to blame the recession [...]
Housebuilders in £150m boon March 21, 2012 HOUSEBUILDERS were among the biggest risers in the FTSE yesterday after the chancellor said the Get Britain Building fund, which provides upfront finance to construction companies, would be expanded. Shares in Barratt Development jumped 4.42 per cent while Bovis Homes’ shares closed 3.84 per cent higher as the government announced it will increase the fund [...]
We need to do more to encourage firms to spend in the UK October 22, 2012 THIS is the week Britain will finally exit its double-dip recession – or at least, so we must all hope. Barring the most extraordinary upset in the history of British economic forecasting, figures out on Thursday will show that the economy grew at least a little during the third quarter, making up some of the [...]
We need to do more to encourage firms to spend in the UK October 22, 2012 THIS is the week Britain will finally exit its double-dip recession – or at least, so we must all hope. Barring the most extraordinary upset in the history of British economic forecasting, figures out on Thursday will show that the economy grew at least a little during the third quarter, making up some of the [...]
Three Isa myths that must go bust February 22, 2012 IT IS surprising how many City folk – versed, as they often are, in the intricacies of structuring complex financial products – don’t know the basics of individual savings accounts (Isas). It isn’t uncommon to need to explain to bankers that the Isa allowance can be taken every year; that it isn’t a product in [...]