Miners and banks help FTSE overturn three days of losses May 24, 2010 BRITAIN’S top shares broke a three-day losing streak yesterday as miners spurred by upbeat comments from China, outpaced falls in oils led by BP as concerns lingered over the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster. The FTSE 100 ended 6.68 points or 0.1 per cent higher at 5,026.44, in choppy trade. The index is down more [...]
ECB gets behind rescue plan by suspending credit rules May 3, 2010 EUROPE’S central bank yesterday threw its support behind debt-stricken Greece, bolstering the record €110bn (£95.1bn) bailout deal offered to the country by moving to underpin liquidity in the government’s bonds. The ECB said it would suspend the minimum credit rating required for Greek assets to be used as collateral for loans until further notice, giving [...]
Great progress on the deficit – but far too many unnecessary tax hikes June 22, 2010 WE?were told to expect a tough Budget, with lots of pain, and that was exactly what we got. Many of the policies announced were necessary; others, however, are clearly misguided. On balance, however, this Budget will leave Britain in a stronger position –?not something that could usually be said of the previous government’s efforts. George [...]
Great progress on the deficit – but far too many unnecessary tax hikes June 22, 2010 WE?were told to expect a tough Budget, with lots of pain, and that was exactly what we got. Many of the policies announced were necessary; others, however, are clearly misguided. On balance, however, this Budget will leave Britain in a stronger position –?not something that could usually be said of the previous government’s efforts. George [...]
City gives lukewarm thumbs up to Osborne’s plan June 22, 2010 CITY stalwarts displayed cautious approval in the wake of the emergency Budget yesterday, as the chancellor’s plans settled some nerves over UK spending. CBI director-general Richard Lambert said the five-year route map for corporation tax “provides much-needed consistency and certainty”, which combined with proposals on foreign profits and intellectual property could reverse the tide on [...]
Higher capital gains rates hurt the economy May 26, 2010 THE government has said it wishes to assist a substantial private sector led revival. It needs a policy which allows reasonable freedom for people to invest, encourages those who are responsible and who make provision for their families and their futures, and is fair. I suggest that gains of under one year are taxed as [...]
Spain’s unions to strike over austerity cuts May 13, 2010 SPAIN’S two biggest unions will stage a one-day public sector strike to protest against wage cuts aimed at bringing the budget deficit under control and preventing Spain following Greece’s path. The unions held almost three hours of talks with Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero yesterday to discuss his austerity plan, announced yesterday under pressure [...]
SMEs will save the UK… but my kids are all learning Spanish just in case July 12, 2010 WOL KOLADE, managing partner at Isis, is worried. The future of private equity – and the UK economy as a whole – is at a turning point, he says, and he’s not sure which way things will go. And when Kolade worries, people should listen – he knows what he is talking about. He joined [...]
SMEs will save the UK… but my kids are all learning Spanish just in case July 12, 2010 WOL KOLADE, managing partner at Isis, is worried. The future of private equity – and the UK economy as a whole – is at a turning point, he says, and he’s not sure which way things will go. And when Kolade worries, people should listen – he knows what he is talking about. He joined [...]
The chances of a strong pound are still bleak June 1, 2010 SO WHAT now for the pound? Not even a Conservative-led coalition and a credible plan to cut public spending has been enough to lift the UK currency out of its malaise – it has fallen 5 per cent against the dollar in the past month and has been unable to break above the €1.18 mark [...]