A green tax that risks economic sustainability May 2, 2011 FROM 2013, a tax on carbon producers will be unilaterally implemented by the UK upon carbon intensive industries. Costs to UK based businesses are estimated to be in the region of £9.3bn, undermining their competitiveness, damaging energy producers and users, and ultimately hitting the wallet of consumers. Presently, about half of Europe’s emissions are covered [...]
RICS calls for more help for housing in the Budget February 16, 2011 THE ROYAL Institution of Chartered Surveyors called on the government to support the construction industry and housing in particular yesterday in its pre-Budget letter to the Treasury. RICS said the sector accounted for more than 1.4m jobs in the UK, and that VAT exemptions, more affordable homes and simpler government procurement is needed in the [...]
RICS calls for more help for housing in the Budget February 16, 2011 THE ROYAL Institution of Chartered Surveyors called on the government to support the construction industry and housing in particular yesterday in its pre-Budget letter to the Treasury. RICS said the sector accounted for more than 1.4m jobs in the UK, and that VAT exemptions, more affordable homes and simpler government procurement is needed in the [...]
Don’t worry, the party in commodities isn’t over yet May 11, 2011 COMMODITIES took a big knock in the recent correction, but the fundamentals still point towards continued rises over the medium term. Assuming you aren’t planning to fill your home with sheep, soybeans and platinum, with certain provisos, commodity funds can offer you a route in. THE PARTY ISN’T OVER Investors who joined the commodity party [...]
Allied Irish loss soars to €10.4bn April 12, 2011 Allied Irish Banks’ full-year loss more than quadrupled to €10.4bn (£9.2bn) in 2010 and the lender said on Tuesday it would axe over 2,000 jobs as it seeks to re-invent itself as a locally-focussed bank. A former stock market darling with international ambitions, AIB has been effectively nationalised and saved from collapse by emergency ECB [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING April 10, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES BIG MEDIA NAMES BACK BOUTIQUE BANK RAINE Eric Schmidt, Sean Parker, Peter Chernin and other big names from the media and technology sectors have invested in a merchant bank started by two ex-Wall Street dealmakers and Ari Emanuel, head of William Morris Endeavor talent agency. CAPITAL RULES DEAL A BLOW TO LIFE ASSURERS [...]
Housebuilder Berkeley sees earnings at top end March 18, 2011 Housebuilder Berkeley Group Holdings expects to post full-year earnings towards the top end of expectations after winter sales reservations jumped and visitor numbers held steady. The company, which specialises in luxury flats, also said that it hoped to achieve further earnings growth in the coming year, should market conditions permit. Sales reservations in the November [...]
Housebuilder Berkeley sees earnings at top end March 18, 2011 Housebuilder Berkeley Group Holdings expects to post full-year earnings towards the top end of expectations after winter sales reservations jumped and visitor numbers held steady. The company, which specialises in luxury flats, also said that it hoped to achieve further earnings growth in the coming year, should market conditions permit. Sales reservations in the November [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS March 14, 2011 WPP Citi rates the marketing group “buy /medium risk” with a target price of 950p. The broker has downgraded its 2011-12 forecasts by one to three per cent thanks to currency movements, but still expects organic growth of 5.6 per cent this year once the firm gets through the traditional “mid-year doldrums”. Citi says WPP [...]
Osborne to hike tax allowances March 22, 2011 GEORGE Osborne will today unveil small tax cuts, help for first-time buyers and a series of symbolic measures to show he is tough on the rich. But his Budget could be overshadowed by spiralling inflation and weaker public finances, preventing him from pulling any rabbits out of his hat. The chancellor will announce that he [...]