Tax is a matter for UK government, not the EU June 13, 2010 THIS week, in a speech to leading figures from across the financial services industry at Mansion House, George Osborne will outline the government’s plans for reform within the banking sector. One of the most significant proposals I have no doubt the Chancellor will touch upon is his determination to introduce a “bank tax” in the [...]
DEBT WORRIES RAISE MARKET INSTABILITY June 29, 2010 GEORGE TCHETVERTAKOV HEAD OF MARKET RESEARCH, ALPARI GOVERNMENT bond yields in developed countries have been steadily falling over the course of 2010 alongside a broad retrenching of risk preferences. Fiscal austerity measures are being implemented across Europe following the emergence of plausible default risk. The cuts planned in most EU countries are being supplemented by [...]
The late-night bank manager is planning a High Street revolution August 8, 2010 THE revolution in High Street banking has begun. That’s the bold claim of Craig Donaldson, chief executive of Metro Bank, the first addition to Britain’s retail banking scene in 100 years. And ground zero is the corner of High Holborn and Southampton Row, where its inaugural branch opened a couple of weeks ago. “The revolution has [...]
Cowdery buys Axa’s UK arm in £2.8bn deal June 24, 2010 RESOLUTION will reshuffle the leadership of its insurance consolidation project after agreeing to pay £2.8bn for the British life and pensions businesses of French group Axa yesterday. Axa’s UK arm will be merged with Resolution’s existing holding, Friends Provident, to create Friends Life. Trevor Matthews will stay as chief executive but David Hynam, Graham Harvey [...]
M4 money supply feels QE effect June 29, 2010 THE supply of money in the UK grew at its fastest rate since the fourth quarter of 2007 in the three months to May as the impact of the Bank of England’s quantitative easing policy starts to be felt, data issued by the central bank showed yesterday. The Bank reported that the three-month annualised growth [...]
Cautious gain at Persimmon January 7, 2010 HOUSEBUILDER Persimmon yesterday remained cautious over the health of the housing market despite a stronger performance in the second half of 2009. The FTSE 250 group said it completed the sale of 8,796 new homes during 2009, which generated a turnover of around £1.4bn. Almost 5000 of these properties were sold in the second half [...]
Ex-New Star hedgie reveals figures from comeback firm June 30, 2010 ALAN Miller, the former hedge fund high-flyer who quit New Star Asset Management following a messy divorce, has revealed market-beating figures from his comeback venture. Just over a year after launching Spencer-Churchill Miller (SCM) Private, a boutique wealth manager, Miller said his two portfolios had dodged most of the downside suffered by UK equities. SCM [...]
THE TIPSTER May 31, 2010 STERLING-US dollar has been well-supported of late on fears that Prudential’s planned purchase of AIA could collapse. A large currency hedge shorting cable was put in place some months ago when the deal was first agreed and if it falls over, the hedge will come off, sending sterling-US dollar higher. While highly speculative, traders should [...]
MEN’S FASHION NEWS June 13, 2010 CITY GETS GIEVES AND HAWKES Anyone walking through Leadenhall Market recently should have noticed the arrival of the spectacularly swanky new shop from Savile Row tailoring institution Gieves & Hawkes. In a Georgian building on Lime Street it covers 1,000 square feet, and looks as smart as a St James gentlemen’s club with oak floors, [...]
Cowdery set to pay £2.8bn for AXA UK June 13, 2010 RESOLUTION, the insurance buyout vehicle, will ask the London market to suspend its shares this morning as it negotiates a £2.8bn takeover of AXA’s UK life and pensions business. The group, led by entrepreneur Clive Cowdery, will also give a brief update on talks with the French company. But a Rule 2.5 announcement providing full [...]