Meet the hamster that wants part of the City of London to join an independent Scotland | City A.M. March 20, 2014 This is William Wallace, he’s a hamster and he’s currently running for Lord Mayor of Portsoken. The ballots are being counted today and the result is expected to be announced this evening. “Hamster candidate, Sir William Wallace, pledges that if elected, he would declare Portsoken part of an Independent Scotland,” says Muhammad Al-Hussaini, the furry [...]
No turning back: Four reasons Osborne’s Budget matters March 19, 2014 FOUR key things strike me about the 2014 Budget. First, George Osborne stuck to his plan. Osborne’s Budgets will be remembered for two things: slow, steady, drawn-out spending cuts, bearing down gradually upon the government’s huge deficit; and a large rise in the income tax personal allowance. Both aspects were reflected in yesterday’s Budget speech. [...]
Why Osborne should now axe tax relief on pensions March 19, 2014 WHEN you have no money, and you need to conserve cash for a rabbit out of the hat in the run up to the election, what do you do? The chancellor’s answer: focus the Budget on pension reform and Isas saving incentives. That’s all fine and dandy, but it’s a missed opportunity. The chancellor reached [...]
It’s time to banish corporate jargon March 19, 2014 Buzzwords and management-speak are not only bad for business, but for your career too CAN WE drill down in the thought shower?” If this sentence makes sense to you, you could be under jargon’s wicked spell. And according to Deloitte, businesspeople are among the worst offenders when it comes to using pompous or inflated language. [...]
Why an independent Venice should adopt Dogecoin March 18, 2014 On Friday, polls will close as Venetians vote on the issue of independence. Opinion polls suggest that locals are in favour of a future Republic of Veneto, but a successful yes result will not be legally binding. Crucially, if Venice does ever become fully independent, it will have to make a decision on the matter [...]
Junior Isas: Kickstart your child’s savings March 18, 2014 But the tax wrapper is not always the best vehicle, as the funds are locked away until the child turns 18 With the total cost of a university degree topping £50,000 according to some estimates, and successive generations finding it harder to get a foot on the property ladder, many parents looking for a tax-efficient [...]
Three investment ideas to boost your portfolio March 18, 2014 @AnnabelPalmer1 INVESTORS have just over a fortnight to make the most of this year’s Isa allowance (up to £11,520 in a stocks and shares Isa in 2013-14). But it’s also a good time to review whether your portfolio needs rebalancing. In the latest in our series on Isa investment ideas, City A.M. talks to the [...]
How to beat that afternoon slump March 18, 2014 Battling to keep your eyes open at 3pm? Here’s how to boost your post-lunch productivity EMPLOYERS are going to great lengths to keep staff alert throughout the day. Google and P&G have invested in “EnergyPods” – chairs designed for power naps in the office. Others are creating “social workplaces,” with afternoon ice cream contests and skateboarding competitions. [...]
Five of the best | Lobster dishes in the square mile March 18, 2014 Lobster roll at burger and lobster, 1 Bread St, EC4M 8SH There are only three things on the menu at Burger and Lobster, and this has to be the best. With rich mayonnaise, chives and a melted butter accompaniment, it’s an indulgent treat – just the way lobster should be. Half a native lobster with [...]
Rethinking the safe haven: What’s fuelling gold’s rise March 17, 2014 Simple assumptions about the yellow metal could result in traders getting burnt. Treasury yields could be a better metric for gauging where it may go next To many, gold’s sharp rise in recent months, widely attributed to increasing geopolitical tension in Ukraine and fears of a Chinese economic slowdown, has underscored its role as the [...]