Taxes and pension contributions are squeezing workers’ pay December 4, 2013 IT WAS meant to be one of the most basic rules of economics: the more people produce, the more they get paid. It is a long-standing, near-universal relationship that helps to explain why some jobs are so much more lucrative than others. But in recent years many have argued that the link has broken down, [...]
Autumn Statement: How it may affect your finances December 3, 2013 With interest rates already at record lows, the chancellor may have more bad news in store for savers Coverage of the chancellor’s Autumn Statement tomorrow will no doubt focus on the predictable headline-grabbers – fuel duty freezes, corporation tax changes, and heavily-trailed action on energy bills are all candidates. But for savers and investors, some [...]
This new paper reveals the secrets of investment guru Warren Buffett December 3, 2013 It's an old question – and until now an unanswered one – just how does Warren Buffett manage to make all that money? The investment guru is an anomaly, and the chart below is a reminder (if you needed one). It's a representation of the success of Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway. Its returns are a [...]
Tomorrow’s Opec meeting and why the pressure’s on for oil next year December 3, 2013 It'd be unlikely that the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) doesn't freeze its output ceiling tomorrow. Speaking ahead of the cartel's meeting, Saudi oil minister Ali al-Naimi (pictured) told reporters today, "the market is in the best position it can be". But a note from investment bank Citi warns that pressure will mount [...]
Improvements at state-backed Lloyds see S&P upgrade rating – Now Osborne has to sell the rest December 3, 2013 Ratings agencies seem a bit happier with Lloyds. While they struggle to deal with the way in which the bank is backed by the government, and accordingly the institution's headline ratings can be a misguiding – Lloyds' remains unchanged at A – other improvements at Lloyds are being recognised in another form. Standard & Poor's [...]
3 reasons why a free trade deal between the EU and China is a match made in heaven December 3, 2013 David Cameron's recent call for a free trade deal between the European Union (EU) and China was met with icy scepticism from the EU. David Cameron criticised those who wanted to erect a "bamboo curtain" between China and the EU. However an EU spokesman said in a press conference that any such deal would be [...]
City A.M.’s bumper Autumn Statement preview December 3, 2013 As chancellor George Osborne gets set to unveil this year's Autumn statement on Thursday, we've pulled together all the expected announcements, and what others are hoping for. Ladbrokes have 11/5 odds on the speech to run for 45 to 50 minutes (it's scheduled to start at 11.15am). You'll get 6/4 odds on the speech running [...]
Turning on the lights for Cirque du Soleil is no easy job December 3, 2013 The power demands of Cirque du Soleil have risen a bit since its first days as a small 1980s theatre troupe in Baie-Saint-Paul, Canada. With 73 employees in 1984 – the company has since blown up to hire over 5,000 staff worldwide. Now they've signed up Aggreko – a leader in power provision – to [...]
Three reasons why banks think gold will fall to $1,100 in 2014 December 3, 2013 Gold has struggled this year. This morning, prices tumbled to their lowest since July. Since its 2011's record high, gold has fallen 36 per cent, and investment giant UBS says it's "unlikely to regain its former appeal." . Rising interest rates, a strong dollar and uncertainty over potentially tighter monetary policy in the US have [...]
PC sales are set to crash by over 10 per cent this year December 3, 2013 Desktop PCs have fallen out of fashion, and International Data Corporation (IDC) estimates show that reflected in plummeting sales figures. Having fallen by just four per cent last year, total PC sales (both laptops and desktops) are set to see a double digit fall in 2013. While total sales growth is expected to recover somewhat [...]