Stagecoach to Steam ahead December 3, 2012 TRAVEL firm Stagecoach will signal whether its joint venture with Virgin is on track when it submits its interim statement tomorrow. The current franchise is due to expire this month, but traders seem positive and shares have steamed ahead by over 25 per cent since lows in May. Spreadex quotes a price of 291.7p-293.8p for [...]
More Yuletide misery for the City December 3, 2012 DECEMBER signals the advent of Christmas: a time for celebration, relaxation, and over-indulgence. But less so this year. The last 12 months have been terrible for those plying their trades in London’s Square Mile. Those who still have a job should be grateful. The City has been butchered this year, and more than a few [...]
Analyst picks for 4 December 2012 December 3, 2012 CURRENCY STRATEGIST CHRIS VECCHIO My pick: Long dollar-yen and gold Expertise: Fundamental and technical analysis Average time frame of trades: A few hours to a few days I remain long on dollar-yen from ¥80.65, looking for a move towards ¥83.75 before I take profit. To hedge this position, I opened a long position on gold [...]
Stage set for more austerity as the chancellor gives Autumn Statement December 2, 2012 THE biggest news of the week will come from chancellor George Osborne on Wednesday, when he delivers his Autumn Statement. Osborne has already revealed he will be continuing Britain’s austerity drive, saying in a television interview that to turn back from the policy now would be “a complete disaster for our country”. His half-yearly financial [...]
Fears of fiscal cliff could halt December rally December 2, 2012 IN normal times, this week’s slew of US economic data could be a springboard for a December rally in the stock market. December is historically a strong month for markets. The S&P 500 has risen 16 times in the past 20 years during the month. But the market has not been operating under normal circumstances [...]
The digital printing duo with a thriving portfolio December 2, 2012 NICK and Tim Green are executive director and chief executive respectively of Tangent Communications, an alternative investment market (AIM)-listed digital printing and marketing company. They have gone against the old adage that you should never go into business with family to set up businesses that have made waves within their industries. Indeed, having made plans [...]
Drown and out experience that took place on the path to charity December 2, 2012 WHEN I started swallowing water, I gave up hope. I was so tired I didn’t want to swim anymore. The “rip” or “undertow” had dragged me a long way from the beach, which was now just a long white band topped with greenery, a meaningless mirage I couldn’t reach. I had no surfboard; I had [...]
Finding the right financing scheme December 2, 2012 A SLEW of new government tax measures, aimed at assisting start-ups and their investors, has reportedly seen minimal take-up. It’s something of a riddle – why would obviously advantageous tax relief, like the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS), fail to excite or inspire? The government thinks it’s a publicity problem. Business minister Michael Fallon has [...]
How to plan for the Autumn Statement December 2, 2012 WITH so much focus on tax in the past few months, it would be no surprise if this week’s Autumn Statement sets taxpayers up for a long and cold winter. Its contents are as yet unknown, and George Osborne has vowed to keep his silence ahead of Wednesday’s Statement. That, however, should not prevent taxpayers [...]
Responding to the threat of cuts to pension tax relief December 2, 2012 AS GEORGE Osborne prepares for his much-anticipated Autumn Statement, rumours abound that he will cut pensions tax relief for higher-rate earners. The Chancellor is coming under increasing pressure to meet his debt targets during a time of sluggish economic growth and high public spending levels. And pensions are a likely subject for tinkering now that [...]