Key dates to watch in 2011 January 6, 2011 JANUARY is traditionally a month of self-imposed austerity and resolutions to do better. Despite a recovering economy, in an environment of high unemployment, rapidly rising prices and a less generous state, keeping one’s finances under better control ought to be topping many 2011 resolution lists. While the VAT rise will be foremost in all of [...]
Falling real wages don’t have to mean pain January 6, 2011 THANKS to inflation of 4.7 per cent, most workers will probably see cuts in the real purchasing power of their salaries in 2011. But there is no reason for that to cut into your living standards. Here are some easy New Year’s resolutions to follow that will help you endure austerity Britain without feeling too [...]
PERSONAL FINANCE NEWS January 6, 2011 RATE WAR ON £7,500 LOANS The average interest rate charged on unsecured personal loans of £7,500 has dropped to 7.89 per cent, the lowest level since November 2008, according to a survey by moneysupermarket.com. The fall in rates is thanks to a price war between providers. Tim Moss, head of loans and debts at moneysupermarket.com, [...]
US uncertainty takes toll on FTSE despite blue chip gains January 6, 2011 BRITAIN’S top share index was pushed down to close lower yesterday, after uncertainty on the outlook for the US economy from weak retail sales and jobs data dented commodity prices and hit mining and energy stocks. Gains in retailer Marks & Spencer, British Airways and technology firm ARM Holdings ensured losses were relatively muted, however. [...]
Soft retail sales hit investor confidence January 6, 2011 US stocks slipped yesterday as soft retail sales and a sharp rise in the dollar left investors edgy a day before December’s US employment report. Given a rise of about eight per cent in the S&P 500 since the start of December, investors could be looking for an excuse to sell stocks if the jobs [...]
Investors views: what’s hot this year January 6, 2011 2010 was a big year for entrepreneurs and small business. The success of the popular BBC television show Dragons’ Den combined with Prime Minister David Cameron’s call on Britain’s “doers and grafters” to save us from recession, which pushed the work of entrepreneurs up the news agenda. But however good your business model you are [...]
SMALL BUSINESS AND START-UP NEWS January 6, 2011 SMES BURDENED WITH VAT ADMIN TASKS Small and medium sized businesses (SME) spend up to one day a week on financial admin tasks such as VAT returns, monthly accounts and tax issues according to findings from Regus research. This has been exacerbated by the introduction of further employment laws and the three VAT changes that [...]
FTSE 100 rebounds as banks rally and miners pare losses January 5, 2011 BRITAIN’S top shares rallied yesterday after employment data from the US showed the economic recovery was picking up steam, which helped miners and oil stocks pare losses and banks rally. The FTSE 100 closed up 29.99 points, or 0.5 per cent, at 6,043.86, bouncing off a session low of 5,964.43. Miners pared losses and oil [...]
Wall St rises after strong jobs data January 5, 2011 THE creation of three times as many private-sector jobs as expected turned Wall Street’s early losses into gains yesterday, extending a rally investors worried had come too far too fast. Financial stocks led gains, helped by credit-card companies such as Capital One Finance, which rose 4.2 per cent to $45.52. The S&P consumer finance index, [...]
All that glisters is not gold January 5, 2011 2010 was a rather remarkable year; it was nearly impossible to lose money. Regardless of whether you invested in bonds, equities, or commodities a year ago, you are probably better off now. But the most impressive performances were in the precious metals sector. The price of gold rose by 30 per cent, while silver closed [...]