Changes to the lifetime pension allowance February 19, 2012 IN LESS than two months the lifetime pension allowance, i.e. the maximum value that can be accumulated within all pensions before incurring an exceptional tax charge, will fall from £1.8m to £1.5m. If the total value of all an individual’s pension schemes exceeds this amount, the surplus will incur an exceptional tax charge of 55 [...]
Splitting up may divide your pension savings February 19, 2012 THE courts have three separate powers to distribute capital on divorce, the first two, namely the ability to transfer a property from one party to another, and the ability to order one party to pay the other a specific sum of money, are familiar to most couples. The third power is the power to make [...]
FTSE bounces off lows after good US data February 16, 2012 BRITAIN’S FTSE 100 closed off intraday lows yesterday as upbeat US economic data brought some cheer to an otherwise gloomy macro outlook, helping oil stocks pare losses, while banks and miners sagged as Greece’s debt crisis rumbled on. London’s blue chip index closed down 6.78 points, or 0.1 per cent at 5,885.38, bouncing off an [...]
S&P hits a nine week high on hope for Greece February 16, 2012 THE S&P 500 hit a nine-month high yesterday, fueled by strong US economic data and increased hopes for a deal on a Greek bailout next week. The benchmark index posted its strongest percentage gain in two weeks, bouncing back from several sessions of back-and-forth action. Sectors sensitive to economic growth paced the market, with technology, [...]
Apple drags Wall Street into the red February 15, 2012 US stocks fell yesterday for the third session in four, with market direction largely dictated by the swings in shares of Apple, the largest company in the world. The S&P 500 appeared set for a strong move off a nine-month high as Apple shares gained three per cent in early trading, helped by Tuesday’s disclosures [...]
FTSE falls in light trading as heavyweights go ex-dividend February 15, 2012 BRITAIN’S top share index fell in light, choppy trade yesterday, pressured by heavyweights such as BP trading ex-dividend, and miners and broadcasters after analysts cautioned against further upside to recent sector gains. London’s blue chip index closed down 7.71 points or 0.1 per cent at 5,892.16. The FTSE 100 has barely moved outside of the [...]
Room for optimism for those with experience on their CVs February 15, 2012 Candidates with fixed income and emerging market debt expertise are best placed to negotiate increasingly favourable terms with prospective employers GROWTH in the Bric countries, Asian and Middle Eastern markets took centre stage in 2011, meaning the biggest challenge for funds was recruiting individuals with a track record in exploiting this space. Candidates with the [...]
The skills chief executives really want February 15, 2012 RECENT research covering the opinions of 280 chief executives from over 21 countries launched by CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) and the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) highlights how in this time of flux, when business is being disrupted by globalisation, innovation and the fallout from the global financial crisis, employers are [...]
JOBS of the WEEK February 15, 2012 IN ASSOCIATION WITH Marks Sattin Specialist Financial Recruitment Programme Manager Market Risk Infrastructure £100,000 This is a leading programme that brings together accountability for the design, management and delivery of strategic transformation programmes. Your role will be to ensure delivery of complex large scale projects or programmes and changes by leading project managers through the [...]
Rules shakeup is set to level up the playing field for funds February 15, 2012 OVER the last decade, investment trusts have outperformed open-ended funds in most regional sectors and benchmarks, with unit trusts underperforming across the board (see examples, above left). But despite this, many have been shepherded towards open-ended funds with some independent financial advisers (IFA) perhaps lured by attractive commissions. But according to Alan Brierley a director [...]
