BDO: What we expect and hope for in today’s Budget March 17, 2015 Our tax policy over the past decade has largely ignored the UK’s mid-market businesses despite this section of the economy being a significant source of tax revenues and widely regarded as the engine room for future economic growth. This fact needs to be acknowledged, with more targeted reliefs and incentives aimed at stimulating this fundamental [...]
Budget 2015 vs Budget 2010: What are the vote-winners? March 17, 2015 It’s almost budget day in election year, the time for the Conservatives to dangle a few carrots and warn of a few essential sticks to come. But how different it this year’s budget to the Labour party’s swansong back in 2010? There are a few key differences and some glaring similarities. Tax evasion Osborne’s last [...]
Budget 2015 is all about that tax: Prepare for Osborne to say it every 31 seconds while wearing a blue tie, bookies predict March 17, 2015 It’s all about the tax in the upcoming budget. Chancellor George Osborne is expected to utter the word 108 times in his speech which is expected to last 56 minutes – or once every 31 seconds. That’s the predictions of spread betting firm Sporting Index when the chancellor takes the stage in the Commons for [...]
Sony share price jumps following increase in operating profit March 17, 2015 Sony’s share price opened five per cent higher on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday, after the company revised its third-quarter operating profit up 2.2 per cent to 182bn yen (£1bn). The company increased its operating profit for the year from the originally reported 178bn yen, which it said was based on [...]
FCA takes first public action against Rabobank trader Paul Robson for manipulating Libor submissions March 17, 2015 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has banned ex-Rabobank trader Paul Robson from the financial services industry for "lacking honesty and integrity". Last year, Robson pleaded guilty to being involved in the conspiracy to manipulate his company's Yen Libor submissions. The ruling marks the first time the FCA has taken public action against a trader for [...]
Afren share price falls 14 per cent as sell-off continues March 17, 2015 Embattled oil producer Afren continued to bleed today as investors sold off shares for the third session running. Shares in the Africa-focused group, which recently slipped out of the FTSE 250, fell 14.3 per cent to 3.2p today. This comes after the company's shares closed down 28 per cent on Friday, and by 24.3 per [...]
Good Energy profits down as warm weather takes its toll March 17, 2015 Good Energy revenues and customer numbers rose last year, but profits were held back by warm weather. The figures During the 12 months to 31 December, Good Energy's pre-tax profits declined by 33 per cent to £2.2m. The company put this down to “challenging trading conditions resulting from the warmest year since records began”, as [...]
Just Eat had a great 2014, and this year is looking just as good as international expansion continues March 17, 2015 Just Eat had a year of growth, with users, revenue and orders reaching new heights. The figures Just Eat's revenue for the year ended 31 December was £157.0m, marking a 62 per cent increase from 2013's figure of £96.8m. This was driven by a 52 per cent increase in orders and a 37 per [...]
Apprentices to get 20 per cent pay rise but George Osborne misses minimum wage goal March 16, 2015 Apprentices will get a 20 per cent pay rise this October, after business secretary Vince Cable won his battle to overrule the Low Pay Commission’s (LPC) recommendation of a 2.6 per cent rise in the minimum wage. By contrast, chancellor George Osborne has failed to meet his aspiration to hike the headline minimum wage to [...]
Dax hits record as it strides past 12,000 barrier March 16, 2015 German stock market benchmark – the Dax – hit a record high yesterday in a strong day for Eurozone markets. The index of 30 major German companies closed at 12,167.72 – a 2.24 per cent gain. The European Central Bank (ECB) had purchased €9.571bn (£6.841bn) of debt in the first three days of its public [...]