HMRC officially launches digital Personal Tax Accounts online, with more than a million users to have access by mid-December 2015 December 14, 2015 The taxman is coming to a computer screen near you, after HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officially launched its online Personal Tax Accounts (PTA) today. The digital PTAs aim to provide people with a clearer and more real-time picture of their tax situation. More than a million self-assessment taxpayers will have access to their account by [...]
Five of the most ridiculous Star Wars Force Awakens merchandising and products : From Lightsaber chopsticks to Darth Vader showerheads December 14, 2015 As the world awaits Star Wars Episode VII The Force Awakens to hit cinemas, there's one thing that might just be even bigger than the biggest flm of the year – the merchandise. The Disney machine is already churning out everything from bed covers to waffle makers and products associated with the biggest film of the [...]
Cybersecurity: Targeted cyber attacks doubled in the year to October 2015, with government and the finance sector bearing the brunt of cybercrime December 14, 2015 It's enough to make you want to permanently lose your login details: The number of criminal targeted cyber attacks doubled in the year to October 2015, according to a report released today by Control Risks. Other worrying trends identified by the risk consultancy's Riskmap Report 2016 report were a 56 per cent rise in the number [...]
Bad news for miners but good news if you want to go jewellery shopping for a ring, diamond prices are down 28 per cent according to Moody’s December 14, 2015 Diamond prices are set to fall further, as low consumer demand continues to put pressure on miners, according to Moody’s research. The price of rough diamonds dropped 18 per cent in the first 11 months of 2015, and are now down 28 per cent from their peak in the summer of 2014. Prices are now at a three [...]
The new National Living Wage will set employers back £804m in direct costs alone December 14, 2015 The National Living Wage will set private sector employers back £804m in direct costs alone, according to findings released today by the Regulatory Policy Committee. The independent verification body discovered that National Living Wage, which will be introduced in April 2016 at an initial rate of £7.20 an hour for those aged 25 and over, [...]
Is Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn right – when it comes to kickstarting the economy, is it time for a people’s QE? December 14, 2015 This is a big week for capitalism. In the next few days, the US Federal Reserve will finally start to remove its accommodative post-2008 crisis policy by pulling money out of markets. With asset markets buoyant and the American jobs market seemingly strong, policy-makers should be surely saying ‘job well done’? But, on the ground, [...]
WTI crude and Brent crude oil prices fall further amid mounting glut concerns December 14, 2015 US Western Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell below $35 per barrel for the first time since February 2009 today – chased lower by the global benchmark, Brent crude, which slid below $37 per barrel for the first time since 2008. The renewed pressure came a day after Iran vowed to ramp up production once sanctions are lifted, following the July [...]
A covert QE programme conducted by Eurozone national central banks since 2008? Draghi’s ECB is wrestling for answers after stockpiling revelations December 14, 2015 From time to time, academic surveillance of the financial world produces very practical, policy-related outcomes. Such is the case of a dissertation presented in early 2015 at Berlin Technology University, which investigated the ECB’s crisis policy measures since 2007. It revealed that some national central banks – in particular, Banque de France, Banca d’Italia and Banco [...]
Five ways London companies can recruit top talent to technology jobs December 14, 2015 1. It’s not all about the money We find 80 per cent of candidates accept interviews based on factors other than the highest salary offered, so take the time to promote what makes your company unique in order to engage candidates. For early stage startups that can’t compete with larger companies on salary, perks like flexible working hours [...]