No new taxes: Labour’s Reeves pledges not to increase CGT limit March 30, 2023 Labour does not plan to increase capital gains tax, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has indicated, despite deputy leader Angela Rayner appearing to suggest rates were too low. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last week released a summary of his tax affairs, which showed that his tax rate was about 22 per cent because most of his [...]
FTSE 100 live: Ocado steams ahead again as analysts warn banks have long road to recovery March 30, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 scaled higher today lifted by middle class favourite and online supermarket Ocado extending its strong rally this week. The capital’s premier index climbed 0.32 per cent to 7,588.65 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more in tune with the health of the UK economy, bumped 0.73 per cent [...]
Arbuthnot profit leaps after rate hikes but bank backs ‘conservative’ model as UK prospects ‘not clear’ March 30, 2023 Arbuthnot Latham saw its profit surge with rising interest rates boosting its coffers, as the lender sought to distance itself from recent difficulties in the banking sector. Pretax profit in 2022 lept to £20m, up from just £4.6m last year as net interest income grew by over £30m. The boutique bank said this increase [...]
A quarter of private renters in England don’t ask for repairs for fear of eviction March 30, 2023 A quarter of renters in England don’t ask for repairs in their homes for fear of eviction, a survey has found. The polling, conducted by YouGov for homelessness charity Shelter, found 76 per cent of private renters had experienced disrepair in the past year, and 51 per cent experienced damp or mould. An additional 31 [...]
In from the cold: H&M posts rising sales despite retailer putting its spring collection on hold March 30, 2023 H&M sales soared in the first quarter of the year, despite the roll out of its spring collection having been delayed in many markets due to a spell of cold weather. The Swedish fashion brand, which has 194 stores across the UK, said that sales increased 12 per cent to SEK 54,872m (£4.82bn) during the three [...]
Ease in semiconductor shortage helps car production increase by 8,000 as UK shipments to EU up 6.5 per cent March 30, 2023 Car production has increased following an easing of a two-year long shortage of semiconductors, figures show. The number of cars built in UK factories reached 69,707 last month, over 8,000 more than the same month a year ago, said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The report noted an improvement in supply chain [...]
Aquis Exchange profit grows as diversified model helps trading platform weather economic turbulence March 30, 2023 Aquis Exchange posted “another year of significant growth” despite difficult conditions as the stock exchange operator saw revenue and profit climb from last year. In 2022 pretax profit climbed 27 per cent to £4.5m, up from £3.6m last year. Its revenue also grew 24 per cent to £20.1m. The firm said this reflected expansion in [...]
Backlash from over 50s may force government to delay increase in state pension age to 68 until after election March 30, 2023 Plans to increase the state pension age to 68 have been delayed, according to reports. Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride is expected to address MPs in the Commons on Thursday, when he is expected to update them on the latest statutory review on the pension age. According to reports in the i and the [...]
Controversial Help to Buy policy to boost home ownership to end tomorrow March 30, 2023 A flagship policy to boost home ownership among young people will come to an end tomorrow. The Help to Buy Scheme, launched in 2013, will be wound up, after more than 350,000 people used it to buy their first home, with more than £2.2bn of support last year. But some property experts have warned the [...]
City of London chiefs: We’ve lost our undisputed global finance crown March 30, 2023 THE CITY OF LONDON CORPORATION’s annual report into global financial centres has for the first time put New York joint-top alongside the capital – with a warning that the Square Mile’s competitive advantage is “at risk.” According to the updating ranking compiled by the body which governs the City, London – which had come top [...]