FTSE closes higher, fuelled by energy stocks and BP Gulf oil spill response May 27, 2010 BRITAIN’S top shares rose 3.1 per cent yesterday to hit a one-week high, with oil stocks the standout gainers led by BP as it was making progress in plugging a well which has been leaking in the Gulf of Mexico for five weeks. The FTSE 100 index closed up 157.09 points at 5,195.17, its highest [...]
Wall Street flies on China’s Eurozone review refusal May 27, 2010 US stocks rallied yesterday as investor worry was eased after China refuted a report that it was reviewing its Eurozone bond holdings due to the region’s debt crisis. Yesterday’s gains marked the largest advance for the S&P 500 on a percentage basis since 10 May, although volume was below average. China’s denial was enough of [...]
Sort out all your currency needs before you jet off May 27, 2010 EXCITEMENT about the World Cup is starting to reach fever pitch and many football fans are heading to South Africa either with tickets in hand or simply to soak up the atmosphere. England fans are expected to spend around £135m during the World Cup, according to a recent study by accountants Grant Thornton. However, restrictions [...]
PERSONAL FINANCE NEWS May 27, 2010 MORTGAGES FOR FIRST-TIME BUYERS The Yorkshire Building Society this week launched a new range of mortgages for first time buyers. The products have no up-front product fees and £500 cashback. You can also borrow up to 85 per cent of the value of the property. Borrowers will also get a free standard valuation and free [...]
Slick start-up riding recovery May 27, 2010 FROM the moment that Colin Webster and Robert Thesiger decided to set up their own financial recruitment business specialising in middle and back office functions, they knew they were in a race against the clock. After a torrid period during the recession, both men felt that the recruitment market would begin to turn in the [...]
Tax hikes and uncertainty to be bad news May 27, 2010 THE new government has wasted no time in swinging the axe on public spending. This week £6bn of cuts were announced. Business organisations are overwhelmingly in favour of the cuts, but what does this mean for entrepreneurs and start-up companies? Everything from government contracts to Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), which provide grants and funding to [...]
Q&A: PENSIONS May 27, 2010 Q. I am a small business owner and I?want to set up a pension fund for my employees, what is the easiest way to do this? A. It’s a timely thing for business owners to think about because the government are changing the rules for pension funds in 2012. The new rules will force employers [...]
Act now to snap up remaining French bargains May 27, 2010 AFTER a weekend of Mediterranean weather evaporated this week, sun-hungry holidaymakers could be forgiven for looking to France. And with sellers dusting down wine cellars for the high season, there is no better time to fly south for villa-viewing. The Lehman collapse saw demand take flight even from prime locations, but top-end buyers returned during [...]
FOCUS ON: CHISLEHURST, KENT May 27, 2010 CHALVEDUNE, WILDERNESS ROAD Price: £5.5m This is an extremely spacious home built on a sought-after private road with views to the rear over Chislehurst golf course. There is a master suite with two dressing rooms, en suites, a private sitting room and balcony. There are six further bedrooms. There are plenty of facilities such as [...]
Q&A: BUYING May 27, 2010 Camilla Dell MANAGING PARTNER AT BLACK BRICK Q.Dear Camilla, Hips were originally introduced to protect buyers, now that they have been abolished what protection do buyers have? A. HOME Information Packs (Hips) were initially put in place to help buyers find out important information about the properties they were buying and to stop sales falling [...]
