Wishes and predictions for Osborne’s budget March 17, 2014 Business and accountancy advisers BDO has drawn up a wishlist for neglected middle-market firms, looking for a tax allowance for spending on factories and a reduction in employers’ national insurance for manufacturers. BDO also believes that the chancellor could reform business rates in a revenue neutral fashion and announce a fresh review. BDO say that [...]
Britain’s traumatic national pay cut is finally coming to an end March 17, 2014 BRITAIN’S traumatic national wage cut could be about to come to an end – or so the Treasury would like us to believe. For once, it may have a point: while many are still suffering, there is growing evidence that pay is starting to rise for some workers. Let me first point out that I’m [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 18 March 2014 March 17, 2014 FINANCIAL TIMES ATM risk as Windows XP support ends In less than a month, most of the world’s ATMs and a large portion of its computer-based industrial control systems will become a lot more vulnerable to hackers and viruses. On 8 April, Microsoft will stop issuing updates and patches for bugs in its Windows XP [...]
Putin signs Crimea over to Russia as the EU and US issue sanctions March 17, 2014 PRESIDENT Putin has signed Crimea over to Russia and announced it is now a sovereign state, according to the Kremlin. The Russian president is understood to have signed a decree last night recognising the Ukrainian territory as part of Russia, following a widely-disputed vote in Crimea on Sunday. The news comes as President Obama and [...]
Barclays bosses’ bonuses slashed after revenues fall in tough 2013 March 17, 2014 BARCLAYS will today announce smaller share awards for top executives despite the bank increasing its overall bonus pool, as the bank’s profits fell in 2013. The bank’s adjusted profits fell by 32 per cent last year, but the bonus pool increased by 10 per cent to £2.4bn. Chief executive Antony Jenkins defended the move, arguing [...]
Bank of England exec: banks still too big to fail March 17, 2014 THE GLOBAL financial system is still threatened by banks that are “too big to fail”, according to a speech given yesterday by Sir Jon Cunliffe, deputy governor of the Bank of England. Cunliffe, who is responsible for financial stability at the Bank, said: “I do not think we can say with confidence now that we [...]
Stamp duty thresholds have lost home sellers £260m since 2012 March 17, 2014 STAMP duty is distorting the housing market, losing sellers over £260m in the past two years, according to analysis from property website Zoopla. Research conducted by the website demonstrates the effect of the “dead zone” for stamp duty. Since the tax rises on the price of the whole property if it edges over £125,000 or [...]
Moneysupermarket’s founder pockets £108m more in stock sale March 17, 2014 SIMON Nixon is cashing in another £108m of shares in Moneysupermarket, the price comparison website he co-founded, the firm announced yesterday. The entrepreneur has already made around £300m from previous share sales. This new sale of 55m shares represents a 10 per cent stake in the business and will leave him holding just short of 20 [...]
Just-Eat curries investor favour for £900m float March 17, 2014 JUST-EAT beefed up its boardroom yesterday with senior hires from BSkyB and Hammerson ahead of a float next month, adding to the swelling ranks of firms looking to list in London. The 13-year-old business, which was founded in Denmark by entrepreneur Jesper Buch, said BSkyB chief financial officer Andrew Griffith would join the firm as [...]
Viewpoint: The retail investor should not be ignored March 17, 2014 HOW CAN any company which relies on the custom of the public ignore them when it floats on the market? Certainly it seems wrong to deny your customers a chance to share in your company’s fortunes. The current resurgence of initial public offerings in the London market is certainly welcome. But it isn’t good news [...]
