Kumamoto earthquake: Japanese business suffers post-earthquake as Nikkei 225 closes down and production at Toyota and Honda stops April 18, 2016 Some of Japan's most recognisable business names have halted production after two powerful earthquakes devastated the country late last week. The earthquakes have left at least 40 people dead, hundreds more people injured and thousands of households without access to power, according to local media. Car maker Honda announced today that it would be pausing [...]
Franklin Templeton has discovered that people are now more accepting of volatility in their retirement savings funds, almost a third of retirees now keep some of their savings in investments April 18, 2016 NULL
Not switching jobs has cost younger workers on their pay packet April 18, 2016 Staying put in the same job for too long has cost younger workers on their potential pay packet, a report out today has found. The study by the Resolution Foundation discovered that, had younger workers continued to switch jobs at the pace witnessed in the early 2000s, they would now be earning 30p more per hour [...]
Industry experts join forces in fight against confusing pensions jargon April 18, 2016 A group of pension experts has decided enough is enough for jargon and have today clubbed together to clean up the language of the industry. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) is heading up a Pensions Language Steering Group formed of bodies from government, industry, regulators and consumer groups. Names on the list include the Financial Conduct [...]
New business in the medically underwritten bulk annuity market has continued to grow to £1.2bn in 2015 April 18, 2016 Apparently, bulk annuity deals are just what the doctor ordered. The medically underwritten bulk annuity (MUBA) market pulled in over £1bn in new business last year, according to figures released today. The analysis by JLT Employee Benefits found that the value of new business in the MUBA market grew to £1.2bn in 2015, up from £540m [...]
Cyber security training is outdated or not fit for purpose at many UK companies, finds new study April 18, 2016 Cyber security training at many UK companies has failed to move with the times, research out today has found. The study by AXELOS found that less than a third of firms were employing modern techniques, such as gamification and animation, into their cyber security training. In addition, fewer than half (46 per cent) of executives in [...]
The EU Audit Directive – trying to make sense of it all and what it means for businesses and their accountants April 17, 2016 Time is running out before implementation of the EU Audit Directive on 17 June 2016. The Directive will have a significant impact on audit and advisory firms and the way they operate with Public Interest Entities (PIEs). Both companies and the audit and advisory firms need to plan for this change, and be ready for the final UK [...]
Round two of shareholder spring? Centrica, Anglo American and HSBC Holdings all set for annual general meetings this week against background of grumbles from investors April 17, 2016 Three major household names are all set to test the sentiment of shareholders as they gather for their annual general meetings (AGM) this week. British Gas parent company Centrica will meet tomorrow, while miner Anglo American will host its AGM on Thursday. Bank HSBC will meet on Friday. Last Thursday, an unprecedented 59.29 per cent of [...]
HSBC’s chief executive Stuart Gulliver standing down in two years, with Axa’s Henri de Castries hotly tipped as new chairman April 17, 2016 Stuart Gulliver, the chief executive of banking giant HSBC, looks set to stand down from his role in two years. The bank revealed in a letter to its shareholders last month that the new group chairman, who will be joining once current chairman Douglas Flint steps down, will be heading up the search for a new [...]
HMRC launches new consultation into tax evasion laws for corporates, as Panama Papers scandal rumbles on April 17, 2016 HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has today opened a consultation seeking input on a new offence aimed at businesses which fail to prevent tax evasion. The consultation concerns draft legislation published last December, which would introduce a new offence for corporates that fail to take adequate measures to prevent those working on their behalf from committing, [...]
