Lawyers: Ready your mixing bowls and wooden spoons, because it’s time for London Legal Support Trust’s Great Legal Bake 2016 February 1, 2016 What do lawyers stash away in their briefcases? If you bump into a legal eagle this week, you might just find it's full of cupcakes. Today marked the start of the London Legal Support Trust's Great Legal Bake 2016, which aims to raise money for free legal services in London and the south east, although bakers can [...]
UK manufacturing shoots up for start of 2016, with business survey figures reporting a three-month high February 1, 2016 The UK's manufacturing industry has had a positive start to the new year, although experts have warned of challenges in the current marketplace. Markit's most recent purchasing managers' index (PMI), which was released today, reached a three-month high of 52.9 for January, up slightly from 52.1 in December. Rob Dobson, senior economist at Markit, said: "The UK manufacturing [...]
DLA Piper merges with Finland law firm Peltonen LMR to improve its presence in the Nordic region February 1, 2016 An international law firm has revealed that it is venturing further into Nordic territory with its most recent merger move. DLA Piper today announced that it was joining forces with Finnish lawyers Peltonen LMR, which will mean the firm will have more than 200 lawyers based in Nordic countries and a new base in Helsinki. DLA Piper already [...]
Murgitroyd Group share price up as patent company reports boosts to revenue and profit for its six months ended November 2015 February 1, 2016 Murgitroyd Group has today revealed profit before tax of £2.1m for its six months ended November 2015, up 6.6 per cent from just under £2m in 2014. The patent and trademark legal services company also announced that it had seen revenue grow by 5.7 per cent to £20.4m, up from £19.3m in 2014. Share price for [...]
Hackers earn a fraction of what cybersecurity professionals make, so it’s little wonder they adopt an opportunistic approach and pick easy targets February 1, 2016 Even in this day and age, some adages still hold true – crime really doesn't pay, even for incredibly modern cybercriminals. Research out today from US-based security company Palo Alto Networks has discovered that the average cybercriminal earns less than $30,000 (£21,007) a year from their misdeeds, which is a quarter of the average salary of a cybersecurity [...]
UK Pensions: FTSE 100 companies slice over £20bn off defined benefit (DB) pensions deficit but overall funding level in private sector remains bleak February 1, 2016 The total deficit for defined benefit (DB) pensions schemes for FTSE 100 companies has been slashed by £21bn over the course of a year. According to figures released today by JLT Employee Benefits, the total deficit across FTSE 100 companies stood at £77bn at 31 January 2016, down from £98bn at the same time the year [...]
UK pensions: Parliament to debate transitional state pension arrangements for women born in the 1950s tomorrow after online Waspi petition receives more than 100,000 signatures January 31, 2016 MPs will tomorrow debate the fairness of state pension arrangements for women born in the 1950s, after an online petition received more than 100,000 signatures. The petition, entitled "Make fair transitional state pension arrangements for 1950’s women", was started on behalf of the campaign group Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) and points out that some women [...]
Late tax return? You have the right to appeal a penalty if you have a reasonable excuse, says industry body, as the deadline for self-assessment tax return draws nearer January 31, 2016 With just one hour to go until the deadline for self-assessment tax returns, an industry body has urged those who have a reasonable excuse for not hitting submit by midnight to appeal any late filing penalty they receive. The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) has today warned [...]
Barclays and Credit Suisse strike deals with US regulators over allegations that they misled investments in dark pools January 31, 2016 Two well-known names in banking have struck deals worth millions of dollars with US regulators over allegations they misled investors. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) today announced that Barclays and Credit Suisse have reached settlements on separate cases regarding accusations over dark pool investments. The banks have agreed to pay $154.3m (£108.3m) between them. Barclays has agreed to pay $70m, split [...]
Londoners least likely to own an ISA, but the savings product proves more popular in the south west January 31, 2016 Londoners have a bit of a reputation for trying to have it all, but, when it comes to savings and investments, it appears there's one thing they're routinely passing on. According to research released this weekend by wealth management service MoneyFarm, just 39 per cent of capital dwellers have an ISA, despite gross disposable household income [...]
