FTSE nears seven-year high as M&S boosts retail sector April 6, 2011 BANKS helped drive Britain’s top shares to a near seven-week high yesterday following a Portuguese debt auction, while Marks & Spencer rose on better-than-expected sales, lifting sentiment in retailers. The FTSE 100 ended up 34.07 points, or 0.6 per cent, at 6,041.13, its highest closing level since 18 February. Lex van Dam, hedge fund manager [...]
Demand for tech stocks lifts Wall St April 6, 2011 THE S&P 500 index inched upward on relatively light volume yesterday, with investors adding to winning positions in technology stocks, but avoiding large bets ahead of corporate earnings due next week. After days of struggling, the broader market index broke above the closely watched 1,333 level. The next closely watched technical point is 1,344, the [...]
Forget the made-for-TV nonsense, the race is on to find real apprentices April 6, 2011 DAVID Willetts, the minister for universities and higher education, courted controversy when he suggested that graduates should consider starting a business if they were struggling to find work. But some of the City’s finest took this to heart and cooked up an idea to boost Britain’s entrepreneurial spirit and give the UK’s best and brightest [...]
Sun shines for the start of new tax year April 6, 2011 THE excitement of the end of tax year rush to fill up your tax free Individual Savings Account (Isa) may be over, but don’t fret. Yesterday’s sunshine and birdsong heralded the start of a new tax year and the chance to start investing in a new Isa. This tax-year also sees a rise in the [...]
Junior Isas to match adult savings funds April 6, 2011 IN LAST month’s budget, the chancellor announced the arrival of the Junior Isa scheme, which will become available in November of this year. The Junior Isa is a replacement for the Child Trust Fund (CTF), but will do away with the government contribution of the previous scheme (see the table below). The Junior Isa will [...]
Profit from the energy of Brazil’s private sector April 6, 2011 THE Brazilian stock market has beaten its fellow Brics – Russia, India and China – since 2002 and its future looks strong. Carlos de Leon, who manages the Allianz RCM Brazil fund, is an advocate for the country’s long-term potential. Whether in energy, healthcare, education or retail, de Leon believes that Brazilian companies will be [...]
Gadgets for globetrotters April 6, 2011 APPLE IPAD 2 Thinner, lighter, faster and cooler still than its predecessor (and this time with a camera too), the new generation iPad is already inspiring tech-envy in airport executive lounges everywhere. Keep that seat-back telly switched off on a long-haul flight, and sit back with this instead. From £399. www.apple.com/uk NOKIA BOOKLET 3G Light [...]
Software for a simpler digital life April 6, 2011 TECH TALK THE problem with the technology revolution is the hours we now spend simply organising our digital existences and inputting the same information. But there are software programmes and apps designed to give us our lives back. Roboform, for example, tackles those time thieves masquerading as online forms. Since so much of life is [...]
Mickelson’s the Master, but Aussie Aaron appeals April 6, 2011 THE MASTERS 2011 STARTS TODAY – 7PM, SKY SPORTS HANDS up who can spot the difference at the top of the US Masters betting list this year? At first glance it has a highly familiar look about it. PHIL MICKELSON and Tiger Woods again head the field although this time 12/1-shot Tiger – who has [...]
Scotsman Laird can be best of ‘Brits Abroad’ April 6, 2011 WHILE the European Tour has grown in stature and Martin Kaymer and co have established themselves at the top of the world order, across the pond Scotsman Martin Laird has quietly progressed through the ranks to become one of the biggest dangers on the American circuit. He earned his summons to the Masters thanks to [...]
