Small players can beat even the biggest rivals March 23, 2011 AUTHOR AND CONSULTANT THE world of work can sometimes feel like you’re completely outgunned. If everyone around you seems better-qualified, more experienced and more likely to succeed, fear not: you’re in the same boat as most companies are when they launch. We live in a world where most of us – either as businesses or [...]
FTSE inches up despite Sainsbury’s glum update March 23, 2011 BRITAIN’S top shares edged up higher yesterday, on a budget day that brought a mixed outlook for UK corporates. J Sainsbury fell sharply after a downbeat trading update, while sector peers firmed after the budget, as did housebuilders which got a first-time property buyers boost, while North Sea-focused oil firms were hit by a tax [...]
Wall St rises as investors dismiss Middle East fears March 23, 2011 US stocks advanced yesterday as materials shares rose, but rising commodities prices due to turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa could keep rallies modest. The market’s favoured indicator of anxiety, the Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index or VIX, shows investor worry over unsettled world situations has been tempered for the moment. But [...]
Becoming Chancellor of your own affairs March 23, 2011 A TENSE George Osborne stammered out an austere budget yesterday. While he might have offered a handful of business friendly measures, he didn’t have much to say for high earners. With inflation soaring and real income flat, everyone is feeling the squeeze. Now then might be the time to appoint yourself your own Chancellor and [...]
Look east for high ISA returns with a fund invested in Asia March 23, 2011 Despite interest rates that are no match for inflation, savers still fail to make full use of their ISA allowance. However, if they are saving for the long-term, and are prepared to deal with volatility in the short-term, they might be better off using their ISA allowance to invest in an Asian exposed fund instead. [...]
Facing the University Challenge: saving for your child’s education March 23, 2011 GEORGE Osborne made it clear yesterday that the Treasury’s pockets are empty. As such, parents hoping for tax breaks and contributions to their savings for their child’s education will likely be doing so in vain. At the same time, school fees are on the increase and the cap on university tuition fees rose last year [...]
FUNDS IN THE BUDGET March 23, 2011 BAD NEWS FOR OIL PRODUCERS Those who have exposure to North Sea oil and gas producers in their investment portfolios will be hit by one of the many new taxes introduced in yesterday’s budget. Dubbed the “fair fuel stabiliser”, it increased the taxes being levied on these companies from 20 per cent to 32 per [...]
Bank’s doves stick by low rates despite nervous split March 23, 2011 STERLING dropped by over half a per cent against the dollar yesterday morning, after the Bank of England revealed that two thirds of its monetary policy committee members still oppose a rise in rates. However, there were further signs that the committee may be moving towards a gradual normalisation of interest rates. Six members of [...]
Mortgage approvals from UK high street banks remain low March 23, 2011 MORTGAGE approvals for house purchases remained near their lowest level for two years, the British Bankers’ Association (BBA) reported yesterday. The 29,923 mortgage approvals in February were just a slight upgrade from the 29,159 in January and the 23 month low of 29,029 in December. Mortgage approvals were down about 11 per cent on the [...]
Growth for Eurozone’s industry March 23, 2011 Industrial new orders in the Eurozone were up by 0.1 per cent in January, month by month. Excluding volatile items, new orders were up 1.6 per cent. Compared with January 2010, industrial new orders grew by 20.9 per cent in euro area. Across the wider European Union area, new orders were up 0.2 per cent [...]
