IMF warns France June 17, 2010 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned the French government to rely on independent economic forecasts when it draws up its public deficit reduction plans. The IMF said the French government risks “significantly underestimating the size of the required fiscal efforts” It added: “Growth is expected to be sluggish in 2010 and pick up only slightly [...]
Protect your descendants from the axe of the taxman June 17, 2010 AHEAD of the general election, there was plenty of chatter about the Conservatives’ pledge to raise the inheritance tax (IHT) threshold to £1m. But the importance of appeasing the Liberal Democrats has superseded the need to appeal to the Tory heartland. The threshold is expected to remain at £325,000 for an individual and £650,000 for [...]
Boris sets out plan to increase river travel June 17, 2010 CITY Hall yesterday ramped up its efforts to encourage more commuters to travel to and from work on Thames riverboat services, announcing a string of measures designed to make river travel as convenient as Tube and bus services. Mayor of London Boris Johnson has spearheaded a technological push to make the Thames more accessible, in [...]
Dubai World’s $800m sale collapses due to US probe June 17, 2010 A US investigation has halted the sale of Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS), the first Dubai World business put up for sale since the emirate’s debt crisis began. The Department of Justice is probing the contracts of the port and shipping agent’s “government services” arm. The two remaining private-equity bidders for the business, Cinven and CVC, [...]
PERSONAL FINANCE NEWS June 17, 2010 £900M SPENT ON OVERSEAS CARD FEES Holidaymakers are wasting almost £900m in credit and debit card charges every year by using these cards abroad. Research by FairFX.com showed that 56 per cent of travellers don’t know what charges they incur by using their credit or debit card in an ATM abroad. Charges average 2.75 per [...]
Hat-trick hero Higuain sets Maradona on the glory trail June 17, 2010 ARGENTINA(4) vs SOUTH KOREA (1) DIEGO MARADONA lavished praise on his Argentina side after they all but sealed their place in the last 16 with a comfortable victory over South Korea at Johannesburg’s Soccer City. Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain was the hero with a clinical hat-trick as Maradona’s men showed why they are many [...]
Volcker rule to hurt M&A, warn analysts June 17, 2010 THE “Volcker Rule” provision of Wall Street reform legislation being finalised by Congress would put a lid on domestic mergers and acquisitions by the largest US banks, analysts warned yesterday. Further growth through M&A would be blocked for Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Wells Fargo, said Barclays Capital analysts. “A law like this [...]
Sants backs Osborne reforms June 17, 2010 THE key to effective financial supervision is making good judgements rather than structure, Financial Services Authority (FSA) chief executive Hector Sants said yesterday. “I don’t really consider structure is the central issue. I consider making good judgements is the central issue,” Sants told the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment’s annual conference in London. The [...]
Cameron promises engagement with Europe but warns of crucial red lines June 17, 2010 DAVID Cameron was all smiles when he began his first European Union summit as Britain’s Prime Minister yesterday?– but he warned other members not to cross Britain’s “red lines”. Cameron said he and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso were closely aligned. “What he [Barroso] has just said about the importance of getting our public [...]
Going through the motions June 17, 2010 Film Killers Cert: 12A When it comes to gun-toting, ass-kicking couples, Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl aren’t exactly on a par with Brad & Angelina. In Mr & Mrs Smith the dynamic between the latter two was so damn hot they ended up getting married. In the new action rom com Killers, Heigl and Kutcher [...]
