Strong commodities and SAB Miller drive FTSE to a three-week high November 22, 2012 BRITAIN’S top share index reached a three-week high yesterday after gaining for a fourth straight session, driven by strength in commodity stocks after a return to growth in China’s manufacturing sector. The FTSE 100 index closed up 39 points, or 0.6 per cent, at 5,791.03, extending its gains for the week so far to almost [...]
European shares given a boost by data from China November 22, 2012 EUROPEAN shares rose for a fourth consecutive session in thin volume yesterday as strong Chinese data and results from SABMiller encouraged some investors to bet on a continuation of the recent bounce. SABMiller was the top riser, adding 6.9 per cent in volume after it reported strong growth, and heavyweight basic resources stocks were also [...]
No need to break the bank on winter travel insurance November 22, 2012 RECENT disasters – from airline collapses to volcanic ash and Hurricane Sandy – have led to disrupted travel plans, increased pressure on travel insurance companies, and vulnerable travellers facing financial loss after independently booking their holidays. You may choose to spend your winter holiday on a beach rather than white water rafting down the Colorado [...]
Getting insured for your ski holiday is snow joke November 22, 2012 You’re heading to the ski slopes for a well-earned break from City life. Your passports have been rediscovered, your flights booked, and your bags packed. But have you arranged your travel insurance? A survey of winter holiday-makers by the AA found that a third of those buying travel insurance did not check the level of [...]
Why Britain’s housing market has escaped the disasters of the 1990s November 22, 2012 DESPITE economic woes, the British housing market is holding up reasonably well. According to the Office for National Statistics, house prices in September were 1.7 per cent higher than a year earlier in nominal terms, and only 2.5 per cent down on their 2008 peak. Of course, there are qualifications. Higher prices are mainly confined [...]
It’s time we should raise a glass in Thanksgiving for our commercial society November 22, 2012 BLESSED with a wife born in America, Thanksgiving is a festival I am learning to celebrate. In grim economic times, it is easy to focus only the negative. But we still enjoy the rare good fortune to live, for the most part, in peace and under liberty. Freedoms of association, speech, trade, and faith enrich [...]
The HP Autonomy allegations reveal US-UK differences November 22, 2012 ANOTHER US-UK economic conflict is brewing, following HP’s revelation that it has taken an $8.8bn (£5.5bn) write-down. It comes after the claim that it had discovered “serious accounting improprieties” at Autonomy, the British software company. Autonomy completely denies the allegations, of course. But like Standard Chartered’s run-in with the New York regulator over Iranian sanctions, [...]
Should Sunday trading hours be extended in supermarkets for the Christmas period? November 22, 2012 YES Dalton Philips The seven trading days before Christmas day are the busiest days of the year for grocery shopping. This period puts a huge strain on staff across our business, but particularly those in stores, logistics, and in manufacturing. Our analysis shows that, in the seven days prior to our early closing on Christmas [...]
Rapid responses November 22, 2012 Taxing times [RE: Our bureaucratic tax system is destroying jobs and growth, yesterday] Fiscal reform is desperately needed. There is a bewildering menu of taxes in this country, and even more red tape as a result. With the government’s avaricious appetite, high levels of taxation are not going to go away any time soon. And [...]
Mr Hare ushers in a new era for luxury men’s footwear November 22, 2012 Standing IN Marc Hare’s much talked about new store on Stafford Street, Mayfair, it’s hard to fathom that his life was far from rosy this time four years ago. Back in 2008 the designer was going through a divorce, had broken his leg and lost his job: and all in the same week. But his [...]
