January Bank rates are likely to stay steady January 7, 2013 THE European Central Bank (ECB) is likely to keep interest rates on hold when it meets for its first policy meeting this year, analysts predict. “We believe the continued improvement in the forward-looking survey data will have been sufficient to stay the hand of those on the council who last month were willing to wait [...]
Brave start-up entrepreneurs may be set for a positive 2013 January 7, 2013 LAST year’s employment market was characterised by insecurity, scarcity of supply, and job losses in once buoyant sectors. Previously good reasons for staying in a City job could now be gone. While an uncertain jobs market may not be incentive enough alone for you to take the equally difficult path into entrepreneurship, according to Stuart [...]
The money delusion: How I escaped the misery of my millions January 7, 2013 THE girl was absolutely gorgeous and I was thrilled to be chatting her up. It was about 2.30 in the morning and I sat with her in Jimmy’z in Monaco, a very expensive nightclub, drinking Cristal, a very expensive champagne. “What do you do?” she asked, music thumping in the background. I tried to adopt [...]
Government loans aren’t hand outs January 7, 2013 LAST week, the government announced the expansion of its start-up loan scheme, headed up by serial entrepreneur James Caan. Originally aimed at 18 to 24 year olds, and with funding of £82m, the loans are now available to anyone aged up to 30 and the total amount of funding will increase to £112m. The inevitable [...]
It is the perfect time to get your pension affairs sorted January 7, 2013 INVESTMENT COMMENT MAY I suggest a New Year’s resolution? Spend some time thinking about whether you should top up your pension pot. It does not have to take long, and there are a number of good reasons why it is important to act sooner rather than later. One is that chancellor George Osborne announced changes [...]
Strategic investment in an uncertain 2013 January 7, 2013 GLOBAL equity markets have started the year strongly. Investors seem pleased that the US fiscal cliff has been averted, or at least deferred. Now the bigger and more important issue is the US debt ceiling, which will be reached in spring 2013. Until then, financial markets will likely remain volatile. In the longer term, we [...]
The coalition’s lack of purpose has ruined our freedom to fail or thrive January 6, 2013 A SOCIETY must provide its people with certain basics, including security, food and shelter. A civilised society should also provide freedom. There is no precise definition of the term, but it is basically a status that allows people to do what they want, provided they do not interfere with the freedom of others. A market [...]
The government must use its mid-term review to focus on our role in Europe January 6, 2013 THIS week will see the coalition government publish a mid-term review that will look back at its achievements, and set the agenda for the period running up to the next general election in 2015. In many ways, the coalition has already exceeded expectations by overcoming political differences to still be a fully functioning government halfway [...]
Flailing high street has worse to come in the year ahead January 6, 2013 AFTER holding their breath for the last few weeks, some retailers can at last allow themselves a cautious sigh of relief. Positive sales numbers from the likes of John Lewis and Next have given the sector a much-needed dose of optimism, resulting in a slight hike in share prices for some of the larger players. [...]
Should the government’s policy to cut child benefit for higher earners be welcomed? January 6, 2013 YES Sam Bowman These reforms are the next step to rolling back the culture of benefits for all, and they should be applauded. Nobody earning more than £50,000 a year needs extra money from the state. Arguments against withdrawing benefits for the poor may be compelling, but it is hard to feel the same way [...]
