Online sales tax would ‘kneecap’ small retailers, startups warn March 2, 2021 The introduction of a new online sales tax would “kneecap” retailers and have a disproportionate impact on smaller businesses, UK startups have warned. In his Budget tomorrow, chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to launch a consultation on new levies targeting online retailers such as Amazon and Asos that have seen their profits soar during the [...]
Budget: What should Rishi Sunak prioritise to boost UK manufacturing? March 2, 2021 Government borrowing has now exceeded £270bn in this financial year, according to the Office for National Statistics. While under normal circumstances, this may have raised some eyebrows, we are still operating in unprecedented times. Despite the significant COVID-19 relief bill, further investment stimulus is required, and the UK manufacturing sector will be hoping this is [...]
Budget 2021: Sunak to outline post-Brexit regulatory shakeup for the City of London March 2, 2021 Rishi Sunak will outline plans to improve the City of London’s post-Brexit competitiveness in tomorrow’s Budget as he releases a highly anticipated report from the UK’s former EU commissioner for financial services. Sunak is planning to create a new stock listings regime in London to compete with other global financial centres that have benefited from [...]
Budget 2021: Rishi Sunak to unveil £400m boost for culture and arts March 2, 2021 Chancellor Rishi Sunak will this week provide additional support for Britain’s ailing arts and culture sector as businesses prepare for reopenings in the coming months. In his Budget tomorrow, the chancellor will pledge £408m for museums, theatres and galleries to help them survive until the end of lockdown. Under the government’s plan for lifting coronavirus [...]
Hong Kong explores allowing SPAC listings March 2, 2021 Hong Kong is considering allowing SPAC listings as the popularity of blank-cheque vehicles starts to pick up outside the US. Special-acquisition companies (SPACS) are vehicles that raise capital through a public listing with the purpose of acquiring an existing company. They offer private companies a faster and more predictable way to go public and have [...]
Budget 2021: Sunak to announce £520m scheme to provide training for SMEs March 2, 2021 Rishi Sunak will announce a £520m scheme in Wednesday’s Budget to help provide MBA-style management training to up to 130,0000 British small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The new Help to Grow scheme will see the government pay UK business schools to provide 50 hours of free tuition to SMEs over twelve weeks, with with [...]
Chancellor urged to keep London economy competitive through tax measures in Budget March 1, 2021 Chancellor urged to keep London economy competitive through tax measures in budget
Hedge fund tycoon Sir Chris Hohn pockets £343m in record payday March 1, 2021 Hedge fund billionaire Sir Chris Hohn paid himself £343m ($479m) last year in what is believed to be the UK’s largest ever annual pay packet. The tycoon took home the record wage after his Children’s Investment Fund (TCI) booked pre-tax profit of $695m, up from $420m the previous year. The bumper salary, paid for the [...]
Rishi Sunak’s choices: The taxes that may define this year’s Budget March 1, 2021 It is becoming increasingly clear tax hikes are firmly on the Chancellor’s agenda this week, as Rishi Sunak has hinted that he will raise some in the Budget on Wednesday. He is reportedly keen to “level” with people about the fiscal challenges to come. The Chancellor’s primary objective will continue for to be supporting the [...]
S&P rises as Biden’s stimulus heads to the Senate March 1, 2021 The news that Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus bill had passed through Congress over the weekend helped give investors confidence, pushing markets up round the world. The bill will now move to the Senate, where the Democrats hold the casting vote. The S&P 500 rose 2.5 per cent and the Nasdaq jumped 2.9 per cent [...]