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 [...]
Analyst Views | What does this mean for the world economy? January 2, 2013 KEVIN BURROWES PWC UK banks will breathe a sigh of relief today as the threat of the biggest economy slipping back into a recession diminishes.” KIT JUCKES SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE 2013 GDP growth is now likely to be 2–2.5 per cent, and the chances of [second half] growth exceeding three per cent are significant.” DAN MORRIS [...]
Fiscal cliff deal is no grand bargain to save the US from growing debts January 2, 2013 WHILE revellers in New York greeted 2013 with renditions of Auld Lang Syne, Washington reflected on a year of fierce partisanship and brutal campaigning. But as the country welcomed in the New Year, so too came hopes of a new era of bipartisan co-operation, after a cross-party agreement passed the House of Representatives and the [...]
Fears over property tax hikes in US force a wave of high-value sales in run up to 2013 January 1, 2013 HIGH-VALUE property owners rushed to sell US dwellings at reduced prices in the days leading up to 1 January in a bid to avoid the tax increases introduced by the so-called fiscal cliff. The top rate of capital gains tax, which is included on real estate sales, was set to go up 8.8 percentage points [...]
FTSE 100 predicted to top 6,000 in 2013 despite US budget hangover January 1, 2013 BRITAIN’S FTSE 100 index closed down 27.56 points on the final day of 2012 trading as investors remained anxious over whether US lawmakers can agree crucial budget strategy and avoid the “fiscal cliff”. But despite the fall, to a close of 5,897.81, analysts predict the blue chip share index will rise 8 per cent by [...]
Doddering fiscal cliff talks prevent FTSE from jumping towards 6,000 December 20, 2012 BRITAIN’S top share index steadied around nine-month highs yesterday, pausing within reach of the 6,000 points mark. Investors were discouraged from pushing the market too much higher by the lack of progress by US politicians on a deal to avoid a “fiscal cliff” of planned tax hikes and spending cuts that threatens the health of [...]
For large home owners it’s heads I win tails you lose December 20, 2012 DIRECTOR, DOUGLAS AND GORDON Q There was a lot to read in the autumn statement. I live in a big house and need to know if I have anything to worry about. A To find out if you are going to be liable for a new levy, you will have to look at your property [...]
Rules against aggressive tax avoidance delayed December 11, 2012 NEW rules that will ban companies and individuals from engaging in aggressive tax avoidance schemes will not be implemented until at least summer 2013, according to draft legislation released yesterday. The General Anti Avoidance Rule (GAAR), which will give HMRC the power to identify and act against legal tax arrangements that are “abusive”, was due to be enforced [...]
Investors escape tax hike on £2m London homes December 11, 2012 OFFSHORE companies that buy prime London homes for investment purposes will be exempt from forthcoming property tax hikes, the government announced yesterday. Many wealthy foreign individuals have avoided stamp duty by setting up a company for the sole purpose of buying a high-end property. They will still be hit by a 15 per cent stamp [...]
Fear of higher tax sparks end of year sell-off December 9, 2012 INVESTORS typically sell stocks to cut their losses at year end. But worries about the fiscal cliff – and the possibility of higher taxes in 2013 – may act as the greatest incentive to sell both winners and losers by 31 December. The $600bn (£374bn) of automatic tax increases and spending cuts scheduled for the [...]