This is where Brits spend the most money buying their first car (spoiler alert: it’s not London) April 11, 2016 Supercar season may be just getting under way in the city, but for all the golden Lambourghinis causing congestion in Knightsbrige, Londoners on average don't spend as much on their first cars as you'd think. Scotland is the real home of Britain's petrol heads, as new drivers north of the wall spend the most on their [...]
Is SEAT’s new Leon the new hot-hatch hero? April 11, 2016 For many, the 1980s were the halcyon days of the hot hatchback. Yet as the next decade dawned, joyriding, ramraiding and soaring insurance premiums brought this go-faster fairytale to an abrupt end. Until now. We’re currently in the midst of a second golden age for the hot hatch. And while classic heroes like the Peugeot [...]
Slow and steady for the FTSE 100 as it stumbles into Monday, edging up in early morning trading April 4, 2016 The FTSE struggled to get going this morning with a so-so start to the first full week of the new financial year. The blue-chip index crawled up 12 points in the first hour of trading to stand at 6,158, after slipping back at the end of last week from its highest close of the year [...]
From cuts to capital gains tax to a review of the “salary sacrifice” scheme: Here’s what you missed from Budget 2016 March 23, 2016 Eye-catching schemes like the sugar tax, the lifetime Isa and cuts to corporation tax may have grabbed the headlines following last week’s Budget. But a number of the Treasury’s other announcements could impact directly on employees, savers and investors. Here’s a run-down of the best of the rest. REDUCTIONS TO CAPITAL GAINS TAX In two [...]
The City’s Walkie Talkie skyscraper is finally full after CISI snaps up last remaining floor March 22, 2016 The developers behind the Walkie Talkie skyscraper have let the last remaining floor in the building two years after completion in a milestone moment for the City. The Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (Cisi) has agreed to take the third floor of the Rafael Vinoly-designed building at 20 Fenchurch Street at a rent of around £65 per square feet, City A.M. [...]
What George Osborne’s Budget means for you: Five case studies including an entrepreneur, an apprentice and a chief exec March 16, 2016 Accountants from BDO ran the numbers for City A.M. to see the effect George Osborne's 2016 Budget will have on people with a variety of different incomes, living situations and responsibilities. THE BUSINESS WOMAN Catherine Gannon, chief executive at Gannons Commercial Law Gannons Commercial Law continues to perform well as profits and earnings increase on last year. [...]
Budget 2016 predictions: What to watch out for in chancellor George Osborne’s red box today March 16, 2016 Chancellor George Osborne will unveil his spending plans in the annual Budget to Parliament in the House of Commons at 12.30pm today. What we already know… A fresh round of government spending cuts Osborne warned over the weekend that a slowdown in global growth would lead to further fiscal tightening, saying he would use the Budget to slash 50p [...]
Budget 2016: Over-50s hit by 22 per cent rise in car insurance premiums – as George Osborne prepares to hike insurance tax again March 14, 2016 The over-50s have been hit by a 22 per cent rise in car insurance premiums since October 2013, new research has revealed – just as George Osborne is getting ready to hike tax on insurance policies again. To be fair, the figures, by market researcher Consumer Intelligence, found the over-50s still pay the lowest insurance premiums, shelling [...]
Budget 2016: Industry groups warn chancellor George Osborne against hiking insurance premium tax as EY Item Club urges against planned £4bn in spending cuts March 14, 2016 Leading industry groups are pleading with the Treasury to give British businesses a break at this week’s Budget, as chancellor George Osborne eyes up a major tax hike on insurance premiums and higher tax revenues from Britain’s biggest banks. The AA warned over the weekend that the chancellor is considering raising the basic rate of [...]
Competition and Markets Authority’s investigation into the big six: It’s time to welcome a new era in the energy industry March 11, 2016 An eighteen month investigation into the energy market is nearing a close, and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has recommended some practical solutions. This is much needed, given that 20 years after privatisation, 70 per cent of big six customers are still on the most expensive tariff and have been for far too long. We've consistently said [...]