David Cameron rules out VAT rise at last PMQs before the General Election March 25, 2015 David Cameron has vowed that if the Conservative Party wins the General Election there will be no rise in VAT. The Prime Minister made the announcement at the last Prime Minister's Questions of this Parliament. The surprise move will head off the Labour charge that the Tories will hike VAT if they return to government. [...]
Moneysupermarket share price falls as 6.4 per cent share sale is scrapped March 25, 2015 Moneysupermarket.com became the biggest faller on the FTSE 250 in early trading after the sale of a 6.4 per cent stake in the business was cancelled. Shares in the business fell 5.5 per cent to 270p – although they have climbed by more than a fifth this year. The insurance comparison site's founder, Simon Nixon, [...]
General Election 2015: How MPs stepping down at this election could make millions on their second homes March 25, 2015 Exclusive: On 30 March when parliament is dissolved, as the majority of MPs will gear up to embark on the toughest part of their election campaigns, some will bid farewell to the Commons for the last time as they step down from public life. But among the 77 MPs leaving office, many will be left [...]
Direct Line CEO gets £2m raise March 24, 2015 Insurance boss Paul Geddes has been granted a pay rise of more than £2m – up from £2.54m in 2013 to £4.62m last year. The Direct Line Group (DLG) chief executive’s pay was revealed in the company’s final results yesterday, which showed pre-tax profits jumped by 12.2 per cent from £407.3m to £456.8m in 2014. [...]
The Ivy goes takeaway – sort of March 24, 2015 CELEBRITY hotspot The Ivy is in the middle of a massive makeover – but for those who can’t bear the thought of never again eating a meal in its hallowed environs, there is a solution. The old fixtures and fittings from the restaurant will go on sale tonight, at an auction run by Sotheby’s. Alongside [...]
Brexit would be “disastrous” for UK, says Standard Life chairman March 24, 2015 The chairman of insurer Standard Life has told the CityWeek conference it would be "disastrous for London and the UK" if Britain were to leave the single market. Sir Gerry Grimstone said: Why on earth would we not want to be part of one of the biggest markets in the world? Our whole energy should [...]
Labour Promises: We won’t lift vat March 23, 2015 But the Tories demand to know – which taxes will the two Eds hike instead to rein in the deficit? THE LABOUR party will lay down a significant General Election marker today, with a pledge that VAT will not rise if it is elected to power on 7 May. Shadow chancellor Ed Balls will announce [...]
Missed financial targets at RSA wipe a third off of Stephen Hester’s bonus March 23, 2015 RSA chief executive Stephen Hester has been granted 68 per cent of his potential bonus, with missed financial targets mostly responsible for the loss of nearly one third. Hester’s £939,000 bonus took his total remuneration for 2014 to £2.12m, according to the company’s annual report released yesterday. Hester became embroiled in several pay scandals as [...]
Best of the Brokers for 24 March 2015 March 23, 2015 To appear in Best of the Brokers, email your research to notes@cityam.com INVESTEC Numis reiterated its “hold” rating on the asset management group following its pre-close update. The broker said it had made some “very modest forecast changes” as a result of the update, with predicted earnings per share revised downwards, from 36.4p to 35.6p. [...]
General Election 2015: Labour will not raise VAT if it wins – Ed Balls March 23, 2015 The Labour party will lay down a significant general election marker today, with a pledge that VAT will not rise if it is elected to power on 7 May. Shadow chancellor Ed Balls will announce the new manifesto commitment during a speech in Birmingham. Balls will say: Today I can announce a clear pledge [...]