History, elegance and luxurious style overlooking Regent’s Park January 6, 2011 IF – as Kirtsy and Phil are always telling us – the three most important things in a property are location, location and location, then there can be few better than Cornwall Terrace, overlooking Regent’s Park. It’s a short chauffeur-driven hop from the Ritz, the Houses of Parliament and Harley Street. This Grade I-listed crescent [...]
the bullish argument for the euro December 21, 2010 DIRECTOR OF CURRENCY RESEARCH, GFT AS WE approach 2011, no currency is less liked than the euro. Only yesterday, the euro was at all-time lows against the Swiss franc with the pair sliding towards the SFr1.2500 level. It appears as though all of Europe is trying to exchange the single currency in favour of the [...]
CABLE TO BANKS: I WON’T BE BULLIED December 19, 2010 BUSINESS secretary Vince Cable is on the warpath over bankers’ bonuses, announcing yesterday that he doesn’t care if tougher rules cause an exodus of financial firms from the UK. “We’re not going to be bullied,” he said, in relation to companies’ threats to leave the country due to an inability to recruit top talent. He [...]
FSA pay code throws firms into confusion December 19, 2010 FIRMS are scrambling to comply with a raft of new regulations on bonuses after the Financial Services Authority gave some just eight days to adjust to a revised remuneration code brought out on Friday. The FSA was responding to a finalised set of rules published by the Committee of European Banking Supervisors (CEBS) on 10 [...]
ALSO OUT THIS WEEKEND December 16, 2010 FILM BURLESQUE Christina Aquilera makes her film debut in this excerable drama, co-starring Cher. ANIMALS UNITED Safari-centric kids animation, with James Corden and Stephen Fry among the voices.. LOOSE CANNONS A beautifully-made Italian comedy all about – what else? – the family. DVD THE EXPENDABLES Sly Stallone and a bunch of other past-it duffers – [...]
£53,000,000,000: how much the City paid in tax last year December 15, 2010 THE City paid a staggering £53.4bn in tax last year – more than a tenth of total government tax receipts. The report carried out by PwC for the Corporation of London shows tax paid by the UK’s financial services industry is ahead of any other sector. Business leaders and industry figures lauded the City for [...]
Show your love with a good book December 15, 2010 OK, Christmas is closing in. Chances are you’ve done the bulk of your shopping, or at least you know what you’re getting for your friends and family. But there may still be some holes to be filled, and if there are, there’s no better way to fill them than with a well-chosen book. Books as gifts [...]
Bank levy to raise £2.5bn for Treasury December 9, 2010 THE government yesterday finalised legislation imposing a levy on banks that will raise £2.5bn for the treasury, with the tax to be charged at 0.05 per cent next year and 0.075 per cent in 2012 – although it could be adjusted depending on the tax receipts generated. The rates are higher than anticipated, with the [...]
Cue Card won’t fluff his lines December 9, 2010 WHEN trainer Philip Hobbs identified tomorrow’s Stan James International Hurdle at Cheltenham (3.05pm) as Menorah’s next target immediately after last month’s Greatwood Hurdle win, I remember thinking how desperate I’d be to oppose him. Don’t get me wrong, last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner is one of my favourite horses in training, it’s just that [...]
Kesa profit is up but Comet falling behind December 8, 2010 ELECTRICALS group Kesa yesterday reported a 52 per cent rise in profit – helped by sales of televisions for the World Cup in the summer. But losses at its UK arm Comet increased to £5.4m from £1.5m, as the bill for store revamps and tough trading conditions took their toll. The company said it would [...]