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 [...]
Cable: Bonus tax still on agenda December 5, 2010 VINCE Cable yesterday confirmed the government is considering resurrecting Labour’s 50 per cent bank bonus tax. George Osborne is coming under intense pressure from his coalition partners to send a tough message to the City, with Cable thought to be broadly in favour of reintroducing the tax. The business secretary told City A.M.: “The tax has [...]
TUX-CLAD SOLICITORS FLOCK TO FISH MARKET December 2, 2010 HUNDREDS of lawyers gave their well-worn tuxedos another outing last night as they gathered for the British Legal Awards hosted by Legal Week, with the barristers characteristically out-dressing the solicitors. Catching City of London law society chair Bill Knight sharing a drink with Norton Rose’s Sir David Lewis before the evening kicked off, The Capitalist [...]
Scot free… No censure for Fred the Shred December 2, 2010 SHAMED banker Sir Fred Goodwin escaped censure for his role in the near-collapse of Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) yesterday. After an 18-month investigation the Financial Services Authority (FSA) decided there was no fraud or dishonest activity by the former bank boss or his executives. It said a series of “bad decisions” were made, in [...]
European classics still all the rage if you want a place in the sunshine December 2, 2010 IF you fancy picking up a nice cottage in the Irish countryside, or a villa in Portugal or Greece, then now might be the time to start looking. In the wake of the financial crisis most potential buyers were put off by uncertainty, but now the eurozone is in crisis and the pound is relatively [...]
No bonus cut at Stan Chart November 25, 2010 EMERGING markets bank Standard Chartered yesterday distanced itself from talks between the UK’s biggest banks over limiting bonus payouts. RBS, HSBC and Barclays are reportedly in discussions with each other and the government over potentially cutting 2010 bonuses as well as lending more to businesses. The UK’s five biggest banks may also contribute up to [...]
Now is the perfect time to capture a castle November 25, 2010 WE may not all be able to bag our very own Prince William, but that doesn’t mean living like a king or queen need be out of the question. Knight Frank has reported a spate of castles on the market in Scotland, with six currently for sale. (Scotland is castle central because of the warring [...]