Northern Ireland eyes up new corporation tax powers as government concern over Scotland’s demands grows December 1, 2014 The coalition is embroiled in last-minute talks to determine whether Northern Ireland can be granted the power to set its own rate of corporation tax. Chancellor George Osborne is keen to signal his support for the move in tomorrow’s Autumn Statement, yet the government has been held back by concerns that Scottish leaders would subsequently demand the [...]
Blow for Zoopla as estate agent The Spicerhaart Group lets deal expire November 27, 2014 Online property giant Zoopla was dealt a blow this morning as a leading UK estate agent revealed that it would not be renewing its contract with the site. The Spicerhaart Group – which runs Haart, Felicity J Lord, Darlows and Chewton Rose – will allow its deal with Zoopla to expire at the end of this week. [...]
Mark Carney says UK economy is still in need of stimulus November 25, 2014 Bank of England governor Mark Carney signalled a dovish tone while speaking to MPs yesterday, despite insisting that the UK’s monetary policy will not be loosened even further. Carney told the Treasury Select Committee that Britain was “still an economy that requires monetary stimulus”, despite an expected growth rate of above three per cent this [...]
New Sainsbury’s boss Mike Coupe is on the right road by clamping down on this spending – Bottom Line November 10, 2014 It takes one to know one – and thus I can confidently declare that ex-Sainsbury’s boss Justin King is a contrarian. As the kind of fool who has a tenner on Arsenal to win this season’s Champions League, I am instantly able to recognise the delight he must feel by saying things like “there’s nothing [...]
CBI chief calls for stimulus to save Eurozone November 6, 2014 THE HEAD of Britain’s most powerful business group has urged the Eurozone to stimulate its economy with full quantitative easing, warning that the single currency’s problems could knock the UK recovery off track. Speaking to City A.M., CBI boss John Cridland said that German fiscal stimulus and French labour market reforms were needed to turn [...]
US consumer confidence hits seven-year high October 28, 2014 AMERICAN consumer confidence shot up to a seven-year high this month, according to an industry survey published yesterday. With Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up in the next couple of months, the Conference Board’s findings will provide a boost to retailers across the pond. Respondents to the survey were more optimistic about both the US jobs [...]
The government’s growing debt pile is a threat to Tory tax cuts – Bottom Line October 21, 2014 When Labour were finally booted out of office in 2010, the departing chief secretary to the Treasury infamously left his successor a note – “I’m afraid there is no money,” it read. “Kind regards – and good luck!” Pretty funny, as far as Whitehall humour goes, and not too far from the truth. To one [...]
US Fed stimulus hint sees markets go topsy-turvy October 16, 2014 INVESTORS throughout the world endured another rollercoaster ride yesterday, as the price of assets was jolted around amid volatile trading. The FTSE 100 initially jumped out of bed, gaining 70 points at the open. Yet the previous day’s hangover soon kicked in and the blue chip index slumped to 6,072 points – its lowest level [...]
Brussels court probes Draghi rescue device October 14, 2014 THE EUROZONE’S central bank was challenged in a top Brussels court yesterday over the legality of its bond-buying programme. The European Court of Justice will determine whether a group of German politicians are right to challenge the Outright Monetary Transactions (OMT) programme, devised in 2012. European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi was credited with stemming the economic [...]
Royal Mail row shouldn’t see UBS barred from Eurostar role – Bottom Line October 13, 2014 Bill Ackman was in typically bullish form yesterday, insisting it was “good” that shares in Pershing Square tanked 10 per cent on debut. “If it went up, we’d have sold it too low,” he said. To some extent, he has a point though. If shares turn green and jump considerably after a listing, you can end [...]
