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Top bankers destroy value, study claims
Bankers should count themselves lucky they are being hit by a mere 50 per cent additional tax on bonuses, a report argues, because their benefit to society is negative

Better third-quarter growth masks recession risks
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s economy unexpectedly grew faster than first thought between July and September, official figures showed, but they also revealed that growth was on shaky foundations and analysts said the economy may be about to slide into recession.

Shops target bankers on home turf for Christmas
LONDON (Reuters) - Shop tills in London’s financial districts are not ringing with their usual intensity this Christmas, prompting high-end retailers to find more creative ways to snag financiers’ cash.

New regulations to lay ETF fears to rest - Lyxor
LONDON (Reuters) - New guidelines that could be adopted next year on how exchange-traded-funds (ETFs) are sold would be a shot in the arm for the industry, laying to rest concerns about uninformed small investors buying unsuitable products, a leading provider said.

It’s not just bankers seeking a way round bonus tax
Fund managers, stockbrokers, and even some financial advisers will be hit by the new 50 per cent levy on “bankers’” bonuses

Energy bills up 9 percent in 2011 despite lower demand
LONDON (Reuters) - Household energy bills rose 9.2 percent on average this year, by way more than inflation and even though domestic consumption levels were lower than in 2010, provisional government data showed on Thursday.

Top bankers destroy value, study claims
Bankers should count themselves lucky they are being hit by a mere 50 per cent additional tax on bonuses, a report argues, because their benefit to society is negative

Banks restrict lending to existing customers
More people are applying for loans but fewer are securing one, and those banks that are lending are only doing so to their existing customers

Investors urged to sell before next tax rise
Seven out of ten wealth advisers warn that capital gains tax will almost certainly be raised in a pre- or post-election Budget

Plans to ban “excessive” credit card surcharges
LONDON (Reuters) - The government said on Friday it plans to ban companies from making their customers pay excessive credit and debit card surcharges when buying flights and other services.

Top bankers destroy value, study claims
Bankers should count themselves lucky they are being hit by a mere 50 per cent additional tax on bonuses, a report argues, because their benefit to society is negative

Plan to cut solar subsidy ruled legally flawed
LONDON (Reuters) - Government plans to cut subsidies for solar panels on homes were ruled legally flawed by the High Court on Wednesday.

EU carbon law likely to raise trans-Atlantic air fares
(Reuters) - Flying between Europe and America is about to get more expensive.

Consumer morale falls to lowest in nearly three years
LONDON (Reuters) - British consumer morale hit its lowest in almost three years in December as households’ became much more pessimistic on the outlook for the next 12 months, a survey from researchers GfK NOP showed on Wednesday.

Energy bills up 9 percent in 2011 despite lower demand
LONDON (Reuters) - Household energy bills rose 9.2 percent on average this year, by way more than inflation and even though domestic consumption levels were lower than in 2010, provisional government data showed on Thursday.

Investors urged to sell before next tax rise
Seven out of ten wealth advisers warn that capital gains tax will almost certainly be raised in a pre- or post-election Budget

Top bankers destroy value, study claims
Bankers should count themselves lucky they are being hit by a mere 50 per cent additional tax on bonuses, a report argues, because their benefit to society is negative

House prices set for 2012 fall - Reuters poll
LONDON (Reuters) - House prices will fall modestly next year, but that could prove optimistic should the euro zone sovereign debt crisis worsen significantly, a Reuters poll of analysts found.

Shops target bankers on home turf for Christmas
LONDON (Reuters) - Shop tills in London’s financial districts are not ringing with their usual intensity this Christmas, prompting high-end retailers to find more creative ways to snag financiers’ cash.

Consumer confidence up from record low
LONDON (Reuters) - Consumer confidence edged up last month from October’s record low, but remained depressed by rising unemployment and high inflation, a survey from the Nationwide building society showed on Tuesday.

Top bankers destroy value, study claims
Bankers should count themselves lucky they are being hit by a mere 50 per cent additional tax on bonuses, a report argues, because their benefit to society is negative