Business comment, opinions on the business news

Implications for tax of festive gifts Dec 12 2011

IF you work as an employee in the UK, you have probably never had to claim an expense for tax purposes, as almost nothing you spend as an employee is allowed to reduce your income tax bill.Read

Chancellor missed a trick there Dec 07 2011

IT was unfortunate that the petrol poured on the roaring public sector fire by the Chancellor in his Budget Statement drowned out the regional business voice offering to help him out.Read

UK needs a credible new exports plan Dec 06 2011

IT'S now or never for exports. It is, therefore, welcome news that the Government has announced a further £45m nationally to encourage more businesses to export, with £10m ringfenced for medium-sized businesses.Read

The opposite of the right answer Dec 05 2011

PERHAPS it's a continuation of the blame game, maybe it's an indication of the increasing desperation of a government fuelled by a total failure to progress any kind of economic success.Read

Despite slow growth, developed markets can still drive greater shareholder value Nov 30 2011

WHILE markets continue their volatile run, it’s useful to take a step back and look at some general themes and patterns. This week we look at why developed market equities take preference over emerging market (EM) equities.Read

Nearly time to judge the coalition Nov 30 2011

THE time is fast approaching for the business community to pass judgement on whether this government has got things right or not.Read

Government to blame for stagnation Nov 28 2011

THIS Wednesday will see the largest industrial action the UK has witnessed for some considerable time.Read

Markets price in too much bad news as trust in assets collapses Nov 23 2011

EVEN seasoned investment professionals are finding it difficult to maintain their composure in these markets. And we all know the impact collective mood can have.Read

Don't let our Glory Days slip away Nov 23 2011

IT WOULD be an understatement to say it has been a hectic few weeks. The announcement that Bruce Springsteen will join Coldplay and the Red Hot Chili Peppers in performing at the Stadium of Light makes an impressive hat-trick of headliners for next summer.Read

Confidence hit by crisis in eurozone Nov 22 2011

ALTHOUGH only 30% say their business prospects have deteriorated, the continuing eurozone crisis has caused a sharp fall in confidence among senior business leaders and the possibility of a second banking crisis is weighing heavily on corporate sentiment.Read

Why sovereign debt hits us all Nov 21 2011

JAMES Carville, the American political consultant and pundit, famously joked at the beginning of the Clinton adminis tration in the early 1990s: “I used to think if there was reincarnation, I wanted to come back as the president or the Pope or a .400 baseball hitter. But now I want to come back as the bond market. You can intimidate everybody”.Read

Finding new strategy for 21st Century Nov 18 2011

HOW can we successfully rethink the way in which we work to prepare for a thriving economic future?Read

Game of high stakes will have huge effect on European growth Nov 16 2011

UNTIL European politicians deliver a measure of stability, it's difficult for investors to concentrate on equity valuations. Italy's recent leadership change is just one reason for investors to stay on the sidelines.Read

Our help is needed more than ever Nov 16 2011

IT IS Global Entrepreneurship Week, an initiative involving 104 countries promoting business start-ups and celebrating the teams behind them.Read

We need a better plan for growth Nov 15 2011

UK GDP will only grow by 1.2% in 2012 according to the latest CBI forecast. This is the result of the continuing eurozone saga, which changes by the day.Read

Wheels coming off the UK and European economies Nov 14 2011

THE last couple of weeks have been dominated by a persistent and totally unwelcome noise - the sound of the wheels coming off the UK and European economies, with dramatic consequences for working families.Read

Gains despite uncertainty over Italy Nov 14 2011

THIS week worries shifted from Greece to Italy as the Italian government struggled to tackle its budget deficit.Read

Short-term thinking has let us down Nov 11 2011

IT would appear that hairstyles are in the news at the moment with the banks, in particular, preparing for a haircut on their loans to Greece and possibly other eurozone members.Read

£93,000 earmarked for firms in region Nov 09 2011

THERE is a clear need to generate growth in the private sector, particularly in manufacturing, and last week saw more than £93m earmarked to companies across the North East in the second round of the regional growth fund (RGF).Read