Archives
HMRC plans to break up multi-billion IT contract
September 1st, 2014
A plan by HMRC to split its multi-billion pound IT contract into smaller parts may worsen the service, the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union has said. The Times reported this week that the tax department is planning to ...
Merkel unhappy with Draghi’s apparent new fiscal focus
September 1st, 2014
A German news magazine reported on Sunday that Chancellor Angela Merkel is unhappy with European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi for apparently proposing a greater emphasis on fiscal stimulus over austerity in order to boost growth in Europe. Draghi ...
Private equity groups make $500m UK North Sea oil investment
September 1st, 2014
Buyout groups Blackstone and Blue Water Energy are providing $500m to Siccar Point Energy, a new UK-focused oil company, in one of the largest ever private equity investments in North Sea oil. The move highlights the continuing international appeal ...
German business attacks ‘complacent’ Berlin
September 1st, 2014
Germany has become “overconfident” and “complacent”, with the government pursuing policies that put the country’s hard-won competitiveness at risk, some of Germany’s top business leaders warn. Their criticisms of chancellor Angela Merkel’s government come as Europe’s largest economy is ...
SEC gives $300,000 Whistleblower Award to Internal Auditor
September 1st, 2014
For the first time, the Securities and Exchange Commission is rewarding a corporate whistleblower whose actual job it is to blow the whistle on a company’s internal missteps. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it would provide a ...
Switzerland, Estonia Agree Double Tax Pact Change
September 1st, 2014
Switzerland and Estonia have signed a protocol to their double taxation agreement (DTA) to cut withholding tax rates and provide for the exchange of information on request. The protocol places a maximum tax withholding tax rate on dividends of ...
China Plans a Market for Carbon Permits
September 1st, 2014
China plans to introduce its national market for carbon permit trading in 2016, a government official said on Sunday, adding that Beijing is close to completing rules for what will be the world’s biggest emissions trading program. China has ...
Abenomics, European Style
September 1st, 2014
Two years ago, Shinzo Abe’s election as Japan’s prime minister led to the advent of “Abenomics,” a three-part plan to rescue the economy from a treadmill of stagnation and deflation. Abenomics’ three components – or “arrows” – comprise massive ...
China gives Microsoft 20 days to provide explanation in anti-trust probe
September 1st, 2014
A Chinese anti-trust regulator said on Monday it has given Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) 20 days to reply to queries on the compatability of its Windows operating system and Office software suite amid a probe into the world’s largest software ...
Weak data to test BOJ’s rosy economic view, policy on hold
September 1st, 2014
The Bank of Japan will maintain its existing stimulus policy and optimistic economic view on when it meets on Thursday, sources say, preferring to take more time to gauge whether a run of weak data is sufficient to threaten ...
