Reining in the housing market
Gordon Brown increased stamp duty on domestic properties for the fourth year running in his Budget speech in an attempt to rein in the stampeding housing market. And while some observers anticipated a widening of stamp duty to bring in a levy on properties worth over £100,000, Mr Brown remained focused on properties over £250,000, hitting homeowners in the south-east the hardest....more
NEW ECONOMY
Cautious welcome for e-commerce moves
Gordon Brown underlined his commitment to the new economy on Tuesday with a range of measures intended to stimulate enterprise and e-commerce. There will be a new taper for capital gains tax...more
SHARE SCHEMES
CBI applauds Brown's move to save SAYE
Gordon Brown shocked analysts on Tuesday by opting to maintain the existing save-as-you-earn (SAYE) share option scheme. Jamie Bell, a senior policy advisor at the Confederation of British Industry, said the decision was "good news for the CBI and our members, and also for employees"...more
EXCISE
Cigarette duty rise irks manufacturers
Gordon Brown announced his intention to take a stand against smuggling. As part of this crackdown, duty on spirits would be frozen, whilst that on beer and wine would rise in line with inflation - the equivalent of 1p on a pint of beer and 4p on a bottle of wine....more
INSURANCE
Lloyd's Names win
After many years of uncertainty, the Inland Revenue have decided not to challenge the decision on the tax treatment of premiums for RITC, the cover that enables insurance syndicates to make provision for unpaid claims...more
EDITORIAL COMMENT
Call for caution
Gordon Brown is under pressure to return some of the expanding Budget surplus in tax cuts. But the cost of this could be further rises in interest rates. ...more
PERSONAL FINANCE
Consumer borrowing up
Mortgage borrowing and consumer credit bounced back strongly in February, suggested data released on Monday. ...
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Economy
