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A decade on from dotcom mayhem

Filed under: Investing, Markets, Technology

Picture of laptopGo back 10 years from this very day and the stock market was going into freefall as technology stocks finally came back to earth with a resounding bump.

With the benefit of hindsight it is clear now that some fledgling tech companies were fantastic businesses and have proved this since but back then it was harder to distinguish the wheat from the chaff.

The likes of Google and Amazon for instance have been arguably as successful as any company in any sector in terms of sustained growth over recent years.

Some will argue that many tech stocks are still way below valuation levels seen during the 2000 boom – given that these are the survivors does this mean that tech in some way has failed to deliver to investors?

Six of the best for ISA investors

Filed under: Investing, Personal Finance

Man looking at calculation of performance figuresHaving looked at the pros and cons of cash ISAs, many investors may well decide to instead opt for the potentially better but riskier rewards on offer from equity ISAs.

Nigel Walker head of research with online broker Torquil Clark provides his top six funds for ISA investors in 2010.

How to cut your tax bill - legally

Filed under: Guides And Tools, Investing, Personal Finance, Savings and Accounts, Taxes

There are legal ways of keeping money out of the taxman's clutchesIt might sound a little calculating, not to mention downright paradoxical. But if you want to save on your tax bill, consider giving money away. As they say, giving is a form of receiving. Nowhere is this more true than in the UK tax system.

"Making charitable donations through the gift aid system is very tax efficient for both the charity and individuals who are higher rate tax payers," says Jason Butler of Bloomsbury Financial Planning.

MPs slam venture frameworks

Filed under: Company, Small Business, Investing, News

hands holding £5 notesLet's face it, the government's reputation for investing in small businesses has never been great.

Today a group of MPs are taking the matter seriously and pointing fingers at the UK government's management of its venture capital funding plans for those small businesses with prospects for growth.

Ignore cash ISAs at your peril

Filed under: Investing, Savings and Accounts

Graphic showing savings growingClaims that the over 50s are failing to grasp the new ISA rules are missing the point.

Many do understand the new rules but either have not got the money to spare or are totally unimpressed with the rates offered on cash ISAs.

Given the number of comments in response to Daily Finance story 'Over 50s fail to grasp new ISA rules' (link below) it would seem many older savers are just not inspired with interest rates so low to invest in cash ISAs.

However Matt Hunter, head of money at Confused.com, urges everyone to consider the bigger picture.

Report reveals huge RBS pension deficit

Filed under: Investing, Pensions

RBS logoThe news just doesn't get much better for RBS does it? The banks has just reported a loss for 2009 and been heavily criticised for paying out bonuses.

It now seems the bank has the largest pension deficit relative to its market value out of U.K. finance firms in the FTSE 350 index.

Where to find best ISA deals

Filed under: Investing, Savings and Accounts, News , Banking

Barclays is fighting for a share of the ISA marketJust over four weeks to go until the new ISA year. This is traditionally a time when you can find attractive rates on these tax-free investment vehicles. Firms dangle these rates in an attempt to woo last-minute savers in this tax year.

A moneynet.co.uk ranking reveals that Santander offers the best rates for instant access ISA products, (3.5%). Barclays has crept into second place (at 3.1%). "The ISA market is really taking shape as we approach the annual hot bed of activity as providers look to lure savers yet to make their move in the current tax year," said Andrew Hagger of Moneynet.co.uk.

Women still denied senior work roles

Filed under: Company, Debt, Investing, News

A smartly dressed woman looking sadWomen are not making the grade in senior business roles. Still. That's the conclusion of the World Economic Forum (WEF) which says the world's top companies are still failing to educate, train and reward women higher up the company food chain.

WEF says India has the lowest amount of female employees at high-ranking positions. The US, on the other hand, scored well with the highest percentage of female employees (52%) occupying high-level positions.

Red hot war of words over United bid

Filed under: Investing, Sport

Manchester UnitedThe rumoured supporter takeover of Manchester United stepped up a gear over the weekend with signs of a new publicity front being opened.

'Sources' close to the Red Knights group of wealthy fans claimed team manager Alex Ferguson was not only backing the bid, but prepared to invest his own cash.

Pick of the early market news

Filed under: Investing, Markets

Picture of stock market screenBovis Homes Group announced its preliminary results for 2009 which showed a marked improvement on 2008 numbers and indicated the effectiveness of cost-cutting measures.

Bovis posted pre-tax profit for the year of £4.8m (in 2008 Bovis recorded a pre tax loss of £78.7m).

Basic earnings per share are currently 2.8p, which compares to basic loss per share of 49.1p in 2008.

The company claims it has benefited from cheaper, longer term and more flexible banking facilities agreed at the end of 2009.

More investment choice is overated!

Filed under: Investing, Savings and Accounts

Picture of a man pondering set of figuresThe Financial Services Authority prides itself on talking about transparent investment products and 'treating customers fairly'.

This is all very noble stuff but then there is also this obsession with offering the public more investment options as if in some way more choice means a better deal.

History tends to show that this 'greater choice' is invariably via products that are intrinsically complex in structure.

So on the one hand you have a call for simplicity and on the other you have the sanctioned roll out of products that could potentially be the next mis-selling scandal.

'Time to reward investors via buybacks'

Filed under: Investing, Markets

Picture of pile of bank notesOne of the UK's leading fund managers is calling on companies to reward investors with buybacks.

Carl Stick, highly respected manager of the Rathbone Income fund, is asking UK companies that hold cash to repurchase their shares.

Coutts AIG bond row may end in court

Filed under: Investing, Savings and Accounts

Symbol of the court of justiceThe saga of the alleged mis-selling of AIG Life Premier Bonds continues with tycoon Sir Keith Mills telling Radio 4 today that the chase for compensation may soon end up in the courts.

Sir Keith, the man behind Nectar and Air Miles loyalty cards has been fronting a campaign to shame Coutts after the bank allegedly advised him to keep his money in savings bonds issued by AIG, the troubled American insurer.

Retired households feeling the pinch

Filed under: Investing, Pensions

Pic of wallet covered in plastersAs a result of rising inflation, the average retired household, where the main occupant is aged 65-74 years, needs to find an extra £774.70 a year to maintain the standard of living they enjoyed just 12 months ago.

This is the calculation from retirement income specialist MGM Advantage.

The company also points out that the corresponding figure for a home where the main occupant is aged 75 years and over is £383.91 and the average for all households is £1,222.66.

Oil prices rise as euro trumps dollar

Filed under: Investing, Financial Crisis, News

workers at an oil rigThe price of US light crude oil has climbed to $80.09 a barrel as Greece take new measures to boost the country's economy and consequently increase the strength of the euro against the dollar.

The euro rose against the US dollar today after the Greek government endorsed a €4.8bn austerity package and boosted hopes that the heavily indebted country would be bailed out by the EU.
DailyFinance Writers
Chris Wheal Chris Wheal News editor and business writer
Christina Jordan Christina Jordan Personal finance and mortgage writer
Lucy Tobin Lucy Tobin City writer
David Burrows David Burrows Finance, business and personal finance writer
Adrian Holliday Adrian Holliday Business personal finance writer
Lauren Cooper Lauren Cooper Asian markets and features writer
Helen Fowler Helen Fowler Financial news and business writer
Omotola Akerele Omotola Akerele Finance Writer
Guy Clapperton Guy Clapperton Small Business and Technology Writer

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