Managers of Wealth Offshore

Bernanke speech crushes silver rally

Investors seemed to react not to what the Fed President said, but rather to what he didn’t say. However, the sell-off was short-lived and today silver has been clawing its way back.

HMRC pushes back

Following breaches in the Banking Code of Practice on Taxation, retrospective tax legislation is to be introduced.

The growth figures may be insipid, the headlines may seem dour...

There are some positive dots that we can join together when looking at the UK economy, which when viewed as a connected string, is beginning to show a slightly more creditable and credible pattern.

10 Thinkers That Executives Actually Listen To

These guys all made the "Top 50 Business Thinkers" list, put out annually by The Thinkers50 and facilitated by consultancy Crainer Dearlove.

Signs of opportunity among the wreckage of European equities - Coutts

Although we remain cautious regarding exposure to European equities in general, selective opportunities may be emerging, as long as global central banks maintain the easy- money stance that is helping to fuel appetite for risk.

Kleinwort Benson's new CIO says "animal spirits" at play in the markets

Crisis, what crisis?

Paying the piper….

HM Revenue & Customs have now started to issue the £100 penalty notices to those people in self-assessment that did not submit their return by the deadline of 2 February 2012.

Learning a lesson from the Americans

Following my comments about the missing financial infrastructure in the UK, I was recently comparing the US banking and financial structures with our own.

Looking beyond the Greek tragedy

Central banks continue to ease policy and risk appetite amongst investors has increased. In the very near term however we remain somewhat wary that markets have rallied too strongly and that further profit taking and lower markets are quite possible.

More pension tax changes to come?

As we predicted in our last Weekly Tax Brief, higher rate tax relief for pension contributions is once again in the firing line.

Changing Sentiment Toward's The Euro?

I am indebted to Chris Charlton from the foreign exchange specialists, Centa Asset Management in Frankfurt who regularly produces fascinating views and opinions on the varying strengths of the differing currencies.

Stop the (printing) press

Never pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel.

Warren Buffett: gold has no value

Berkshire Hathaway chairman and famous investor Warren Buffett has dismissed gold as a "valueless asset".

The £64,000 question - should we beware of Barclays' 'big round number'?

“Beware of big round numbers,” says the latest advice from the Local Government Association to Britain’s city councils presentation of their annual budgets.

Emotional intelligence: thinking and feeling on the job

Psychologists say 'emotional intelligence' can help manage our thinking and improve our behaviour at work and in our personal lives. But what is it, how do you test it … and can it get better?

Don’t shoot the goose

No reasonable person contests the idea that we should all pay our proper dues. Nevertheless, in a week when it has emerged that HMRC wrote off £10.9 billion last year (with the Treasury expressing ‘some surprise’ according to the Public

Is the demise of Swiss private banking gathering pace?

Beyond talk at the time from a few consultants that difficulties at the banks would herald in a period of consolidation in Swiss banking, not much thought was given to the wider implications of what was going on at Sarasin and Vontobel.

THIS MISSING FINANCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE – AND IT’S NOT THE BANKS!

Oh please stop wringing your hands, politicians, and apparently blaming everyone else except yourselves.

Bankers - stop hiding and get out and fight

Stephen Hester signed a contract with the previous government in good faith which detailed how he would be paid for his troubles.

United tax evasion defences start to crumble

All eyes will be on the year end results from Switzerland’s biggest banks this coming week, but thoughts will also be turned to the fallout from tax evasion scandals.

Comment, Analysis & Research