The watchdogs that don't scare anyone: the grey men who oversee the UK's competition laws make or break mergers, sometimes damaging the value of whole chunks of industry. Now they are under attach, accused of being ineffective and worse
Article Abstract:
The sytem for policing monopolies in the UK has been condemned by Stephen Locke, director of research and policy at the Consumers' Association. Sir Bryan Carsberg, current head of the Office of Fair Trading, believes that changes should be made to competition policy and the regulators enforcing it. The Office of Fair Trading and the Monopolies and Mergers Commission have been increasingly ad odds and several referrals made by Sir Bryan Carsberg were rejected by the commission. The system has been critcised for its lack of power, amateurism and political interference.
Publication Name: Investors Chronicle
Subject: Business
ISSN: 0261-3115
Year: 1995
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A plan for all seasons
Article Abstract:
UK corporate bond personal equity plans (Peps) have not seen high demand levels from investors, and competition is intense between companies offering such Peps. Investors should assess their need for an income, and check the past performance of the fund manager. Guaranteed Peps are suitable for investors who are averse to taking on risk. Income tends to be lower from such Peps. Charges have a major impact on returns and capital can be eroded by high charges.
Publication Name: Investors Chronicle
Subject: Business
ISSN: 0261-3115
Year: 1995
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Death tax confronts its nemesis: inheritance tax has been abolished in both New Zealand and Australia, with no apparent ill-effects. Maybe it's time for the UK to follow suit and finally lay to rest this complex, easily avoided and highly inefficient tax
Article Abstract:
The UK system of inheritance tax is unfair, complex and inefficient, but the main political parties are reluctant to introduce radical changes. Possible reforms could include the outright abolition, a merger with capital gains tax which would make the tax system simpler and more effective, a change to tax beneficiaries, not donors, reduction or increase of the tax rate, or a tiered tax rate.
Publication Name: Investors Chronicle
Subject: Business
ISSN: 0261-3115
Year: 1995
User Contributions:
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- Abstracts: The Pricing of Dividends in Equity Valuation. The market value of UK dividends from shares with differing entitlements
- Abstracts: Asda gives chemists a new headache. BT has Cable & Wireless in its sights, says city: one privatised telecoms operator is being stalked by another, according to the latest market rumour. Intense competition to build global telephone networks mean there's logic in the theory that BT is eyeing a bid for C&W
- Abstracts: Inputting data is no longer a chore: investment software is pretty much useless without data.To save the investor inputting hundreds of prices every day, a range of automated systems havebeen developed. The more reliable they are, the more they cost
- Abstracts: Derivatives and hedging in the US: time to move on. A glow in the dark? The UK's FRS 13 should shed light on the murky world of derivatives and hedging
- Abstracts: Car dealer prosecuted. Tax charge hike looms: company earnings and balance sheets are threatened by proposed changes to treatment of tax in company figures