Trusts sheltering family assets are hit
THE UK Chancellor has imposed a devastating stealth tax on trusts commonly used to mitigate inheritance tax (IHT) and pass wealth down through the generations. Couples using two specific types
For income and growth, bonds are often a safer option
DIVERSIFICATION IS an important factor in your investment portfolio, which should normally contain a cross-section of cash, bonds, property and equities to ensure the best returns possible with the lowest
The World Bank and IMF – assisting emerging economies
How can the investor benefit from their efforts? By BILL BLEVINS THE WORLD Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have announced that they are setting up a task force
Predicting the unpredictable – how to get it right
US NEUROSCIENTISTS have carried out studies into how the human brain identifies patterns and predicts results. These experiments have revealed that we often think we can see patterns that do
Heightened levels of interest in foreign exchange
AT THE time of writing, the US Dollar (USD) is looking less like the flavour of the month and more like yesterday’s leftovers. International investors have maintained the strength of
Portuguese consumer economy shows signs of improvement
THE PORTUGUESE consumer market has improved for the third month running, giving some grounds for hope of a moderate economic recovery. According to monthly data, issued by the Bank of
February market review
United Kingdom UK equities rose steadily through February, with the FTSE All Share rising 1.2 per cent, although there were losses on the final day due to negative data and
Tax – if you fail to plan, you are planning
MY RECENT articles have discussed the increasing clampdown on tax evasion. The Portuguese government, the EU, OECD, UK Revenue, plus various other international organisations – they all appear to be
All of the people all of the time
THE EURO started the New Year full of expectations. In December, the European Central Bank hiked the base Eurozone interest rate for the first time in over two years, and
Portuguese economy will only start growing in 2009
THE GOVERNOR of the Bank of Portugal, Vítor Constâncio, said last week that the current government investment schemes would only bear fruit in the long term. The financial wizard stressed